By Kabuye Muawiya,
Over 348 Members of Parliament have today voted on the report to censure state minister for Housing Hon. Parcis Namuganza which took place today morning at Parliament in Kampala.
These followed a selected committee which was given mandate to carry out investigations on Hon. Namuganza which was headed by member of Parliament from Mbarara south Hon.Mwiine Mpaka decided that minister Namuganza disrespected the Parliament and also misused her office and gave out Nakawa-Naguru land without following the the right procedures.
The committee further mentioned that the minister also disrespected the Rt.Hon. Annette Anita Among the speaker of Parliament and so concluded that Parliament should censure the minister.
The chairman of the committee Hon.Mwiine Mpaka who is also the member of Parliament for Mbarara city south constituence first read out a full report of their findings to the members of the house and so decided that the house should go on to censure minister as Hon. Akot John has requested the parliament.
“In our investigations we found out that minister disrespected the rules of procedure of parliament and also attacked the speaker of parliament. So having collected all the proof and evidence for the allegations in the motion we agree that the report should be adopted by the house,” Mpaka said.
Deputy speaker Hon Thomas Tayebwa gave minister Namuganza a chance to defend her self but he further confirmed that the minister was not present both physically and online via zoom and so opened a debate for the members.
Almost each member of parliament that stood up to debate was advocating for other members to support the motion to protect the image of the parliament and roles of procedures.
However, Buyaga member of parliament Hon. Barnabas Tikasimire stood up and appealed members not to waste time debating.
“ I don’t see why we should waste time to someone who even failed to come and defend her self who are we to defend her,” said Banarbas Tikasimire.
Before voting deputy speaker Thomas Tayebwa read out procedures that have to be followed while censuring a minister.
“ the Clerk is going to read out name per name and you stand up on the microphone and say it yourself either you support the motion or not,” Tayebwa said.
After the voting the speaker announced that over 348 members had supported the motion there minister Namuganza was censured because it was over 50% of the required votes to censure the minister and also the speaker said was going to inform the president before the end of 24 hours.
