Namuganza Censure: How it all played out as MPs ganged up to oust Namutumba’s demagogue
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa on Monday presided over the sitting that censured Namuganza out of her ministry position. During the sitting, 356 MPs were present, 5 MPs voted 'No', 3 MPs abstained from the vote and 348 MPs voted 'Yes'.
The State Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development (Housing) Persis Namuganza Princess was on 23rd January 2023 censured by Parliament for questioning the powers and integrity of the presiding officers of Parliament to form Ad hoc Committees and for using the media to demean the operations of Parliament.
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa on Monday presided over the sitting that censured Namuganza out of her ministry position. During the sitting, 356 MPs were present, 5 MPs voted ‘No’, 3 MPs abstained from the vote and 348 MPs voted ‘Yes’. Now, after Parliament pronounced itself on the matter, and decided Namuganza’s fate, the President will make the final call as stipulated by Rule 109(13) of the Rules of Procedure.
But how did Namuganza get into this mess?
A Report of the Select Committee on the Motion for a Resolution of Parliament to Pass a Vote of Censure against Hon. Persis Namuganza Princess, Minister of State for Lands, Housing and Urban Development (Housing) chronicles how the Bukono County MP got into trouble and found prima facie evidence to prove the allegations that she abused her office.
Namuganza faulted for Nakawa-Naguru land allocation
On 1st March 2022, Parliament constituted an Ad hoc Committee to investigate the Nakawa-Naguru land allocations following a member raising the matter on the floor of Parliament and several media reports over the same.
The Ad hoc Committee presented its report to the House on 18th May 2022, wherein it recommended that Namuganza be held accountable for abuse of office for misleading the Uganda Land Commission (ULC) into the allocation of land to individuals and entities following Presidential directives, which were non-existent.
It further recommended that the appointing authority temporarily relieves Namuganza of her duties to pave way for investigations by the relevant organs of government.
Parliament adopted the Report of the Ad hoc Committee with amendments.
Misconduct and misbehaviour allegation against Namuganza
At the 7th Sitting of the 1st Meeting of the 2nd Session of the 11th Parliament held on Wednesday 13th July 2022 Silwany Solomon (MP, Bukooli County Central) rose on a point of procedure regarding an allegation of misconduct and misbehaviour against Namuganza.
Silwany alleged that Namuganza took to social media and television bashing the operations of Parliament and questioning the powers and integrity of the presiding officers of Parliament to form Ad hoc Committees.
The presiding officer referred the matter to the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline to examine the allegations and report back to the House.
The Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline inquired into the allegations and found that based on the evidence presented to it, Namuganza made the alleged impugned statements on social media and during a television interview with NTV Uganda.
The Committee among others recommended that the House invokes Article 118 (l) (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and Rule 106 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament to censure her. The House adopted the Report of the Committee on 7th December 2022 with an amendment.
Motion to censure Namuganza
On 9th December 2022, John Amos Okot (Agago North MP), notified the Clerk to Parliament of his intention to move a motion to censure Namuganza in accordance with Rule 1o9 (l).
In compliance with Rule 109 (2) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, the Clerk, upon receipt of the notice of censure, notified MPs by causing the notice, the grounds and particulars supporting the grounds of the proposed censure motion to be pinned on the Members’ notice board.
Collection of signatures to censure Namuganza
Upon notifying Parliament, the Clerk to Parliament prepared and deposited with the Sergeant-at-Arms, a list of all Members of Parliament with an open space against each name, for purposes of appending signatures as required by Rule 109(3) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament.
The Speaker, upon verifying that the list had been appended by the required number of signatures, within the required time, included the motion on the Order Paper for consideration by the House as required by Rule 109(7) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament.
On 23rd December 2022 Okot moved a Motion for a Resolution of Parliament to Pass a Vote of censure against Namuganza under Article 118 (l) (b) of the Constitution and Rules 106 and 109 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament. The motion was seconded by several MPs.
In accordance with Rule lO9 (8) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, the Speaker forwarded the motion, the supporting grounds, particulars and the supporting documents to the President for onward transmission to the concerned Minister.
Tayebwa forms Select Committee
Pursuant to Rule lO9 (9) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, the Rt. Hon. Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa caused the appointment of the Select Committee with the approval of the House to which the Motion and all supporting documents were referred.
The Select Committee was to resolve and determine whether there is prima facie evidence to prove the allegations contained in the motion to pass a vote of censure against Namuganza and the findings and observations of the Committee on the matter.
While carrying out its mandate, the Select Committee invited Namuganza to appear before the committee and defend herself. She turned down the invitation.
Also invited to appear before the committee were Okot, the mover of the motion, the seconders of the motion, MPs with supplementing information and Pande Norman of Mwanja & Pande Advocates who claimed to have been instructed by Namuganza to represent her.
The Committee found that the grounds for the proposed censure of Namuganza are misconduct or misbehaviour which are provided for under Article 118(1)(b) of the constitution.
Committee finds Namuganza guilty
While presenting a report compiled by the Select Committee after their interrogation of the matter, Mwine Mpaka, who was the committee Chairperson told the parliamentary sitting convened to censure Namuganza that the matters raised by the minister in interviews with the media were obnoxious, reckless and insufferable.
“It was an attack on the person of the Speaker and the Parliament without due regard to the rules of procedure, the protected status, the procedures of redress, the applicability of privilege and decorum of Parliament,” Mpaka said, reading from the report.
In conclusion, the Select Committee found prima facie evidence to prove the allegations contained in the motion and supporting documents.
And after a voting exercise on the matter, the report to censure Namuganza was passed and adopted by parliament after 348 MPs voted ‘yes’, 5 MPs voted ‘no’ and 3 abstained from voting.
Tayebwa said he was going to inform President Yoweri Museveni in writing within 24 houses informing the Fountain of Honor, who is the appointing authority, about the position reached by Parliament for him to take further action.
This means that Namuganza’s fate is in the hands of the President who can save or bin her.
