By URN
The Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has tipped Members of the Eleventh Parliament to always be responsive to the aspirations of society in order for the Legislature to be people-centered.
“Society has entrusted you with a responsibility to lead. Remember, society watches all the time. Societal transformation is an incremental process where responsibility holders play their roles at various stages in time. I urge you, members, to play your role effectively and diligently as our sole contribution to a better Uganda,” he said.
Oulanyah was this afternoon delivering a speech during the opening of the 1st Session of the Eleventh Parliament prior to the delivery of the State of Nation Address by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. In his speech, the Speaker paid tribute to the Tenth Parliament for its successes and milestones saying that they should build upon the achievements of the previous parliaments.
“In a special way, I commend my predecessor the Speaker of the Tenth Parliament, Honourable Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga for the accomplishments of the Legislature during her tenure. The Eleventh Parliament has a foundation to build upon,” said Oulanyah.
Oulanyah notified legislators that the Business Committee of Parliament would soon be constituted to draw up a parliamentary calendar which should be followed to enable better planning, orderliness and execution of legislative business. He urged MPs to adopt efficient and effective working methods that mitigate wastage and optimize time without jeopardizing the quality of output.
“The responsiveness, efficiency and effectiveness of the House is a mirror image of efficiency of the Committees. Members, I implore you to line up to desired levels of responsibility, efficiency and effectiveness expected of us,” Oulanyah added.
According to the Speaker, this will require working on several issues that usually impede the work of parliament including endemic absenteeism, time wastage, delays by the executive to introduce business as laid out in the government agenda and inadequate adherence to the rules.
He added that the MPs should endeavor to always attend parliament and dedicate themselves to the timely and effective execution of their tasks in both committees and the House. Oulanyah also noted that the members to reduce the procedure debate and adopt more substantive debate to do the work of the people of the country.
Oulanyah added that those who will eventually make it to the cabinet should embrace the timely introduction of government business in the House. He said that once appointed, the new ministers should always avail themselves for House business to help the timely accomplishment of House business.
