Published on 19/09/2024
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has blocked the debate on a motion to censure four Parliamentary Commissioners over the UGX 1.7 billion service award.
He cited a High Court ruling that prevents Parliament from addressing issues already decided by the courts. This decision has sparked controversy among MPs, who argue that the matter involves broader issues of misconduct and incompetence.
During the plenary session on September 17, 2024, Tayebwa explained that while Speaker Anita Among may have wished for the motion to be fully debated, the ruling on the matter left Parliament with no choice but to abide by the court’s decision.
“The Speaker invoked the principle of res judicata, which means a competent court has already ruled on the issue. Parliament and other institutions are barred from revisiting such matters unless an appeal is filed. This isn’t Speaker Among’s personal opinion; the court has already spoken, and her hands are tied,” Tayebwa stated.
His remarks came in response to Lwemiyaga County MP Theodore Ssekikubo, who criticized the manner in which the censure motion was handled. Ssekikubo accused the Parliamentary leadership of bypassing the Rules of Procedure by not allowing the Speaker to make an official ruling during a plenary sitting.
“When a motion is underway, it must be resolved by the Chair. We received letters instead of having the Speaker provide a ruling during plenary. This is not procedural. We need guidance on how to proceed,” Ssekikubo insisted.
Ssekikubo further alleged that Tayebwa’s name appeared in corruption-related records, hinting at deeper involvement in shady dealings within Parliament. “We’re all fighting against corruption. And while you may stand tall, the records show your name in connection with some of these matters,” he added.
However, Tayebwa refrained from addressing Ssekikubo’s accusations, defending the Speaker’s communication method by stating that the matter had not yet reached the floor for formal debate.
The controversy deepened when Aringa South MP Yorke Alioni accused Speaker Among of disregarding court rulings, pointing to her failure to reinstate Francis Zaake as a Parliamentary Commissioner as ordered by the court. Alioni argued that this trend of disrespect for legal and procedural frameworks extended to how the censure motion over the UGX 1.7 billion award was handled.
“The motion didn’t focus on the service award alone. It raised issues of misconduct and incompetence. The court ruling on the award cannot nullify our petition,” Alioni argued.
He emphasized that the petition, signed by 186 MPs representing approximately 4.6 million voters, met all the conditions necessary for debate and demanded that the Speaker respect the rules and allow the motion to be discussed.
Although Alioni admitted the MPs behind the censure motion were uncertain of victory, he stressed the need for a parliamentary debate on the issues raised. “We demand to be heard. Parliament cannot be locked down on this matter. The petition must be debated,” he said.
Alioni also accused Speaker Among of evading the issue, referencing her earlier commitment in Gulu to address the motion in Kampala, only to later backtrack.
As Tayebwa read Speaker Among’s communication on the matter, the fate of the censure motion and the next steps for the petitioners remain unclear.
