Parliament has suspended 12 Members of the Parliament from the opposition over alleged disruption of parliamentary session.
The MPs suspended include; Francis Zaake (mityana municipality), Anthony Akol (Kilak North), Aloysius Mukasa (Rubaga South), Wakayima Musoke (Nansana Municipality), Charles Tebandeke (Baale County), Isaiah Sassaga (Budadiri East), Asinansi Nyakato (Hoima City), Derrick Nyeko (Makindye East), Frank Kabuye (Kassanda South), Evans Kanyike (Bukoto East), Shamim Malende (Kampala City) and Susan Mugabi (Buvuma district).
This was after the parliament’s plenary session that resumed today morning to debate among other things the National Coffee Amendment Bill got disrupted after an altercation between the Mityana Municipality MP, Francis Zaake and his Kilak North counterpart Anthony Akol.
This pushed the Speaker Anita Among to adjourn the sitting after Zaake was stretchered out of the House into an ambulance after he exchanged blows with Akol.
This happened as Police had been heavily deployed at Parliament as Opposition Members of Parliament mobilized to block the third reading of the Coffee Bill in today’s plenary session.
Members of Parliament, staff and visitors accessing parliament at the main gate and eastern gates opposite the National Theater were being screened thoroughly before they were allowed in.
Deployment is also around the Nile Avenue Roundabout, the National Theatre and the main gate of Parliament.
The Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi addressed the media on Tuesday at Parliament, highlighting heightened security around the parliamentary premises and anticipating additional deployments.
The joint Opposition caucus reiterated its commitment to protecting the economic interests of Ugandans. “We are here because the people elected us, not by invitation,” Ssenyonyi declared.
Ssenyonyi criticized what he described as undue Executive influence over parliamentary independence, arguing that President Museveni expects Parliament to align with Cabinet directives.
He further condemned attempts to frame the merger debate as a regional issue, emphasizing that coffee production supports livelihoods across Uganda, not just Buganda.
The Opposition also challenged the Government’s rationale for the UCDA merger, alleging hypocrisy in its approach to public spending.
By Francis Lubega
6 Nov 2024
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