Minister Namuganza faces censure over allegations of misconduct and misbehavior

The Minister of State for Housing, and Bukono County MP, Persis Namuganza is on the verge of facing censure by Members of Parliament after the August House Wednesday considered and adopted the report of the Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Discipline.

The implicating report stems from an inquiry by the Committee into allegations of misconduct and misbehaviour made against Namuganza.

Namuganza is accused of taking to social media and television to bash the operations of Parliament and questioning the powers and integrity of the presiding officers of Parliament to form Adhoc Committees.

Before debating the report commenced, Namuganza tried to challenge and dissuade members from debating the report saying that after perusing the report, she had petitioned the Constitutional Court on the findings, observations, and recommendations of the committee.

“I want to inform the house that the report tabled in this house contravenes and offends several constitutional provisions. I made a petition to the constitutional court under No 41 of 2022, challenging the actions, findings and conclusions of the report tabled before this house,” she made her case and said she shared a copy with the Attorney General and was going to serve the House after plenary.

In a spirited fight to save her face, she said: “Under rule 73 of our rule, this matter is sub-judice. I want to refer the members to rule number 73, subject to sub-rule 5 of this rule – a member shall not refer to any matter which is sub-judice.” she defended herself.

However, the Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa overruled her, saying rule 80 of our rules of procedure prohibits him as a presiding officer, and the House, to act in anticipation.

“So, for us to sit here and anticipate that someone has gone to court would be against our own rules of procedure. Lucky enough it is not a court order; you said you have served, if you have served the Attorney General, kindly, you have not served Parliament. The moment you will serve Parliament, it will be brought to our attention and we shall know what to do next, Tayebwa stated.

He insisted that since Namuganza didn’t serve Parliament with the petition in the Constitutional Court, Parliament would go ahead with the debate.

The Bugiri Municipality MP, Asuman Basalirwa, asked the house to modify the recommendation of censuring Namuganza to talk about the censure process which would give the member an opportunity to defend herself.

“The idea of this house recommending the censure of Namuganza and yet it is the same house that is going to carry out a censure process would undermine the concept of a fair trial,” Basalirwa said.

Kilak South County MP, Olanya Gilbert, commended the Committee for a wonderful report and described Namuganza utterances made on radio, television and social media as uncalled for. He said the House must be respected.

Olanya said that taking Onen Charles, the Committee chairperson, to court in his personal capacity is wastage of time and resources by Namuganza.