Buhweju County

Madam Speaker, the local governments with additional local revenue are the following: Arua City, Jinja City, Lira City, Mbale City, Apac Municipal Council, Agago District, Budaka District, Bugiri District, Buhweju District, Bulambuli District, Bushenyi District, Dokolo District, Jinja District, Kalilo District, Kasese District, Kyikube District, Koboko District, Kyegegwa District, Kyenjojo District, Kyotera District, Mbarara District, Mitooma District, Moroto District, Nakapiripirit District, Nakasongola District, Namisindwa District, Obongi District, Pallisa District, Rubanda District, Rubirizi District, Rukiga District, Sironko District, Tororo District, among others. (Interjections) Madam Speaker, we have also provided Shs 72.9 billion as additional disbursement by the World Bank for the Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises(GROW) project. The World Bank approved and disbursed additional funds for GROW project. These funds must be utilised, or the grant will be cancelled at the end of this financial year. Madam Speaker, I now come to the supplementary expenditures that are above the 3 per cent legal limit that require additional financing. The total is Shs 463.15 billion, and the particulars are as follows: i. Shs 56.95 billion for LC1, LC2, and Women Council Committee elections countrywide as directed by the Cabinet. These funds are required to support the Electoral Commission in fully implementing the electoral roadmap, as already approved by the Cabinet. ii. Shs 29.57 billion for AFCON 2027 preparatory activities. Honourable members, the Cabinet directed that we fully fund AFCON 2027, beginning with the immediate requirement in this Financial Year 2025/2026. These funds are required to implement the urgent preparatory works, reduce implementation risk and keep the overall AFCON 2027 preparation programme on schedule. The activities include the following; i) Shs 14.1 billion for preliminary works at Kabalega International Airport. This one will go to the Ministry of Works and Transport. ii) Shs 8.03 billion for priority road works and associated support activities in Kira Municipal Council. iii) Shs 3.06 billion for pitch improvement at Kadiba Football Stadium. iv) Shs 0.31 billion for branding of host cities and content production for the Destination Uganda documentary. v) Shs 1.0 17 billion for Hoima City and Masindi Municipality to finance sanitation and road safety interventions. vi) Shs 1.02 billion for meteorological and aviation safety support system. vii) Shs 1.8 billion for water utility preparatory works for the Hoima cluster. Madam Speaker, we also require; COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

Thank you, committee chairperson. Honourable colleagues, in the public gallery this afternoon, we have a team of councillors from Bihanga Sub county in Buhweju District. They are represented in Parliament by Hon. Biraaro Ephraim and Hon. Katwesigye Oliver Koyekyanga. They have come to observe proceedings of this House. Please join me in welcoming them – (Applause) - I request you to stand up. Thank you. Also, in the public gallery this afternoon, are students and teachers from Seeta Junior School. They are represented in Parliament by Hon. Kiwanuka Abdallah and Hon. Nabukeera Hanifa Hussein. They have also come to observe the proceedings of this House. Please, join me in welcoming you. Kindly stand up. (Applause) Once again, in the public gallery this afternoon, we have a group of boys and girls from Prime View Soccer Academy located in Tororo Municipality, Tororo District. They are represented by Hon. Ofwono Yeri Apollo and Hon. Sarah Opendi Achieng. They have come to observe proceedings of this House. Please join me in welcoming them. Kindly stand up. (Applause) Finally, in the public gallery this afternoon, are students and teachers of Busaana Secondary School located in Kayunga District. They are represented by Hon. Lugoloobi Amos and Hon. Nantaba Idah Erios. They have come to observe proceedings of this House. Please, join me in welcoming them. (Applause) Honourable colleagues, we are going to open the debate. Attorney-General, you have heard the recommendations of the committee, especially with regard to the issue of the two long titles. If you could first guide on the strong reasoning behind that recommendation to His Excellency the President -

Madam Speaker, my name is Katwesigye Oliver Koyekyenga. I represent the people of the Buhweju District in this Parliament. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am Biraaro Ephraim Ganshanga, Member of Parliament, Buhweju West County, Buhweju District, Ankole Region. Buhweju is the only district I know with no inch of a tarmac road and suffering under the tea sector neglected by the Government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on a matter of urgent national concern, which is a serious threat to the economic welfare and food security in Uganda, starting from Buhweju District. For the third year, Buhweju District has been infested with variegated grasshoppers which devour all green vegetation, but mainly cassava, bananas, coffee, tea and all the pastures. The areas where I have personally witnessed this are the sub counties of Rubengye, Bihanga, Nyakishana, Burere, Nyakashaka, Nyakaziba, Kyahenda and Engaju. The district report, highlighting more details, is here with me and I am going to lay it on the Table after this –

Sheema Municipal Council, Shs 1.60 billion was added for completion of the rehabilitation of Kabwohe Health Centre IV, that is, Shs 600 million, the market development infrastructure of Shs 400 million, and the Sheema Municipal Council headquarters, Shs 600 million. Buhweju District: Completion of St Anthony Kakade Seed School, Shs 500 million. Bulambuli District: Construction of climbing ladders for school-going children. Colleagues, you have seen on WhatsApp , children in Bulambuli, in a place called Sotti have to access school through ladders to reach the higher level but they have been using eucalyptus to make ladders. We are informed that if we do not reinforce and put proper ladders, one day the eucalyptus ladders will break and the children will die. So Shs 1.5 billion -

Honourable minister for Gender. As the Honourable Minister is coming, colleagues, in the Public Gallery this afternoon, we have a group of tea farmers from Buhweju District. They are represented in Parliament by Hon. Mwijukye Francis, Hon. Koyekyenga Oliver and Hon. Biraaro Ephraim. They have come to observe proceedings of this House. Please, join me in welcoming them. (Applause) Thank you.

Honour - able colleagues, in the Public Gallery this after - noon, we have pupils and teachers of St Janani Luwum Primary School, Kitgum District. They are represented by Hon. Denis Amere Onekalit and Hon. Lillian Aber. They have come to ob - serve the proceedings of the House. Join me in welcoming them. Kindly, stand up so that we can welcome you, our beautiful guests. (Ap - plause) Thank you. Furthermore, in the Public Gallery this afternoon, we have a delegation of youth leaders from Buhweju West constituency in Buhweju District, led by Mr Junior Muyambi Junior. They are represented by Hon. Ephraim Biraaro and Hon. Oliver Katwesigye Koyekyenga. They have come to observe the proceedings of the House. Please, join me in welcoming them. (Applause) Thank you. Clause 11: Penalty for cultivation of certain plants

8896 THE EMPLOYMENT( AMENDMENT BILL) (NO.2) BILL, 2022 Honourable colleagues, in the public gallery this afternoon, we have catechists from Bihanga Catholic Parish, Bihanga Subcounty, Buhweju District, headed by Fr Barekye Mukasa. They are represented by Hon. Oliver Katwesigye Koyekyenga, Hon. Ephraim Biraaro and Hon. Francis Mwijukye. They are here to observe proceedings of this House. Please, join me in welcoming them. (Applause) That is why I made an exception for the area Member of Parliament to submit. Let me ask the Attorney-General to clarify for us.

Why don’t we listen to the whole list? You said we should read the list and we are reading it. Honourable members, listen to the figures. I do not think any of these Members will take this money into their pockets. 30) Vote 720: Masindi Municipal Council – Shs 11,172,470,000 31) Vote 721: Mityana Municipal Council – Shs 10,365,633,000 32) Vote 722: Moroto Municipal Council – Shs 5,143,627,000 33) Vote 723: Mubende Municipal Council – Shs 10,465,947,000 34) Vote 724: Mukono Municipal Council – Shs 19,829,177,000 35) Vote 725: Nansana Municipal Council – Shs 24,351,761,000 36) Vote 726: Nebbi Municipal Council – Shs 6,907,898,000 37) Vote 727: Njeru Municipal Council – Shs 13,394,572,000 38) Vote 728: Ntungamo Municipal Council – Shs 4,845,867,000 39) Vote 729: Rukungiri Municipal Council – Shs 9,415,996,000 40) Vote 730: Sheema Municipal Council – Shs 14,106,079,000 41) Vote 731: Tororo Municipal Council – Shs 9,365,323,000 42) Vote 801: Abim District – Shs 18,295,895,000 43) Vote 802: Adjumani District – Shs 31,965,889,000 44) Vote 803: Agago District – Shs 31,061,514,000 45) Vote 804: Alebtong District – Shs 23,689,489,000 46) Vote 805: Amolatar District – Shs 19,357,798,000 47) Vote 806: Amudat District – Shs 10,632,904,000 48) Vote 807: Amuria District – Shs 22,290,290,000 49) Vote 808: Amuru District - Shs 22,428,999,000 50) Vote 809: Apac District – Shs 20,739,922,000 51) Vote 810: Arua District – Shs 16,085,370,000 52) Vote 811: Budaka District – Shs 25,157,873,000 53) Vote 812: Bududa District – Shs 26,411,933,000 54) Vote 813: Bugiri District – Shs 34,828,388,000 55) Vote 814: Bugweri District – Shs 19,367,086,000 56) Vote 815: Buhweju District – Shs 15,085,933,000 57) Vote 816: Buikwe District – Shs 24,383,139,000 58) Vote 817: Bukedea District – Shs 26,466,423,000 59) Vote 818: Bukomansimbi District – Shs 18,428,274,000

8755 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 18 MAY 2023 94) Vote 809: Apac District – Shs 20,739,922,000 95) Vote 810: Arua District – Shs 16,085,370,000 96) Vote 811: Budaka District – Shs 25,157,873,000 97) Vote 812: Bududa District – Shs 26,411,933,000 98) Vote 813: Bugiri District – Shs 34,828,388,000 99) Vote 814: Bugweri District – Shs 19,367,086,000 100) Vote 815: Buhweju District – Shs 15,085,933,000 101) Vote 816: Buikwe District – Shs 24,383,139,000 102) Vote 817: Bukedea District – Shs 26,466,423,000 103) Vote 818: Bukomansimbi District – Shs 18,428,274,000 104) Vote 819: Bukwo District – Shs 22,102,420,000 105) Vote 820: Bulambuli District – Shs 22,999,426,000 106) Vote 821: Buliisa District – Shs 14,874,929,000 107) Vote 822: Bundibugyo District – Shs 33,203,487,000 108) Vote 823: Bunyangabu District - Shs 19,891,642,000 109) Vote 824: Bushenyi District – Shs 28,896,953,000 110) Votes 825: Busia District - Shs 32,967,494,000 111) Votes 826: Butaleja District - Shs 33,927,473,000 112) Vote 827: Butambala District – Shs 23,446,766,000 113) Vote 828: Butebo District - Shs 16,607,616,000 114) Vote 829: Buvuma District – Shs 13,321,617,000 115) Vote 830: Buyende District – Shs 22,651,177,000 116) Vote 831: Dokolo District – Shs 21,223,707,000 117) Vote 832: Gomba District – Shs 21,231,932,000 118) Vote 833: Gulu District – Shs 21,678,185,000 119) Vote 834: Hoima District – Shs 20,331,850,000 120) Vote 835: Ibanda District - Shs 21,754,328,000 121) Vote 836: Iganga District – Shs 38,124,629,000 122) Vote 837: Isingiro District – Shs 43,369,358,000 123) Vote 838: Jinja District - Shs 37,285,315,000 124) Vote 839: Kaabong District - Shs 16,287,466,000 125) Vote 840: Kabale District – Shs 32,609,628,000 126) Vote 841: Kabarole District - Shs 20,343,712,000 127) Vote 842: Kaberamaido District – Shs 14,913,324,000 128) Vote 843: Kagadi District - Shs 35,348,272,000

8379 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 26 APRIL 2023 The committee was further informed that a team composed of personnel from the Directorate of Research, Planning and Development, Human Resource Development, Human Resource and Management, crime intelligence and logistics and engineering was constituted to review the applications and come up with a short list for applicants for the post of PPC general duties and PPC drivers to be invited for interviews. Recruitment criteria for PPCs, a total of 9900 applications were received out of which 1846 including 1261 males and 585 females, qualified to be shortlisted for interviews. Of the 15 applicants Uganda police received from Buhweju District, none of them qualified, some districts failed to meet there quarter namely: Nabilatuk, Koboko, Yuymbe, Kakumiro, kibale, kikube, KIryandongo, Kyegegwa, Kitagwenda, Rakai, Lwengo, Kalungu, Kazo, Bududa, Sironko, Kaabong, Mityana, Mpigi, Gomba, Nakaseke, and Buyende. Police Force leadership explained the allocation of these quarters was in line with the constitutional requirement of nationalistic and patriotic police forces and shall ensure that members of the Uganda police force are rec recruited from every district in Uganda. It was further explained that quotas allocated to districts are based on the population projections as provided by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS). The committee observed that the recruiting exercise had variances in the number of short- listed candidates per district. For example, Masaka City had 14, Masaka District had seven, Gulu City had 32, Soroti had 22 and Mitooma four. The committee queried the criteria used to allocate the said numbers. It further noted that in the circumstance where a district or a city did not meet the number for the quarter, the balance was given to the neighbouring district since districts are being cut often but stay within the geographical area. The committee was informed that variance in recruitment is based on the population quarter of which the formula is provided by the constitution and based on UBOS figures. The committee is satisfied that the variance in quarters given to different districts is justified. The committee noted that the recruitment exercise was centralised with the application being submitted at regional police offices and forwarded to police headquarters for processing. The committee recommends that whereas the Police Force conduct the recruitment exercise at the regional level due to COVID-19 pandemic, in future, the exercise should be done at the district headquarters as has been the practice. This will promote transparency in the exercise. Recruitment criteria for UCE leavers A total of 1488 applications were received and of these, 853 were found suitable for the next stage. These cut across all classes of driving permits. The recruitment exercise was in accordance with the second advert run by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The committee noted that all interested persons had to file applications accompanied by a recommendation letter from local authorities, as proof that the applicant is a resident of a particular district, a Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) with 4 credits including English and at least a pass in mathematics obtained not earlier 2018, a valid driving license for those applying for the position of PPC drivers and a national id card as proof of Nationality. The committee recommends that there should be a verification committee comprised of the LCIII chairperson, subcounty chief and GISO before the applicant submits the application to the police force to minimise forgeries. The committee is satisfied that the advert for recruitment was made public on print media, radio and television and therefore applicants were aware of all the requirements for the positions they applied for. Originality and Identity of Applicants It was alleged that most of the people shortlisted per district were not residents of the said district. A case in point was Masaka City

Mr Speaker, on the issue of administrative units, we either find money for them or merge them if we cannot manage to facilitate or provide money for them. You cannot just go and – I do not want to use the word “masquerade”. You cannot just go and say, “we have given you a district”, yet the district cannot even have an administration block. Buhweju District is now stuck. They started, roofed but cannot proceed. I do not know how far Mitooma and other new districts have gone. However, they are districts but operating in very small structures. Some cities are fighting with districts over office space. Town councils and subcounties were created, but they are stuck. Mr Speaker, we get the blame, as Members of Parliament, as if we are not doing anything about it – because they were created here. Mr Speaker, I think we need to find money for these units. If we cannot find the money, then, we should merge them so that we stop pretending that we have units for which we cannot provide money. I thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I stand to raise a matter of national importance regarding the lack of essential medicines, health supplies and basic kits in lower health facilities. The last time we received these supplies in Buhweju District was in October 2022. If you went to our health centres now, you would find only ARVs and TB drugs – and these are from donors. Consequently, Mr Speaker, the health facilities are closing. This has also increased referrals to regional referral hospitals, which creates congestion and the burden of cases that could have been handled in the lower health facilities. We cannot take people’s health for granted. There is no other case we can handle that tantamounts to people’s health. Therefore, I request that we get supplies of essential medicines to our district. I am sure that even in other districts, the health centres are in the same situation. We can talk about roads and [The Deputy Speaker] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

I will now go to works and transport. The committee could not easily move from Ibanda to Buhweju districts due to the bad road network. We had to travel back to Mbarara in order to connect to Buhweju. Roads in such areas with very poor road network should be improved. This is something that we have complained about before. In Ngora District, the road to Pallisa is also a menace. It is not accessible due to the bad state of the bridges that need upgrading. In Napak District, the roads are also very bad, and are worse during the rainy season because they become impassable. This hindered our oversight visit to those districts. We, therefore, recommend that: 1. The Ministry of Works and Transport should evaluate the state of all the major roads and establish a redevelopment strategy so as to improve accessibility and livelihood; and 2. Government should devote resources to the improvement of roads in the mentioned districts. This is a pre-condition for the movement of people, goods and services and meaningful engagement in production. The Water and Environment Sector The committee observed that other areas in the country lack clean water. Access to clean water is not easy in Buhweju District, where women move long distances to access clean water. In Napak District, there is need to dig deep wells, because access to clean water is a major problem in that area. We realised that water distribution is not balanced in all the communities, such as in Apac where 146 villages do not have any water sources. They obtain their water from ponds, and it is not very clean; and they move very long distances to access this water. The committee further observed that latrine coverage in Napak was at 37 per cent and most of the community members still practice open defaecation and the district has very high levels of poverty. Recommendations 1. The Ministry of Water and Environment should make a detailed assessment of the water scarcity in hard-to-areas and provide possible solutions to that effect; and 2. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries should support the marginalised groups with improved seedlings and farming tools. The Youth Livelihood Programme This is a programme we also considered as affirmative action given to the communities. Our findings and observations are on page 17. It was noted that there were no funds under the Youth Livelihood Fund at the district STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT [Mr Alyek]