Parliament failed to have the Anti Homosexuality Bill tabled this afternoon for the first reading.
The bill was not accompanied by the certificate of financial implication which is issued by the ministry of finance, planning and economic development.
After several minutes of stalemate, the junior minister for investment Evelyn Anite told the house that Matia Kasaija had committed to have the certificate issued by Thursday.
The Tuesday afternoon session of Parliament was meant to have the scheduled Anti-Homosexuality Bill read for a first time for the immediate reference to the legal committee of Parliament for scrutiny.
But, the rush for which the private member was only given the leeway by parliament to introduce the bill last week was slowed down by the absence of a certificate of financial implication.
ANITA AMONG – Speaker of Parliament …..
The Rules of Procedure of Parliament requires that all bills introduced in the house should be accompanied by a Certificate of Financial Implication which paints a picture of the impact of the Bill on the economy by providing the estimates of revenue and expenditure over the period of not less than two years after the coming into effect of the bill.
The none issuance of the certificate prompted the August House to question the government stand on the matter.
POPS…
But, at the time none of the ministers responsible finance was in the house to respond to the concerns, leaving the government Chief whip Hamson Obua in the hot seat
HAMSON OBUA – Gov’t Chief Whip….
LILLY AKELLO – Minister of State for Ethics….
The arrival by junior minister for investment Evelyn Anite several minutes later helped to break the deadlock.
Anite told the house that the senior minister Matia Kasaija committed to have the certificate issued by Thursday.
Evenly Anite Minister of State for Investment……
It is until then that the bill shall be ready to be read for the first time to allow for scrutiny by the legal committee in consultation with the public.
Though the provisions of the rules of procedure provide for 45 days before reintroduction of the bill for consideration by the whole house, there are chances that the period could be cut short given an indication by Among that the process had been followed when a similar bill was passed in 2014 only for it to be technically quashed by the constitutional court for the lack of quorum at the time when it was passed.
