Thomas Tayebwa, the deputy speaker, has voiced his displeasure about the absence of ministers from plenary sessions.
It was a “shame,” according to Tayebwa, who presided over the plenary meeting on Wednesday, April 5, 2023, that ministers whose issues were on the Order Paper did not show up.
He said that the appointing authority might need to be consulted over the growing issue of absent ministers in Parliament.
The issue of absent ministers might potentially be referred to the Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Discipline, according to Tayebwa.
Tayebwa gave the job of whipping them to the government’s chief whip, Hon. Hamson Obua.
He insisted that Obua publicly humiliate the ministers who don’t show up for plenary sessions when they are both MPs and ministers.
“I’m not sure how to put it nicely, but this is embarrassing. I believe this is an issue we will need to bring up again with the hiring authority so we can determine whether ministers are permitted to visit or not, he added.
He stated that Obua would be responsible for carrying the load of the missing ministers by responding to all the members’ inquiries and worries.
For ministers who will be compelled to attend plenary sessions, Obua pledged to create a duty roster.
In order to establish accountability, he continued, he will call absent ministers before Parliament.
Hon. Maurice Kibalya, a member of parliament from Bugabula South, suggested that the Chief Whip give ministers 30 minutes to be whipped before meetings.
“The complaint about ministers arriving late has spread like a plague across this Parliament. Rt Hon. Speaker, you spend between 30 to an hour getting ready for the House. Could you please inform the Chief Whip to use that time to whip ministers through your office?
