Kampala, (UG):- The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anita Among has suspended the plenary sitting for Wednesday and Thursday until Tuesday, July 30, 2024, under unclear circumstances.
The clerk to Parliament, Mr Adolf Mwesige announced the cancellation of the plenary in a brief notice to legislators on Wednesday morning.
“I have been directed by Rt Hon Speaker that plenary has been called off until Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 2:00 pm,” Mr Mwesige wrote without stating the reason for the adjournment as the House has just returned from recess on Tuesday.
The cancellation of plenary comes amid a series of events, starting with a group of sporadic youth demonstrators who took to Kampala streets on Tuesday calling for Ms Among’s resignation as House Speaker over corruption allegations in government institutions, including the Parliament.
In the protests quelled by military police sprayed on Kampala streets and the entrance of Parliament, at least 65 youths were arrested and remanded to Luzira prison on charges of being idle and disorderly and creating a public nuisance.
However, this publication has established that the suspension of the plenary came after a closed-door business committee meeting on Wednesday morning.
The Committee which is composed of the Speaker of Parliament, Deputy, Leader of Opposition, Prime Minister, Government Chief Whip and Whips of other parties represented in Parliament and some few MPs designated by their parties, is in charge of designing the plenary activities.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, who is presiding over the house this week in Hon Among’s absence rushed for a meeting with President Yoweri Museveni immediately after the Wednesday meeting.
“When it reached half past midday without seeing him returning from State House, it was decided that the House sitting be adjourned till next week,” said a top source at Parliament as quoted by ChimpReports a top investigative outlet in the country.
“There’s nothing unusual,” the source added, affirming that “our presiding officer went for a meeting with the Head of State, and we don’t control what happens there.”
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