The deputy speaker of parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has criticised ministers who stay away from the House, saying their absence is hurting the work of parliament.
He was responding to a procedural matter raised by Linos Ngompek, the MP for Kibanda North.
Ngompek said plenary sits for only three days a week, yet ministers still struggle to show up and answer questions from MPs.
“I am very concerned,” he said.
He noted that parliament had approved a large number of ministers, but only a few could be seen in the chamber during plenary. MPs, he said, expect answers on issues affecting their constituencies.
Lukia Isanga Nakadama, the third deputy prime minister, told the House that many ministers were away on other state duties. She said the vice-president, Jessica Alupo, was in Russia, and that she was present to stand in for those who could not attend.
Only a handful of ministers were in the chamber. They included David Bahati, the state minister for Industry, Peter Ogwang, the state minister for Sports, and Beatrice Anywar, the state minister for Environment. Nakadama was also present, along with a few others.
Tayebwa said ministers were expected to be available because items on the order paper were directed to their ministries. He asked Nakadama to tell the House whenever ministers would be absent.
He also assured MPs that parliament would not be stopped from passing resolutions, whether ministers were present or not. Ministers, he said, would still be expected to implement them.
When ministers are missing, MPs find it hard to follow up on matters raised in plenary or in committees.
