Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has asked ambassadors not to make a big issue out of the age limit saga, saying they too have parliaments where legislators misbehave and get punishments.
In a meeting on legislature, governance and human rights and security, a delegation of 16 ambassadors led by Swedish Ambassador to Uganda Per Lindgärde, asked Kadaga to explain the constitutionality of the process followed during the age limit bill debate, her suspension of some legislators during the debate, the independence of Parliament after the SFC officers evaded Parliament and the delayed judgment of the age limit petitions in the constitutional court.
Kadaga reacts
In her reaction, Kadaga first declined to comment saying it is improper. “The proceedings are before the judiciary. I can neither comment on their speed nor anticipate what they are going to say. For me I did my part and that is finished,” she said.
On her suspending some members during the age limit debate, she told the ambassadors that they should not make it a serious issue.
“All of you have parliaments and I know that members get suspended when they misbehave. So no one should really make an issue about suspension. That is a right of the Speaker to keep the discipline in the house,” she said.
On the independence of Parliament and SFC officers evading Parliament, Kadaga reminded the ambassadors that it was not the first of its kind in the country.
“Remember that the high court too one time was evaded. I do not think it was the chief justice to explain. If you are evaded you are evade,” she said.
However, she added that action has been taken.“I have ejected any forces that are not civilian Police and I have closed the access from the office of the President to Parliament,” she said adding that only the parliamentary Police is allowed at Parliament.S