Newly Elected MPs at orientation retreat in Kyankwazi

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga faced tough time in parliament while presiding over  parliament proceedings without most of  NRM MPs and NRM leaning Mps who are in Kyankwanzi retreat. The opposition wanted to hijack the government role of making ministerial statements in parliament.

The opposition chief whip Cecilia Ogwal after realizing that the minister of health had not turned up to make a ministerial statement over the update on Hepatitis B took the floor to update house on this disease. However, the speaker pleaded with her to return to her sit since she could not exhaust the answers MPs will ask related to 10 billion allocated for vaccination against Hepatitis B in affected districts.

Parliament sat with few NRM losers attending the proceedings since most MPs who were returned had gone for a retreat at Kyankwanzi. Speaker in the sitting was forced to request some members to present committee reports on behalf of the committee chairpersons who were absent for the house to transact business though many MPs were not available. Among the NRM MPs who attended are minister of education Jessica Alupo, Justice and constitutional Affairs minister Kahinda Otafire, Agriculture minister Teracce Bucyanayandi, minister of  state for public service, Mbarara municipality MP Merdard Bitekyerezo, Rosemary Nyakikongoro, Eddie Kwezira, Onyango Kakooba, Kyewalabye Kabajo among others.