Kadaga stops parliament from discussing Rakai fire report
By our reporter
The state minister of higher education John C. Muyingo has today made a statement on the floor of parliament regarding the fire which gut the senior three boys dormitory of St Bernads Manya in Rakai district and killed nine students leaving over forty nursing severe injuries. The minister noted that investigations into the matter have been launched and 8 suspects have been apprehended. He announcd that government has extended financial assistance of five millions to each family that lost their beloved ones to help in burial arrangements.
Muyingo vowed that government is going to beef up inspections in schools to ensure that they enforce safety guidelines which were issued by police to ensure that such accidents are avoided. He also announced the government pledge to reconstruct the destructed school properties.
But the speaker of parliament Rebeca Kadaga did not allow anxious members of parliament to debate the report claiming that their discussions may frustrate the ongoing investigations and only allowed the leader of opposition Betty Aol Ochan to give condolence message on behalf of the opposition in parliament. Ocan expressed concerns over government failure to release reports concerning the fires that have been burning down schools since 2008 when Buddo Junior school was set ablaze and over 20 pupils perished. she therefore called for censor of the education minister.
But members were not happy at all with the speaker action to deny them an opportunity to debate on this matter which they argued that would have been the best opportunity to find a lasting solution to the tragedy of fires burning down schools. they also faulted her for setting wrong precedence by denying a a discussion into the matter being investigated yet the sub-judicial rule only applies on matters before court.
The Kakuuto member of parliament where the burnt school is located Christopher Kalemba was not convinced by the Ministers report claiming that he wanted government to declare national mourning for the lost souls who died fighting for their life
