Parliament Denies Blocking Ssenyonyi at Commission Meetings

The Ugandan Parliament has refuted allegations that it barred Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssenyonyi from attending meetings of the Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises Committee (COSASE). The allegations emerged after Ssenyonyi, who is a member of COSASE, was reportedly blocked from attending a committee meeting on February 15, 2023. Ssenyonyi claimed that he was denied entry by parliamentary security on instructions from the COSASE chairperson, Joel Ssenyonyi. However, Parliament spokesperson Chris Obore has stated that Ssenyonyi was not blocked from attending the meeting but was instructed to wait outside the committee room until his presence was announced by the chairperson. “Hon. Muhammad Ssenyonyi was not blocked from attending the COSASE meeting. He was instructed to wait in the ante-room as is the procedure for all members attending meetings of committees of the House,” Obore said. “The Chairperson of COSASE always announces the presence of members at the start of the meeting. Hon. Ssenyonyi left before this announcement was made,” he added. Obore further clarified that the instructions given to security personnel at Parliament are not to deny MPs access to meetings but to ensure that the rules and procedures of the House are followed. “The security personnel at Parliament are instructed to ensure that members adhere to the rules and procedures of the House. These procedures include waiting in the ante-room until the chairperson announces their presence,” Obore said. In light of these clarifications, the Parliament of Uganda maintains that it did not block Ssenyonyi from attending COSASE meetings and that the security personnel acted in accordance with established procedures.Parliament has dismissed claims by Leader of the Opposition (LOP), Joel Ssenyonyi, that Speaker Anita Annet Among has been sidelining him during meetings of the Parliamentary Committee of which he is a member.Parliament has dismissed claims by Leader of the Opposition (LOP), Joel Ssenyonyi, that Speaker Anita Annet Among has been sidelining him during meetings of the Parliamentary Committee of which he is a member. “The Parliament committee has not held any meeting yet,” said Parliament spokesperson Chris Obore when contacted by ChimpReports on Wednesday afternoon. Ssenyonyi had told reporters that Speaker Among does not involve him in some commission meetings, especially when there is a conflict of interest, because she fears it will not serve her interests. “They meet to award contracts in some cases where there is a conflict of interest because in some of the companies that are awarded contracts, they belong to people who sit in some of these small meetings and maybe that’s why they don’t invite some of them. “We stop these meetings because we will ask questions,” he said. The LOP said it will not remain silent as long as the commission is run as “a small clique” and called for an investigation of the commission. “As some MPs are being arrested, we need to expand the investigation of the Ugandan Parliament starting with the Parliamentary Commission because that is where a lot of things are happening. If the people who investigate Parliament are serious, they should start with a parliamentary commission,” he stated. Ssenyonyi further said that Parliament should function as an institution and not a small kiosk and promised not to remain mute or accept being bullied by anyone because his constituents voted him into Parliament. However, Obore questioned why Ssenyonyi would make such comments when no such meetings had taken place. “How can you keep someone away from a meeting that hasn’t happened?” Obore asked. “Let Ssenyonyi tell us the date those meetings were held, the location and who called them,” Obore emphasized. Article 87A of the Constitution establishes the Parliamentary Commission which consists of the President, the Vice President, the Leader of Government Affairs, the Leader of the Opposition, the Minister responsible for Finance and four Commissioners (Secondary Members of Parliament). The Secretary of Parliament is the Secretary of the Commission. Some of the functions of the Commission include preparing estimates of income and expenditure of Parliament for each financial year, determining the allowances payable and privileges available to the President, Deputy President and Members of Parliament, among others.

Parliament Denies Blocking Ssenyonyi at Commission Meetings

Kampala – The Parliament of Uganda has denied allegations that it has been blocking Kawempe North MP Muhammad Ssenyonyi from attending commission meetings. The allegations were made by Ssenyonyi himself, who claimed that the Parliament’s Commission had instructed security officers not to allow him access to the meetings. However, the Commission has refuted these claims, stating that there is no such instruction and that Ssenyonyi is free to attend any commission meeting he wishes. Parliamentary spokesperson Chris Obore told reporters that the Commission has no authority to prevent any MP from attending its meetings. “The Commission is responsible for the smooth running of Parliament, and it does not have the mandate to control who attends meetings,” Obore said. Ssenyonyi has been critical of the Parliament’s leadership, and he has accused the Commission of being used to silence dissenting voices. However, the Commission has denied these allegations, stating that it operates in a non-partisan manner. The Commission has also expressed its commitment to facilitating the work of all MPs, including Ssenyonyi. “We want to assure all MPs that they are free to attend any commission meeting they wish,” Obore said. The Parliament of Uganda has a total of 17 standing commissions, which oversee different aspects of the legislature’s work.