The Ugandan Parliament will today receive and consider the motion to censure State Minister for Housing and Urban Development Hon. Persis Namuganza over alleged misconduct.
According to the order paper for business in the house today, the motion to censure Namuganza will be moved by Hon Okot John Amos the MP Agago North County and seconded by Ntungamo Municipality MP Hon Musinguzi Yona.
The censure motion follows a resolution of the house to have Namuganza censured on grounds of “misbehavior and misconduct” arising from the statements she made with which her accusers insist she was attacking the operations of Parliament, questioning the powers of Parliament, the integrity of the presiding officers of Parliament and imputing improper motive to Parliament and its presiding officers.
This followed a report compiled by the Adhoc committee that investigated the giveaway of Nakawa-Naguru land, which recommended that Namuganza steps aside as Minister for falsifying a presidential directive that led to the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) to allocate the land to some investors.
Namuganza reportedly questioned the way investors and people who appear before parliamentary committees are handled, equating it to a torture chamber.
The petitioners insist that the statements made by Ms Namuganza were derogatory and were found by Parliament to amount to gross misconduct and misbehaviour, an affront to the dignity of Parliament, denigrated public trust and confidence in the authority and integrity of the Office of Speaker, Members of Parliament and the Institution of Parliament and brought the House and its members into disrepute.
The movers agreed that her conduct was in breach of the Code of Conduct for the Members of Parliament and constituted contempt of Parliament.
Even during debate on the Rules committee, Namuganza showed no remorse for what she is accused of, or it’s consequences.
Article 118 (1) (b) of the Constitution states that Parliament may, by resolution supported by more than half of all MPs, pass a vote of censure against a minister on certain grounds, including abuse of office or willful violation of the oath or allegiance or oath of office.
The Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa is expected to chair the plenary sitting today which will be the last for the year 2022 and eight (8) items are expected to be covered including the laying of the National Budget Framework Paper for financial years 2023/2024-2027/2028.
In a censure motion dated December 9, moved by Okot, seconded by Yona Musinguzi, the Ntungamo Municipality MP, the legislators lined up a litany of accusations against the minister, which form the basis for their resolve to kick her out of the Cabinet.