Newly appointed head of political mobilization in the office of the president Eng Sewava Mukasa Joseph has lashed out at leaders and other groups fighting the Bukono county member of parliament Hon Persis Princess Namuganza. #WhisperEyeNews #UgandaNews
Appearing on local tv yesterday, the blue-eyed boy of President Museveni emphasized that Hon Namuganza has served this country with honesty and loyalty which must be appreciated by fellow NRM leaders.
Responding to Parliament committee on a disciplinary resolution to censure the state minister for lands housing and urban development, in a heated response, Sewaava called upon NRM members of parliament to consolidate the NRM Ideology, manifesto implementation, and service delivery which was promised to Ugandans instead of fighting fellow colleagues over petty misunderstandings that were allegedly posed on Whatsapp group.
Eng Sewaava emphasized that members of parliament should not hide to recommendations of censuring Minister Namuganza over Whatsapp message allegations but support President Museveni’s parish development model which provides a unique opportunity for transforming the subsistence households through productivity enhancement, jobs, and the empowerment of youth and women.
The former communications Assistant in the Office of the NRM National Chairman/Head of State said he is confident that NRM Members of Parliament will not hide to such calls to censure minister Nmagugana over selfish interests.
Minister Namuganza Troubles
The minister in September 2022, appeared before the parliament committee on rules, privileges, and discipline following a directive from Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa for her to be investigated for allegedly questioning the integrity of the House.
As she appeared before the adhoc committee, Minister Namuganza reportedly questioned the treatment of investors and people who appear before parliamentary committees, equating it to a torture chamber.
“When we meet the President, sometimes he gives verbal instructions. But when you reach the committee and deliver the instructions, you are accused of concocting them without further inquiry. This is very unfortunate,” Namuganza was quoted saying.
This week, the Rules, Privileges and Discipline Committee of Parliament found Hon Persis Namuganza, guilty of contempt of the House and gross misbehavior, and recommended her censure.
“The committee finds that the conduct and behavior of Hon. Namuganza constitutes gross misconduct and misbehavior and is not befitting of a Member of Parliament, more so a Minister. Being cognizant of the fact that Parliament approved her appointment as a Minister, recommends that the House invokes Article 118 (1) (b) of the Constitution and Rule 106 of Parliament rules to censure her,” reads the committee report tabled before the house on Wednesday.
Censure process
If adopted, MPs will invoke Article 118 of the Constitution and Rule 106 of Parliament rules to censure Namuganza. Article 118 provides for a vote of censure. It provides that Parliament may, by resolution supported by more than half of all members, pass a vote of censure against a Minister on grounds of abuse of office, misconduct or misbehavior, physical or mental incapacity, mismanagement, or incompetence.
“Upon a vote of Censure being passed against a Minister, the President shall, unless the Minister resigns his or her office, take appropriate action in the matter,” reads part of the Constitution. On the other hand, Parliament’s Rules of Procedure provides for the Vote of Censure Process against Ministers and requires any member desirous of moving this motion to notify the Clerk in writing of his or her intention, citing the ground for the proposed censure motion and giving detailed particulars supporting such grounds.
“The clerk shall within three days upon receipt of the notice of censure notify Parliament by causing the notice, the ground, and particulars supporting the ground of proposed censure motion to be pinned on the Members’ notice board. The Clerk shall on the date and time of pinning the notice of censure cause to be prepared and deposited with the Sergeant-at-Arms, for a period of ten working days, a list of all MPs with an open space against each name for purposes of appending signatures,” the rules read in part.
The rules require that any signature appended to the list shall not be withdrawn and after at least one-third of the MPs have appended their signatures in support of the proposed censure, the Sergeant-at-Arms shall forward the list to the Clerk. Out of the total 529 MPs in the 11th Parliament, a successful censure motion would require 176 signatures.
Censure process reporting by URN
