Parliamentary committee discussions are often perceived as intricate and technical, filled with specialized jargon. However, these discussions can become captivating, especially when lawmakers engage in passionate debates rather than solely extracting information from witnesses.
The atmosphere can escalate dramatically when lawmakers, tasked with obtaining information, veer into heated exchanges over specific issues. Despite the expectation for the chairperson to maintain order, they sometimes remain silent, intervening only when debates intensify.
Tuesday’s session between the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities, and State Enterprises (COSASE) and the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) was a prime example of such charged interactions. Led by Medard Ssegona (Busiro East, NUP), the session revolved around the Auditor General (AG) John Muwanga’s report for the 2022/23 financial year.
Everything seemed to be proceeding as planned until Eddie Kwizera (Bukimbiri County, NRM) raised a seemingly tangential yet earnest concern about the presence of game meat in Kampala hotels. He questioned whether this meat served as a revenue source for UWA, citing advertisements for exotic meats like crocodile.
In response, Ssegona swiftly countered, highlighting that crocodiles, for instance, are often domesticated. However, Kwizera persisted, querying the number of poachers tried and the efficacy of confiscations, suggesting a potential collusion between sellers and field staff.
Attempting to maintain order, Ssegona dismissed the insinuation of staff collusion as prejudicial. Kwizera, requesting time to present evidence, was granted the opportunity to do so at the next meeting.
The debate took an unexpected turn when Gerald Nangoli (Elgon North, NRM) chimed in, seemingly supporting Ssegona’s ruling. However, his remarks inadvertently led to speculation about his involvement in poaching, much to the amusement of those present.
Prior to this, Ssegona shared an anecdote about a peculiar encounter involving someone attempting to sell him antelope meat, coincidentally intercepted by another individual named Seguya.
UWA Executive Director Sam Mwandha responded to the concerns, clarifying that only a handful of hotels possess licenses to sell wild meat, sourced from outside Uganda and closely monitored by UWA. He debunked rumors of restaurants serving snake meat, affirming that the approved establishments mainly offer meats from Southern Africa, including crocodile, various antelopes, and giraffes.
