Deputy Speaker flees chaotic Parliament debate

 

Aruu County MP Odonga Otto speaks to journalists outside Parliament yesterday after the stormy session. Photo by Geoffrey Sseruyange. 

By Yasiin Mugerwa & Mercy Nalugo

Drama ensued in Parliament yesterday after Arru MP Odonga Otto grabbed a list of members which was being used to force through a vote on the disputed Public Order and Management Bill, 2011, and ripped it into shreds in front of Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah.

An afternoon filled with chaos also saw the Opposition label Mr Oulanyah a “disgrace” to the Acholi community.

The Deputy Speaker was forced to bring the session to a premature end and abandon the chamber as tempers flared.

Trouble started after he invoked Rule 80 of Parliament to suspend Mr Otto along with Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Sekikubo and Kyadondo East MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda whom he accused of “misconduct” on account of their opposition to the passing of the Bill.

The suspended MPs are to appear before the Parliament’s Disciplinary Committee.

In the ensuing chaos, Ms Beatrice Anywar (Kitgum Woman) poured water on the Despatch Table as other opposition MPs formed a ring around the Deputy Speaker.

They were shouting “no way”, “no way”, “procedure”, “procedure”, “let’s consult our people” protesting the manner in which Oulanyah was proceeding with the Bill they said is unconstitutional, hostile to democracy, freedom of association and freedom of speech.

MPs suspended
The suspension of their colleagues for three sittings sparked a loud protest forcing the Sargent at Arms to guard the Mace, the Speaker’s symbol of power. In the confusion, the affected members refused to vacate the chamber.

With the situation deteriorating further, the Sargent at Arms advised Mr Oulanyah to adjourn the House, which advice he gladly took in adjourning to Tuesday moments before he fled the chamber.

Before the drama Mr Oulanyah said: “Parliament cannot act as the Constitutional Court, let’s do what we can, this will not be the first time the Constitutional Court annuls an Act of Parliament.”

Lawmakers later accused the Deputy Speaker of denying members the right to be heard and instead pushing for the interests of the government in total disregard of the implications of what they called “a bad law”.

After the dramatic scenes on the floor, the opposition convened a crisis meeting chaired by acting leader Winnie Kiiza.

Earlier, in an afternoon session, Mr Oulanyah, with members raising procedural objections against a Bill that seeks to restore the police’s powers to regulate public meetings and demonstrations, insisted on “roll call and tally” voting method.

The Constitutional Court had, years ago, declared similar powers, then residing in the Police Act, unconstitutional.

“I have no regrets and this is the last time I am attending a House session chaired by this biased man, Oulanyah. We want his conduct investigated. How can Speaker behave like a mercenary. We are going to write to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga to look into his behaviour,” Mr Otto later told the Daily Monitor