The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, is considering recommending the removal of certain committee chairpersons and their deputies due to ongoing issues of absenteeism and lack of commitment to their duties.
Since October 3, 2023, the House management has closely monitored the attendance of committee leaders during plenary sittings. The Clerk’s office staff has been tasked with recording attendance, and Prof Elijah Dickens Mushemeza, the Sheema South Constituency Member of Parliament, has been assigned to compile a parallel attendance record for committee chairpersons and their deputies.
Parliament comprises 14 Standing Committees and 15 Sectoral Committees, totaling 29 committees. Ideally, there should be 58 committee leaders present during a plenary sitting. However, according to Prof. Mushemeza’s records, only 21 attended on October 3.
On subsequent dates, the attendance varied with 19 on October 4, 26 on October 5, 16 on October 10, and 14 on October 11. The Deputy Speaker expressed concern about the late delivery of reports by committee leaders, violating Article 163 Clause 5 of the Constitution.
Dr. Asiimwe Akiiki Florence, the Masindi District Woman Representative, welcomed the move to address absenteeism, emphasizing that corrective action was overdue. Meanwhile, Henry Maurice Kibalya, the Bugabula County South Member of Parliament, called for a Business Committee meeting to address emerging issues before relieving committee leaders of their responsibilities.
The late submission of reports has caused a backlog in the work of accountability committees, such as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Local Government Accounts Committee (LGAC), and Committee On Statutory Authority and State Enterprises (COSASE). Committee chairpersons, speaking anonymously, cited internal challenges at Parliament affecting their work.
The issue of absenteeism in Parliament has been a persistent concern, with 555 lawmakers in the 11th Parliament. While rules allow warnings and potential referral to the Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Discipline, no disciplinary measures have been taken against absentee lawmakers. Plenary sittings have been adjourned due to ministerial absenteeism, despite calls for intervention.
