By Naswiru Sekamate
The Speaker of Parliament of Uganda Anita Annet Among has declined to remove Kira municipality member of parliament, Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda of his position as Whip for Forum for democratic party (FDC) in Parliament.
This came after some Members of parliament petitioned the speaker asking to halt the changes, accusing the party secretary general Nathan Nandala Mafabi of taking the decision without consulting the Party’s NEC.
Among said she was unable to affect Mafabi’s communication until the matters raised by the petitioners have been resolved and a communication made to that effect to avoid legal consequences of the same and disruption of Parliamentary business.
“I am also in receipt of a petition by several members of Parliament from FDC challenging the removal of Hon Ssemujju as the Forum for Democratic Change party whip in Parliament on the grounds that it was done in violation of the internal rules and procedures of the party,” she said.
According to the Speaker, the petitioners stated that they are members of the National Executive Committee of the Forum for Democratic Change and long standing members of the party.
“They assert that the decision communicated to me by yourself was not in compliance with the internal party processes as there was no decision from the National Executive Committee, National Council or National Delegates Conference upon which such a decision would be reached,” she said.
The petitioners further stated that the decision Mafabi communicated is “illegal and ultra vires”.
“I note that section 6J (1) of the Administration of Parliament Act and Rule 15 (7) of our rules of procedure require a party in opposition to appoint its whip. The petition I received is essentially telling me that the party did not sit, through its organs, to take a decision to withdraw and replace the current whip,” she noted in a letter seen by this website.
Among also noted that unlike in the past, on this occasion no meeting of a party organ was mentioned in Mafabi communication as having taken this decision and yet it has serious consequences on the workings of the legislature.
“The above notwithstanding, while these are internal party matters, they affect the harmony, cohesion and operation of Parliament,” she said.
FDC recently sacked their Parliamentary Chiefwhip Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda and replaced him with Mawokota South Member of Parliament Yusuf Nsibambi.
