Parliament goes on recess till October

Both Chambers of Parliament have gone on a two-month recess and will reconvene on October 5. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of Parliament announced the holiday at the end of yesterdays sessions. Senate goes on recess after clearing 16 bills including one establishing government institutions, justice related bills, the media bill and other bills related to international agreements. “The Senate summoned ministers of Finance, Agriculture, Internal Security and the Minister in the President’s Office in charge of ICT,” reads a statement from the Senate’s communication department. Other issues tackled by the Senate include approving Rwandan Ambassadors-designate to Germany, Uganda, Tanzania, Belgium and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Speaker of the lower house, Rose Mukantabana, said that parliament has achieved 80 percent of its planned activities. She said that majority of the bills that were passed are related to poverty alleviation and development. Some of the main achievements in this just-concluded term include the passing of the 2009/2010 national budget. Mukantabana also pointed out that the parliament was visited by several international and local visitors. She however gave MPs only one month of holiday and instructed them to spend their second month in their constituencies addressing people’s problems and contributing to national development projects. During recess, both chambers may be called back for extra ordinary sessions. Ends

National

Parliament goes on recess till October