By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Kampala, Uganda – In a surprise move, Speaker of Parliament Annet Anita Among has called off parliamentary sittings for this week, just a day after Ugandans took to the streets demanding her resignation over corruption allegations.
The decision comes after MP Alioni Odria challenged Speaker Among in Tuesday’s preliminary session to address corruption allegations against her.
Odria urged the Speaker to come forward and clear her name, instead of dodging the debate. He noted that even President Museveni has acknowledged the presence of corruption in the House, making it essential to address the claims.
Despite the release of today’s order paper, Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesigye announced that all plenary sittings have been postponed until Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 2:00 pm.
The reasons behind Speaker Among’s decision are unclear, but it comes amidst growing pressure from the public and civil society organizations calling for her to step down. Last week, she sparked controversy while in Lwengo district, stating that it’s better to have a leader who steals taxpayers’ money and shares it with their voters.
Meanwhile, five legislators remain in prison over corruption-related cases, with their bail applications still pending.
In a separate development, the Clerk to Parliament has issued a notice calling MPs for a special sitting tomorrow to pay tribute to former MP Simon Peter Aleper, who passed away in an accident yesterday.
The move to call off parliament has raised eyebrows, with many questioning the motives behind Speaker Among’s decision.
As the country grapples with corruption and accountability, the speaker’s actions will be closely watched in the coming days.
Source: Bainocularug(In Depth Reports)
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