Speaker Anita Annet Among has warned Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa against absenteeism after she failed to appear in Parliament to brief lawmakers about the skyrocketing pump prices of fuel.
The matter was brought to the attention of the August House on Tuesday and it was resolved that the minister should address Parliament about the cross-cutting challenge.
However, to Among’s dismay, Nankabirwa was nowhere to be seen, despite appearing on the attendance list of front bench members supposed to appear for proceedings.
This disregard for proceedings angered Among and prompted her to issue a last-ditch warning to the former Kiboga Woman MP.
“Can you write to the minister on this issue warning her? Can you write to the Minister?” she said during the Thursday plenary.
In response, Government Chief Whip Dennis Hamson Obua said he would relay the Speaker’s directive to Nankabirwa.
Obua is supposed to mobilize National Resistance Movement MPs and government ministers for plenary and voting, but his hands appear to be tied.
On Wednesday, he appealed to presiding officers for help over errant members who have continued to disregard his calls and reminders.
“This house is run by rules just like in the field of sports where you are given a verbal warning. If you commit another foul, a yellow card, you commit a third foul, you are red-carded,” he said.
Several MPs have attributed their absence to increased pressure in their constituencies, but Among says this is a lame excuse.
“The voters are seeing what we are doing,” she said.
Over the past three months, Parliament has mooted a string of measures aimed at boosting attendance at plenary and committees, but these have run into obstacles.
One of the measures that has been mooted is the re-introduction of the biometric system, which would track the attendance of MPs.
Another measure is the threat by Among to slash the salaries of absentee MPs and ministers.
The House has now tasked the Coordinator of Committee Chairperson Prof. Elijah Mushemeza to draft an attendance list for further management.
The Speaker’s warning to Nankabirwa is a clear sign that she is not going to tolerate absenteeism from MPs and ministers. She has made it clear that she will take action against those who fail to attend Parliament.
It remains to be seen whether the Speaker’s warning will have the desired effect. However, it is clear that she is serious about addressing the issue of absenteeism in Parliament.
