The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon Anita Among has stopped an Opposition decision removing Badege Layibi MP Ojara Mapenduzi from charing PAC in parliament.
The Leader of Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga on Tuesday replaced Mapenduzi with Kilak South County MP Gilbert Olanya, as the new committee chairperson.
However, the Speaker dismissed the appointment and instead guided that the matter is subjected to approval by the house.
Among also wants Hon Mapenduzi to conclude his pending work first on the committee before the matter comes to the house for approval.
Among explains that PAC is in its final stages of reporting Attorney General AG findings for the Financial Year 2020/2021 and removing Mapenduzi as chairperson will stall the work of parliament.
She also stated to the house that Parliament has received deadlines from the International Monetary Fund(IMF) to present a treasury memorandum.
“I am also aware the committee is in its final stages of reporting on the Auditor General’s Findings for the financial year 2020/21, a formal motion will be subjected to the approval of the house after the committee has finished works assigned to them,” - She said
The speaker also stated that the opposition should not follow the same pattern as the 10th parliament when the chairperson of COSASE was prematurely removed.
“In the last Parliament, a similar attempt was made to change a chairperson of a standing committee and that would mean that it stifles the work of the committee,” she added.
In response, the LOP appealed to the Speaker to allow the redesignation of the position of Chairperson - PAC (Local Govt) be handled administratively. He explained that the rule had in mind that Uganda is under multi-party dispensation.
“This was never intended to jeopardize the intended work of Parliament. Let it not be a contest of the house because it's subject to other laws of the land including the constitution, political parties act,” he stated
Mpuuga made reshuffles on Monday and replaced Mapenduzi with Olanya. Mapenduzi had previously introduced a motion that removed Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake from being a member of the Parliamentary Commission.
