Eala seeks to amend rules of procedure

The East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) will today afternoon commence review of the rules of procedure following a ruling by the House Speaker, Margret Nantongo Zziwa, during yesterday's plenary session.

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Times Reporter

Abdul Karim Harelimana (L) greets Shy-Rose Bhanji as Judy Pareno looks on after the house was adjourned yesterday. (John Mbanda)

The East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) will today afternoon commence review of the rules of procedure following a ruling by the House Speaker, Margret Nantongo Zziwa, during yesterday’s plenary session.

The ruling follows a motion moved by Kenyan MP Judy Pareno, seeking to adjourn the second reading of the East African Community Cooperatives Bill 2014 and other House businesses until the review and amendment of the said Rules of Procedures are debated as a matter of priority.

The EAC Cooperatives Bill had been moved by MP Mike Sebalu from Uganda. The Bill seeks to provide a legal framework for Co-operative Societies to strengthen the role of private sector as an effective force for developing economies.

Speaking after the Assembly’s adjournment, Pareno said the debate on the amendment of House rules had previously been interrupted in March, this year, and attempts to bring it back to the floor of the House had been severally frustrated by the Speaker.

L-R; Odette Nyiramirimo, Judy Pareno and Patricia Hajabakiga consult before the session begun yesterday. (John Mbanda)

Speaking to The New Times, Kenyan representative Peter Mathuki said the amendments will put in place mechanisms to expand democracy and ensure that the voices of all members are heard and respected.

"We want to amend the rules to ensure that the Speaker respects the House and members of the Assembly,” Mathuki said.

Judy Pareno moves the motion that led to house adjournment yesterday. (John Mbanda)

But a member of the Assembly who preferred anonymity said the review of the rules of procedure was linked to futile attempts to censure Zziwa. With the review, angry MPs believe they will successfully impeach the Speaker, the source said.

Mathuki concurred, claiming the majority of the House’s members had lost faith in the Speaker.

"The Speaker only receives backing from Hon. Shy Rose Bhanji and Hon. Susan Nakawuki. I would advise her to step down and not to wait to be impeached,” Mathuki said.

The motion to prioritise the rules and procedure amendment comes a day after a meeting of the legal, rules and privileges committee that had the amendments top of the agenda.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER; Shy-Rose Bhanji (R) and Susan Nakawuki rub shoulders with other members as they walk out of Parliament after the house was adjourned. (John Mbanda)

Speaking at the committee meeting, Ugandan MP Fred Mukasa Mbidde said there were unjustified fears by a few members of the House that the amendments were aimed at ejecting certain members of the Assembly.