NATIONAL NEWS , Wednesday, March 1, 2017 7 members of parliament became disorderly and refused to listen to the house speaker

By Vision Reporters

When Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga walked into the chambers of Parliament yesterday, she must have Drama, chaos as Parliament had a premonition that the session she was about to preside over was an unusual one. The five-hour session was meant to give candidates seeking to represent at the East African Legislative elects EALA representatives Assembly (EALA) a platform to campaign before the elections by later in the evening. When Kadaga made her entrance Leading candidates in the morning, the seats of the ruling National Resistance Movement The Ugandan Parliament (NRM) were festooned with campaign yesterday sat to elect the posters of different candidates vying nine members to represent to represent Uganda at the EALA and Uganda in the East African some lawmakers held placards. Legislative Assembly Earlier, the chambers had been (EALA), by 5:00pm MPs reverberating with songs and had started queuing up in sloganeering as legislators, especially Parliament’s parking yard NRM, made a raucous case for their to elect the nine out of the party’s candidates. 47 candidates that were “Please respect the decorum of the contesting for the coveted House and treat all candidates with slots. respect. Put away those posters. The rules of procedure Do not interrupt or intimidate any indicate that nine citizens candidate because these are all expressive of as much Ugandan candidates,” Kadaga said as possible, all shades of before summoning the first candidate, opinion with representation Martin Agaba, an independent, to in Parliament are elected to address the House in seven minutes. EALA by the makers but However, Kadaga’s pleas fell on not from their own number. deaf ears as she struggled to preside By press time, tallying of over a particularly rowdy and raucous the votes was still going session that offended every known on. However, according tenet of parliamentary decorum as to election observers enshrined in rules of procedure of that New Vision talked to, Parliament. Some of the MPs Mohammad Nsereko (third-left), Mubaraka Munyagwa (centre) and Allan Ssewanyana the National Resistance To Kadaga’s chagrin, at times (third-right) arguing as chaos erupts in Parliament during the EALA elections yesterday. Movement’s (NRM) Rose tersely bellowing out, “Order, order, Photo by Miriam Namutebi Akol, Mathias Kasamba, honourable members, order,” Mary Mugyenyi, Paul lawmakers repeatedly barracked and — an issue that is as controversial as it Musamali Mwasa, Dennis interrupted candidates they were is touchy in the region. Namara and George Odongo opposed to. EALA MP candidates “We need to reach consensus on were in the lead. At one point, MPs Moses Kasibante the issue of term and age limit in the While on the other hand, and Allan Sewanyana nearly traded No NAME PARTY No NAME PARTY region so that these issues do not Democratic Party’s Fred punches with Kasanda North MP, become a reason for disintegration,” Mukasa Mbidde, Uganda Patrick Nsamba, as the House 1 Mukasa Fred Mbidde DP 25 Mutyaba Mathew Indep Drito said to a ripple of murmurs. People’s Congress (UPC) degenerated into a melee over 2 Ekwau Florence Ibi FDC 26 Muyanja Hassan Ssentongo Indep For Ekwau, the contest for an EALA candidate Christopher attempts by a section of lawmakers to 3 Kamateneti Ingrid Turinawe FDC 27 Mwambazi Joseph Kazura Indep seat tested her political acumen. The Opoka and Suzan Nakawuki prevent FDC’s Ingrid Turinawe from 4 Akol Rose Okullu NRM 28 Mwambu Herbert Emmanuel Indep former Kaberamaido Woman MP who ran as an independent campaigning. 5 Musamali Paul Mwasa NRM 29 Mwanje Charles Indep ditched FDC’s blue colour for an were also ahead of the Attired in a white shirt, black jacket orange dress and did not mention other candidates. This 6 Mugyenyi Mary NRM 30 Nakawuki Susan Nsambu Indep and maroon necktie, Agaba failed to FDC in her introductory remarks in means that although Forum capture the attention of lawmakers — 7 Kasamba Mathias NRM 31 Nalubega Mariam Indep what was a clear attempt to strike a for Democratic Change’s promising to advocate for the start of 8 Namara Dennis NRM 32 Nassanga Jackline Oba Indep bipartisan chord in a House that was (FDC), Ibi Florence Ekwau, “Museveni cup,” a soccer tournament 9 Odongo George Stephen NRM 33 Nyero Francis Elton Lakelle Indep divided along party lines. appeared to have some akin to the one named after ’s 10 Opoka-Okumu Christopher UPC 34 Obua-Ogwal Benson Indep Promising to tackle issues of human votes to her name her president, Paul Kagame. trafficking and improve education chances remained slim, 11 Agaba Martin Edgar Indep 35 Okwere David Beecham Indep However, it was two-time Bukedea standards, Ekwau, to prolonged while Ingrid Turinawe was Woman MP and former internal affairs 12 Akwi Algresia Ogojo Indep 36 Oluma Kennedy Indep ululation said: “I appear before you totally edged out. minister Rose Akol and Algressia 13 Ariong Hellen Adeke Indep 37 Oola Samuel Indep at an historic time — a time when the Akwi’s grasp of issues pertinent to 14 Basiime Richard Bashenyi Indep 38 Otim Alfred Indep Speaker, NRM secretary general and regional integration that initially 15 Bayiga Cissy Oeschger Indep both Government and Opposition It took the intervention of NRM 39 Paito Andrew Mutegi Indep Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa and captured the attention of members. 16 Bwengye Lauben Muhangi Indep chief whips are women.” “Representing Uganda at EALA is a 40 Ruhinda Richard Nganwa Indep However, there were no niceties for veteran lawmakers — Cecilia Ogwal 17 Drito Alice Indep diplomatic role I will ably execute. We 41 Seruwuge Yasin Indep Ekwau’s FDC colleague Turinawe and Felix Okot Ogong to convince need to consolidate achievements of 18 Ibanda Twaha Indep whose appearance was greeted by a some rowdy lawmakers to resume 42 Ssali Godfrey Indep customs union, common market and 19 Kaluuba Enoch Indep cacophony of whistles and screeching their seats. promote regional security in order to 20 Kenyangi Janet Kikwaya Indep 43 Ssali Khalid Lule Indep by placard-holding lawmakers. And when she started to speak, foster regional development,” Akol 21 Luyinda Fred Indep 44 Tusiime Robert Alaali Indep “Order, order please honourable amid latent heckling and screeching said to a din of, “let’s vote now, lets by some MPs, Turinawe did not mince 45 Werikhe Gerald Wanzala Indep members, order,” Kadaga bellowed vote now,” from NRM benches. 22 Matyoli David Innocent Indep out tersely as shouting MPs stood up words. Reeling off her stellar performance 23 Mpiriirwe Rachel Indep 46 Yamureebire Jothan Indep with some such as Geoffrey Macho, “At the end of the day, I have emerged during her tenure as a lawmaker in 24 Muhango Chris Indep 47 Yiga Joel Kamoga Indep removing the microphone from the the winner. I have managed to expose which she served as parliamentary rostrum where candidates were what you are. I am the winner. Pigs commissioner and chairperson of Among, who defeated her in the “I believe that the issue of regional campaigning from. will remain pigs,” Turinawe said, the influential budget committee, recent parliamentary elections. integration goes beyond partisan The hostility among MPs towards vowing never to abandon any cause Akol said her grasp of regional issues And then came Akwi, whose journey consideration and I hope members’ Turinawe cuts across the political she deems dear to her heart. makes her ready to represent Uganda from a nondescript primary school choices are not coloured by divide — with some lawmakers Some MPs started streaming out, at EALA from day - one. in Usuk, in present-day Katakwi, to patronage,” Akwi said. accusing her of being the brains but Turinawe rumbled on, barely Akol also reminded MPs that when Namagunga, Before FDC’s Florence Ibi Ekwau behind piglets bearing MPs’ names audible above a cacophony of noise. It they finally retire or get booted out and Georgia University for a master’s made her case to be considered for that are routinely dropped at took six hours for the 47 candidates to by a fickle electorate, they will retire in aw captured the limagination of the nine slots available for Uganda Parliament. campaign before MPs voted thereafter. with a hefty package due to her role many MPs. at EALA, Alice Drito, an independent MPs Muhammad Nsereko, Maurice in creating the parliamentary pension During her sojourn in the NGO candidate, spawned a ripple of Kibalya and Hatwib Katoto tested Story compiled by scheme. world, Akwi said, she helped draft an murmurs with her submission. Kadaga’s patience. At one time, Moses Walubiri, As a matter of irony, among the alternative treaty for the creation of Drito promised, if elected, to foster Kadaga stopped making orders, Nicholas Wassajja, Mary lawmakers that gave Akol the wildest East Africa because initially the draft consensus on term limits and age waiting for the bedlam to naturally die Karugaba and cheers was longtime rival Anita had glaring gaps. limits for the presidency in East Africa down. Henry Sekanjako