The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa has said that proceedings of the House will be conducted in strict adherence of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament.
While addressing the House on Wednesday, 18 October 2023, Tayebwa said that the presiding officer will no longer receive responses to his communication.
“I want to apply the rules the way they are because that is what you [MPs] have demanded from me. In the rules, I do not have any provision called a reaction to the Speaker’s communication,” said Tayebwa.
He added that legislators will no longer be accepted to approach the Speaker’s chair, except for the Leader of Government Business, the Leader of the Opposition, the Government Chief Whip and any other Member the Speaker may call upon.
“You will be approaching the chair through chits. That is why we have officers of Parliament in uniform who will be able to pick your communication and I will respond to you in the same manner,” the Deputy Speaker noted.
He added that this would allow him to follow submissions from legislators with full attention.
“Sometimes a member is submitting and I am here talking to a colleague yet I am supposed to guide. I get stuck and end up giving communication that is not satisfactory,” Tayebwa said.
He also noted that the rules on the dress code will be enforced as provided for under Rule 82 of the Rules of Procedure that gives guidelines on the dignified manner of dressing for legislators while in Parliament.
The Deputy Speaker said the concept of African wear has been abused and added that such wear should be applied properly.
“Some of these are bought from Europe and are not African wear. This also applies to committees because it has been brought to my attention that members walk in wearing jeans, sneakers or flat shoes. For the women, kindly try to be as decent as possible,” said Tayebwa.
On Rule 83 that provides for conduct of Members of Parliament in the House, he stressed the need to avoid unnecessary movements in the Chamber and avoid interrupting a Member while they are speaking.
Under the same rule, a member shall not bring into the House any camera, arms or weapon, tape recorder or transistor radio.
Rule 83(2) adds that, ‘a Member may bring in specific electronic devices that cannot disrupt the proceedings of the House, and must also pass the security test of Parliament’.
He also referred to Rule 84 on the use of parliamentary language and Rule 85 on the code of conduct of Members of Parliament.
“I am patient in character and I can be guided, but only under the rules. My ruling will be final. I have a duty to protect the dignity of this House and I will ensure that it is done,” Tayebwa said.
The Deputy Speaker also urged legislators to raise points of procedure only on the ongoing proceedings in the House, and guided MPs to always state the rule to be referred to.
The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga appreciated the Speaker’s guidance on the rules and said he will give an opinion by the Opposition side.
“Your guidance is elaborate and I have asked my Attorney General to study the directives therein, such that he can advise us on the mode of compliance to the Speaker’s directive,” said Mpuuga.
The LOP added that he will make a statement on Thursday, 19 October 2023, in response to the statement by the State Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. David Muhoozi, on incidents involving security officials and National Unity Party (NUP) President and some MPs in Kampala and Kayunga districts on 05 and 09 October 2023.
“I also give the House oral notice that we shall bring a motion next week, with your indulgence Mr. Speaker, to have these matters considered by the House,” Mpuuga said.
