The 11th Parliament should learn from the 10th Parliament to make decisions for the 2021/26 first by restoring parliament from an individual back to the institution. And here are a few fundamental reasons.
- The NRM Members of Parliament through thick and thin worked tirelessly to pass several bills and among the many was the 2017 bill that sought to address the several discrepancies in the law regarding age qualifications (Age Limit Bill) on several electoral positions. With all that MPs went through and the Executive, at the Helm of it all, Rt. Hon. Kadaga took the advantage and applause singularly by claiming that if it was not her (me) all who benefited from this amendment at all levels including the President, would have not been eligible without recognizing the contribution of 317 NRM who voted positively on this Bill..
A boss who doesn’t embrace team work is a bad boss.
- As if not recognizing MPs was not enough, she went on to attack her counterpart the deputy speaker by picking only moments where he was at his lowest. Like any human being, there are days when we are at a low, some reasons can be personal like family or conflicting work schedules and we don’t positively work to your expectations but we still in the limits of work. Such moments Shouldn’t be used against us, we should be able to recognize the contribution of our abilities to gauge our capabilities.
Using someone’s past against them is another exposure that no one is spared, (sawa Yona boss wo akwanika). Literally meaning that at anytime, your boss can expose you.
- Publicly attacking the President. The President is on record for always seeking for harmony with fellow leaders irrespective of their political affiliations to make things right and he rarely attacked anyone in public. It is therefore (sickish) for the other arm of the government to be unstable and choose to raise Party, National, Personal matters in Public other than addressing them on a level and platform of competence.
None of us wishes to have a friend, workmate, boss or even a relative who discusses our issues in the public.
- The oath of allegiance is among the fundamental oaths to hold leaders accountable. Therefore, discussing, owning, sharing internal matters of an institution in the public is a breach and disrespect of the oaths taken by most especially the person of a Speaker whose major role in the 5years is to implement the rules of procedure in parliament.
Do what I tell you but not what I do is a wrong theorem in life.
- Being Bigger than the Party. Political Parties like family or society, you can be strong but you can’t use your strength against the society or the family. Everytime, 2, 3 people tell you something and you refuse to self examine yourself, it can’t be a coincidence that they are all wrong. Even if they are, their could be need for you to consider whether to transform to the standards required but not remaining stiff and using your strength to rebut everyone cautioning you.
You can’t accuse the bees for stinging you while you are taking their honey. Some positions like honey, to get them well, you must know how.
- Knowing when to Leave. Among the so many reasons that have led to the increase of Domestic Violence is failure for either of the partners to know when to let go of something. It can be an argument, it can be a decision or something else. When the wife or the Husband or even children whoever is pushing or against a certain position or something fails to know when to let go, the end results are always not pleasant. If in 20years Rt. Hon. Speaker (Former but holds the title) has been supported by the party against others and is accusing the same party for not supporting her, it is first of all unfair but also selfish (Of course) and it shouldn’t be a tolerable taboo.
Knowing when your usefulness is done is one way of long life but also gives you the privilege of being welcomed by all and at anytime.
- Respect for the Party. Being the 3rd in Party protocols, a Party sponsored candidate in the Constituency and still choose to run as an independent in a college more so after going through competitions to achieve the above, is a bad democratic discipline.
Having spent most of your career as an advocate, you can be the same person breaking the pillars of you have built yourself.
- Diminishing Party Popularity. Among the reasons as to why positions are regionally, Tribally, Religiously etc are shared, is among the so many reasons increase the Party’s support. In most cases, that is primarily. The NRM’s support in Kamuli leave alone Busoga has tramendously declined.
You can’t have the above 7 key points not in your favor and add on the unpopularity of the party in your own district and still claim to be being fought.
Parliament is the other mirror of democracy. The 11th Parliament irrespective of the love for the candidate, it should outrightly take decisions that based on Principles and not emotions or on a convenience platter. Lest, the embarrassment will be far fetching.
Herbert Anderson is the Nakawa Division RCC
