Parliament has refuted allegations made by Leader of Opposition (LOP) Joel Ssenyonyi that Speaker Anita Among has been sidelining him during meetings of the Parliamentary Commission, where he serves as a member.
Ssenyonyi had earlier told the press that Speaker Among excludes him from some commission meetings, especially where there is a conflict of interest, fearing he will not serve her interests.
"They meet to award contracts in some cases where there is conflict of interest because in some of the companies that are awarded contracts, belong to people who sit in some of these small meetings and maybe that is why, they don’t invite some of us for these meetings because we shall ask questions," Ssenyonyi alleged.
Ssenyonyi expressed his determination to not remain silent while the commission is run like "a small clique," calling for a comprehensive probe of the Parliamentary Commission.
"As some MPs are being arrested, we need to broaden the investigation of the Parliament of Uganda beginning with the Parliamentary Commission because that is where lots of things are happening. If the people investigating Parliament are serious, they should start with the Parliamentary Commission," he asserted.
Ssenyonyi further emphasized that Parliament should function as a proper institution rather than a "small kiosk," vowing not to be intimidated or silenced as he was elected by his constituents to serve.In response, Obore challenged Ssenyonyi to provide specifics of the alleged meetings.
"Let Ssenyonyi tell us the date when such meetings were held, the venue, and who called the meetings," Obore emphasized.
Article 87A of the Constitution establishes the Parliamentary Commission, which comprises the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Government Business, Leader of the Opposition, the Minister responsible for Finance, and four Commissioners who are backbench Members of Parliament.
The Clerk to Parliament serves as the Secretary to the Commission.The Commission's roles include preparing each financial year's estimates of revenues and expenditure for Parliament, determining the allowances payable, and privileges available to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Members of Parliament, among others.Reiterating his concerns, Ssenyonyi stated,
"The tendency for the Parliamentary Commission to operate clandestinely without the members of the Commission raises a lot of suspicion and this has got to be addressed."
The unfolding drama underscores the deepening rift within the corridors of Parliament, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in its operations.
As investigations and debates continue, the public watches closely to see how these allegations will impact the integrity and functioning of Uganda's legislative body.
