Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament Anita Among presides over plenary session of Parliament that passes the controversial Coffee amendment Bill amid chaos and tension.
Kampala November 6 — Parliament finally passed the contentious Coffee Amendment Bill on Wednesday afternoon amid tension and after a chaotic morning session that witnessed unprecedented fistfight between two Members of Parliament.
Parliament and all roads around it were under tight security with heavily armed soldiers, Police personnel and plain cloth security personnel patrolling the area and searching whoever passes by including Members of Parliament. The heavy security caused traffic jam and some businesses came to a standstill.
The tension was a reminiscent of the promulgation of the 1967 constitution where Parliament was surrounded by the heavily armed military and plain cloth security personnel inside parliament to enforce the installation of the new constitution. MPs had to pick copies of the constitution from their Pigeonholes, hence the nick name of referring the 1967 constitution as a pigeonhole constitution started.
The mode the 1967 constitution was promulgated, is admired by powers that be and is recalled into play whenever controversial laws are being enacted. It was brought into play during debate at the Age Limit and was resurrected at the debating, and passing of the Coffee amendment bill.
The passed Bill amends the National Coffee Act, 2021 Act 17 of 2021, okaying the mainstreaming and rationalisation of the functions of the Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) into the Ministry responsible for agriculture.
The Minister of Agriculture, Frank Tumwebaze told the house that the Bill is part of the rationalization process.
“The Coffee Amendment Bill thereby, inter alia, relieves the Government of the financial drain on its resources and the burden of wasteful administration and expenditure on the Authority yet the Ministry may perform the functions with less cost and expenditure,” said Tumwebaze.
The Bill is also meant to facilitate efficient and effective service delivery by clearly delineating the mandates and functions of the Ministry in relation to other government agencies and departments, thereby avoiding duplication of mandates and functions.
The Bill was passed without the participation of the 12 members of the Opposition who the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, suspended on suspicion of having supported the morning chaos.
The suspended Members of Parliament include Anthony Akol of Kilak North who fought with Mityana Municipality Member of Parliament, Francis Zzaake over a chair, causing chaos in Parliament as other legislators tried to separate them. Plain cloth suspected security personnel worsened the situation as they beat up innocent opposition legislators.
Others suspended are Wakayima Musoke of Nansana Municipality, Aloysius Mukasa of Rubaga South, Charles Tebandeke of Bbale County, Francis Zaake of Mitanya Municipality and Isiah Sassaga of Budadiri East.
Others include Asinansi Nyakato of Hoima City, Derrick Nyeko of Makindye East, Frank Kabuye of Kasanda South, Evans Kanyike of Bukoto East, Shamim Malende of City and Buvuma DWR Susan Mugabi.
Some legislators were reported to have been arrested while Francis Zzaake was taken to Nsambya hospital where he is admitted after a rain of blows from Anthony Akol.
Member of Parliament Francis Zzaake, after having been punched with a rain of blows on the head by fellow MP Anthony Akol. Fellow MP for Buikwe, Dr. Lulume Bayiga, pushing Zzaake on a stretcher from Parliament to take him to Nsambya hospital where he is receiving treatment
Earlier the Speaker suspended debate for 30 minutes after a confusion that ensued when the Zaake alleged that there was a man with a gun in the house chambers, which is restricted for non members, referred to as strangers.
The mood was already heightened on Wednesday morning as the House is expected to vote and pass the contentious Coffee Amendment Bill.
The opposition and Buganda Caucus were against the Bill and mainly opposed to the mainstreaming of Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Government, however, maintained that the Coffee Amendment Bill is part of Rationalization of agencies to cut wasteful expenditure and realign service delivery.
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