Aruu County

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The late Gen. Moses Ali was a very approachable leader. Despite the tense disagreements we used to have with him on his approach to issues of the conflict over the Apaa land, he remained approachable. In 2018, three cooperative societies were considered to receive tractors under the NAADS programme. Later, only two of them received them, but the most organised cooperative society was left out. I approached him, as the then Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Leader of Government Business. His swift approach and response amazed me. In no time, he took a helicopter and flew to Pader District. He met that cooperative society and – (Member timed out.)

294 MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS [Mr Ottober] I come from Pader, and I would like to raise some important issues regarding the matter we have on the Floor. In my constituency, I have two parishes: Got-Okong and Omega. I also have 12 villages in Acholibur Sub-County. I would like to express my appreciation to this Government for paying all chairpersons their honoraria. They all have official stamps, but, sadly, the names of these villages and two parishes do not appear on the Electoral Commission’s list for elections to be held in these administrative units. It is my prayer that these villages and parishes be considered. Thank you.

15 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 15 MAY 2026 58. Niyonsaba Alex Bufumbira County South Kisoro NRM 59. Nsamba Patrick Oshabe Kassanda County North Kassanda NUP 60. Ntale Nsereko Madina Kawempe Division South Kampala NRM 61. Obigah Rose Woman Representative Terego NRM 62. Ochai Maximus West Budama County North Tororo NRM 63. Ojok Andrew Oulanyah Omoro County Omoro NRM 64. Okello Patrick Onguti Aswa County Gulu DP 65. Okot Boniface Henry Kole South County Kole NRM 66. Odwori John Kagoma North County Jinja NUP 67. Oboth Marksons Jacob West Budama Central County Tororo NRM 68. Onzima Phiona Ayivu Division West Arua City NRM 69. Ongalo-Obote Clement Kenneth Kalaki County Kalaki NRM 70. Okia Joanne Aniku Woman Representative Madi-Okollo NRM 71. Nsegumire Muhamad Kibedi Mityana County North Mityana NRM 72. Okullo Francis Ochero County Kaberamaido NRM 73. Opio Samuel Acuti Kole North County Kole NRM 74. Okwi Constantine Kibale County Pallisa NRM 75. Waako Joy Peggy Older Persons Representative Female NRM 76. Ongiertho Emmanuel Jor Nebbi Municipality Nebbi Independent 77. Ssekitoleeko Robert Bamunanika County Luweero NUP 78. Ogwang Peter Ngariam County Katakwi NRM 79. Ongorok Richard Usuk County Katakwi NRM 80. Olanya Gilbert Kilak South County Amuru FDC 81. Okoya John Calvin Chua East County Kaberamaido NRM 82. Okello Geoffery Charles Nwoya East County Nwoya DP 83. Ogama Alli Ismail Lower Madi County Madi-Okollo NRM The House was suspended at 11.12 a.m. until 1.00 p.m. On resumption, at 1.00 p.m. 84. Wanyoto Godfrey Budadiri County West Sironko Independent 85. Nyamutoro Phiona Woman Representative Nebbi NRM 86. Opio Denish Geoffrey Nwoya County Nwoya DP 87. Origumisiriza Enid Atuheire Woman Representative Kabale NRM 88. Ottober Wellborn Odiya Aruu North County Pader NRM 89. Ssewagudde Robert PWD Representative N/A Independent 90. Otimgiw Isaac Ismail Padyere County Nebbi NRM 91. Ruteraho Lillian Woman Representative Isingiro NRM 92. Ssemwanga Joseph (Brig. Gen.) UPDF Representative N/A N/A 93. Sange Jackline Woman Representative Kween NRM 94. Opolot-Okwalinga Simon Peter Kanyum County Kumi NRM 95. Owere Richard Machika West Budama North East Tororo NRM 96. Paparu Lillian Obiale Woman Representative Arua NRM 97. Paak Peter Pex Dodoth East County Kaabong NRM 98. Rwakoojo Robina Gureme Woman Representative Gomba NRM 99. Rwashande Emmanuel (Brig. Gen. Rtd) Lwemiyaga County Ssembabule NRM 100. Sekabira Denes Katikamu North County Luweero NUP 101. Ssewungu Joseph Gonzaga Kalungu County West Kalungu NUP 102. Owino Nicholas Simon Tororo North County Tororo NRM

9 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 14 MAY 2026 56. Kirungi Annet Pamela Woman Representative Kabarole NRM 57. Kyogabiirwe Jackie Muganda Woman Representative Kyegegwa NRM 58. Lanyero Christine Awany Woman Representative Nwoya NRM 59. Logose Sarah Annet Woman Representative Butaleja NRM 60. Lokii John Baptist (Dr) Matheniko County Moroto NRM 61. Lokoru Albert Tepeth County Moroto Independent 62. Lokoru Stephenson Yoyo Chekwii East County Nakapiripirit NRM 63. Longoli Simon Peter Chekwii County (Kadam) Nakapiripirit NRM 64. Lubega George Willy Bugangaizi South County Kakumiro NRM 65. Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira Nyendo-Mukungwe County Masaka City NUP 66. Lugoloobi Amos Ntenjeru County North Kayunga NRM 67. Kiwanuka Sulaiman Nakifuma County Mukono NUP 68. Kuteesa Mary Kamuli Mwenge County South Kyenjojo NRM 69. Kyeyune Ivan Nakasongola County Nakasongola NUP 70. Lakisa Mercy Faith Woman Representative Alebtong NRM 71. Lenia Charity Kevin Vurra County Arua NRM 72. Mutebi Benard Mugoya Bulamogi County Kaliro Independent 73. Katooko Sylivia Damba Woman Representative Kibuku NRM 74. Kayogera Yona Busiki North County Namutumba Independent 75. Kiti Peter T’oo County Bukwo NRM 76. Lolem Micah Akasile Upe County Amudat NRM 77. Locap Peterkhen Bokora East County Napak NRM 78. Linda Irene City Woman Representative Fort Portal City NRM 79. Lokubal Emma Woman Representative Nabilatuk NRM 80. Katusiime Adrine Woman Representative Sheema NRM 81. Loluk Fidelis Logwee Napore West County Karenga Independent 82. Komakech Christopher Aruu County Pader NRM 83. Muzaid Khemis Arua Central Division Arua City FDC 84. Lamwaka Catherine Woman Representative Omoro NRM 85. Kiwanuka Abdallah Mukono County North Mukono NUP 86. Kyeyune Haruna Kasolo Kyotera County Kyotera NRM (The House was suspended at 11.42 a.m.) (On resumption at 1.00 p.m., the Deputy Clerk, Parliamentary Affairs presiding.) 87. Lokwang Hillary Ik County Kaabong NRM 88. Lowila CD Oketayot Woman Representative Pader NRM 89. Lugoloobi Willy Bageyente Bujumba County Kalangala NRM 90. Lugwar Benson Agogo North County Agago Independent 91. Lukyamuzi David Kalwanga Busujju County Mityana NUP 92. Kiwanuka Keefa Kiboga East County Kiboga NRM 93. Maala Zahrah Luyirika Makindye Division West Kampala NUP 94. Makumbi Henry Kamya Mityana County South Mityana NRM 95. Mariam Seif Woman Representative Iganga NRM 96. Mafabi Asha Nabulo Woman Representative Sironko NRM 97. Mamawi James Adjumani East County Adjumani Independent 98. Masaba Karim Industrial Division Mbale City Independent 99. Matembu Chriss Wataka Bubulo County West Manafwa Independent 100. Matovu Emmanuel Magoola Busiro County East Wakiso Independent 101. Mawanda Micheal Maranga Igara County East Bushenyi NRM

18647 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 Luwero, Nakasongola as well as water supply schemes in districts such as Terego, Moyo, Lamwo, Zombo, Agago, Pader, Namutumba, Mayuge, Ssembabule, Mityana, Isingiro, Kazo, Kyenjojo, Bukedea, Kanungu, Moroto, Kakumiro and Abim, among others. Colleagues, I can see that some of you are trying to keep pace. I jumped into the executive summary, which is on page, Page 3. However, the committee also notes material implementation constraints, particularly funding gaps, delayed counterpart funding, stalled contractor obligations, weak operation and maintenance financing, land acquisition delays, environmental compliance burdens, and institutional capacity limitations, which, if not addressed, will undermine the political credibility of the budget. Madam Speaker, the context of this report is that sectors and Votes under the committee’s purview are central to the Government’s broader economic growth for various reasons. First, energy powers production and industry, while the extractives are expected to create fiscal space and employment. On the other hand, water supports life and production, while environmental management protects the natural resource base on which the growth ultimately depends. The committee notes that the significance of these Votes is not abstract. In many constituencies, the Government is judged by whether power reaches the households, trading centres and industrial parks; whether piped water reaches institutions, towns and villages; whether boreholes and small schemes remain functional; whether the first oil is obtained and is properly regulated; and whether wetlands, forests and the fragile landscapes are actually protected for the benefit of all. This means that the budget scrutiny in these sectors must go beyond the aggregate figures and focus squarely on whether planned projects are financed, implemented, and sustained in actual locations where Ugandans live and work. Madam Speaker, I will go straight to Item 7.0: Programme budget allocations for Financial Year 2026/2027. Analysis of Vote 017 Vote 017: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development contributes to the sustainable energy development programme and a sustainable extractives industry development programme of the National Development Plan IV (NDPIV), with policy priorities covering electricity generation, transmission, distribution, clean cooking, petroleum infrastructure, minerals development, geothermal development, and strategic industrial energy investments. Madam Speaker, the committee notes, from the updated submissions of the budget estimates, that the total budget allocation for vote 017 rises from Shs 1.844 billion, in the Financial Year 2025/2026, to Shs 2.282 billion, in Financial Year 2026/2027, representing an increase of Shs 438.11 billion. Table two thereby gives you, colleagues , an overview of how these resources have been allocated. The committee further notes that the ministry’s functional allocation reflects a major emphasis on transmission, distribution, petroleum, and administration-related land acquisition and institutional costs, alongside continued support to generation, minerals, and clean cooking. Colleagues, table 4 gives us an allocation of resources by major functional areas. Madam Speaker, the committee notes that the ministry has identified substantial project outlay for Financial Year 2026/2027, and the medium term, and many of these projects are location-specific and visible. Colleagues, the major planned projects under Vote 017 represent the following, which I believe is a point of critical concern to most of us here. There is a project of Mutundwe-Buloba- Kabulasoke-Masaka and Kabulasoke-Nkonge-

18651 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 intended for Laropi and Lefori in Moyo, Akoro and Pangila, and Padibe West in Lamwo. The institutional water supply and sanitation project This one is intended to supply the Arocha prison in Apac and the Iceme health centre and surrounding areas in Oyam. The rural growth centre schemes in Ewanga in Madi-Okollo, Edrayo in Terego, Rodo and Nyori in Yumbe. The gravity and piped water schemes are intended for Ambe GFS in Zombo, the Ogili water supply and sanitation scheme in Agago, as well as Pader. The solar-powered schemes for Achukudu solar RGC in Napak. Colleagues, I am sure that the Hon Faith Nakut is now going to give me a bit- Table 12, in the Eastern region. There are rural growth centre piped water projects that are intended for Bulange in Namutumba, Nango in Mayuge, Bubugo- Itanda in Jinja, and Kagumba in Kamuli. Additional rural growth centre schemes, one intended for Oyama RGC in Kaberamaido. The institutional water supply and sanitation schemes in Ivukula prisons and the surrounding areas in Namutumba. The public sanitation facilities are intended for Mulatsi S.S. in Mbale and Lubani SSS in Jinja. The urban and small town water system schemes under the Water and Sanitation Development Facility East. In Manafwa, Bulangira, Bukumi, Kaproron, Kadungulu, Iyolwa, Mukura, Atutur and Mbale Industrial Park. Central region The ministry intends to undertake piped water schemes in Nankondo in Ssembabule, Moone in Nakasongola and Bulera in Mityana. The institutional water and sanitation schemes - Masaka Army Barracks. The solar-powered water schemes in Kyegegwa, Rakai, Namayingo and Buvuma districts. Then the other additional schemes and extensions are intended for Ngoma, Nyanseke, Busaale, Lunya, Kapeeka Industrial Park extension and Kikuube. In Western and Southwestern regions The major towns and cluster water systems. In Nyakashaka and Rubaya in Buhweju and Mbarara, Mabira, Bukiro, and Nyabisirira, Ntungamo Industrial Park, among others. The integrated water management and development schemes Kaliro-Namungalwe and Kyegegwa-Mpara- Ruyonza-Kabagore. This is the learned DAGs area. Isingiro water and sanitation scheme That is for the Isingiro District. Institutional water schemes in Butanda Secondary School in Kabale, Rugazi Health Centre IV in Rubirizi, and Ishekye School of the Handicapped in Sheema. The rural growth schemes Kyampangara and Nyamushojwa in Kazo, Kasaba in Kyenjojo, Rwentuha in Kyegegwa and Buhanda in Mubende. The solar-powered scheme Bikone and Isule-Katebenyangorongo in Kasese; Kagunga Iremera 1, Iremera 2 in Kisoro; and the Rubanda extension scheme.

Madam Speaker, thank you so much for this opportu - nity. I am humbled that you had to speak about health. There are individuals down there, espe - cially in Aruu, whose lives will change by the speech you made today. I thank you so much for that motherly and kind-hearted spirit. Madam Speaker, in Pader District, we only have two delivery beds.

Honourable Chairperson, just a minute. In the public gallery, we have pupils and teachers of ABC Primary School located in Pader District. They are represented by Hon. Komakech Christopher and Hon. Aciro Paska Menya. You are most welcome. Thank you so much for coming. You can see your

17996 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT March 2025. A copy of the arbitration award is also attached as Annex (v); (vii) UETCL has filed an application for enforcement of its award as a decree of court and is awaiting a court date for the hearing of the application. Upon obtaining the leave of the court to enforce the award, UETCL shall commence execution proceedings for recovery of outstanding amounts. A copy of the application is attached as Annex (vi). This relates to the amount withheld by UEDCL on account of their claim for the losses incurred in their network as a result of evacuation of energy from the small embedded generation plants, which was disputed by UETCL and the matter is before the regulator for review and determination. A letter is annexed as (vii); (viii) (ix) The long-term solution is a wheeling agreement between the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited(UEDCL) and the Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited(UETCL), which will provide modalities for compensation of UEDCL for such losses. The draft agreement with UEDCL was finalised and submitted to the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) for approval, and the copy is enclosed as annex (viii); (ix) Licences were not renewed by ERA. However, the Public Service Announcement(PSA) provides that obligations incurred prior to termination survive termination. Shs 6 billion relates to the Bundibugyo Energy Cooperative Society (BECS) and REA requested UETCL not to disconnect BECS and committed to pay the amount Bundibugyo Energy Cooperative Society owed UETCL. The amount to be offset against the Rural Electrification Levy payable to REA/Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, evidence of the correspondence is attached. (x) Shs 2.17 billion relates to claims of losses incurred by Kilembe Investments Limited(KIL) in the process of evacuating power from the small generation plant within the KIL area of operation. UETCL referred this matter to ERA for determination. ERA provided compensation for evacuation losses going forward. However, it did not compensate for the earlier losses incurred. KIL appealed; however, their licence expired before the appeal was determined by ERA. UETCL wrote to ERA to compensate UETCL Shs 2.85 billion relating to the Pader-Abim Community Multipurpose Electric Co-operative Society (PACMECS). The reason given by the client was non- payment of power bills by Government entities and delay by REA to refund their reimbursable costs. UETCL wrote to REA demanding that the amount payable be remitted directly to UETCL. This amount was offset against the Rural Electrification Levy payable to REA/ MEMD. Copies of correspondence between UETCL, PACMECS and REA are enclosed. (xi) Management continues to engage the Government through MEMD and MoFPED to have this amount reimbursed by the Government of Uganda or written off. In the interim, the amount has been attached against the rural electricity levy payable to the Government. Observations of the committee (i) UETCL’s failure to collect the outstanding receivables reflects laxity on the part of company management. Considering that the termination of the UMEME concession was foreseeable and known to UETCL, there was no strong buffer/fallback position to enable UETCL to recover the monies owed by UMEME, contrary to the company’s debt management policy.

Next item. Honourable members, in the public gallery, we have teachers and pupils from New Heritage Nursery and Primary School from Pader. They are represented by Hon. Okot Santa and Hon. Paska Menya Aciro. You are most welcome. (Applause) MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON NAME A RHINO SAVE A RHINO CAMPAIGN, 22 SEPTEMBER 2025, ZIWA SANCTUARY NAKASONGOLA DISTRICT

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I request the minister to consider and put this as an emergency - the Kitgum Matidi-Wol-Kalongo Road is impassable. It is a murram road, and for almost two to three years, we have struggled, especially when the rain is too much. Then also there is the Pajule- Pader-Kalongo Road, which also needs an emergency response. Madam Speaker, there is a spot in a place called Adjumani, then Ora Ka Tuk in Wol area - I do not know why they cannot put real murram, instead of grading it. It is better to put good murram, so that it can help us. Finally, there was a design in the Financial Year 2013/2014 to consider putting tarmac on the road from Pajule, via Pader, to Kalongo, but it is as if all those plans have gotten lost somewhere. May you consider bringing those on board because it is only Agago that does not have any tarmac in the Acholi Subregion?

Yes, Madam Speaker. Kitgum-Matidi-Waal-Kalongo Road is a big challenge and as it slopes down in Kalongo, the terrain is very challenging and I know the district cannot manage. We shall ensure that Kitgum station addresses the issue of the Kitgum-Matidi-Waal-Kalongo Road. On the Pajule-Pader-Patongo Road, under the project we are doing now; Rwekunye- Apac-Lira-Puranga Road on the section of the Puranga-Acholibur Road, we are going to have a loop to Pader District through Pajule. So that will address the Pajule issue and some tarmac into Pader. Madam Speaker, Pader is just like Kalungu. There is no tarmac in Pader. Tarmac goes like this - but we will get there. Obongi Ferry is not in a very good state. We need to have a full rehabilitation of the ferry. Hopefully, when we start the construction of the Laropi Bridge, we shall relieve that more serviceable ferry and bring it downwards. The Koch Goma Bridge is under the Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP) in the Prime Minister’s Office so I cannot respond on that. Lira-Otuke-Abim-Kotido Road is the road in the National Development Plan (NDP) IV. We will see whether we go through Achanpi or we first go to Kotido to Abim through Lira. Otherwise, we may eventually go to Achanpi and down to Soroti. Madam Speaker, Kotido-Moroto-Kaabong Road is a tourism project. Already, the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), the contractor who did the Entebbe Expressway, is in discussions with the finance ministry to pre-finance the project all the way from Moroto, Kotido-Kaabong-Karenga and up to Kidepo. Regarding the challenges of the station in Moyo, Madam Speaker, I do not think they have a lot of challenges. The challenge has been the delay to enable them to work, but that one we are resolving. The station managers who are out there are very industrious. They want to work. Once we solve this issue of them being allowed to operate their accounts, I think you will see a difference. Regarding the Karugutu-Ntoroko Road, there is already a contractor; Afcons, who is supposed to do that road. It has taken a while because, I think, again, of funding mechanisms. However, this is an oil road. It is package four of the oil road. It is going to be done soon because we are doing Lusalira-Nkonge now to Lumegere to Sembabule. So when we do that, Afcons will also come and do Karugutu-Ntoroko. Therefore, the maintenance of Fort Portal- Bundibugyo is critical because that is the only route which the people of Bundibugyo have. We have also China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) on that route to do a framework contract for maintenance up to Lamia. What are the adaptive engineering technologies which we are adopting to ensure that our roads survive the vagaries of nature? These are things which we do most of the time. All our projects, 90 per cent of them, must have the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) done and through that, we ensure

Madam Speaker, he is too tall, so for people who are short like me, when you take a photo with him, you look like a dwarf. (Laughter) In brief, he should prepare a stool. Thank you so much. Madam Speaker, I have another question from Hon. Veronica Nanyondo, the District Woman MP of Bukomansimbi. Her prayer is that there is an effect on the implementation of the new lower secondary school curriculum on primary school leavers. Can the Government update us on this matter? My response is that at the moment, primary school leavers transition from the knowledge- based curriculum to competence-based curriculum in secondary school, under the revised lower secondary school curriculum. The process of revising the primary school curriculum to make it competence-based has already commenced to harmonise curriculum designs across primary and secondary level education. Once this is complete, the learners will be introduced to competence-based teaching and learning from primary school and progress with it to secondary education. I got another question from Hon. Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga, MP for Nakawa Division East. He says that Uganda has very many experienced jua kalis, but they have no industrial parks and have continued to operate in a domestic setting, with very high electricity and water domestic tariffs. This is something that has crippled their businesses, yet they compete with investors who operate in Government industrial parks. These investors in Government industrial parks have always been incentivised in the form of tax exemptions, low electricity and water tariffs. This makes it harder for the jua kalis to compete favourably with them in the same market. His prayer is; When is the Government going to set up jua kali industrial parks? My response is that in this principle, for all Ugandan investors - if they all go through the Uganda Investment Authority, industrial parks have been designed with spaces specifically planned for setting up Small and Medium- sized Enterprises (SMEs), which cater for jua kali artisan activities. SME parks of 20 acres have been planned in all the operational industrial parks of Namanve, Soroti, Kasese, SINO-Mbale, and others. The Uganda Investment Authority also acquired the Mbarara SME Park of 12 acres that has been handed back to Gatsby Group, the SME artisans from Mbarara. The Government’s vision is to develop new industrial parks in phases, depending on the availability of resources in Gulu, Nebbi, Arua, Madi-Okollo, Yumbe, Pader, Paidha, Dokolo, Rukungiri, Isingiro, Oyam, Lira, Hoima, Buliisa, Kisoro, Kakumiro, Nakasongola, Luwero, Nakaseke, Mubende, Mityana, Masaka, Kabale, Bushenyi, Tororo, Rakai, Kamuli, Kween, Busia, Soroti, Gomba, Kayunga, Kyegegwa , and Iganga, where land has been mobilised by districts and already offered to Uganda Investment Authority for industrial development to foster innovation and equitable, sustainable industrial growth. Madam Speaker, the major infrastructure, for example, workplaces with shared common user facilities such as production equipment, showrooms for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to use as they sell and grow their businesses, will be constructed within the said industrial parks. 10. Hon. Lucy Akello, the District Woman Member of Parliament for Amuru, raised an issue on the lack of radiologists in the regional referral hospitals like Gulu, Soroti, Mbale and others.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. We are neighbouring Kitgum District, Otuke, Pader but all the nearest trading centres and subcounty headquarters that are neighbouring us are connected with power. When you go to Laita and Lumoi, both in Omia Pacwa, Wol in Lugungu, Okwadoko, which borders Lagoro, and then you go to Aywee Garagara –

17499 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 5 JUNE 2025 schools under the Uganda Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) programme, bringing the cumulative total to 161 seed schools, out of the 259 planned. The majority of the remaining schools are progressing well and are on schedule for completion by June, 2025. The total number of Government-aided primary schools in the country is now 12,550. People normally talk of parishes which do not have Government-aided primary schools. But how many parishes are there in Uganda? It is because some of the parishes have got more than one primary school. Otherwise, 12,000 could have covered every parish because remember, the villages are 72,000 and they are normally about five or 10 villages in a parish. The primary schools, supported by the Government, are now quite many but some of the parishes may have more than one. The total number of Government-aided secondary schools is 1,416. The technical and vocational schools are 189 and Government degree-awarding universities are 12. That is the infrastructure of education in the country now. Clean water and sanitation The proper management of our water and environmental resources is a major contributing factor to public health, agricultural productivity and climate change adaptation. The National Population and Housing Census Report of 2024 showed that at least eight in 10 households now have access to improved water sources, that is, piped water, protected springs, etc. In 1986, only 10 per cent – that is one out of 10 households – had access to a clean and safe water source. Today, 81.1 per cent of the households in Uganda are in the radius of one kilometre from a safe water source. This is on account of the Government’s prioritisation of the construction of piped water systems in both rural and urban areas. Government has constructed a number of solar- powered piped water systems in the districts of Agago, Alebtong, Kayunga, Mityana, Pader, etc. There are ongoing construction works in other districts like Buhweju – for Bisya water supply system; Kasese – for Nyamugasani gravity flow scheme; Ala-Ora water supply system to serve the districts of Terego, Madi- Okollo and Nebbi, among others. Additionally, through the District Water and Sanitation Conditional Grant, the local governments have been able to boost access to improved water sources across the country. The local governments have constructed a total of 2,564 taps, serving 452,000 persons; drilled 709 deep boreholes, serving 212,000 persons and 128 protected springs, serving 43,000 persons. They have also constructed 109 rainwater harvesting tanks, serving 654 persons and 79 production wells. A total of 1,333 boreholes and 28 piped water systems have been rehabilitated across the country, thus restoring service to 417,000 persons. Regional integration The political balkanisation of Africa created small states, many of which have small populations. Uganda, with 46 million people, is one of the bigger states. The solution to this problem is regional integration. The whole of Africa has got a very high population of 1.4 billion people but this population is broken up into small units. Small populations mean small markets. The problem is compounded by a low purchasing power because of low incomes. So you have got small populations with low incomes. How will they support business? There are also problems in the regional market such as lack of roads and lack of communication to enable us to fully exploit the regional market. That is why, for instance, Uganda has undertaken the construction of the Mpondwe to Beni highway to ease connectivity between Congo and Uganda. If we mobilise the whole of Africa to remove all trade barriers, we shall no longer worry about being shut out of markets in Europe or the USA. In the Budget speech, I will speak more about this issue of integration. I think for now, let me finish so that people can survive and go home.

Vdc D.ocrlptlon famrr {UOil-OOO'I 906 Namuhrmba District 35,L42,253 907 Napak Dhtrict 18.866,603 908 Nebbi District 31.883.866 909 Nsora District 24,572,193 910 Ntoroko District 22,L47,884 911 Nhrnearno District 60.o20.269 912 Nworra District 24.828.262 913 Obong District L3,867,997 9L4 Omoro District 27.841.869 915 Ohrke District 20.524.336 916 Oyan District 42,987,128 9L7 Pader Dhtrict 34.974.847 918 Pat<wach District 23.035.815 919 Pallisa District 40,860,992 920 Rakai District 40.361.351 92t Rubanda District 34.O45.767 922 Rubirizi District 25,548.389 923 Rukiga District 23.005.023 924 Rukungiri District 6.222.L97 925 Rwanpara District 22.200,947 926 Sembabule District 35.699.011 927 Serere District 36.469.+64 928 Sheerna District 32.418,391 929 Sironko District 37.84t.375 930 Soroti District 24.764.341 931 Terrgo District 26,419,590 932 Tororo District 65.667.982 933 t Wakiso District 93.497.965 934 Yumbe District -4 2F 48.948.006 935 District \ 28,680.777 $ i s + B lPa6e

Vot DG.-|DtLE rrou*[UqX0O'l 889 Masindi District 2.283.561 890 Mafruse District 3.74r.314 891 Mbale District 4.258.404 892 llfbarara District 3.574.783 893 Mitooma District 5.833.974 894 Mitlrana District 3.115.081 895 Moroto District t.903.749 896 Morro District 2.558.666 897 Mpigi District 2.989.567 898 Muberrde District 3.891.823 899 Mukono Distrist 3,57L.739 900 Nabilahrk District 2.235.822 901 Nakapiripirit District 3,L68.O24 902 Nakaseke District s.298.902 903 Nakasongola District 2,768.377 904 Nanarringo District 2.762,795 905 Naraisindwa District 3,760.490 906 Nanuhrmba District 2,790.205 907 Napak District 2.767.585 908 Nebbi Distf,ict 2.919,540 909 Ngora District 2.452.235 910 Ntoroko District 2,4L7,457 911 Nhrngamo District 5,001.791 9L2 Nrvoya District 4,385.464 913 Obong District 1,426,37L 914 Omoro District 4,102.293 915 Otulc District 2,067.969 916 Orram District 4,560.542 9L7 Pader Distrist 3,065.637 918 Pakcrach District 2,329.327 919 Pallisa District 2.5s7.798 920 Rakai District 3,859,310 92L Rubanda Distrirct 6,526,22L 922 Rubirizi District 3,908,2L7 923 Rukiga District .Gx, 7rtl 1,951,129 924 Bukungiri DisEict ( lflt I 4,367,466 925 Rwanpara District tfi \LIPV 3.910.185 Sembabule District 797 901 't I ,i , \$ 4, / -$ ge s 'd$t t t

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Chairperson of the committee for the report. My concern is about the police. As we look into providing transport means, I implore the Ministry to put into consideration supporting them with sufficient fuel. In most cases, Mr Speaker, when the police are required to go to a crime scene, they are not able to because of the inadequacy of fuel. In any case, they even request the people to help mobilise for fuel so that they can go and respond. When we look at the issue of transport, we must consider that transport goes together with fuel. Secondly, I would like to address the issue of prisons. I support the issue of decongesting our prisons. To speak specifically about Pader District, Mr Speaker, it is alarming and disappointing that the district does not have enough space for inmates. As I speak, Pader prison does not have electricity, and it is insecure for inmates to be in a dark place. By its own means, we are creating more insecurity. So, as we are looking at areas of improving our prisons, we are considering extending electricity to the prisons. Thank you.

16787 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 12 MARCH 2025 50. Vote 871: Kotido District – Shs 503,436,072; 51. Vote 872: Kumi District – Shs 202,740,000; 52. Vote 879: Lamwo District – Shs 47,114,000; 53. Vote 880: Lira District – Shs 23,760,000; 54. Vote 881: Luuka District – Shs 56,760,000; 55. Vote 884: Lyantonde District – Shs 6,720,000; 56. Vote 885: Madi-Okollo District – Shs 44,695,393; 57. Vote 886: Manafwa District – Shs 251,040,000; 58. Vote 887: Maracha District – Shs 103,800,000; 59. Vote 892: Mbarara District – Shs 18,195,000; 60. Vote 896: Moyo District – Shs 11,070,000; 61. Vote 900: Nabilatuk District – Shs 36,240,000; 62. Vote 902: Nakaseke District – Shs 27,735,600; 63. Vote 904: Namayingo District – Shs 6,580,000; 64. Vote 906: Namutumba District – Shs 472,752,800; 65. Vote 907: Napak District – Shs 186,300,000; 66. Vote 910: Ntoroko District – Shs 23,400,000; 67. Vote 911: Ntungamo District – Shs 17,160,000; 68. Vote 912: Nwoya District – Shs 259,740,012; 69. Vote 914: Omoro District – Shs 92,920,000; 70. Vote 917: Pader District – Shs 356,782,000; 71. Vote 919: Pallisa District – Shs 114,335,970; 72. Vote 923: Rukiga District – Shs 51,000,000; 73. Vote 924: Rukungiri District – Shs 6,298,000; 74. Vote 925: Rwampara District – Shs 26,694,209; 75. Vote 928: Sironko District – Shs 60,000,000; 76. Vote 929: Soroti District – Shs 56,881,000; 77. Vote 932: Tororo District – Shs 3,035,429,737; 78. Vote 935: Zombo District – Shs 153,577,688; and Sub-total for local government – Shs 15,985,336,921.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank the minister for the report. Let me go straight to the matter concerning the girl child. We have received reports showing that there are many girl child school dropouts, and among the factors causing them to leave school is the issue of sanitary pads. Mr Speaker, I would like to recollect from the submission of my honourable colleague on supporting the girl child with sanitary pads. We have senior women teachers in every school. Can we find a way of supporting these leaders in schools so that they can help our young children who are menstruating? (Applause) We ask the Government to exert effort to reduce taxes on pads so that the young generation is not exposed to risks which would encourage them to leave school. I would like to speak about the GROW project. In my district, people consider it to be for the rich. The people of Pader registered and opened bank accounts awaiting GROW funds. Unfortunately, they have not received this money, and they are disappointed because of the terms and collaterals that are required of them, yet they cannot afford them. We pray that the Government adjusts the collateral requirements so that the local woman whose livelihood we want to improve can benefit from this project. Thank you.

16084 SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEDULE NO.2 FOR FY 2024/2025 in Lunyiri. They are able only to register 30 people. At the end of the day, they travel back 30 kilometres. I request, if it would be possible, that the new administrative units that were created in Pader District, especially Lunyiri and Puranga subcounties, be availed with computers and officers to register. Thank you so much.

Most obliged, Mr Speaker. My sisters are not very easy on me. I hope I will survive. (Interjections) Hon. Namugga. (Laughter) The amount paid of Shs 114 billion, as quoted in Table 3 on page 17 of the committee’s report, relates to the Financial Year 2023/2024 figures. This left out payments made to claimants and beneficiaries of Financial Year 2021/2022, amounting to Shs 4.49 billion, especially those that were fully paid. Number three, the committee in clause 3.4(i) on page 15 of its report reported that out of the 1,900 claimants/beneficiaries in Pader District, only 800 claimants/beneficiaries have so far been paid.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The issue of war debt claimants has become our daily problem in the Acholi Subregion. In Pader District – I thank the Attorney-General for clarifying that over 800 people are not yet compensated. Out of those who have been compensated, they have given them a little drop of the payment, which does not still support them in any way.

(NUP, Woman Representative, Mityana): Thank you Mr Speaker. I would like to appreciate the Attorney-General for the response, but to also note, specifically Pader, where he says that 1,118 people were compensated and yet the committee found out that there were 800 claimants that were paid. We would like to look at the list because we have evidence from what we found on the ground, the people we talked to, and the information provided by the Office of the Auditor-General. We would therefore like the ministry to present the list of 1,118 people that they are saying they paid. However, the Attorney-General’s presentation concludes by saying that “whereas they furnished the committee with information relating to the Financial Years 2021/2022, and 2023/2024,” it appeared that the committee did not consider both financial years. The committee would like to assure this House that it considered all hard-copy reports presented by the office of the Auditor-General. We also got data from the website www.justice. go.ug/livestockcompensation, where all these payments related to compensation were posted for access. The committee verified that payments that were done in the Financial Year 2021/2022 were included in the data sheet for the Financial Year 2023/2024. For example, if a claimant was paid in the Financial Year 2021/2022, in the data sheet for Financial Year 2023/2024, there is a column where the payments made in the Financial Year 2021/2022 are indicated. That is why we recommended that because of these discrepancies, there should be a forensic

Appreciate that these questions come from members. So, I try to make sure that we answer them and give answers satisfactorily. Thank you so much. My response is that the National Seeds Project (NOSP) is a seven-year initiative that started in 2021 to 2028, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Local Government. Building on the successes of the Vegetable Oil Development Project(VODP) Phase 2 that started in 2010-2020, NOSP operates in 81 districts, clustered into hubs, that is West Nile, Northern, Eastern, Mid-Western and Karamoja. In Northern Uganda, the project is active in 17 districts including Lamwo, Pader, Kitgum, Gulu, Amuru, Nwoya, Omoro, Agago, Kwania, Otuke, Lira, Alebtong, Amolatar, Apac, Oyam Dokolo and Kole. The project aims to address the shortfall in domestic oil seed production and increase the local output of vegetable oil and related by- products. Its primary development objective is to accelerate commercialisation in the key oil-seed value chain, thereby improving livelihoods and resilience of smallholders involved in oil-seed production and marketing. Actual implementation of the project activities commenced in the financial year 2023/2024. The following have so far been carried out: i) The National Oil Seed Project has provided inputs such as soybean foundation seed and fertilisers to 48 clusters in the region for multiplication to ensure availability of quality declared seed closer to the farmers. This in turn supports farmer groups in growing the seed as grain to increase production and productivity, improve nutrition, and enhance backward and forward linkages within the region; ii) Extension service. The project has provided refresher training for 273 district extension staff to support farmers in the implementing seed value chain activities and to enhance production and productivity. iii) MAAIF, through the project, procured and distributed 162 motorcycles per district to ease mobility - two motorcycles per district- enhance service delivery, and boost the production and productivity of agricultural commodities; iv) Clustering and formation of farmer groups to enhance oilseed production and productivity, contribute to crushing [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

Madam Speaker, the Pader Woman MP is my mulamu – my sister-in-law. I have been to Pader a number of times. The issue of ex-gratia is not only in Pader or northern Uganda; it cuts across the country. In a report by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Cabinet last week, it was observed that there was under- budgeting by some local governments. So, we are handling the matter, not only for Pader but also other parts of the country. We shall rectify the problem.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On the 20 th of October, every year, the entire Uganda - the majority of the people who are 99 per cent Christians - go to Panyimur to celebrate and pray as pilgrims. This is because there are two martyrs; Jildo Irwa and Daudi Okello. This coming Sunday on the 20th, many people are going to move to Panyimur for the same. However, all the roads that lead to Panyimur in Agago North, are impassable. Whether you come from Karamoja, Kitgum, Pader and Lira side. And this year’s celebration is going to be led by the diocese of Kotido. Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Works and Transport should take urgent action so that on the 20th people can go and pray in Panyimur Shrine. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, allow me to rush to save time for the Prime Minister’s Time. There was a question from Hon. Juliet, that the project at Namanve is not being done in time. That is true. The project is lagging. It is at 50 per cent. It should have been completed by the 19th of January this year, but we are behind schedule. Today we are in October and the project is only at 50 per cent. When you speak, they say you are bad. Madam Speaker, Hon. Tumusiime, asked a question about the Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) of 10 per cent, and that we have not released the money. On that point, I agree with the committee’s recommendation and observations. Hon. Dr Atim, that we appropriated a cash budget and they did not spend the money. I also agree with the recommendation that the Accounting Officer should be held responsible – (Interjection) - yes because you did your part and released the money, which was not utilised. Madam Speaker, you did allude to that fact too. Hon. Mapenduzi, I would be very excited if you told me where the land is in Gulu because there is a huge interest from people who actually want to do an industrial park in Gulu. The last time I wrote to the Gulu District Local Government, they told me they did not have land and in the Acholi Subregion, the only land that was availed to us was in Pader. Madam Speaker, the unfortunate bit of it is that as Government, we have not gotten money to do the infrastructure development in Pader. I apologise to the people of Pader. We will make good by making sure that we mobilise more resources to do the project there.

14190 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT 6. Mr Bosco Ochen, District Speaker, Kitgum 7. Hon. John Nangiro, Nakapiripirit District Chairperson 8. Col (Rtd) Obwoya Oyat, Pader District Chairperson 9. Mr Emmanuel Orach, LCV Chairperson, Nwoya District Local Government, and 10. Mr Stephen Obitre, LCV Chairperson, Maracha District. They have come to observe the proceedings of this House. Please join me once again in welcoming them. Thank you. Next item. PRESENTATION OF PETITION ON THE LOW NET ENROLLMENT AND COMPLETION RATES IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND CHALLENGES IN ACCESSING TERTIARY AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN NORTHERN UGANDA

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I had requested permission to lay on the Table a copy of the minutes of the committee and a copy of the report. I beg to lay, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, this report is rather bulky, and in the interest of time, I request that you permit me to take the House through an executive summary that I have prepared. As I said, this report looks at the functionality of the district service commission and city service commission and also on personnel management in selected local governments across northern, eastern, and western regions. Mr Speaker, we already know the mandates of our committee, and in line with these mandates, the committee conducted an oversight visit to selected cities and districts of northern Uganda such as Arua, Maracha, Terego, Yumbe, Zombo, and Moyo in West Nile; Gulu District, Gulu City, Nwoya, Kitgum, and Pader in Acholi; Moroto Municipality, Moroto District, Amudat, Nabilatuk, Karenga, Kaabong, Kotido Municipality, and Kotido District in Karamoja; Lira City, Lira District, Amolatar District Local Government, Kole, and Otuke in Lango, to assess the functionality of the District and City Service Commission and to analyse the personnel management issues within local governments. Mr Speaker, the committee has made a comprehensive report with a detailed version of its findings, observations and recommendations, giving examples and scenarios from local government to bring out the issues affecting the functionality of these commissions and the staff. Without prejudice to the comprehensive report, this Executive Summary highlights the key issues as follows: Committee findings, observations, and recommendations. On the functionality of District Service Commission, Mr Speaker, 1. We looked at gaps in the commissions. The committee found out that 98.6 per cent of the District and City Service Commissions were functional by end of the Financial Year 2022/2023, and most commissions were fully constituted. However, there are some districts that are non-functional with insufficient number of commissions. For example, Amudat District had only one District Service Commission member, which severely affected the recruitment processes, leading to delays and increasing the risk of corruption. The committee recommends that the Ministry of Local Government, together with the Public Service Commission, should ensure that all commissions are fully constituted for efficient service delivery in local governments. 2. Delays in Public Service Commission approval processes The report highlights delays by the Public Service Commission in approving Service Commission nominees, often without providing reasons for rejection. This lack of transparency and delayed approvals impede the recruitment process and affect service delivery. In Moyo, delays in submitting approved names to the Service Commission were noted, attributed to negligence. The committee also noted poor grievance handling by the Public Service Commission, which has been slow in responding to appeals, leading to prolonged disputes and inefficiencies. The committee therefore recommends the following;

14221 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2024 On junior staff in an acting position, the committee discovered in local government that junior staff are often appointed to high- level positions due to favouritism and political interference, despite the presence of qualified senior staff. This practice has been observed in districts such as Gulu, Pader and Nwoya, and is detrimental to staff morals and career development. These junior staff make blatant errors while acting in such positions because they lack the requisite expertise for such offices. Mr Speaker, the committee recommends that assignments and acting duties should be based on seniority, experience and merit. The impact of low pay and discriminatory -

14229 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2024 We believe that the pledges of the President take precedence because the President gives pledges aware that there are some criteria or procedures it follows for something to be given, like a health centre, to be upgraded to a district hospital. So, why can’t the Government take into consideration Pajule Health Centre IV to be upgraded as the President pledged? Secondly, Pajule Health Centre IV is currently the biggest health centre we have in Pader District. We have many mothers who deliver in Pajule Health Centre IV yet it is incapacitated for deliveries. We do not have enough delivery wards for the mothers that deliver from there. The ministry pledged to fully facilitate the health centre IV to have every facility required to the standard of health centres IV. To date, we do not have that. Concerning the issue of Nodding Disease Syndrome, with your wisdom, Mr Speaker, last time, you recommended in Parliament that the children suffering from Nodding Disease Syndrome be given priority in the budget. Up to now, we have not realised anything allocated to these children who are battling with nodding disease. Let the Government take serious intervention with affirmative action for these children because they are there and are still living with us in that condition. Lastly, Awere Health Centre III was upgraded to a health centre IV. However, as I speak, Awere Health Centre IV has not yet received drugs to the level of a health centre IV. Our plea to the ministry is to ensure that all the health centre IVs receive the recommended level of drug to the standard. I beg to submit.

Thank you so much, Mr Speaker. I join my colleagues to thank the committee for the good report. However, I would like the chairperson of the committee to include the following. When I heard you read out the areas affected by the Nodding Disease Syndrome, you left the main area with the disease - that is the districts in East Acholi. These districts are; Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader, Omoro, and Gulu. Pader is the district with the highest number. We have over 5,000 children affected by the nodding disease. Pader District has about 10 subcounties affected by this disease. So, I request that you include them on your list. Secondly, when the President visited Atanga Subcounty to assess the Nodding Disease Syndrome issue, he made promises. One, he said he was going to give iron sheets to all the families affected by Nodding Disease Syndrome. This was because some of the children, because of mental disturbance, kept on burning their parents’ houses. The other promise he made is that Atanga Health Centre III should be elevated to a Health Centre IV, to cater for the children suffering from Nodding Disease Syndrome. I know the policy is that every county should have one health centre IV, but this is going to be a special case.

Madam Speaker, misinformation is disinformation. Yesterday, as the Committee on Physical Infrastructure presented on the Floor of this august House, it alluded to the fact that work was being undertaken on the Rwekunye-Apac–Lira- Acholibur-Puranga road. However, this is not true. The fact is that work is only taking place from Lira-Rwekunye and ending in Puranga. As the days go by, there is no work being done from Puranga to Acholibur. The matter has it that the contract for works on Puranga to Acholibur was given to Roko Construction Limited, but up to this day, Roko has never set foot in Puranga. The people are mad. Just as we came to the northern region, Madam Speaker, you alluded to the fact that Members who come to this sitting should be re-elected by their people. If this road is not worked on, I am scared that the simple me, Christopher Komakech - my people will have to vomit me. Isn’t it procedurally right that the same committee or the minister comes and articulates to the people of Pader why the Puranga- Acholibur Road is not being worked on, and why the contractor has never stepped on the site of duty?

Thank you, Madam Speaker, I am raising two issues. We have the roads that link to Agago North County. One of them comes from Kitgum Corner Alango, Kitgum Matidi Wol to Kalongo, and then it proceeds to Paimol. Another road comes from Pader, Pajule-Pader to Kalango. On the other hand, there is a road that comes from Otuke-Patongo to Kalango. [Mr Ngoya] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

14101 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 As I speak, there is a big emergency; we are on murrum roads. There have been floods. All the roads have been cut off and yet we have the only missionary hospital in Kalango; Dr Ambrosoli Hospital, which serves the catchment area from Abim, Namakora, and Pader, everybody flocks to Dr Ambrosoli Hospital, to get medical services. In Agago North, including Kalongo Town Council, there is no health centre III. Madam Speaker, I am presenting this so that, if the House deems it fit, we take it as an emergency on those roads. Ministry of Works and Transport and Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) should at least do some emergency work on those roads. Finally, Madam Speaker, on Karuma Bridge, when the site was given to the contractor, I was there –

Honourable members, before we get the Member in front here, in the VIP gallery, we have Col. (Rtd) Obwoya Fearless Oyat, the LC V Chairperson for Pader District. You are most welcome. We also have Mr Patrick Eriku Patrick, the Clerk to Adjumani Town Council. You are most welcome. We also have Hon. Lawrence Mangapi from Adjumani Town Council. You are most welcome. (Applause) Honourable members, as you may be aware, the country has been grappling with various challenges affecting the children in Karamoja. This motion is one of those that is aimed at devising a sustainable solution and improving the plight of the affected children - are we on education? Livestock! Because of the nature of the area, we need to increase the livestock, and, since we have been talking about livelihood – cente? In Akarimojong, it is Isilinga? We would like to see how best we can increase the livestock of Karamoja for us to be able to get sustainable income in the area. Yes, Hon. Nakut.

14135 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 the increased resource allocation to West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja subregions for livestock farming to accelerate socio-economic transformation. Madam Speaker, when you listen carefully to the State-of-Nation Address last financial year – not this particular financial year – the President of the Republic of Uganda told the country about areas that have really accelerated growth in the country. I still remember that number one was coffee, number two was dairy cattle or dairy farming and number three was about beef. That shows you that this sector of livestock is very key for the development of these areas. Madam Speaker, these areas – West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja – have been doing very well in livestock. In particular, some of these areas lost the cows or livestock because of the war. However, you realise that in the planning and budgeting for the country, more resources, in terms of livestock, have not been given to these particular subregions of West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja. As a result, even the existing ranches like Aswa Ranch, which is located in Pader – not in Kitgum – has not been receiving the resources needed to make sure that they do their work to prioritise so that the farmers in these areas go back to their original way of farming. Madam Speaker, when we talk about poverty in the country, you will notice that the contributors to poverty in this country have been in these four subregions, and it is very dangerous for our local community to contribute to poverty in the country other than contributing to its development. You all realise that when we talk about the poverty levels in the country, the levels in the Acholi Subregion went up, from 68 per cent in the recent Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) figures, to 70 per cent. While Karamoja is stagnating at around 65 per cent, West Nile at around 35, Lango - so basically, if the Government wants to achieve development in this country - this particular part of the country is not doing well because they have not been prioritising the issue of livestock farming and perennial crops, yet these are key to the development of this country. Therefore, I second this motion and think that the Government must take serious actions to make sure these particular subregions receive the necessary budget, which is the only way through which we can take our people out of poverty. When you look at the problems in the country now - the prices of the crops that the people produce - soybeans and maize - keep fluctuating daily. While the prices of milk and meat keep increasing. As I talk, a kilogramme of goat’s meat, for example, is about Shs 18,000 in Gulu yet a person who cultivated maize will sell a kilogramme at about Shs 400 or Sh500. How many kilogrammes of maize does one need to sell for them to buy a kilogramme of meat to eat with their family? These are some of the challenges that our local people have been facing because they have been engaged in crops that one has to work for three or four months and they have to go back. I was surprised yesterday when a Member of Parliament, my colleague, Hon. Dr Abed Bwanika, told us that the leaders of this subregion have not been guiding the community well. This is not the case. The Government has not prioritised livestock farming in northern Uganda while at the same time, the people who come with animals from other regions are grazing the animals here, getting a lot of milk, and also getting a lot of meat from this subregion. I beg to move and thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity. I support the motion urging the Government to prioritise and increase resource allocation for livestock farming in northern Uganda. Recently, the Government secured a market in Nigeria for milk and milk products worth $500 million annually. Therefore, it would be a good thing for northern Uganda to also take the opportunity and benefit from that market, which the country has secured. One thing that has to be done is to improve the breeds of animals in northern Uganda. For example, Karamoja has the largest number of cattle, but it does not produce milk. When you check the records of the Dairy Development Authority, you will notice that no milk comes from Karamoja, just because of the poor breed of animals. I know when money is invested in this sector, the breeds will improve and therefore we can also benefit from the market that the Government has secured. Recently, the Woman Member of Parliament for Terego informed Parliament about the type of cows that are in West Nile. She said the cows in Terego look like goats. It means they are so poor that they cannot even give any economic benefits. Take a look at the ranches in this country. For instance, in northern Uganda, we have Aswa Ranch, which is intended to benefit the communities and improve the breeds; it is in Pader. When you come to Lango, there is Maruzi Ranch, which also has challenges, but has not been attracting any money. In Karamoja, it is empty. There is no ranch. In West Nile, we have Got-Apwoyo, but it has also been having challenges. So, it would really be good for this Parliament and for the Government to make a deliberate effort to ensure that more money is put into these ranches and also in other areas that are deserving, like Karamoja, so that the animal population is improved. Otherwise, I thank the movers and I know we are on the right path. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am here to strongly support the motion for the Government to send more resources to the region because we are really doing bad. It is so painful that those who come to graze their animals hire land and then take it back. The cow that they could have bought at only Shs 500,000, after grazing it in the land of Nwoya, they will sell it at Shs 2 million. So, this is one of my justification and the confirmation that we must all, as northern Uganda, stand up for livestock farming. Pader District has Aswa Ranch. We have the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC and DB) in Aswa Ranch. I am so happy you said that there is money, which is going to be sent to Aswa Ranch, to the tune of around USD 355 million. I pray that the Government doesn’t make this money to only benefit the investors who are in Aswa ranch. This money should be prioritised to the community. NARGC-DB, which is in Aswa Ranch is a Government entity but they are not doing anything to support the community to stand on their own. If we could identify out-growers and NAGRC-DB directly supports them, we would fight poverty in Acholi Sub-region and no longer remain the same. So, I hereby strongly support the motion.

14160 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT In Financial Year 2023/2024, a budget allocation of Shs 80 billion was made available to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs for payment of claimants and beneficiaries in Acholi, Lango, and Teso subregions. Out of this, Shs 71.3 billion was received and Shs. 69.9 billion was paid out to the claimants and beneficiaries. The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs stated that to date, a total of Shs 121.28 billion has been released to the ministry for compensation of claimants/beneficiaries in Acholi and Teso subregions and Shs 119.24 billion has been paid out to the respective claimants. The details are attached in the report regarding what money went where. The committee was informed by the Deputy Attorney-General and the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development that as at 30 June 2024, the total outstanding liability for compensation claims so far verified amounted to Shs 472.72 billion and that the finance ministry had allocated only Shs 40 billion for the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in the Budget of the Financial Year 2024/2025 to cater for the outstanding claimant’s debt. The committee observed that: i) the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development had not provided for a budget in the medium term to cater for compensation of claimants/beneficiaries due to lack of comprehensive verification report on the compensation of all victims of war and insurgencies. ii) the finance ministry did not have a plan in place as it had not yet established the current total budget requirement for compensating all the claimants/beneficiaries in all the subregions, which were affected by war and insurgency. iii) the annual budgetary allocations made by the Government towards compensation of claimants/beneficiaries were not commensurate to the outstanding claimant debit requirement. Committee recommendations: i) That the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs should establish the total amount required to clear all claims. The finance ministry should provide the required amount to settle all the compensation claims within the Financial Year 2025/2026. This plan should be presented to the Parliament within six months from the time this report is adopted. ii) The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs should at all times confirm the status of bank accounts for individual claimants scheduled for payment by sharing the list with the local governments and other stakeholders prior to effecting any payment to avoid bouncing of the payments made. We looked at the actual payment of the claimant/ beneficiaries. The Attorney-General stated that the outstanding liability of the claims as of 30 th June was about Shs 400 billion - I have already read this. -However, upon actual analysis of the verified payment list submitted by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, the committee established that the actual outstanding total liability for compensation claims as at 30 June 2024 was Shs 208.72 billion, not Shs 472, leaving a variance of Shs 264 billion, whose purpose was never explained by the Attorney-General. The Attorney-General reported to the committee that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs had so far paid Shs 119.245 billion but the committee discovered that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs had actually paid only Shs 114.7 billion to the claimants. This leaves an explained variance of Shs 4.495 billion. The details of the payments have also been attached. Furthermore, the committee discovered a number of inconsistencies in payment to the claimants/beneficiaries across the affected sub- regions. These included, but not limited to - for example, in Pader District, out of the 1,900, only 800 had been paid. Madam Speaker, allow [Dr Bwanika] STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT

Thank you so much, Madam Speaker. My name is Christopher Komakech, the Member of Parliament for Aruu County, Pader District, which is 130 kilometres from where you are seated, Madam Speaker. I welcome everyone to the land of Morya . Welcome!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Aciro Paska Menya. I am the Woman Representative for Pader District. You are most welcome to the Acholi Subregion.

Honourable members, before we hear from the Minister of Northern Region, who had barazas with the different stakeholders, in the VIP Gallery this afternoon, we have the Most Reverend John Baptist Odama, the archbishop emeritus. He is right there. Join me in welcoming him. (Applause) He has done a lot for Northern Uganda. He did what he could at his time. We also have Mr James Tolit, the Town Clerk of Laroo-Pece, Gulu City. Thank you for coming and they are: 1. Mr Emmanuel Oroch, the LC V Chairperson, Nwoya District; 2. Mr Christopher Opio, the LC V Chairperson, Gulu District; 3. Mr Martin Okumu, the Deputy Prime Minister, Ker Kwaro Acholi – that is the cultural institution; 4. Ms Jane Frances Amongin, the Resident City Commissioner (RCC) of Gulu City; 5. Mr Samuel Ojok, the Agago District Speaker; 6. Mr Innocent Ahimbisibwe, Gulu City Town Clerk; 7. Mr Kamba Amir, Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Gulu City; 8. Mr Lotee Paul, LC V Chairman, Kotido District; 9. Mr Cosmas Okidi, Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Gulu District; 10. Ms Stella Abeto, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Kitgum District; 11. Mr Joseph Nangole, LC V Chairperson, Amudat District; 12. Mr Geoffrey Otim, Division Mayor, Laroo-Pece, Gulu City; 13. Mr Richard Bukone, the CAO, Gulu City; 14. Mr Sam Atuil, Lira City Mayor; 15. Mr Semei Okwir, the former RDC; Prof. George Ladaah, the Vice Chancellor, Gulu University; 16. Ms Grace Atim, RDC, Zombo District; 17. Col (Rtd) Ogwoya Oyat, LC V Chairperson, Pader District; 18. Mr Orik Okello, LC V Chairperson, Lira District; 19. Ms Akello Alice Opio, RDC, Gulu District; 20. Mr Muwonge Mbaagwa, CAO, Agago District; 21. Mr Christopher Arwai, LC V Chairperson, Kitgum; and 22. Mr Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, RDC, Nwoya District. They have come to witness today’s proceedings. (Applause) Yes, honourable minister. THE MINISTER OF STATE, OFFICE OF

14048 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT This implies that under Force Account, the money can maintain 18 kilometres, while under framework contract, all the money would maintain only 1.8 kilometres of the entire road. The committee recommends that the Government prioritises the maintenance of national roads to reduce on rehabilitation costs of early reconstruction of non-maintained roads. Encroachment on road reserves Madam Speaker, on encroachment on road reserves, like the honourable colleague mentioned, the committee was informed by UNRA that one of the challenges faced by the station is encroachment on road reserves and other property, especially those under the Kitgum station. The committee was concerned that, currently, the mitigation measures by UNRA are encouraging staff to be more vigilant in identifying encroachers during the inspection. The committee was further informed that the UNRA enforcement unit did not have staff at every station and, therefore, there was need for them at all stations for faster response to encroachment. The committee recommends that UNRA provides enforcement staff at each station and, where necessary, evacuates some encroachers from its property as a deterrent example to prospective encroachers. Madam Speaker, allow me to briefly get to the recommendations of the committee in that respect. 1. UNRA should consider engaging public- private partnership – this is in respect to the request which was placed by the Karuma business community about the health facilities – the restroom facilities – at the town council. They said that UNRA should consider engaging public-private partnership to establish restrooms along national roads to ensure that Ugandans and tourists along the roads do not get embarrassed. 2. UNRA should consider establishing bus stop sheds along the roads. Oil roads and other strategic roads in northern Uganda The committee observed that the oil roads in Nwoya District have not yet received the requisite attention and maintenance. The poor condition of these roads is not only hindering the smooth transportation of oil equipment and personnel but also affecting the livelihoods of local communities who rely on these roads for their daily activities. Through sharing with stakeholders, the committee was informed that there are a number of strategic roads that need to be attended to, so as to enhance interconnectivity of the road network in the northern region. These roads offer substantial economic and social benefits to the region. Awer-Amuru-Otwee-Kololo Road – the gateway to West Nile at Rhino Camp This road serves as a vital link connecting Nwoya and Amuru districts to the West Nile region. By connecting communities to the ferry at Kololo and providing access to Rhino Camp, this route is essential for boosting regional trade, enhancing market access, and catalysing cross-district commerce. Moroto Road (through Omoro to Pader, Agago, and Abim in Karamoja) This road is key to unlocking the economic potential of the subregion, connecting Omoro, Pader, Agago, and Abim districts up to Moroto. Upgrading it to a high-grade tarmac road will facilitate the efficient movement of agricultural produce, lower transport costs, and stimulate regional trade. This road is essential for attracting investments in agriculture, education, and other key sectors, driving inclusive growth, and enhancing socio-economic outcomes for communities in these districts.

Thank you so much, Madam Speaker. I want to give more information on those tourism roads in Acholi sub region, especially the one in Paimol where people from all walks of life come yearly on 20 th October to celebrate those two martyrs. They get stuck on the way because in Agago, we do not have any tarmac touching the district of Agago. We do not only have a historical site in Paimol, we also have another one in Kalongo, where in 2022 where Blessed Dr Ambrosoli was blessed to be one of the blessed persons in the world. And still people come from all walks of life and the roads are impassable because we do not have any tarmac touching Agago. We have option that the road work from Puranga to Acholi Bur will also extend up to Pader District. Therefore, if UNRA can prioritize this in NDP IV it is not in NDP III but they should prioritize this road in NDP IV from Pader District headquarters to Kalongo-Paimol then to Namakora joining Kidepo Tourism Road; that will be a complete road that will help our people from the whole world.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I am going to be very brief by asking questions. Number one, I would like to ask the Ministry of Works and Transport; you went to Pader and made a bridge called Watlac, which is from Atar to Kigwer Corner. After two months, the bridge collapsed, stopping children from going to school at Wipolo. We informed you several times, but you have not gone back to correct that bridge. When are you going to correct the bridge? The second question is, there is a programme called Rural Development and Food Security in Northern Uganda (RUDSEC). It has taken two years. I heard about this programme. It is supposed to make a road from Puranga-Awere- Bolo Agweng to come and put a bridge on Aruu Falls. It will help the people to access the main road. When are you going to take on this project? One of the roads is supposed to leave Lapul through Oweka to Okia. To date, we have not seen you doing this programme. Two years have ended. Can you explain to the people in Pader when you will do that, now that you are seated in Gulu Parliament? The last one, Madam Speaker, is that you have said we should not speak about community access roads. However, they are very important because the community access roads are the ones that help our people undertaking economic activities to come to the main road.

There is a procedural matter. Honourable members, before the procedural matter comes, in the VIP gallery we have Mr Milton Odongo, the RDC of Pader, and Mr Wadri Sam Nyakua, the Mayor of Arua City. We also have, Mr David Kennedy Odongo from Alebtong District, Mr John Nangiro from Nakapiripirit District, Mr Stephen Obitre from Maracha District, and Mr Abibu Bulia Khemij Awadi from Obongi District. We also have Mr Hassan Ringitho from Zombo District, Mr Michael Ivan Ocaya from Kitgum Municipal Council – he is the Deputy Speaker, and Ms Vanessa Anyako, the Female Youth Councillor, Laro Pece Division.

13922 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT for Parliament to support the ministry to raise the Umeme buyout amount, as well as giving the successor of Umeme access to financing for the dilapidated grid infrastructure. Umeme’s concession is ending seven months from today and to be specific, 28th February next year at midnight – (Interjections ) - You extended it to March? Okay, I stand to be corrected. The signed agreement provided for Uganda to undertake a study of the status of the grid assets managed by Umeme in the 17th year of the concession. Now, in the 19th year, the minister has not given this House a report on the status of the electricity grid managed by Umeme and by the extension of Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited. It has taken Hon. Lumu Richard’s lack of electricity infrastructure in Mityana South, for the minister to respond to the matters of energy governance with a budget implication. Liquidation of Umeme In this period of rationalisation of Government agencies, it was mooted and the minister informed the Parliament of the intention to merge the successor companies of the Uganda Electricity Board (UEB). From 2001, now 23 years down the road, UEB has been under liquidation. One of her babies, the Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), is about to repossess some of the assets that belonged to the board that has failed to die. We know that the former employees of UEB are dying without payment of their terminal benefits and many have lost hope for receiving their benefits in their lifetime. The minister, for some unknown reasons, never mentioned UEB in liquidation. Umeme’s Successor Uganda has nine electricity distribution companies; Umeme Limited, West Nile Rural Electrification Company (WENRECo), Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited (UEDCL), Bundibugyo Electricity Cooperative Society, Kyegegwa Rural Energy Cooperative Society, Pader-Abim Community Multipurpose Electricity Cooperative Society, Kilembe Investment Limited, Hydro Max and Kalangala Infrastructure Services Limited (KIS). Umeme is Uganda’s main electricity distribution company with a market share of over 95 per cent. UEDCL, the owner of the network, currently operated and maintained by Umeme, is slated to take back its assets and manage them. For UEDCL to expand the current network after taking over from Umeme, the minister should inform this House of the proposed source of financing for those investments. Other rural distribution challenges Mr Speaker, supply and tariffs in West Nile and Kalangala are unique. Both areas have just been connected to the national grid through the electricity transmission infrastructure and a marine cable, respectively. Kalangala, which was previously running on supply from a hybrid of solar and diesel engines, has now been connected to the national grid and joined the problems of the mainland. The tariffs are higher and there is power outage that never used to exist and is now so common in those two respective areas. In Kalangala, a unit of electricity is sold to domestic consumers at Shs 1,269.5 excluding VAT by a distributor, Kalangala Infrastructure Services Limited. This district is also unable to benefit from the one-pole service under the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project. We congratulate the people of West Nile upon joining the usual national grid challenges. The

Thank you. Mr Speaker, I thank you for the time you have given us to address the problems in the constituencies. In the same vein, allow me to bring the gratitude from Pader District to the Prime Minister. Ever since the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Government came into power, we have only had one Prime Minister who has taken time off to come to Pader and socialise with the locals. (Applause) Thank you so much, Madam Prime Minister, for coming to Pader. In that same vein, Pader District is Vote 917. Pader District has 1,359 councillors. In the last financial year, we appropriated money for paying these councillors and the LCs I – that is, the ex-gratia money – to a tune of Shs 380,060,000. However, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development released Shs 160 million only. As I speak, the LCs I and the councillors are up in arms. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, when are the LCs I and councillors receiving their ex-gratia payment? Thank you so much.

13456 PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET SPEECH FY 2024/2025 Water, sanitation and environment protection As a result of Government intervention, more Ugandans now have access to safe, clean water. Coverage in rural areas is now estimated at 67 per cent and 70 per cent in urban areas. Out of the 71,225 villages, 56,617 villages have been served with at least one safe water source. In the Financial Year 2024/2025, clean water coverage will increase to 70 per cent and 85 per cent in rural and urban areas respectively. In the rural areas, the target is to reduce the distance to the nearest source of clean and safe water for human and animal consumption to less than one kilometre while in urban areas to less than 500 metres. The following are among the priorities we have budgeted for the next financial year: v. Construction of 52 large solar-powered water supply systems in 19 districts that are currently at less than 50 per cent water coverage. These are - let me mention them; Agago, Yumbe, Amudat, Kaabong, Bulambuli, Buvuma, Buyende, Namayingo, Rakai, Nakaseke, Sembabule, Kibaale, Kasese, Kyegegwa, Mubende, Lyantonde, Kakumiro, Kassanda and Kisoro; vi. Construction of another 15 solar-powered water supply systems in the rural growth centres of Lwentulege, Bugwara, Kabamba, Kikoora, Mwitanzige, Lugala, Kitenga, Bukizibu/Bumwena, Igwaya, Kidera, Bugomolwa, Kitonge - Nakasero, Kikonge, Kasese and Lubaali. This will cover a population of over 272,000 persons; vii. Completion of the construction of 31 town water supply systems and sanitation facilities in Bulangira, Kanapa, Aligoi, Opengate Kawo, Karago, Nyakashaka, Buikwe, Bundibugyo, Kapchorwa, Kamuli, Namasale, Kaliro - Namungalwe, Butaleja–Busolwe, Budaka–Kadama- Tirinyi-Kibuku, Kyankwanzi, Butemba, Ngoma, Lunya, Palabek-Kal (Lamwo), Obongo, Lamwo, Rhino Camp, Arra/ Dufile, Amuru, Kole, Alangi, Zeu, Kakingol, Iriiri and Lorengacora; viii. Construction of 17 rural water supply systems in the refugee hosting districts of Adjumani, Lamwo, Madi-Okollo, Moyo, Terego and Yumbe; ix. Progress of the construction of 26 water supply systems at various stages in Manafwa (now at 80 per cent), Mukura (40 per cent), Kidera (40 per cent), Atutur (40 per cent), Kadungulu (10 per cent), Kaproron (10 per cent), Iyolwa (20 per cent), Bukumi (5 per cent), Rubaya (50 per cent), Bethlehem - Nabigasa, Phase 1 (50 per cent), Kabura - Mwizi Phase 1 (50 per cent), Mabira (50 per cent), Bukiro (50 per cent), Nyabisirira (50 per cent), Bugarama - Karweru (50 per cent), Rwere - Kateretere (50 per cent), Kagarama – Bushura - Kibuzigye (50 per cent), Nyanseke (80 per cent), Busaale (95 per cent), Kibuzi (100 per cent), Adilang, Puranga (Pader), Kasawo, Phase 1 (5 per cent), Kyebando - Kasimbi (5 per cent), Nabilatuk and Losilang; and x. Increasing the water for production storage capacity for commercial farmers from 52.6 million cubic metres to 76.8 million cubic metres. To support the restoration of our environment and reverse the effects of climate change, Government shall undertake the restoration of 42,450 hectares of degraded wetlands along the Awoja, Kandekye - Ruhorobero, Nchwera, Chambura, Kiruruma, Naigombwa, Kibimba, Tochi, Aswa, Sezibwa, Mayanja, Muzizi, Mpanga and Lumbuye water systems. In addition, Government shall demarcate a 720-kilometre boundary with concrete pillars along the following wetlands; Kibimba, Tochi, Sezibwa, Mayanja, Muzizi,Awoja, Mpologoma, Ishasha, Kandekye, Ruhorobero, Nchwera, Chambura, Kiruruma and Naigombwa. A total of 15 million seedlings of assorted tree species shall be procured and distributed to individual farmers in several districts as well as to refugee-

\;. ,, ,- i. }lL tu .,./ l -rfu \, I ffi P d 1 41" i ..- I =+*i: _.1 - / r \ Vote Description Amouat (OOO') 39,r92,9t4 902 Nakaseke District 903 Nakasongola District 3 1,339,971 904 Namayingo District 24,254,473 905 Namisindwa District 3t,27t,520 Namutumba District 33,601,552 906 907 Napak District 18,335,569 908 Nebbi District 3t,604,472 909 Ngora District 22,787,323 910 Ntoroko District 16,176,344 911 Ntungamo District 60,306,t24 9t2 Nwoya District 22,660,361 913 Obongi District L3,625,732 9t4 Omoro District 26,662,006 915 Otuke District 20,1OO,789 9L6 Oyam District 40,233,515 \rz Pader District 30,440,385 I s\a Pakwach District 22,888,O83 919 Pallisa District 36,368,2L1 920 Rakai District 39,855,468 92r Rubanda District 30,627,663 922 Rubirizi District 23,403,496 923 Rukiga District 2t,899,306 924 Rukungiri District 44,4to,975 925 Rwampara District 21,596,061 926 Sembabule District 33,249,O59 - 927 Serere District 35,784,457 928 Sheema District 3t,378,544 929 Sironko District 35,653,624 930 Soroti District 23,844,786 931 Terego District 23,87r,940 932 Tororo District 62,770,477 {7 {-.. 16 ir[

--T1tr- l+- ;,? "t ''i.. ?Y\,L \i. t -fi' --t*;=*" M I t({,,- I i: ij lL I v t1 f t l"=' ti.j Y Amount (OOO'| Vote Descriptlon 7,328,OO8 Manafwa District 886 3,44t,331 Maracha District 887 3,471,050 888 Masaka District 4,882,502 Masindi District 889 6,068,543 890 Mayuge District 6,429,337 Mbale District 891 3,641,820 492 Mbarara District 9,052,297 Mitooma District 893 6,6a2,495 894 Mityana District 1,658,849 895 Moroto District 1,922,2O4 896 Moyo District 3,477,355 897 Mpigi District 6,69L,743 898 Mubende District 3,766,672 899 Mukono District 4,343,422 Nabilatuk District 900 3,OL6,472 901 Nakapiripirit District 5,835,018 902 Nakaseke District 2,548,6t5 903 Nakasongola District 4,536,596 904 Namayingo District 4,9t8,709 Namisindwa District 905 3,981, 161 906 Namutumba District 3,807,O77 907 Napak District 4,970,272 Nebbi District 908 2,906,306 909 Ngora District t,75A,026 Ntoroko District 910 7,940,925 911 Ntungamo District 5,490,899 Nwoya District 9t2 L,649,499 913 Obongi District 2,603,313 9t4 Omoro District 2,577,067 915 Otuke District 6,868,886 9t6 Oyam District 3,127,34r 917 Pader District 2,692,356 918 Pakwach District 4,682,708 9t9 Pallisa District 3,493,436 920 Rakai District 5,950,433 92t Rubanda District 3,4tt,704 922 Rubirizi District ,-i I ,r 4 27 F$*\

12964 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT efficiency which can only be provided by a specialised and accredited agency like CDO; (b) With the overwhelming demand for textile products in Uganda and abroad, the task ahead is so enormous that it requires empowering and supporting CDO to mobilise farmers to grow more cotton, quality assurance, consolidate and build on its achievements. Mainstreaming CDO into MAAIF will, therefore, lead to failure to promote quality cotton and loss of market. Now that we are discouraging second-hand clothes, it is better that we emphasise this. (Applause) 5.3 Whether the cotton – (Ms Auma rose_) - thank you, my deputy chairperson, for doing a service to a sister. The other question is whether CDO’s costs of administration drain the treasury at the expense of service delivery. Cotton remains an important cash crop in Uganda, ranked third after coffee and tea. It is the main source of income for about 250,000 households, who cultivate cotton under rain- fed conditions with minimal use of inputs such as fertilisers and chemicals. CDO over the years has painstakingly built the cotton quality system through rigorous training of staff and investment in cotton laboratories. CDO runs a modern cotton classing laboratory with internationally accredited cotton classers, which has resulted in the recognition of Ugandan cotton in the international market where it fetches a premium price. Cotton being a seasonal crop requires the timely supply of viable planting seed. CDO has maintained the quality of cotton planting seeds through the strict regulation of ginning and management of cotton seed. When you go to the recently constructed processing facility in Pader District, you will see what we are talking about. CDO staff have built expertise over time and currently, a Ugandan who is a cotton classifier now serves on the International Cotton Association/Bremen Cotton Exchange (ICA Bremen) Cotton Testing Laboratory Certification Committee. Despite the above achievements, the Government of Uganda during the Financial Year 2023/2024, allocated only Shs 5.37 billion to the CDO. Sometimes allocation is Shs 2 billion. The CDO has been an underfunded entity, yet over 250,000 households in Uganda survive on cotton. Besides the allocated funds and being a marginalised sub-sector, CDO was able to contribute Shs 4.1 billion as NTR to the Consolidated Fund. The agency is mainly supported by the private sector. I do not know how the private sector can accept to be merged under a government entity. The committee knows that the Certificate of Financial Implications provided by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development only focuses on the savings calculated based on non-taxable revenues contributed by the sector without valuing the technical advice and quality assurance provided by CDO. In conclusion, the committee is alive to the Government’s intentions to revive the cotton production value chain, investment in apparel for export and garment production in the country. The committee further appreciates the role played by CDO in promoting quality cotton production and market access. CDO is a member of international cotton standard bodies; the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the International Cotton Association - Liverpool and Bremen Cotton Exchange. To be a member of these cotton standard bodies, it is a requirement for a country to have a cotton regulatory body for purposes of standards enforcement. Without a cotton regulatory body, it will be difficult to sell Ugandan cotton on the international market at a premium price. The committee, therefore, notes that justification to rationalise the Cotton [Ms Okori-Moe] THE COTTON DEVELOPMENT (AMENDMENT)BILL, 2024

12665 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 12 APRIL 2024 MS SANTA OKOT The second issue, Madam Speaker, is that Pader District specifically, Aruu North County at one-time, the Acholi people gave land to the Government and they put Aswa Ranch. The place is supposed to be for ranching; it is supposed to be for animals but last year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries went there with graders and farm machines and dug a large area for production. They grew their soya beans, maize, and so forth. In the process, they displaced so many people because they alleged that Aswa Ranch had taken the area where people were already staying. Madam Speaker, in 2016, the people in the lands ministry changed the original boundary; they encroached one mile into people’s land, a lot of property was destroyed and some graves were exhumed. I do not know if the minister is planning to compensate the people whose properties were destroyed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to raise my concern to this House about secondary schools in Pader District. I appreciate the committee for their report concerning upgrading of schools. However, much as we are upgrading schools, Pader District does not have Government- aided secondary schools with A-Level. The cost of paying for A-Level in private schools is expensive. My request is that as we do allocations –

We do not have any A-Level Government school in Pader District. Parents are really suffering.

That is a very important point. You need to gazette all those facilities and then in your ministry somebody in charge of secondary schools must go and visit Pader and see whether they have schools or not. And if they do not have, is your policy of having a secondary school per subcounty working? There is a motion by Hon. Faith.

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the committee for the good report that they presented. I know that the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development is in charge of all the special interest groups. There is one issue that has been appearing on the Floor of Parliament every year; that is the issue of the children affected by nodding syndrome during the war. Up to today, some of them have never walked, some are limping, some are on medication and they are doing well. I believe the issue of nodding syndrome cuts across the two ministries; Ministry of Gender and Ministry of Health, for medication, welfare under Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. When the chairperson presented the budget, I did not hear any mention of these children. Some weeks ago, the Speaker the Acholi Parliamentary Group, to do assessment on this issue. We went to Omoro, Pader, Kitgum and Lamwo, we invited the people who were in Lango. When we met the community and those children, the main thing that the parents requested for was to revive the rehabilitation and habitation centres, which were opened up by some time back by a white lady. However, when she ran out of the money, the Government did not complete the centres.

Isingiro, Kagadi, Nakaseseke, Nakasongola, Arua, obongi, Kitgum, Lamwo, Kamuli, Iganga, Agago, pader, Amum, and adjumani. (18) 1,800 MSMEs mobilized and sensitized on the importance of formatizing and registration of businesses. Amuru and Adjumani. ( 19) 1 ,550 MSMEs mobilized and sensitized on the importance of product certification, audits, good manufacturing practices and good hygiene practices for enterprises in Agago and pader. (20) Final draft guidelines for development, management and operation of Industrial Parks developed. (21) Draft regulations for scrap metal trade developed. (22) Draft amendment to Licensing Act Regulations devetoped. (23) Development of guidelines for the Eco-certification of industries tabled. (24) Production and trade in the pineappte sub-sector profile Table 12: MTIC Proposed Budget allocation FY 2o24l25 and Variances between Approved and proposed (UGX, Billion| Source.. Semi- A nnual Budge Performance v {, Budget Category FY 20/23124 Budget App Budget Spent by End Dec FY 2024l25 Budget Estimates Variance Between Approved and Proposed Wage 3.248 1.403 2.894 -0.354 Non-lllage 155.589 86.625 LOL.2r9 -54.37 GoU Dev't 1O.826 5.065 I 1.16 0.334 Arrears 0.335 0 0 -0.335 Total Budget 169.998 93.093 t15.273 -54.725 W -{*- fr 45 Report FY 2023/24 & ( eTrl

Hon. Santa, the committee report on page 4 shows that they visited families in Gulu and Omoro districts. They also visited the health centres in Omoro, Pader and Kitgum, meaning that they did not go to Lango. What is very important, honourable members, is getting a full picture even if the committee does not go there. We have a way of getting it. During budgeting, we will ensure that all these issues are looked at. Hon. Komakech –

12160 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT On that note, I would like to thank everyone who has come out to hear the plight of these children. I thank the President; he took his own way and donated heads of cattle to these children. In Pader, each family received two heads of cattle so that they can get milk. However, this is just a smear of an ice cream. I would like to paint for you the exact picture as a technocrat in that field and as a Member of Parliament who represents these children. Honourable members, nodding syndrome is a disease for the children and it is not curable at whatsoever case. The worst part of it is that as these children grow, they develop another form of mental illness. They upgrade from nodding syndrome to a more severe form of mental illness. It could be bipolar or schizophrenia, whatever you call it. We should note that every time the children get a seizure – a seizure is a feat – they get mental retardation. These children cannot feed themselves or do daily activities of living, meaning that they are property of the Government. How it pains if the Government – I am not saying this to demean the Government. We always receive food grants once a year. Thanks to the Prime Minister who gives. Each family gets 10 kilogrammes of maize flour and five or 10 kilogrammes of beans, once a year. The medicine that these children take aggravates appetite for eating. The only way you can treat the brain or improve it is by eating well. Their appetite goes high and they end up eating dust on the roads. This is the problem we go through. The Government allocated Shs 1 billion in the Tenth Parliament and this money was squandered. In Pader District, I can confirm to you that no family benefited from the Shs 1 billion that was released. Iron sheets were donated, mattresses were donated, but none of the families received this help. Mr Speaker, I invoke and pray to this august House that in the coming budget, let us consider the plea of the children suffering from nodding disease, who have now turned into adults. Some of them have given birth to children having Nodding Disease Syndrome. So, it is a generation that will go on and on. I implore us to put funds aside. I request the Minister of Health – the President had pledged establishment of two rehabilitation centres, one in Omoro and another in Pader. To date, we are still waiting for these rehabilitation centres so that our children can seek help. Thank you very much. I will be very glad if our request is put into consideration.

This matter is not new in this Parliament and it comes up in each term. The very last time that I handled this matter was in 2018 when it was raised by Hon. Franca Akello on the Floor of this House. It made me to go and visit all the districts to ascertain exactly what was on the ground. As we all know, Nodding Syndrome neurological disorder is severe in some of the affected children and also mild but unfortunately, some of them are completely bedridden. When I visited, the majority were falling in the last category of those who were severely affected, comprising about 74 percent of the patients. At that time, the majority of the cases were in Pader but when I visited, what I found on the ground was that there was confusion between Nodding Syndrome and Epilepsy, which is rampant in most of the districts. This is where there is need for the minister - I hope she is still here; oh, she is hiding the other side. There is need for the minister to tell us the current statistics - (Interjection) No, I withdraw that. She is not hiding; I had not seen her. The Government has done its best to support the families with the clinical care. And when the NGOs that were operating in Kitgum and Omoro closed, the Government was providing for those services at the health facilities. However, we found out that the actual number of Nodding Syndrome cases was dropping. What was going up were the cases of epilepsy. But of course, we also found the black fly in the community and Government was supposed to spray and kill them. However, the people must also cooperate and take Ivermectin because there was lack of cooperation from some of the population. If everybody took that medication, we would definitely be able to deal now with the challenge of epilepsy caused by the black fly. I need to know from the ministry the real Nodding Syndrome and Epilepsy cases because there is a mix of the two. Otherwise, I want to thank - When you meet these children, you feel sorry for the parents. It was a pathetic situation, seeing your normal child turn into something else and becoming completely helpless. The child has to be fed, some parents because they do not have anybody to leave this child with, they would either lock them in the house or tie them with some rope outside so that this child does not wander. What I can say is that by then, the numbers for the nodding syndrome were going down while epilepsy was going up. So, we need to get clarity on that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving us the opportunity to debate this report. I want to thank the Committee on Health for going on the ground to ascertain the magnitude of the plight of our people and what we have been going through. I have been privileged to be among the few MPs who visited the site, not once, but more than thrice and I would like to comment on the report presented by the Committee on Health on this Floor. First of all, on page 19, the committee said that they were informed that the Office of the Prime Minister distributed 270 pieces of iron sheets to the households affected by Nodding Syndrome. However, what we got on the ground was that they only received 200 pieces of iron sheets, and on the same page, there was also an allocation of Shs 18 million to Gulu District, to enable them to cope up with increased demand of handling patients but we found that only Shs 8million was received and not 18 as it is in the report. Mr Speaker, when I go back to the issue of iron sheets, the prayers for the affected families are that - when you look at the population of the people that are affected with the nodding disease – we were in Omoro and Pader. I had a commitment so I had to run back, but the people affected are over a thousand and when you take 20 iron sheets to the population, I find it strange because what these parents go through to take care of the children is terrible. They chain them up when they are going out to look for a livelihood. They cried and said - Mr Speaker, we saw some of the victims seriously burnt and when we arrived in Pader District at Awere, we found tears still rolling down the faces of the parents because they had just lost a child who drowned in the river since the child was not tied up, he escaped. They told us that when the moon is about to set, that is when they get serious attacks. When they are attacked and there is no older person around, they become so wild that they can beat and overpower you. What happens is that they can even burn the grass-thatched houses; they have been burning houses so the community, the families and the affected have requested that the Government supplies every affected household, be it in Acholi - because we are debating nationally or Lango to distribute at least 20 pieces of iron sheets to the affected families so that they are

12164 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT current situation of Nodding Syndrome in the subregion in the particular areas referred to. I was in Odek, Awere just two days ago and there was a new case discovered in 2024 and taken to the health workers. This new case is a seven-year-old boy. It is the newest case in that area. Mr Speaker, what worries me more is that the Ministry of Health from the time the Nodding Syndrome came to be heard about, has been doing research upon research but we have never got any concrete position as far as the research they have been doing is concerned. In 2012/2013, when I was working in Pader as a Resident District Commissioner (RDC) - I would like to thank the President for his intervention in this matter. The President had to go on the ground in Angagura Subcounty to attend to this matter after his attention was drawn to it. He directed for an inter-ministerial committee to be constituted and supervised by the Prime Minister. The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and other ministries were members of this committee. However, from the time that recommendations were arrived at; the aerial sprays, river dousing took place but three years after that, a lot changed totally. I want to state clearly on the Floor of this House that ministries have been implementing their interventions on nodding syndrome in a very haphazard manner, without proper coordination. Mr Speaker, when we talk about the issue of nodding syndrome and supply of drugs, most of these children have stayed for five months without medication. It is the anti-seizure drug that helps them normally. I visited the children in September last year and found that they stayed for seven months without medication. You can imagine the kind of situation we are in. I want to appeal to the Ministry of Health to get on the ground and assess the situation now and give the most current report to this Parliament on their intervention as far as case management is concerned. I want to add my voice on the issue of reopening rehabilitation centres. The rehabilitation centre in Owaja Village, Malaba, Omoro District has been closed since 2017 because of funding. It is true that the President made a commitment and recommended that the Ministry of Health should take over these facilities and plan for them. In the last financial year, we raised this matter to the Ministry of Health but nothing was done. Now, in this planning process, I want to agree with your proposal that we have a meeting with these ministries and the Prime Minister so that some of these issues are taken care of in the forthcoming budget. These centres to be reopened with the establishment of health centre IIIs so that they can take care of the medical needs of these children. Alongside the care aspect of giving care to these children. Mr Speaker, if you get to visit these facilities once open and children are being attended to properly at the care centres, you may not even believe that they are sick. They tend to improve very quickly. Once they are attended to with proper feeding and medication in time, their condition improves so fast. That time when they were under proper attention, some of them were even able to go back to school. However, the situation has totally deteriorated. I really agree that with the proposal so that these centres be reopened -

Thank you, Mr Speaker. When I was working in Pader, I was the technical advisor for maternal and child health and HIV/AIDS and nutrition with households with AFCA Foundation. We visited households with Nodding Syndrome cases, and we used to supply blankets and other household items to the families affected. A child with Nodding Syndrome is so stressing to the parents. We have those parents still living up to now with those children? What amount of stress, sincerely, do they have from that time up to this time that we are discussing the disease in this Parliament? I thank the Government for trying their best to support these people. However, there are people who do not care; the people who swindle what is given to support these families. These people must be investigated. We would now be at peace and feeling at home because the children and the parents would be supported by the amount of money we are hearing of the Shs 1 billion that was given to support the families. The Nodding Syndrome cases are also in Lango as submitted by Hon. Santa Alum. I was requesting that the number of these cases in Lango subregion, most especially in Erute North in Oyam District, should also be ascertained to add on this number of the Nodding Syndrome cases in Acholi, so that if there is going to be any intervention, they would go together. I heard you were talking of the Chairperson of Acholi parliamentary group going together with the Government Chief Whip to the Rt Hon. Prime minister. I would also interest myself and I request you if Lango parliamentary group can also join in and we ascertain the number in Erute North and also in Oyam districts.

The parents of these children are in so much pain that they cannot do any economic activity which can allow them to support their children. This is because they are so vulnerable and cannot move anywhere. Mr Speaker, as the woman MP for Pader District, I tried to intervene by giving a supportive hand, making them form a group which is helping them. The support that the Government is giving to these people is not reaching them, because this support is extended to districts, which in turn expect the family or the parents of these victims to go to the district or the subcounty to pick the support. They prefer the Government extending support directly to them in their households because they cannot leave their children at risk to come and get 10 kilograms of beans and 10 kilograms of posho . The support should go directly to their households if there is any. Mr Speaker, I support the view of the rehabilitation centre. It is very important that it is created because when these children are brought together, like honourable colleagues said, it will be easy to track and find where they are and give them direct support. When we give them the support, we are able to find a better way of bringing their mind-sets and also helping their parents to come out of the stress and trauma they are going through in communities. Mr Speaker, I inform the House that as we speak, we do not have a clear statistic of these children in the community. Every day they are dying and there are also new cases that we can confirm. My appeal to the Government is to send teams on ground so that we are able to ascertain how many have died, how many new cases we have, and what we can do to have a permanent solution. These people are crying and we, the people or the leaders of the Acholi Subregion, cannot move on when our people are crying and believe we are not doing much to support them. This is because every time we go, they are not given any permanent solution and support to help them live as any other normal Ugandan. My cry is for the people of Acholi Subregion and Lango Subregion. This is a very unique disease which the community suspects could be a post-war effect that we may not know. We do not want to dig deep, but we want to find solutions so that these people – (Member timed out.)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker and all Members who have contributed to this report. From the onset, I would like to note that I feel so much pain when I listen to Members who have come across these children and seen them suffering. I have come across them, not in a rehabilitation centre but in a home. I have seen the pain of a mother who has a child with Nodding Syndrome. I want to commit that the Minister of Health is doing all it takes under the circumstances and with the limited resource envelope to make sure this ends. It is so sad for everybody. None of us may have that child but most of us are parents and we know what it means to have a condition that is not treatable and is out of your control. However, I would like to clarify a few things. As the Ministry of Health, we know that this Nodding Syndrome is in eight districts and two of them are in the Lango Subregion. Oyam and Lira are in Lango, isn’t it? The Ministry of Health is already there. They are working with Omoro, Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo, Amuru, Oyam, Lira and Pader. Regarding this Nodding Syndrome, the Ministry of Health has a number. There are 2,200 children who have been reported and are under care and treatment. Out of these, some healed completely. Others even got married and have had children. We have others who sat senior six exams. Actually, their performance was not very good because of mental retardation but they grew into useful human beings. So, they need to get that treatment and also live productive lives. In one of the letters that the Ministry of Health wrote to the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury requesting for funds -most of you people from Northern Uganda are aware that the money that came through the Ministry of Health was not sufficient. It was little money. Nonetheless, the Ministry of Health at least provided treatment for these children, which is their core mandate. Mr Speaker, Nodding Syndrome requires a multi-sectoral approach. The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has got to come in. The Office of the Prime Minister

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to clarify on some of the few issues that have been raised. First, in the case of Lango. I state that the cases we found in Omoro District were coming from Oyam because Omoro District borders Oyam District and the rehabilitation centre that is at Adek is actually at the border between Omoro and Oyam. Secondly, the cases from Lira were actually being reported also under those in Pader because it borders Lira District. What we found was that most of the cases in Oyam and Lira were moving towards Omoro and also Pader because that is where the services were available unlike in Lira and therefore it needs intervention in all those areas. Thirdly, these rehabilitation centres are health centres, social centres and also educational centres where they acquire vocational skills and they are integrated back into the community. We found out that some of the cases were integrated back into the community but there were some which were very severe and in the end, they went back home but still they could not be managed. That is the reason we proposed that a monthly support is given to those families because they have to stay close to them and they cannot go to their gardens, shops and businesses because if they do that, then there is a higher risk on them. Lastly, in regard to the new cases, in what we presented, we said that what they observed was that wherever there was a high population of the black flies, there was a high prevalence of nodding disease syndrome, mainly along the River Aswa. However, that hypothesis had a challenge. There are parts of the world in Latin America and Asia with a high black fly population but no nodding disease syndrome. Therefore, there could be possibilities that new cases may have emerged because the black fly hypothesis was not conclusive. Therefore, the proposal to support research will help to address this. In science, they say, “absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of absence.” Thank you.

Madam Prime Minister, with a population of 220,000 people, Pader District scores eighth in HIV prevalence in the country. It also rates number one in having children with Nodding Disease Syndrome and mental health is scorching in the district. Pader District last received medicine, in all health centres, last year in April. As we speak currently, all health centres do not have medicine to treat children with nodding disease and people with HIV. The district health officer (DHO) and us, as leaders, are lamenting. My question is: what plan does the Government of Uganda have for the people of Pader to handle chronic diseases? When is medicine going to be supplied to all health centres in Pader District? Thank you.

12111 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA T HURSDAY, 29 F EBRUARY 2024 We only came in when a Member brought the issue here on the Floor of Parliament. And when we went back to the office, we agreed to support the people suffering from Nodding Syndrome under the Ministry of Northern Uganda. That is how we started supporting them with food. If they have been delayed, it is another matter. We can always get in touch with our brothers and give more support. The issue of HIV/AIDS, which the Member is talking about will be handled by the Ministry of Health to find out why the prevalence in Pader is that much. Lastly, regarding the supply of drugs using my office, I will prevail over NMS to make sure that they supply you with drugs, but I do not think that they last supplied you in April because in the report I have, they last supplied districts in the month of December. For January and February where we are in, the drugs have started moving. I believe your district will also get.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will make use of the five minutes. Let us go to page 3. The areas that we visited are highlighted; Pader, Omoro and Lamwo. The prevalence of Nodding Syndrome in the African countries is well highlighted; like I had mentioned, they are

11864 MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan. Mr Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to page 5, which is about the findings, observations and recommendations. 5.1 The extent of prevalence of Nodding Syndrome in Acholi Subregion. There are five tables. Table 1 is Pader District and it has about 1,000 cases. Table 2 is Kitgum and shows that there are 527, table 3 is Lamwo, table 4 is Omoro and table 5 is Gulu District. Committee observations According to records from the district local governments –

Mr Speaker, allow me to thank UPDF in Pader attached to the Fifth Division. Pader is one of the districts that has enjoyed the benefits of having a UPDF division. That division has schools and health centres that are benefiting our children.

I am only saying that we should give credit where it is due, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, history tends to repeat itself. In 1988, in Northern Uganda, especially Acholi Subregion, saw the birth of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency that claimed thousands of lives in Acholi Subregion. Currently, in my district, we have juvenile delinquencies popping up every day and these children are as a result of the insurgency that occurred in Northern Uganda. You will not believe this, but due to lack of work and lack of rehabilitation, these children, our own children, our own blood, have resorted to breaking into shops, breaking into houses, and stealing salaries of civil servants. I will give an example of Puranga Sub-County in Ogonyo trading centre. Just last week, a fight brewed up and five people got seriously injured and they were admitted in Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. Mr Speaker, we are requesting the Minister of Internal Affairs to come to Pader District and solve the issue of lack of police stations in Pader District. Puranga Sub-county, Pokor Sub-county, Lunyiri Sub-county, all these are sub-counties without any police stations yet these juvenile delinquents are taking advantage of that. Secondly, Mr Speaker, I would also want to implore the Minister of Gender. We have heard of Juakali projects coming up. Such projects do not come to Pader District. There are very many projects coming up such as the Presidential Initiative for Skilling Youth. We are benefiting, but the numbers are less. Can the minister come to Pader District and handle that issue? Thank you so much, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity. I have heard what the Honourable Member of Pader has said and I would like to confirm that there are such youth coming up among the communities and the cities. I will liaise with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, so that we can discuss the issues on site.

11447 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 25 JANUARY 2024 ministry to fast-track the implementation of the Agricultural Value Chain Development Strategy. Extension services a) The committee recommends that an additional Shs 10 billion be allocated in the budget to facilitate recruitment and deployment of additional extension staff. b) The shortfall of Shs 5.4 billion for the rollout of e- extension systems across the country, be provided. c) The committee further recommends that where extension workers have been deployed, a study should be done to assess their impact on agricultural activities in those areas. Agricultural mechanisation a) The committee recommends that with the Climate Change Smart Funding, priority should be given to the already existing mechanisation centres by recruiting enough staff, providing sufficient equipment, and when they are fully operational, the other remaining centres can be embarked on instead of creating new centres. b) The ministry must formulate and present before Parliament a national mechanisation strategy and equipment management and distribution policy so that this country can know how the tractors are being distributed. c) Lastly, a total of Shs 20 billion be provided for equipping and operationalising the mechanisation centres and another Shs 10 billion for the purchase of ox-ploughs and an additional Shs 6 billion for rehabilitation of water harvesting facilities. On Dairy Development Authority, Members, the provisions are there. Page 106, National Agricultural Research Organisation - NARO - a) The committee recommends that Shs 3.3 billion be provided for production of Aflasafe technology. b) Shs 3.5 billion be provided for the development of soil suitability maps. Cotton Development Authority The committee recommends that Shs 170 million be provided in the budget for Financial Year 2024/2025 to enable the Cotton Development Authority to set quality standards for Ugandan cotton. Pader Seed Processing Plant a) The committee recommends that Shs 300 million that was allocated in the Financial Year 2022/2023, but later not released, be provided in the coming financial year for external works on drainage, drying bays and landscaping. b) Shs 1.172 billion be provided for operational activities, for security, labour and that sort of thing. Support to cotton production development The committee recommends that Shs 5.210 billion be provided to support cotton production in the country. Uganda Coffee Development Authority Mr Speaker, people are unanimous that the Shs 49.9 billion, which was for coffee seedlings and was not paid, should be cleared. These coffee seedling arrears should be cleared. The committee also was very strong that the Uganda Coffee Development Authority is doing a great job and that a budget for the procurement of more coffee seedlings be reinstated under Uganda Coffee Development Authority, so as to increase production to meet the strategic objective of the coffee roadmap of Uganda, not to put everything in the PDM.

The following have been designated to the Committee on Budget by the Speaker: 1. Hon. Paul Omara – Otuke County; 2. Hon. Wilfred Niwagaba - Ndorwa County East; 3. Hon. Stephen Kangwagye Rwakanuma - Bukanga County; 4. Hon. Dennis Nyangweso - Samia Bugwe Central County; 5. Hon. Paska Menya – Pader; 6. Hon. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi - Bardege-Layibi Division; 7. Hon. Noah Musa - Koboko North County; and 8. Hon. Karim Masaba - Industrial Division – Mbale City.

Madam Speaker, on that same note, you directed, guided and instructed the minister, who is also my mum, Hon. Beatrice Anwar, to come to Pader District, particularly in Aswa Ranch, and call the area Members of Parliament. You also directed the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to come to Pader. That was a blessing alone, having three ministers in Pader on that particular date and they would come up with a statement on two issues concerning Aswa Ranch on the Floor of this Parliament. Madam Speaker, I would like to inform you that we have waited from sunrise until sunset.

Yes, including the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries but the minister has not come to Pader. (Laughter) People are still waiting, as “Paderians” grumble with the issue of land. Isn’t it procedurally right, Madam Speaker, that you again implore the minister to come to Pader to address the issue of Aswa Ranch?

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. From Pader District, allow me to congratulate you upon the success that you and your family achieved. For a city to look beautiful, there should be an object that is conspicuous enough to attract people. You have ruled on the roads. We have only two water fountains in the capital city of Uganda and they are not functional any more. Taxpayers’ money worth billions of shillings was spent. A week ago, I found street children swimming in the water –

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Allow me to congratulate you upon your double blessing. May God protect you and the children. I would like to seek clarification from the minister concerning Okang and Omeda. We have written letters concerning these two parishes in Pader District, which are in Acholi Bur Subcounty. They have never received the fund and when I was following the report from the committee chairperson, I did not hear those two parishes being mentioned. I would love to get that clarification because my people are “on my neck” and feel that they are not Ugandans now because they have missed out and people are already using the fund. The way forward to mitigate the challenges people are meeting is maybe opening bank accounts. It is good to follow the idea of mobile banking, but we would rather request the Government to make arrangement with banks so that they have rotational movement in subcounties so that services can be extended to the people in walkable distances.

Mr Speaker, I rise on Rule 52 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. Today is a big day in Uganda; it is National Mental Health Day. We have 14 million Ugandans who are mentally sick. It is in the public domain. In Pader District alone, we have 600 –

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on Rule 42 of our Rules of Procedure. On 13 July, 2023, we posed a question to the environment minister and the presiding officer asked the minister, in conjunction with the agriculture minister, to come to Pader District and handle the issue of Aswa Ranch. Aswa Ranch was given to Uganda Prisons Service to do farming, but there are two companies: Banuti Ranchers Ltd and one other company operating in Aswa Ranch and the issue of boundaries has come up. The Rt Hon. Speaker then directed the ministers to get in touch with the area Members of Parliament to go to Aswa Ranch and find out what the problem is. It is now coming to four months, but the ministers have not reached out to us. Our people want to know the fate of Aswa Ranch. Isn’t it procedurally right that since the minister is here, he tells this august House why we have not been called upon to handle the issue of Aswa Ranch?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. On Sunday, 22 October 2023, ABCD Primary School in Pader District suffered a very heavy rainstorm, which ended up collapsing many classroom blocks and breaking the legs of three pupils who were rushed to Lacor Hospital for medical support. Mr Speaker, as we speak, schooling is ongoing, but our children do not have classrooms; they are under trees. My prayer is that the Ministry of Relief and Disaster Preparedness liaises with the Minister of Health to give adequate medical support to these pupils who have been rushed to Lacor in very critical condition. Secondly, the ministry should immediately provide ABCD Primary School with iron sheets to ensure that the school is reinstated. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the committee for the report, but this is another report that portrays how the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development is actually sitting on education in this country. A learned citizenry is easy to lead. An educated nation is one that is going to develop. Why can’t the Ministry of Finance prioritise education in this country as an important aspect in development? Besides education, I want to interest you in the Ministry of Health too. Currently, in Pader, children suffering from nodding disease -

10510 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Enactment of the Physical Planners Registration Act, 2022 was also done and we are now in the process of looking at the regulations. The Permanent Secretary requested the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the National Planning Authority to ensure that all infrastructure developments by MDAs with a special component comply with the fiscal planning. Mr Speaker, the ministry with the support from World Bank - that is Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project (CEDP) - prepared the first National Fiscal Development Plan and Cabinet approved it in November last year. Regional plans have also been prepared for the Albertine Region and the Northern Uganda Economic Corridor. Districts of Wakiso, Moroto, Nwoya, Kikuube, Kabarole, Bududa, Bunyangabu, Nakaseke and Budaka have physical development plans. There are a number of physical development plans still under preparation, which include the Bwebajja Physical Development Plan, the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Physical Development Plan, and the Jinja/Kampala and Mpigi Infrastructure Corridor Plan. A number of urban councils have prepared physical development plans and it is noteworthy that many of these have attained high levels of implementation. They include Gulu, Arua Cities, Pader, Kagadi, Bulisa Town Councils, among others. The table below summarises the status of physical development plans in the country and the details of the specific local government are also attached as Annex 1. We have one National Physical Development Plan, two regional physical development plans, then out of the 135 districts, we have nine that have complied. Out of the 11 cities, we have three; out of the 31 municipalities, we have 17. Out of the 1,488 subcounties, we have 198; for town councils, we have 47 out of 585. Challenges While Government has made effort to support physical planning in the country, a lot still remains undone. The number of planned local governments above speak for themselves. Even where physical development plans have been prepared, their implementation still remains a challenge. A lot of the challenges are faced in the implementation of the Physical Planning Act can be attributed to the increasing land use pressures, occasioned by the country’s quest for economic development, high rate of population growth and inadequacies in physical planning. The latter is mostly attributed to inadequate funding levels and governance gaps. The following are the specific challenges that the country has to deal with in the implementation of the Physical Planning Act; 1. Most of the planning that should result in visible results is done at the local government level. Unfortunately, these local governments are grossly underfunded, resulting into low prioritisation exhibited through low budget allocations to develop, review and implement the physical development plans, especially at subcounty and district level. 2. Capacity gaps, human resource, equipment and training. Inadequate awareness creation on physical planning, hence low levels of appreciation of physical planning and development control. 4. Ineffective coordination at central and local government levels. 5. Weak enforcement mechanisms. 6. Failure to formulate ordinances; for cities and bylaws for municipalities and town

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to give some clarification to the minister that last week for about two days, I moved around with the Committee on Presidential Affairs, on the budget. We visited one of the power stations in Acwa, Pader. We discovered that the contractor did his work and power is ready to be produced but the challenge is with UETCL. They have not worked on the transmission lines for the last two years. The challenge is on the side of the Government. When you look at the two power stations, they are supposed to produce about 85 mega- [Mr Kagwera] STATEMENT ON THE ELECTRICITY SECTOR

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Masindi-Pader-Acholibur Highway tarmacking was commissioned in 2020 by the President. However, up to date, Pader-Acholibur portion has not been worked on. Can the Prime Minister give a date of when that road will be worked on? Secondly, Mr Speaker, a unit of water in Uganda is currently at Shs 4,100 and taxed, 1.8 per cent. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation is demanding Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, Gulu main Prison, Uganda Police Force a total of Shs 4.2 billion. Gulu City alone is being demanded Shs 6.4 billion. Is it not high time that the Rt Hon. Prime Minister looks into the tariffs charged on water? Why should we pay highly for water?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the committee for the work they have done. I would like to reserve my gratitude to the minister for one reason; the normalcy with which he reads his statement does not portray the rate at which the country wants to grow. It is a norm in Uganda that the further you move away from the urban centre, the further the basic needs and social amenities get to our people. I will give you an example of Pader. Pader basically operates on fuel. How? To access water when electricity is not there - which most times is the case - we use petroleum energy. When the prices go up, the locals cannot access clean water. Honourable minister, you know this very well. We have been to your office several times.

10152 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT The underperformance in the absorption of funds by the local governments was attributed to a number of factors on a case-by-case basis, including late recruitment of teachers, delayed access of staff to the payroll among others. The underperforming local governments included Agago District Local Government, which absorbed only 77 percent of the funds released to it; Gulu District Local Government also absorbed 77 percent; Koboko District Local Government also registered 77 percent; and Lira and Apac District Local Government at 81 percent. On the other hand, the local governments that absorbed close to the target included: Kitgum District Local Government with a return of 98 percent, Kitgum Municipal Council at 96 percent, Pader District Local Government at 96 percent, and Amuru District Local Government at 92 percent. Local revenue performance The total approved local revenue budget for the local government was Shs 223 billion, of which Shs 131 billion was released back to the local governments, representing 59 percent. The warrants or releases are based on what the local governments collect and is deposited with the consolidated fund as per the requirements of Section 29 (2) of the Public Finance Management Act, 2015. In the same vein, the 48 entities had an approved local revenue budget of Shs 48.273 billion, and a sum of Shs 29.265 billion was availed, hence an underperformance of Shs 19 billion. A number of local governments under review posted good performance, led by Yumbe District Local Government at 137 percent, followed by Maracha District Local Government at 127 percent, while the least performance was registered by Kitgum Municipal Council, which realised only 16 percent of its approved local revenue budget, Apac District Local Government at 32 percent and Agago District Local Government at 38 percent, as per the budget performance. Committee Observations The Committee observed thus: i) Local Government did not receive all appropriated budget resources and therefore, failed to implement planned activities; ii) The unspent balance was attributed to a number of factors, including failure to recruit, delayed deployment of teachers by Ministry of Education, failure to procure contractors under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) programme, delayed completion of projects under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) Programme, among others; and iii) Majority of local governments reviewed, absorbed and did perform above 80 percent. Committee recommendations The committee recommends thus: (i) The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development accounts for the under-release of funds to the local government. (ii) Accounting officers under whose supervision local governments failed to utilise funds released to them be held personally liable. (iii) Entities whose absorption of funds was below 80 per cent be subjected to further investigation to ascertain underlying factors of the gross underperformance. (iv) The accounting officers should develop clear revenue enhancement plans to assist the district in future revenue mobilisation. (v) The accounting officers should make follow-up with the Ministry of Finance on the shortfalls affecting service delivery. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR [Mr Olanya]

I rise to support the motion and congratulate our great men and women who have raised the Ugandan flag internationally. Madam Speaker, as I congratulate these men and women, I do not forget to congratulate the children of Pader District who have so far, twice, won the athletics cup competition for Acholi subregion. Madam Speaker, as the minister is asking why we are not having others coming from the different regions, I implore him to take keen notice of these children who come to participate at the national level. This is because, as I speak now, the children of Pader District have won this cup twice and two of them have been spotted to go and represent Uganda in Australia. However, up to now, some of them have not got the requirements. This is very suppressing to parents because they are the ones who are supposed to pay for the passports and other requirements. Some of these parents are so poor that they cannot afford to pay for the passports. So, I interest and I call upon all Members to join hands and support sports so that we help and encourage our children, who already have the talents. I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is true, the climate has changed. In northern Uganda, Gulu, Eastern Acholi Subregion; Kitgum, Lamwo, Agago and Pader used to start receiving the second rain by the month of July, but now we are in August when rainfall is supposed to be intense. However, since June, we have a very severe dry spell to the extent that the crops that were planted and germinated, have withered. And if the rains start, people are expecting to put some seeds down so that at least in some three or four months, they could be in position to harvest some crops. The problem is that they lack seeds. If the rain comes, they will have nothing to plant. Now that this is becoming a countrywide issue, Government should give us some seeds as quickly as possible so as to help these people within this period. Other than waiting until the end of August or September, we are going to miss the season’s rain. You can recall that the country has been suffering because of lack of posho and beans. A similar thing is being projected if nothing is done and next year is going to be worse. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity. We appreciate the vision of the Government in looking at anything concerning perennial crops. Coffee seedlings have been supplied in Pader District. I want to speak for the people of Pader. In Pader District, as a colleague has mentioned, we have not known coffee growing as much as in other regions, but we appreciate the

9795 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 15 AUGUST 2023 support that they are sending us. However, as the leaders of the country – as Parliament – let us look around for things that will bring returns. When we talk of return on investment, whatever has been sent to the community of Pader in form of seedlings to be grown might not reap results. Why? Because the people still do not know how to grow coffee. We would rather request the ministry to first start by sensitising us. Wherever they feel they would want to take seedlings, first go, sensitise the community and show them what to do before sending seedlings. But when you start by sending seedlings before educating the people who are taking the seedlings, that means you are not being fair to the country because we need a lot to help our country. Secondly, we have farmers who want the seedlings, but how to get the seedlings from where they are being raised is not easy. We would also request the Government to think about growing or raising the seedlings region- wise because transporting them from the central might not be a good idea. By the time you are picking it up from Kampala –(Member timed out.)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am happy you have talked about the Gulu University Forest issue. Hopefully, the minister should be able to also clarify. However, I am sure the honourable minister is reporting what she could have been told by the Uganda Prisons Forces but there is much more going on in Aswa Ranch. Very many different groups are operating there and the local leadership of Pader and the region can never access the ranch. When you try, you are beaten. There are security people who are busy on the ranch and we do not know who is in charge. There is massive tree-cutting and charcoal burning going on. Maybe the issue of Uganda Prisons is different. I was part of the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and I know Government is providing support to Uganda Prisons and UPDF to do farming on Aswa Ranch. Madam Speaker, you also need to interest yourself - this Parliament should have a special team to investigate matters of Aswa Ranch because the question of land ownership is key. We know the ranch exists but there is contention on the size of the land and the population of Pader. The people are always brutalised. A lot of destruction has taken place. Finally, there are very many people who are now taking possession of the ranch. We need to know who they are. We are told there are others who have been given titles already and we are concerned.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Before I thank the committee, I would like to thank you. In Pader, people are rejoicing and birds are being slaughtered. It is not always usual that speakers from Pader District come to the Parliament of Uganda and meet the Speaker. You do not know what you have done to Pader today. (Applause) I thank you very much.

Therefore, the voters of Pader should bring back Hon. Paska, Hon. Komakech and Hon. Santa. (Applause)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On the same note, I thank the committee for the good work they have done. There is a report that shows that out of every 10 people in Uganda, only one works in the formal sector. We are taking our children to school but where are the jobs? These are children of poor people. In Uganda, to get work, you need to have connections. Do not expect Ojok from Pader to know a commissioner or a permanent secretary to give you a job connection. It is that hard. These children are meant to pay back that money and it can be straining. We thank the Government for UPE but these children have grown into men. What plan and policy does the Government have? Why don’t we pick these children who have performed well and employ them? They will use the salary we are paying them to pay back part of the loan and use the other part to take care of their old ones. This is my only deliberation. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

9498 DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION of Malawi. They are in Uganda to see if they can borrow a leaf from us. Join me in welcoming them to the Parliament of Uganda. (Applause) In the Public Gallery this afternoon, we have a delegation of sub-county Speakers from Aruu North County, Pader. Please, stand up. You are most welcome. Those are my colleagues. They are represented by Hon. Okot and Hon. Aciro Paska. You are most welcome to your Parliament. (Applause) Thank you very much for coming.

Thank you, Rt Hon. Prime Minister. Madam Speaker, allow me to thank Hon. Taaka for raising this matter. It is important that all do what it takes to defend the rights of our children. As the Local Government, we request the honourable Member give us the entire report of what the children have recommended to us. We shall look at it and request the local governments to customise it to their local areas. Good enough, in our midst we have local leaders from Pader; they have heard it. Why don’t we take a step to make sure that we do what decentralisation has given us; the mandate is to have local laws that are respective to our local situations. Let us protect our children. I thank the Member for raising this.

9230 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT district as a hard-to-reach area so as to benefit from funds earmarked for such areas. His questions are: a) What criteria is used to determine hard-to- reach areas? b) What is the possibility of including other areas in the hard-to-reach areas category? c) Which areas are categorised as hard-to- reach? My response is that the Ministry of Public Service observed that there were areas in some local governments that had consistently failed to attract and retain skilled and capable human resource, leading to inadequacies and gaps in the delivery of services. This was observed through inspection reports, support supervision exercises and payroll status reports. These areas were, therefore, defined as hard to reach. Hard-to-reach areas are defined as remote or insecure areas that are unable to attract and retain sufficient numbers of motivated staff because of difficult living conditions. They are, therefore, “hard to work in and hard to stay in.” These areas are characterised by remoteness, insecurity and poor infrastructure, among others. In the Financial Year 2010-2011, Government approved payment of hardship allowances of 30 per cent of the basic monthly salary for public officers working in the local governments defined as hard to reach. The following 24 areas are categorised as hard-to-reach: Kotido, Nakapiripirit, Abim, Moroto, Kaabong, Pader, Kitgum, Nwoya, Amuru, Kalangala, Gulu, Bundibugyo, Adjumani, Kisoro, Kanungu, Bukwo, Ntoroko, Buvuma, Lamwo, Namayingo, Napak, Mayuge (specifically Malonge Island), Bugiri (specifically Sigulu Island), and Mukono (specifically Koome Islands). Over the years, the Ministry of Public Service has received requests from various local governments to be considered hard-to-reach areas. Consequently, the ministry carried out a study, in the year 2020, in order to review the hard-to-reach and hard-to-stay areas in the country based on the criteria of remoteness, insecurity and poor infrastructure. Out of the 63 districts that had requested to be considered, 54 were found to have hard- to-reach and hard-to-stay spots eligible for payment of the hard-to-reach allowance. In total, 340 hard-to-reach spots were identified as the qualifying localities within the 54 districts. Madam Speaker, allow me to lay, on the Table, a full list of the hard-to-reach and hard-to-stay areas in the country. In the interest of time, Members can access it. Madam Speaker, based on the criteria used, I would like to inform the honourable member that Rubanda was not categorised as a hard-to- reach and hard-to-stay district. It is also important to note that the Ministry of Public Service has not yet implemented the revised Hard-to-Reach Framework. The current priority of the Government is the salary enhancement of all public officers in a phased approach. Madam Speaker, I got another question from Hon. Francis Adome, MP for Moroto Municipality. His question was to know the Government’s plan to rehabilitate government- aided schools in Karamoja. My response is that the Government of Uganda, in collaboration with education development partners, has been providing infrastructure support to both primary and post-primary institutions in the Karamoja subregion. All the post-primary institutions (11 secondary schools and two PTCs) benefitted from infrastructure support under the Irish Aid. All secondary schools in the Karamoja subregion implementing Universal Secondary Education were provided with additional infrastructure under the World Bank support and were provided with additional classrooms to attain the recommended classroom-student ratio of 1:60. [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on a matter of national importance concerning massive tree cutting in Acholi Subregion, purposely for charcoal. As I speak now, we have people coming from all parts of Uganda based in Acholi Subregion and are cutting down trees massively, including Sheanut trees, especially in Kitgum, Pader and Lamwo. Surprisingly, the police officers are the ones protecting and encouraging those who are destroying the environment in Acholi Subregion. I remember when we raised the matter to the President, he directed that the police officers and the military personnel in Northern Uganda should stop massive tree cutting for charcoal in Acholi Subregion. Last Monday, the President issued an executive order, banning tree cutting for charcoal in Acholi, but, surprisingly, the police officers are still continuing to escort charcoal dealers right from the source up to Kampala. Mr Speaker, I would like the Minister of Internal Affairs to explain the role of the police officers and the military personnel in the charcoal deals in Acholi Subregion. [Mr Aleper] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

8759 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 18 MAY 2023 229) Vote 900: Nabilatuk District – Shs 8,965,015,000 230) Vote 901: Nakapiripirt District – Shs 11,039,255,000 231) Vote 902: Nakaseke District – Shs 33,609,209,000 232) Vote 903: Nakasongola District – Shs 29,199,461,000 233) Vote 904: Namayingo District – Shs 24,345,537,000 234) Vote 905: Namisindwa District – Shs 25,757,056,000 235) Vote 906: Namutumba District – Shs 29,395,177,000 236) Vote 907: Napak District – Shs 14,554,931,000 237) Vote 908: Nebbi District – Shs 28,393,138,000 238) Vote 909: Ngora District – Shs 20,015,428,000 239) Vote 910: Ntoroko District – Shs 17,856,009,000 240) Vote 911: Ntungamo District – Shs 52,482,302,000 241) Vote 912: Nwoya District – Shs 19,818,194,000 242) Vote 913: Obongi District – Shs 11,259,732,000 243) Vote 914: Omoro District – Shs 23,623,072,000 244) Vote 915: Otuke District – Shs 17,308,500,000 245) Vote 916: Oyam District – Shs 36,647,321,000 246) Vote 917: Pader District – Shs 28,538,070,000 247) Vote 918: Pakwach District – Shs 20,416,756,000 248) Vote 919: Pallisa District – Shs 32,319,522,000 249) Vote 920: Rakai District – Shs 35,470,398,000 250) Vote 921: Rubanda District – Shs 26,781,538,000 251) Vote 922: Rubirizi District – Shs 17,650,350,000 252) Vote 923: Rukiga District – Shs 21,557,840,000 253) Vote 924: Rukungiri District – Shs 40,111,677,000 254) Vote 925: Rwampara District - Shs 21,241,513,000 255) Vote 926: Ssembabule District – Shs 29,341,783,000 256) Vote 927: Serere District – Shs 32,000,876,000 257) Vote 928: Sheema District – Shs 26,927,219,000 258) Vote 929: Sironko District – Shs 32,016,598,000 259) Vote 930: Soroti District – Shs 22,110,246,000 260) Vote 931: Terego District – Shs 25,198,993,000 261) Vote 932: Tororo District – Shs 57,785,129,000 262) Vote 933: Wakiso District – Shs 78,280,713,000

That is exactly what I am saying. The communities we represent will not believe in us. People go to the banks every day to check their accounts, but they bounce. As MPs, we have failed to explain it because there are guidelines coming from the finance ministry and those coming from the PDM Secretariat. If a local person asks, you cannot guide. That issue is very important. On the road infrastructure in the districts – and I am sure that much of the money, which is being returned, is always for the road infrastructure. The bureaucracy in the tendering process is very long. It takes about three months for somebody to be given a contract to grade a road. In Pader, for example, we have one grader. The excavator, which is supposed to help us get murram, is in the pool in Gulu and it is meant for the whole of northern region. You cannot get that excavator. That is the delay that makes money not to be utilised. I beg that the Government comes out clearly with a solution on how we can stop this issue of keeping and returning money. No money should be given to the districts in March or April because it will not be utilised. The supplementary budget brought in March or February should not be passed because the money is always not used. Thank you.

8583 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 9 MAY 2023 was moved by the Rt Hon. Prime Minister to pay tribute to our senior colleague ; Col (Rtd) Okello Engola Macodwogo. I would like to convey my condolences, that of my family and the people of Omoro District to the bereaved family of our fallen brother, Col Okello Engola Macodwogo. Madam Speaker, from what has been talked about in the House this afternoon about Okello Engola, the testimonies are: one is that he is above self and two, serving for the common need of our people. Hon. Okello Engola chose to serve in the military and grew from the lowest rank up to the rank of a colonel, serving in the military field, a department of service that is very risky. He did it very diligently and we are benefiting as a region from the outcome of his service. He has been a pacifier. Madam Speaker, while he served as the 501 Brigade Commander in Opit - Opit is in Omoro District and it neighbors Oyam District. The people of Omoro District have expressed sympathy for the loss of this gallant son. The people of Lango, Opit and Omoro District know the very meaning of Macodwogo because they are direct beneficiaries. I wish to end and quote the words of Scott Hildreth. He said, “ The value of a person’s life is measured by the amount of people they touch in living it. ” From the efforts of Okello Engola by ensuring that we receive peace in the region, he was able to touch so many lives, particularly of the vulnerable people; the women and the children. Madam Speaker, when he was serving as the LC V Chairperson Oyam District that was the time I got to know him better. I was the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) in Pader District and he was the LCV Chairperson of Apac District. We were in a meeting discussing Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF II) that time and he spoke very passionately on ensuring that we support livelihood component of the people that have returned home. So, I picked interest to know who this man was. I am not surprised with eulogies Members are giving about Hon. Okello Engola Macodwogo. Indeed, we have lost a great man, a man with great humility. There is a word Hon. Okello Engola told me when we were in our campaigns for the first time by-elections in Omoro when I came to Parliament. I did not know Hon. Ssewungu, who has confessed today was in the team of Hon. Mao campaigning on the other side. I was the candidate on the side of Okello Engola with Hon. Mao hitting us badly but Okello Engola told me one thing that when they found him, Hon. Mao entered the rally that he was addressing. When they started throwing words at him, he kept quiet and did not answer. I was wondering: what kind of military man is this? He did not respond to them. I asked him: “What should we do?” He said: “You are a candidate, just sneak from behind and disappear. Let me deal with the situation.” It did not take long. After about six minutes, I got a call from another subcounty – Lalogi – which was about seven kilometres away, that Hon. Okello Engola Macodwogo was already in Lalogi Subcounty. He left Hon. Mao and team in that very place. That was humility. Humility takes you to greater heights. I appeal to honourable colleagues that we are all in positions of leadership and are serving this country: what shall we be remembered for? I wish to express my condolences, again, to the bereaved family of Hon. Okello Engola Macodwogo. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Araont ruoxl 895 Moroto D8tnct 933,468.976 895 Moro Drstnct 708.rs8.sos a9? MDIII Dlstlrct 586.259.O33 aqa 3.3rO 517 0l? 899 Mukono Drstnct 598.912.8?5 90r NakaDhDrnt DBtnct 81o,455.859 902 Naka8.kc Dlltnct 2.16,+.1o,+.a29 go3 Nrk 3oar6la Dt3tnct 1.1s3.241.113 90,r NamalrnEo Drstnct r.590.39r.095 90s Nafir6rndwa OBtnct r.466.123.000 906 Namutumba Dl8trrct t.@2.?4o.449 90? NaD3k Dlltnct r.s99.026.542 qoa 2.,i50 05,+.6qq 909 Nrora D[tnct 308.570.186 9r0 Ntoroko OBtnct 2.392.?92.L54 912 Nwova Drstrrt 223.O99.394 913 Oboner Dlatrlct 1.417 _652_??5 914 q64_565.466 915 Otukc DBtnct I .O 19.564.246 916 Ova-d Dlltnct 3.914.32t.96? 917 Pader Dtltrl t 2.429.065_49? gla aot _223_24? qlq 1.o42-so8.13 t ero Rakar Dr3tnct 1.546 242 lA5 921 Rubanda Otstnct 1.398.901.678 922 Rubm2r DlAtnct 2.O?9.662.r?? 923 Ruhea Dtltrl.t 1.212.63a.945 925 Rwrm.era Dt3t ct l2 r-3ao-ooo 926 Scmbabutc DBtnct 9?8.533.628 927 Scrcrc D[trrct 730.557.1,16 924 Shccaa DEtflct r.215.565.6S1 929 Sronko Dlllrlct 2 _544.3? LAt? q30 Soroh Dlstrrct t x92 2?O OOz 932 Torcro Orstlrct 3.? 26.L?4.462 933 Wil.lso Drltncr 4.708.S8S 718 q34 3-q41.230.422 nml. 226-243-6e3-294 q N( w- A 64 W s-

Annet Musrsha la Hon Dr Atrm Asrrcs ADca Member DWR Amolatar -{ 1g Hon Mbabazr Pascal Member Buwekula County 20 Osoru Hon Mounne Member DWR Arua Crty 2l Hon Kankunda Amos lcbw&a Mcmbcr Rwampara Countv 22 Hon Tmkasumrre Barnabas Member County Buyaga West 23 Hon Ycn Ofipono Apollo Member Tororo MunlclDahty 24 Hon Ndamrra Atwakxrc CatheLne Member DWR Kabale 25 Kabanda Hon Davrd Member Kasambya Countv 26 Omara Hon Paul Member Otuke County 27 Hon Nrwagaba Wrlfred Membcr County Ndorwa East 28 Hon. Nakato Mary Annet Membcr DWR Buvende 29 Hon Nyang eso Denms Member Safi[a-Buglve Central County 30 Hon Acrro Paska Mcnya Member DWR Pader 31 Hon Musherure Nayebare Kutesa Shartsr Member Mat ogota North County 32 Hon Maxwell Patnck Akora Ebong Member Maruzr County 33 Hon Bayrgga Mrchaet PhrhD Member Bulkwe Lulume South Hon Muwanga lovumbr Muhammad Member 34 Butambala County

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Basic science tells us that for any object to live, it should have the ability to move around. How that object moves around is upon us. We are human beings and we move around. It is, therefore, upon the Ministry of Works and Transport to ensure Ugandans who toil day and night move in a comfortable way. Speaking of the comfortable way of living, I come from Aruu County, Pader District but we have never seen an inch of a tarmac road. The President has always come there and pledged to us the Acholibur-Purang Road. This time round, when they were rehabilitating Corner Kamdini Road, they did all the works but stopped at Lira instead of proceeding to Acholibur-Purang. Can the minister tell us clearly when they are going to work on the road? Mr Speaker, Aruu has never had a Member of Parliament supporting the Government, I am the first and this should be on record. (Laughter) Mr Speaker, protect me.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Allan Mayanja, Member of Parliament for Nakaseke Central, raised a matter of national concern regarding the presence of an infestation by the African Armyworm in Nakaseke District. His prayers were that: 1. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries provides chemicals and tools to Nakaseke District Local Government for the management and control of the African Armyworm. 2. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries appears and presents a status report to this Parliament. Mr Speaker, my response to this question is that the African armyworm is a migrant pest that damages cereal crops and grasses during the vegetative growth stage and can cause up to 100 per cent loss if not controlled. The pest is sporadic and its spread and impact is facilitated by environmental conditions such as high temperatures, erratic rainfall and wind currents (on which adult moths ride). Mr Speaker, last year, during the first season (March-May), there was repeated African armyworm upsurge and infestation in over 50 districts, damaging cereals (millet, sorghum, maize and rice) and grass. This invasion was put under control – like I told you last week but one – by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, working with local governments and farmers. The ministry provided over 20,000 litres of pesticide (Cypermethrin) and 120 motorised spray pumps together with protective gear to control the pests. Mr Speaker, at the onset of the current planting season (February-March this year), some pockets of the African armyworm infestation were reported in five districts (Nakaseke, Tororo, Nwoya, Busia and Pader). The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, working with local governments and farmers, suppressed the infestation to very low populations. Intensification of rainfall in the country further suppressed the pests naturally. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries is continuing to monitor the pest situation and has procured 6,000 litres of the recommended pesticide and 60 motorised pumps and 100 sets of protective gear to support the control operations in case of a resurgence. Finally, we appeal to farmers and the general public to remain vigilant and report any incidents of this pest or any other to the lower local governments and district authorities to enable timely response by Government. In brief, these pests were suppressed both naturally and with the help of local government. Hon. Omara Paul, Member of Parliament, Otuke County asked that the 10 th Parliament enacted the mining law which, according to him, provided for a 5 per cent tax on a kilogramme of refined Gold exports. This law could not be implemented because there were serious disagreements between the Gold refining companies and the Uganda Revenue Authority. However, the 11 th Parliament, in 2022, repealed the Mining Act, 2003 and cured the lacuna in the law by passing a provision in the new Mining Act under Section 287(2)(s), which states thus: “A tax of Shs 200 per kilogramme of gold exported, will be applied.” The provision of the law allows for retrospective application of the tax, effective July 2021. His prayer is: why hasn’t Government facilitated the recovery of tax arrears yet we are running a deficit budget?” My response, Mr Speaker, is that revenue from the export of Gold has been included in the revenue projections since Financial Year 2021/2022. For the period 1 July 2021 to March

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The citizens of this mighty country welcomed the notion of using national IDs, but we have a problem around them. When one loses the national ID, they have to report back to NIRA. There are thousands of Ugandans who go to NIRA to get national IDs. The line there is as long as the distance from here to Pader. And now there are dubious officers who take advantage of the long lines to extort money from people. Mr Speaker, there are thousands of lost-and- found national IDs at police stations, whose owners the police has failed to trace. If you look at your national ID carefully, you only find the village, parish and zone. Police officers say there is no way they can trace the owners of these national IDs –

sources and servlces such as solar home systems, hquefted petroleum gas, brogas and improved stoves for hghtm& heatin& and clean cooking Additionally, the total number of electncrty consumers rncreased by 3 7 percent, lrom "1,572,605 consumers m Calendar Year (CY) 2019 to ^1,630,769 consumers rn CY2020 This was due to an rncrease rn the number of customers of UMEME Uganda Lrmrted, Uganda Electrrcrty Distribution Company Lrmrted (UEDCL), Pader Abrm Community Multipurpose Electric Cooperatrve Socrety Lrmrted, Bundrbugyo Energl, Co-operatrve Socrety, Krlembe Investment Limited and Kyegegwa Rural Electncrty Cooperatrve Society The Government u enhancing efforts to expand the rural electrification programme and encourage electriclty consumption wrth a target of bringrng down the cost of electrrcity to US 5 cents per umt once all ma;or generattory transm$srory and drstrrbutron prolects are completed In addttton, the government has also leveraged partnershrps wrth crvil socrety and private sector partners to attract investment in the manufacture and use of improved stoves, such as the rocket- lorena stoves, for households and inshtuhons 4 5 10 Goal 8 on decent $'ork and economic Growth Gross Domestrc Product for the F\2020/21 rndrcates that the economy grew by 3 4 percent rn 202-l from 3 percent rn 2020 Agrrculture, forestry and fishmg sector actrvitles grew by 3 8 21

7843 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 30 MARCH 2023 The district has designated 40 COVID-19 vaccination points and 37 Hepatitis B screening centres in all health centres in the district for six days. centres in the district for six days. The health management and response teams are handling COVID-19 as well as Hepatitis B and extending effective services to host communities and refugees. Madam Speaker, we enjoin our political leaders and other community leaders to take lead in the vaccination and screening exercise of COVID-19 and Hepatitis B so that the population embraces the exercise to save the host communities and refugees in Adjumani District. Hon. Norah Bigirwa Nyendwoha, Woman Representative for Buliisa, said that many parts of the country are facing drought, which is affecting the production of food and cash crops. The farmers are entering the first season of the year and usually, it is very short with little rain. Government, over time, has been promising to support Ugandan farmers - both small and large scale - with irrigation schemes for the farmers to access water for production. However, this seems not to have taken off and many farmers are worried. Her prayers are that: I should assure this House and our farmers the extent of Government’s assurance to access water for production. When is the Government fulfilling the promise on the solar power irrigation systems? My response is that the Government has continued its efforts to invest and improve access to water for production. The Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, is supervising the construction of six irrigation schemes in different parts of the country including Mubuku II, Doho II, Ngenge and Rwengaju, to mention, but a few. Construction of the irrigation schemes including Acomai in Sironko and Atari in Kween have started. The Government has supported farmers and farmer groups by installing solar-powered irrigation schemes in various sites in the districts of Ntungamo, Hoima, Mubende, Kamuli, Koboko, Kumi, Kabale, Mukono, Kiboga, Buvuma, Ssembabule, Kayunga, Yumbe, Kaberamaido, Kaliro, Buikwe, Masindi, Butambala, Bukomansimbi, Kapachorwa, Iganga, Kaabong, Rukungiri, Amolatar, Adjumani, Mbale, Pader, Rukiga, Nakaseke and Katakwi, among others. This is to promote adoption of improved and efficient water for agricultural technologies for the crops and livestock. The Government has constructed over 1,555 valley tanks with a total holding capacity of 10,840,000 cubic metres in order to address the challenge of water for animals, especially in the cattle corridor and drought prone districts. Honourable members, even Buliisa will eventually benefit. Hon. Geoffrey Macho, Member of Parliament for Busia Municipality asked that Busia Boarder Seed Secondary School is located in Mukungu B Village, Central Parish, Eastern Division in Busia Municipality. The school was started in 2019 and had an enrolment of 497 students by the close of year 2022. The school was started as a response to Government’s policy of having public secondary schools at subcounty level. It also came as a result of a Presidential pledge. Though Busia Municipality donated land of approximately 25 acres, the Government has not come up clearly to ensure that people benefit from the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Programme (USEP). His prayers are that: 1. The Ministry of Education and Sports comes out clearly on the USEP in relation to this school before term one of 20 – Madam Speaker, these questions came earlier, but since we have not had a chance – it says at the start of the term. 2. The ministry should implement the Presidential pledge.

Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity. I have heard the minister make a presentation of services under the disaster ministry. However, I would like to inform the minister that I did not hear anything about the distribution of food to our children who are suffering from the Nodding syndrome. These are no longer children, Madam Speaker; they are now youth who are becoming very wild in the community. I would like to report that in December, one of them hit his father to death. There were three in the family affected by this disease, but one boy - something came to his mind; he took a log and hit the father on the head. According to medical personnel, these children like to eat food most of the time and so when the parent fails to provide food, they get into trouble. This also gives me time to alert the Government that maybe at a certain time, we need to begin thinking about having rehabilitation centres. Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader and part of Omoro districts are affected. Where are we going to put these boys and girls who are a little bit mad and do not understand themselves? They will start raping girls and women on the way. We need to start thinking about that because they are not a few people; they are really many. Nonetheless, for now, I want to hear from the state minister whether there is food going to be given to them because normally, they give food to the parents. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker and my sister, Santa. We have been giving relief items to the Nodding Syndrome children in Omoro, Pader and all the affected districts, PRIME MINISTER’S TIME [Mr Okupa]

sources and servlces such as solar home systems, hquefted petroleum gas, brogas and improved stoves for hghtm& heatin& and clean cooking Additionally, the total number of electncrty consumers rncreased by 3 7 percent, lrom "1,572,605 consumers m Calendar Year (CY) 2019 to ^1,630,769 consumers rn CY2020 This was due to an rncrease rn the number of customers of UMEME Uganda Lrmrted, Uganda Electrrcrty Distribution Company Lrmrted (UEDCL), Pader Abrm Community Multipurpose Electric Cooperatrve Socrety Lrmrted, Bundrbugyo Energl, Co-operatrve Socrety, Krlembe Investment Limited and Kyegegwa Rural Electncrty Cooperatrve Society The Government u enhancing efforts to expand the rural electrification programme and encourage electriclty consumption wrth a target of bringrng down the cost of electrrcity to US 5 cents per umt once all ma;or generattory transm$srory and drstrrbutron prolects are completed In addttton, the government has also leveraged partnershrps wrth crvil socrety and private sector partners to attract investment in the manufacture and use of improved stoves, such as the rocket- lorena stoves, for households and inshtuhons 4 5 10 Goal 8 on decent $'ork and economic Growth Gross Domestrc Product for the F\2020/21 rndrcates that the economy grew by 3 4 percent rn 202-l from 3 percent rn 2020 Agrrculture, forestry and fishmg sector actrvitles grew by 3 8 21

Says that there should be equality. All we are asking for, Rt Hon. Prime Minister, is: can we compensate the widows so that they leave the land? Secondly, Mr Speaker, the people of Pader are waiting for the Prime Minister to come and do some fishing in Aruu County. So they are also wondering-

Thank you, Hon. Christopher Komakech, for the kind words about when I came to Pader. It is unfortunate that is happening; we have taken note. However, I thought I would have a concrete and more direct commitment to you. You know how we do it. You know he is a son of

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to thank Hon. Sarah Opendi for bringing forth this petition. In a special way, I want to thank the UPDF. To be factual, when I was growing up, our parents never wanted us to join UPDF. Even relatives along the way, when you joined UPDF, they would look at you as a loser. I am happy that today graduates are joining UPDF. I want to thank the UPDF for raising the bar high; thank you so much and continue with that. I do not have kind words for our committee unless they amend a line. In one of their lines, they came up with a finding that it is not true that the recruitment was done in former districts - Pader’s former district is Kitgum. The recruitment was done in Gulu. From Pader to Gulu, one has to travel over 100 kilometres. The advert was aired at night by the LC V asking strong youthful people to go and apply for the recruitment. How would such a poor region manage to travel 100 kilometres from Pader to Gulu yet we have a whole Division – (Member timed out.)

6972 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT Mr Speaker, my recommendation would be that for the quota system to work, there should be one overall recruitment. When there is recruitment in the central region, by the time they reach the northern region, there is a report that they already have the numbers they want, so do whatever it takes to make sure you get the few that are left there; Pader did not get a slot. Mr Speaker, I request-

Mr Speaker, that is where the quota system fails. I can assure you on record, and I challenge the minister - Pader District has never gotten the 57 slots. Then there is another bias they play. Before UPDF advertised, Uganda Prisons had advertised. We organised, and facilitated the youths to go and even tested for HIV. The surprising bit is that when they went to Uganda Prisons, they tested negative, now when they came to UPDF, they were told that they were positive and the results were not there. This Government invests a lot of money in patriotism. We are putting in a lot of money for Ugandans to love their country. Again, we are the same people teaching Ugandans to hate their country. With that, I beg, Mr Speaker, the next time there is recruitment, let it be a one-off announcement and then it is done widely so that Pader gets its 57 slot. Thank you so much.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I would like to use this opportunity to thank honourable members for the comments, additions and subtractions to our report. We take all the comments in good faith. Mr Speaker, regarding the distance, time and probably the cost involved – for these recruits to move to the recruitment centres – I implore the UPDF to adopt the system being used by the Uganda Police Force. The Uganda Police Force now sends out an advert. When they advertise, the DPC and the security team work and put up a shortlist and send it to the headquarters where they vet, verify the national identity cards and the shortlisted ones are again sent back to the districts for scrutiny and then they are called for recruitment. Probably, if that system is adopted, it can try to solve this matter. Mr Speaker, I implore Members that when we are making our submissions, we should make them based on the facts. Take an example of one of the Members raising an issue on recruitment, like in Pader, where the chairman LC V just woke up in the evening of the D-Day and informed people that all the able-bodied youth should now move to Gulu for recruitment. Mr Speaker, one of the documents presented and laid on Table was the advert which was sent almost a month before recruitment. Pader was part of the document, whereby they were supposed to report to Gulu as a recruitment centre. The centre also served Kitgum, Pader, Gulu and other districts. Therefore, we also need to get these facts when we are submitting. Lastly, we emphasised the issue of budget and it was to allow the UPDF ample time to go through these recruitment processes. Otherwise, the funds allocated for that particular exercise is not enough to facilitate them to take time to verify, vet and also create more recruitment teams to reach out to those districts. So, if funds are appropriated, probably, they will send out more teams to reach out to our districts for better processes. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank Members, particularly members of the committee, for this report. (Applause)

Thank you. In the public gallery this afternoon, we have a delegation from the Pader-Abim Community Multi- Purpose Electrical Cooperative Society. They are represented by Hon. Akello Beatrice Akori, Hon. Okot John Amos, Hon. Anywar Ricky Richard and Hon. Lagen David from Agago. Kindly join me in welcoming them. (Applause) You sent us very good Members of Parliament. They are very active. Send them back again.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish you a Happy New Year, 2023. We continue praying for you to keep safe. I rise on the same concern of roads. We appreciate the report from the committee. However, I want to be specific on the road from Puranga–Pajule–Acholibur to Kitgum. This road has been under procurement for years I cannot tell now. The road from Puranga to Awere is a very short distance. I am surprised that we always get reports about limited funds. This national cake that we have in Uganda is supposed to be shared equally. Why wouldn’t we, the people of Pader, also get the national cake to clear that short distance from Puranga to Acholibur? The President is very concerned about the issue of economic transformation, but with the poor road network, how are we going to achieve it? When you talk of connecting the country to the neighbouring countries, we see this road being the most suitable road to connect Uganda to South Sudan. However, the short distance from Lira to Acholibur, connecting to Kitgum, Kitgum – Nimule-South Sudan is not being worked on. Honourable Minister, take this as a matter of concern. This is – (Interruption)

Thank you, colleague. Madam Speaker, as I summarise, Pader District is one of the districts that have given out land for the construction of an industrial park. With the poor road network, I am afraid investors are not going to take on these industrial parks. Honourable minister, please, I continue appealing to you to take this seriously. I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the committee chairperson for his very good report. I also thank the minister. When we talk about West Nile lacking power, I really feel the pain because in Karamoja, there is one district, which is exactly like West Nile – and that is Abim. Power came to Abim in 2006, but up to now, the district headquarters is still in darkness. The X-rays in the major hospital - Abim Hospital - cannot run. Mr Speaker, like my colleague said, for them, they are sure that they get power on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, but for Abim, it is quarterly releases. (Laughter) In one quarter, we get power for 10 days. Our connection is from Pasmek, which is in Pader. We request the minister, as you look at the West Nile to also look at Abim. I request you to direct him to come to Abim too so that we get sorted.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on a matter of urgent national importance. Pader District has been attacked by a strange disease, which is causing loss of lives. We do not know the name of this disease. The disease starts with fever and then cough. After coughing, the patient starts urinating blood. The blood dries off from the body and after a period of time, they die. This disease is mainly affecting children in the age bracket of six to 12 years. The people of Pader are living under great fear. As a leader of the people in the district, I am under that same fear. I fear to lose my voters and at the same time, my loved ones. My prayers are: 1. The Minister of Health should immediately dispatch a team to the district to establish what type of disease this is that our people are dying from. [Ms Muhanga] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

6451 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2022 Secondly, Mr Speaker, the Minister of Health should ensure that the health centre IV of Pader District - that is Pajule – is fully equipped and stocked with adequate blood. Lastly, the Government of Uganda – Pader being a district with a population of about 200,000 people – should ensure that the health centre III of Awere Subcounty is elevated to the level of a health centre IV and Pajule Health Centre IV is elevated to the level of a general hospital to extend services nearer to the people, who are really in dire need. I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Thank you, Woman MP for Pader District, for raising the concerns of your people, especially on a strange disease. I commit that before this week ends, we shall send a team of scientists to assess what is killing the people. If it were Ebola, then the households would be finished. However, if it is one person dying in a home, we can rule out the Ebola. For Ebola, once somebody is very sick and in close contact with other people in the family, they will all get it and most likely die. About upgrading Pajule Health Centre IV to the level of a general hospital, the Government has got benchmarks on which to upgrade hospitals. When we come to assess this disease, we shall also assess the population – the population must be above 500,000 people in order to qualify for a district hospital. Upgrading a health centre II to the level of a health centre III is a lot easier because all health centres II were banned and we are upgrading them to the level of health centres III and every health centre III will have a doctor. I thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I seek clarification from the minister. In her presentations, she said, “provision of persons with disability grants to beneficiaries in Kole District” plus any other activities that she had mentioned. Does she mean that this grant will go to Kole District only or you are also going to take care of other districts? Secondly, on the same note about grants, you have indicated in the table many districts and different allocations that you have given to them. I do not know whether you are going to give provision to persons with disability who will come to the national celebration in Kole. If that is so, have you provided any facilitation for transport? Finally, Mr Speaker, if you can allow me, in northern Uganda especially in Pader, Kitgum, and part of Omoro, there is a disease called the Nodding Syndrome Disease. Majority of the people suffering from this disease are disabled. Would you consider taking some study on them so that you see how to give a special grant in handling that situation? The place is a bit localised; it can be managed if you take interest in it. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

I thank you for giving me the way. I come from Puranga Subcounty in Aruu County, Pader District, where I have lived for a while and that is where I have my ancestors. Three weeks back, a gentleman named Ali Dusman came with a court order, claiming 1,000 acres of land in Puranga Subcounty, which is now a town council. He even took people to Court and claimed that the entire land belongs to him. He asked the locals to compensate him with Shs 1.2 billion, yet these locals do not have the funds to get a lawyer to represent them in court. Currently, they spend nights outdoors in fear of being evicted from their land. I request the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, with utmost respect, to pay a visit to Puranga Subcounty and save the locals, who were once living in IDP camps. They are scared that they might be sent back to the IDP camps by the same people who sent their ancestors there. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I raise a matter of national importance on the phasing out of Kotido Primary Teachers’ College. Following the on-going restructuring of teacher training institutions across the country by the Ministry of Education and Sports, Kotido Primary Teachers’ College in Karamoja Subregion has been phased out. This college was opened in 1985 as a Grade III Teacher Training College on serious demand of north Karamoja after realising that Moroto Core PTC could not meet the high training needs of teachers in Karamoja subregion. It is unfortunate that even with the long struggle to attain this college, its noticeable benefits and development to the community, it has been phased out. The phasing out of this college has left the community that gave its land pondering whether to take it back because they had offered it for education of their children to be teachers. A number of stakeholders’ consultative meetings have been held in the district with the Ministry of Education and all have resolved that Kotido PTC be retained and be upgraded to a core PTC, on grounds that it has a larger catchment area coupled with long distances, which cover districts of north Karamoja, Kitgum, Agago, Pader, Otuke, Amuria, Soroti and Kapelebyong. Kotido PTC is the nearest PTC for access of students from the above catchment areas. For instance, the distance from Karenga to Moroto Core PTC, the only college in Karamoja, is 280 kilometres. One can be able to see that the available institution that trains teachers is far apart and connecting them is very difficult, coupled with insecurity. Kotido PTC has a land area of 48 acres with many structures and facilities to support teaching and learning, hence it has room for expansion. There is evidence that there is increased access, retention and completion rates of learners from primary one to -

6348 In northern Uganda, we have Abim, Adjumani, Agago, Alebtong, Amolatar, Amudat, Amuru, Apac, Omoro, Arua, Dokolo, Gulu, Kaabong, Kitgum, Koboko, Kole, Kotido, Lamwo, Lira, Maracha, Moroto, Moyo, Nakapiripirit, Napak, Nebbi, Nwoya, Otuke, Oyam, Pader, Pakwach, Yumbe, Zombo, Obongi, Terego, Karenga, Kwania, Madi-Okollo, Nabilatuk, and Obongi. In Western Uganda, we have Buhweju, Buliisa, Bundibugyo, Bunyangabu, Bushenyi, Hoima, Ibanda, Isingiro, Ntungamo, Kabarole, Kagadi, Kakumiro, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kasese, Kibale, Kiruhura, Kiryandongo, Kisoro, Kyegegwa, Kyenjojo, Masindi, Mbarara, Mitooma, Ntoroko, Rubanda, Rubirizi, Rukiga, Rukungiri, Sheema, Kikuube, Kazo and Rwampara. Madam Speaker, those are the areas that will be covered by the project.

Thank you, Madam Speaker for this opportunity. I thank the Prime Minister for this motion. I was born in Kalongo and my mother had three C-sections. After she was delivered of me, she was unconscious for three days, but I was under the care of this great man we are talking about today. I thank Government for the contribution they have made, but ask that more should be done. Our people still go to this facility, but the road network is very bad, especially from Alebtong, Kitgum and Pader to Kalongo. The network to this facility should be improved so that we can save more lives. Thank you.

Mr Speaker, I rise on a matter of urgency. In 2015, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, agro-processing facilities were constructed by the Government of Uganda in a subcounty called Parogali with support from the African Development Bank, under the Community Agricultural Infrastructure Improvement Programme (CAIIP). This facility was a house for a milling machine with a huller that was constructed in 2015. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries instructed National Advisory Services (NAADs) to purchase the milling machine and install it in the facility. It took about three years and NAADS did not send the machine. In 2018, they took the milling machine to Pader District. Surprisingly, a sharp councillor diverted the machine and offloaded it to a different subcounty where he comes from and dismantled the machine and put it in three houses. I heard the story during campaigns and I thought it was a rumour as during campaigns there are a lot of rumours.

5685 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2022 Last week, the chairman of the subcounty called me and told me that they had discovered where the machines had been placed. I advised him to write to the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) since he is in charge of security, he would investigate whether the machines are there. Indeed, the RDC found those machines and he brought them to the police station in Pader District. My prayer to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries is to find a way of speaking to NAADs to - install the machine. Right now the machine is at the police station – maybe some of the parts will disappear from the police station as some of you may know. (Laughter) We have already spent Government money on the machines. My next prayer goes to the ministry for presidency because when such a thing happens the machine house is in another subcounty and the machines were found in another subcounty. The culprits are in the police. Now the councillor is instigating the people to begin saying that the RDC should be removed from the district because he went and discovered that machine. The ministry for presidency should find a way of protecting the RDC from those dubious people. But kindly, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries should go and install the machine, otherwise we shall lose it. In addition, it took eight years for the machines to be installed. This was not right because if the machine was there, the people would be using it. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I think the information is a bit scanty from the presentation. The people of Serere also have fallen victims. In Kasilo, there are two machines that were installed under CAIIP. The biggest problem is the cost of power. That is what has made most of those machines – the maize hullers, rice hullers, maize mills - to stop functioning. Even at one point, there was a brigadier who had come and wanted to grab one from the community in Kasilo until the people rose up. Mr Speaker, if we do not address the issue of power, either we provide generators or the cost of power is brought down, they will remain there as white elephants. The problem is not only in Pader, as the Hon. Minister for Bunyoro Affairs has explained. Let the minister address the issue of power. My sister Hon. Adoa, knows the one of Kileto, Kateta – those are the problems. The power bills – now they say Shs 20 million, Shs 30 million; the community cannot afford that! So, you either find a way of providing power; either solar or transformers.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The committee conducted field activities in the following districts: Pader, Agago, Alebtong, Kole, Napak, Ngora, Kaliro, Sheema, Buhweju, Mitooma, Bushenyi and Ibanda - that is on page 5. We are going to the findings, observations and recommendations. These are the areas that we were looking at during our visit to those districts. However, before we went to those districts, we had a meeting with the Minister of State for Education and the management of Higher Education Students Financing Board. At a later stage, I will also come with that report and read it as it is included in this report. Therefore, I would like this House to know what we did and the observations we made. So, the following key findings, observations and recommendations have been identified for immediate action for various programmes under affirmative actions and other equalisation programmes to be implemented in the short to medium terms. Mr Speaker, the status of equal opportunities in the education sector; and the attainment of equality and inclusivity in development, is significantly predicated on the state of wellbeing, skills and competitiveness of the various categories of individuals and groups in society, as cited with the Sustainable Development Goal for quality education. While, wellbeing is dependent on the quality of healthcare services. Considering that Government of Uganda has over the past decades made significant gains in education through, inter alia, universalising primary and secondary education, according to the recently released results, the performance of Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) in northern Uganda and northern subregions, for instance, is below the national average. Therefore, the committee noted the average distance travelled by students or pupils to reach their respective schools; majority of the districts visited reported that students cover a distance of more than five kilometres. And, learners complained about long distance travel from home to school. They reported that this was associated with the challenges of rape, late reporting to school, early departure and inability to complete school homework due to fatigue or late arrival at school. Therefore, regarding access to the school environment, especially for visually impaired learners, members observed that most of them could not easily reach school since they lacked landmarks. While, wheelchair users also find it very difficult to access educational facilities in these districts. Mr Speaker, the distance to the nearest facility influences access to education services. The Ministry of Education and Sports standard is that every parish should have a primary school; and there should be a secondary school in every subcounty. So, this policy would make education accessible at that level. The committee findings also revealed that, secondary and tertiary institutions were far and inadequate in many parts of the sampled areas. This made it very hard for most of the children from hard-to-reach areas to progress to secondary level. Other children keep repeating primary seven because of no access to secondary education. Sustainable Development Goals will be evaluated in the next nine years, yet districts are performing badly with only one secondary school in each district. Teenage pregnancy has also increased due to the lockdown. The committee further observed that the cost of education services is a determinant in access to education, and many people pay highly for education in private schools. And, those who did not pay any money to schools meet the cost of scholastic materials, between Shs100 to Shs150, which is very costly for the rural people. However, in private schools, especially in urban areas, the cost is much higher compared to Government-aided education facilities. The committee also observed that the dropout rate is very high. For instance, in Napak District it is at 84 percent. The committee visited special

4976 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION needs schools, such as in Bushenyi District, where the structures are very dilapidated, and no renovation is being done; and most districts have no special needs schools that the children with disabilities can attend. Specific Observations The student loan scheme The committee observed that in an effort to assess regional balance in the operationalisation of the Higher Education Students Financing Board, a statutory body established by the Higher Education Students Financing Act (No.2), 2014, with a mandate to provide loans and scholarships to Ugandan students seeking to pursue higher education, in Ngora District, two students had benefited at the time we visited. In Kaliro, only one student; in Kole, we had three; and Pader had four students on the loan scheme in the previous academic year. And, students from most of the districts had failed to access the loan scheme due to limited or no information given about the scheme. The committee, therefore, noted that there is no regional balance in the award of student loans, especially in the northern and eastern regions; and in Karamoja sub-regionwith the lowest number of beneficiaries. When it came to staffing, whereas schools had staff establishments, these were less than 68 percent of staffing levels in most of the districts visited, with Napak District in Karamoja having the least at 53 percent. This adversely affects the quality of teaching and learning. Napak District had a teacher to pupil ratio of 1: 91. High school drop-out rates The committee observed the highest school drop-out rate was at 84 percent, as I had already mentioned, and that is in Napak District. After primary seven, some pupils do not have where to go, while others repeat P.7 four times because they cannot join secondary school. Their parents cannot afford the school fees and provision of other school requirements. Distance to schools The distance to the schools was also observed to be another big challenge. We found that children were walking about 14 kilometres to access primary school education. This has led to early marriages for girls, while the boys end up in pursuit of other livelihoods. Do these children have an opportunity for better education? Inadequate furniture for pupils The committee also observed that there was inadequate furniture in classrooms in the primary schools and there is need, therefore, to procure more. This was also a big challenge. Secondary schools The committee noted that Government has increased the number of seed secondary schools in many subcounties, while construction of additional seed secondary schools was ongoing in most of the subcounties. The committee appreciates Government’s efforts to ensuring at least one secondary school in every subcounty. Recommendations 1. The Minister for Education and Sports should provide for special needs children to benefit from inclusive education; 2. Washrooms or sanitary facilities for children with disabilities be provided in the schools; 3. The students’ loan scheme should be made accessible to all students that intend to borrow the funds for further studies, and more information about the scheme be given to the public to facilitate accessibility; 4. The district quota system should be introduced by the Higher Students’ Financing Board so that all districts will have an equal number of students accessing the Students’ Loan Scheme STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT [Mr Alyek]