Uganda’s Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda has heaped praises on the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga and her deputy Jacob Oulanyah for exhibiting authority when rival MPs almost ursuped their powers.
The Premier described the chaotic incidents on the floor of Parliament as “open defiance of the authority of the speaker”
“I have been here for a long time, since the NRM took power. We never saw such defiance in the house,” Rugunda said.
Last week fist-fighting erupted on Parlaiment as opposition lawmakers opposed the tabling of a constitutional amendment bill which seeks to remove presidential age limit.
They say it paves way for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to rule for life.
“People resorted to surrounding the table; singing the national anthem instead of letting parliament proceed,” he said while addressing the press at his offices in Kampala on Wednesday.
“The Speaker and her deputy in the previous sitting were tolerant when their orders were defied and disrespected. They remained calm until they were overstretched and they had to take the necessary steps”
Some of the opposition MPs who were injured in the scuffle, Rugunda said they are to blame.
He said, “It was in implementation (of the speaker’s orders) that there was some bit of fracas; this was created by MPs who defied the authority of the speaker.”
On plain clothed who raided Parliament and wrestled with MPs, Rugunda noted that it was in accordance with the law.
“This is what was done and thanks to this swift action and wise ruling by the speaker, serenity calm and order was restored in the house.”
