The Buganda Parliamentary Caucus has vowed to disrupt all parliamentary plenary sessions until the Speaker Anita Annet Among apologizes for her recent statement, which they believe promotes tribalism.

Last week, during the debate on the National Coffee Amendment Bill 2024, the Speaker is alleged to have made comments that were perceived as mobilizing Members of Parliament in support of the Bill to defeat their counterparts from Baganda.

Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, the Chairperson of the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus and Butambala County MP, addressed journalists, demanding that the Speaker apologizes and withdraws her statements.

Kivumbi also challenged the Speaker’s office to produce the genuine clip of the statement after claiming that the one that has been circulating on social media was doctored, questioning why the original video was pulled down from parliament’s social media channels and that of the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) Television.

The Director Communication and Public Affairs at Parliament, Chris Obore had claimed that the words in the first video clip were generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI), sparking skepticism.

Unlike previous protests, Kivumbi says they will not boycott plenary sessions but instead will actively disrupt them until their demands are met.

This development highlights the tension surrounding the National Coffee Amendment Bill.

The Buganda Caucus has been vocal about their opposition to the Bill, which proposes scrapping of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and transferring its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF).

By Francis Lubega

29 Oct 2024

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