Bunya County South

Mr Speaker, our brother is aware that we had a meeting; himself, I and the President in Mayuge sometime back. I was with him in Kween a few months ago and we agreed that we would relocate the people that were affected by the landslides in that camp. The President wrote a letter to allow regulated grazing of cattle by that group in the nearby national park. Today, I engaged the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities to allow regulated grazing in Pian Upe. As far as food is concerned, Mr Speaker, we are starting a financial year. Money was warranted, I think, yesterday but one by this man of finance. We shall get access to the money to buy food supplies next week. When we get the money, we shall provide food for that camp. Thank you so much.

102. Maganda Julius Wandera Samia Bugwe County South Busia NRM 103. Malende Shamim Woman Representative Kampala NUP 104. Mayanja Moses Busiro County North Wakiso NRM 105. Mbalibulha Christopher K. Taban Bughendera County Bundibugyo Independent 106. Monday Julius Rude (Dr) Bukonzo County East Kasese NRM 107. Lule Eria Erick Kiboga West County Kiboga NRM 108. Meeme Sylvia (Col) UPDF Representative N/A N/A 109. Lwansasula Sarah Woman Representative Jinja City NUP 110. Modoi Isaac Lutseshe County Bududa NRM 111. Mpaata Salleh Bunya County South Mayuge NRM 112. Mubangizi Dedan Buwekula South County Mubende NRM 113. Luyimbazi Nalukoola Elias Kawempe Division North Kampala NUP 114. Masaba Muhamood Mutenyo Bungokho Central County Mbale NRM 115. Mbabazi Jacqueline Older persons Representative Western NRM 116. Migadde Robert Ndugwa Buvuma Islands County Buvuma NRM 117. Mudukoi Fred Oduchu Butebo County Butebo NRM 118. Namatovu Mastula Kamuli Municipality Kamuli NRM 119. Mugenyi Joseph Burahya County Kabarole NRM 120. Mudiobole Abedi Nasser Iganga Municipality Iganga NUP 121. Mugira James (Lt Gen.) UPDF Representative N/A N/A 122. Mugisa Margaret Muhanga Fort Portal North Division Fort Portal City NRM 123. Malinga Isaac Maikut Soi County Kween NRM 124. Masiko Henry Moses (Maj. Gen.) UPDF Representative N/A N/A 125. Mushabe Rujoki Ruth Woman Representative Kiruhura NRM 126. Mpindi Bumali PWD N/A Independent 127. Maseruka Robert Mukono County South Mukono NUP 128. Musinguzi Patrick Kashari North County Mbarara NRM 129. Muhenda Ronald Fort Portal Central Division Fort Portal City Independent 130. Muhooza Desire Woman Representative Kiboga NRM 131. Mujungu Jennifer K. Woman Representative Ntoroko NRM 132. Mujuni Asensio Maari Isingiro County South Isingiro NRM 133. Mukisa Robina Hope Woman Representative Namayingo NRM 134. Mukhaye Miriam Woman Representative Mbale NRM 135. Mulemya Ismail Sowed Busia Municipality Busia NRM 136. Mukiibi Eriasa Sserunjogi Butambala County Butambala Independent 137. Mulindwa David Isimbwa Busongora County South Kasese NRM 138. Mirembe Lydia Daphine Woman Representative Butambala Independent 139. Mugabe Robert Kitagwenda County Kitagwenda NRM 140. Mugabi Muzaale Martin Kisule Buzaaya County Kamuli NRM 141. Musa Noah Koboko North County Koboko NRM 142. Musanje Moses Njeru Municipality Buikwe NUP 143. Musasizi Henry Ariganyira Rubanda County East Rubanda NRM 144. Musila John Bubulo East County Namisindwa NRM 145. Musisi George Kira Municipality Wakiso NUP 146. Mutasingwa Diana Nankunda Woman Representative Buikwe NRM 147. Mutego Ronard Hangujja Bunyole East County Butaleja Independent 148. Nakku Fiona Female Workers Representative N/A Independent 149. Mutekanga Zadock Buhweju County Buhweju NRM 150. Mutonyi Rose Masaaba Woman Representative Manafwa Independent 151. Muyonjo Hussein Jinja North Division Jinja City NUP 152. Mwesigwa Mathias Rubabo County Rukungiri NRM

11 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 14 MAY 2026 153. Mao Nobert Laroo-Pece Division Gulu City DP 154. Mwiru Paul Jinja South Division East Jinja City NUP 155. Nabadduka Annet Woman Representative Kibaale Independent 156. Nabakooba Judith Nalule Woman Representative Mityana NRM 157. Nabawanuka Sumayah Mubende Municipality Mubende NUP 158. Nabirye Annet Woman Representative Luuka NRM 159. Nabukenya Brenda Woman Representative Luweero NUP 160. Nagujja Judith Woman Representative Buvuma NRM 161. Najjuma Sarah Woman Representative Nakaseke NRM 162. Nakadama Rukia Isanga Woman Representative Mayuge NRM 163. Nakawuki Susan Nsambu Mawokota County South Mpigi NRM 164. Nakazibwe Hope Grania Woman Representative Mubende NRM 165. Nakisita Betty Mpongo Woman Representative Namutumba Independent 166. Nakiyi Julius Muntu Budadiri County East Sironko NRM 167. Nakut Faith Loru Woman Representative Napak NRM 168. Nakweede Harriet Woman Representative Kayunga NUP 169. Naluyima Betty Ethel Woman Representative Wakiso NUP 170. Namanya Viola Woman Representative Ntungamo NRM 171. Namara Dennis Buyaga West County Kagadi NRM 172. Namatende Eunice Woman Representative Bugiri NRM 173. Nambaziira Florence Woman Representative Ssembabule NRM 174. Nambeshe John Baptist Manjiya County Bududa NUP The Uganda National Anthem The East African Community Anthem (The House rose at 4.15 p.m. and adjourned until Friday, 15 May 2026, at 8.00 a.m.)

4 ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS 103. Kalenzi Victor Bunyangabu County Bunyangabu NRM 104. Basajjassubi Nsereko Charles Nakaseke South County Nakaseke NRM Kawuma 105. Baseke Fred Ntenjeru County South Kayunga NRM 106. Bright Tom Amooti Kyaka Central County Kyegegwa NRM 107. Bazaanya Matayo Bugabula County South Kamuli NRM 108. Begiira Samuel Youth Representative Central NRM 109. Begumisa Protazio Ndorwa County East Kabale NRM 110. Bagiire Aggrey Henry Bunya County West Mayuge NRM 111. Baryayanga Andrew Aja Kabale Municipality Kabale NRM 112. Bassajja Iddi Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality Bushenyi NRM 113. Bigirwa Norah Nyendwoha District Woman Representative Buliisa NRM 114. Bingi Patrick Nyanzi Butemba County Kyankwanzi NRM 115. Birungi Annet Workers Representative N/A NRM 116. Birungi Carolyn Nanyondo Kyamuswa County Kalangala NRM 117. Banya Emmanuel Natal Koboko County Koboko NRM 118. Biara Emmanuel Wepukhulu Bulambuli County Bulambuli NRM 119. Kabarokole Sarah District Woman Representative Bunyangabu NRM 120. Bisaso Abdul Kassanda County South Kassanda NRM 121. Bakashaba Christopher Mbarara North Division Mbarara City NRM 122. Oleru Huda Abason Aringa East County Yumbe NRM 123. Kabanda Minsa Nabbengo Kampala Central Division Kampala NRM 124. Bebona Josephine Babungi District Woman Representative Bundibugyo NRM 125. Baguma Spellanza Muhenda District Woman Representative Kyenjojo Independent 126. Batuwa Timothy Lusala Jinja South Division West Jinja City NUP 127. Byamukama Fred Bugangaizi West County Kakumiro NRM 128. Kadaga Rebecca Alitwala District Woman Representative Kamuli NRM 129. Byamukama Rogers Masindi Municipality Masindi NRM 130. Byanyima Nathan Bukanga North County Isingiro NRM 131. Byibesho Sam Kisoro Municipality Kisoro NRM 132. Byuma Oswald Dez Mawogola County Ssembabule NRM 133. Cadet Benjamin Bunyaruguru County Rubirizi NRM 134. Challa Elma Kapel Youth Representative Northern NRM 135. Chandia Benadette Kodili District Woman Representative Moyo NRM 136. Chemonges William Kween County Kween NRM 137. Chemutai Phyllis District Woman Representative Kapchorwa Independent 138. Cheutich Rufina District Woman Representative Amudat NRM 139. Dramviku Eric Sabiti Terego West County Terego NRM 140. Driwaru Jennifer District Woman Representative Maracha NRM 141. Echodu David Calvin Soroti West County Soroti City NRM 142. Edakasi Alfred Elalu-Olale Kaberamaido County Kaberamaido NRM 143. Ediau Samuel Amuria County Amuria NRM 144. Edopu Peter Edeku Dakabela County Soroti NRM 145. Ekoro Alex Irukan Bunya County East Mayuge NRM 146. Elem Leo Moroto County Alebtong UPC 147. Emaju Peter Paul Kasilo County Serere NRM 148. Eron Tonny Kwania County Kwania NRM 149. Etilu Margaret District Woman Representative Amuria NRM 150. Bagoole Ngobi John Luuka North County Luuka NRM 151. Eunice Otuko Apio Oyam County North Oyam UPC 152. Kamuntu Ephraim Sheema County South Sheema 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.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The project objective is to support the Government of Uganda’s effort to achieve sustainable provision of safe water and hygienic sanitation for the urban population by the year 2030. The project will improve the quality of service and the supply of water and sanitation facilities, as well as enhance the management and functioning of water supply and sanitation systems in the targeted towns in Uganda. The primary beneficiaries of the project would be residents of four selected cluster project areas in different regions of the country. The identified clusters are: Nakasongola Phase II cluster (Nakasongola District), Kamuli- Kasambira Phase II cluster (Kamuli District), Mayuge-Bugadde (Mayuge District) - Idudi- Busesa (Bugweri District) cluster, and Alebtong cluster (Alebtong District). The project comprises three major components, namely, i) Urban water supply infrastructure development; ii) Urban sanitation infrastructure development; and iii) Project management. The project will cost Euro 221.682 million and will be financed by; i) Sinosure Backed Term loan facility from Standard Chartered Bank of up to Euros 183,309,947, Domestic borrowing of 120.395 billion (six-month Treasury Bill), an equivalent of Euros 29.572; and ii) Government counterpart funding of Euros 8.8 million, which will be spread over five years of implementation. The counterpart funding will cover the project’s running costs (recurrent costs), land acquisition for infrastructure development, programme coordination, and joint monitoring and evaluation.

18030 RESOLUTION TO BORROW Therefore, it will be budgeted for in the Ministry of Water and Environment’s mid- term expenditure framework, and the resources will be made available starting Financial Year 2025/2026. The Certificate of Financial Implications has been attached to the detailed brief. The right of way for all the infrastructure was concluded under Phase I of the project in Nakasongola, Kamuli-Kasambira, and Alebtong. The process is still ongoing in Bugadde-Mayuge-Idudi-Busesa, with the district local government’s involvement. The progress of acquiring the right of way for the entire project is estimated at 75 per cent. What are the terms? The loan amount I stated earlier is 183.309 million. The tenure is 14 years with a four-year grace period. The interest rate is six months euribor plus margin, and the commitment fee is 30 per cent of the margin per annum, which is 0.63 per cent. The margin is 2.10 per cent. The sinosure premium is 7 per cent of principal and interest. The agency fee is $20,000 per year, the arrangement fee is 1.4 per cent paid up front, and the default interest is 2 per cent. The six- month Treasury bill issuance to cater for 15 per cent of the contract sum loan amount is 120.395 billion, which is an equivalent of Euro 29.572. The loan period is a six-month Treasury bill to be determined at the time of issuance. However, it stood at 14 per cent per year as of 12 February 2025. The justification, Mr Speaker, is that the project will contribute to the water and sanitation sector target of 85 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2040. The project will provide additional access to at least 0.74 million people by 2030 and over one million people in the projected design period by 2050. The project will train 150 people in appropriate urban sanitation, masonry, mechanical artisanry, and waste management. Through this project, the sector is targeting rolling out water and sanitation services to the four future cities and the surrounding satellite town councils within selected districts to cover wider and unserved areas, bringing piped water closer to the town populations and progressively reducing the common sight of women and children carrying water on their heads for long distances from unsafe wells. The water supply services will extend to 51 towns, covering 115 parishes. The project will contribute to improved health and productivity by providing safe water and sanitation services to the target population of approximately 1 million people by 2050. The infrastructure also serves industrial areas in the region, including the cassava processing plant in Nakasongola and the proposed industrial park in Kakooge. In addition, the project will include abstract infrastructure for water for irrigation purposes and support designs for extending water for irrigation within the project areas. The envisaged direct impact of the project includes: i) Access to safe, adequate and reliable water supply to town populations, ii) Reduction in the average walking distances to the nearest public water point, and iii) Reduction in the time spent fetching water at congested water points. The water infrastructure designed for the identified cities and surrounding small towns is a direct response to Uganda’s current urbanisation rate of 5.2 per cent. Sanitation interventions in schools, institutions, and other settings, and the accompanying faecal sludge plants with dislodging units, will have a tremendous impact on the existing challenge of emptying toilets and septic tanks in schools and informal settlements. The project will also provide employment opportunities during construction and

Thank you. Mr Speaker, I beg to lay the report of the Committee on National Economy, on the proposal to borrow Euros 183,309,947.16 from the Standard Chartered Bank, UK and Shs 120,395,249,259 (approximately Euros 29,572,292) from the domestic market (Six-month treasury bill) for financing the Strategic Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project - Phase II. I beg to lay the committee report, the minority report, and the committee minutes. Allow me to summarise the report. The minister has already given an overview of it. The Committee on National Economy held a meeting with the technical teams from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the Ministry of Water and Environment technical teams. The committee also reviewed the documents that were submitted, that is: i) The ministerial brief to the proposal, the Strategic Towns Water Supply and Sanitation - Phase 2 Feasibility Study Report, ii) The draft loan agreement between the Republic of Uganda and the Standard Chartered Bank for financing the Strategic Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project - Phase 2, iii) Environmental and Social Management Plan for Kamuli Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project, Kamuli District, dated 20 June 2022, iv) The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) Certificate of Approval of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment dated 18 July 2024, for the project investments in the beneficiary areas of Kamuli, Mayuge, Nakasongola and Alebtong. v) The conditions of approval of the Environmental and Social Impact Statement for Kamuli-Kasambira Piped Water Supply and Sanitation Project - Phase 2, located in Bugondha Village. vi) A document from the National Planning Authority, clearing the Strategic Towns Water Supply and the Sanitation Project - Phase 2, vii) The Procurement Plan of the Strategic Water Towns Supply and Sanitation Project - Phase 2

18033 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2025 project. I would like to inform this House that this is linked to the country’s strategies. The minister already talked about the components and construction of this project. The project has three components: component one included the construction of the water supply systems. It took the largest amount of funds, costing about 81 per cent of the total project cost, which is €179.27 million. This was to be invested in building on the achievements of phase one to enhance infrastructure capacity in Kamuli Municipal Council and Nakasongola districts, and construction of new water supply infrastructure in Mayuge and Alebtong districts. The provision of the piped water supply and approved sanitation in these strategic towns will trigger socio-economic transformation through stimulation of business/ commercial activities and support to end user social services. Component two takes about €20.66 million which is 9 per cent of the total project cost. It will be conducted in line with the urban improved sanitation and hygiene strategy to finance activities of sanitation and hygiene awareness creation, construction of public sanitation infrastructure, including the on-site and off-site regional faecal sludge or sewerage management facilities. Faecal sludge, haulage and service equipment will also be provided to serve the cluster towns. Component three takes a total of €21.75 million, which is 10 per cent of the project cost, and will invest in supporting the Ministry of Water and Environment towards effective implementation of the Strategic Towns Water Supply Project phase two. Mr Speaker, allow me to go direct to the committee’s observations and recommendations. The terms and conditions of the loan and the physical modalities: the committee observed that this loan, financed from external sources with the Standard Chartered Bank UK being the agent and the arranger, is being offered at a high commercial rate for a project that has no immediate revenue generation stream. However, this is being mitigated by the socio- economic returns over the medium to long term that lead to high economic returns of 19 per cent over the opportunity cost of capital of 11 per cent. Additionally, the financial modality through issuance of six-month treasury securities in the domestic market is equally commercial with the current cost of 182 treasury bill rate of 12.5 per cent. While this is an option available to the Government in mobilising resources to finance its programmes, its suitability for such projects is a major concern. Such concerns involve whether such options are part of the treasury security insurance calendar of the central bank/ Government. Furthermore, the cost of insurance premium for Sinosure of €15.7 million is nine per cent of the credit, which is considerably higher given that the risk assessment framework for the project indicates low financial and political risks. The committee recommends the following: i) The Government should ensure that high commercial loans are used to finance projects whose revenue generation capacity is in the short term; ii) Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should ensure that domestic borrowing to finance specific projects form part of the government insurance calendar to improve coordination between the monetary policy and the physical policy authorities. Efforts to mitigate the rising interest costs for the private sector due to increased Government borrowing from the banking sector should further be explored by the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development as well. iii) The Government should consider negotiating the insurance premium cost, given the minimum risk the project faces and other costs to bring them to levels that are compatible to the Standard Chartered Bank, UK terms used for Kabalega airport in Hoima that were non-concessional.

18034 RESOLUTION TO BORROW Observation 5.2, the budgetary implications of the Strategic Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project II The committee observed that while a budget provision of Shs 6.93 billion had been provided for on-ongoing activities under the project in the Financial Year 2025/2026, the Strategic Towns Water Supply Systems Project phase two first year requirement of over Shs 150 billion is not provided for in the budget for the Financial Year 2025/2026. Further, the project is not part of the medium- term commitments statement for the Financial Year 2025/2026 as presented to Parliament. The domestic debt acquisition to finance part of phase two increases the financing requirement of the Government in terms of short-term interest rate payments that should be planned in the Government’s fiscal operations for the Financial Year 2025/2026 and over the medium term. The committee recommends that the Government should expedite the process of including the Strategic Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project Phase II to form part of the multi-year commitment for Financial Year 2025/2026 and the medium term. As a result, the Government should adjust its fiscal framework to include any costs associated with the financing modalities of the project for the Financial Year 2025/2026 and the medium term. 5.3 Government counterpart funding The committee noted that among the lessons learned from the implementation of projects, especially those financed by externally- borrowed funds, is the untimely release of Government counterpart funding and the low absorption capacity of the project-executing agencies. The committee recommends that the Government ensures that adequate counterpart funds for these projects are timely integrated into the national budget during the implementation period. Fulfillment of the loan conditions The committee also observed that the Government has been slow in the fulfilment of the loan’s effective conditions upon the signing of the loan agreements in order to trigger the disbursement of committed funds for the implementation of the debt-funded projects. The committee recommends that the Government ensures the speedy fulfilment of the effective conditions of the financing agreements for this loan in order for the committed funds to be released by Standard Chartered Bank, UK on time, to guarantee the timely implementation of the project. High dependence on consultancy The committee observed the high dependency of the project on consultancy services. According to the project procurement plan, a total of €8,070,513 will be spent on consultancy services. The majority of the consultancy costs will finance consultancy services for construction supervision of Alebtong, Kamuli- Kasambira Phase II, Bugadde-Mayuge-Idudi- Busesa and Nakasongola Phase II Water Supply and Sanitation Project. The committee recommends that the Government scales up plans for deliberately building the capacities of MDAs in conducting studies, designing and the supervision of projects in order to cut down on the exorbitant amounts of project funds spent on consultancy services towards conducting studies, designs and the supervision of debt-funded projects. 5.6. Performance of debt-funded projects in the water and sanitation sector The committee noted that there has been an improvement in the utilisation of loans in the water and sanitation sector. Despite the improvement, some projects did not perform well. Examples are the irrigation scheme development in Unyama, Namalu, and Sipi projects -

18036 RESOLUTION TO BORROW loan fail to comply with the third condition of contracting non-concessional loans. The committee recommends that the Government, through the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, renegotiate the loan terms with the proposed creditor or identify another creditor whose terms are consistent with the 2023 Public Debt Management Framework. Elimination of Ugandan and East African contractors during implementation The committee noted that during the implementation of phase one of the Strategic Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project, several contractors were awarded contracts for the different clusters. For example, in Kamuli, the contractor was Vidas Engineering Services Co. Limited, with a supervision consultant: Jos Hansen and Sohene (East Africa) Limited and in Kayunga-Busana, one of the contractors was Vambeco Enterprises Limited, Supervised by Alliance Consultants Ltd. The ministry did not communicate any concerns on the ability of the various contractors to deliver similar outputs under phase two. The committee recommends that as a commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Government, through the Ministry of Water and Environment, reviews its contract of awarding all the clusters to one company, CHEC and open up implementation of the project to include East African companies in order to maximise local content, since their ability in construction and supervision was observed in phase one. Need to review the project cost The committee observed that the total investment cost under the project is Shs 802.22 billion, which is the contract sum. The committee was concerned that some of the project’s planned investment items should be implemented using Government revenues, not borrowing. For example, Shs 34 billion under the project is to construct public toilets observed in the table below. Members can read through the table. The committee, using information from the respective feasibility studies, observed variances in the unit costs. For example: 1. The diesel storage shed, whose price range was between an equivalent of Shs 72.9 million in Nakasongola and Shs 252.7 million in Mayuge-Idudi cluster; 2. Generator house that ranged between an equivalent of Shs 333 million in Alebtong to Shs 1.319 billion in Kamuli-Kasambira cluster; 3. The operation and administration building ranged from an equivalent of Shs 755.38 million in Alebtong to Shs 1.433 billion in the other cluster. The committee recommends that the cost of the project be reviewed in view of bringing down the unit costs and reducing the cost of designs and scaling down expenditure on public toilets and guard houses, among others. Madam Speaker, in conclusion, the committee appreciates that the proposed project is consistent with the objectives of NDP IV, specifically natural resources, environment, climate change, land and water programme and human capital development programme. The project has social ramifications and builds on phase one projects. The committee recommends that the proposal by the Government to borrow €183,309,947.16 from Standard Chartered Bank and Shs 120,395,249,259, approximately €29,572,296, from the domestic market-Six- month Treasury Bill for financing the Strategic Towns Water Supply and Sanitation Project — Phase II(STWSSP II) be approved, subject to the above committee observations and recommendations. Mr Speaker, I beg to report. (Applause)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I appreciate my chairperson and the Committee on National Economy for the well-presented report. I am going to be very brief. Mr Speaker, allow me to address this House to the two fundamental dissenting matters. Our dissenting matters are on two issues. One is the high cost on the loan, which subjects a taxpayer to a burden repayment. Two is non-compliance with the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. Mr Speaker, my dissenting observation is that we acknowledge the Government’s goal for 2024, especially on improving access to safe water and sanitation services to our country. Towns like Nakasongola, Kamuli, Kasambira, Alebtong, Bugade, Mayuge, Idudi, Busesa, amongst many other towns in Uganda, still lack safe water. Any good external borrowing for such social development would be much welcome. For this special request, Mr Speaker, we are completely opposed to committing taxpayers to this loan for the following reasons. The high cost on the loan Mr Speaker, the loan is purely commercial from Standard Chartered Bank (SINASURE Backed Term) with an interest rate of 6 months per cent Euribor plus a margin of 2.1 per cent - a commitment fee of 0.63 per cent of the margin per annum; an agency fee of $20,000 payable annually; an arrangement fee of 1.4 per cent; a default interest fee of 2 per cent and tentative interest of 5 per cent. Mr Speaker, 7 per cent interest fee on the premium and a 7 per cent interest fee on interest is almost double interest. Mr Speaker, Strategic Town Water Supply and Sanitation Project, phase 1 of the same project, was financed by the African Development Bank, whose terms were semi-concessional with a grace period of eight years and a maturity of 25 years. For this particular request, it is a four-year grace period against a 14-year maturity period. We also need to note that in the report of public debt grants and other financial liabilities of Financial Year 2024/2025, on page 42, there is a loan request of €214 million from the United Kingdom Export Financing, pending the Cabinet’s approval by March 2025. Any immediate approval of this loan by the Cabinet can save a taxpayer from a commercial loan from Standard Chartered Bank for this particular project. In addition, as highlighted on non-compliance with the parliamentary provisions, our hands as Parliament are tied by Rule 162(5)(b) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, which states that, “Any loan request before Parliament for approval will need a list of financing options considered when identifying the creditor.” Mr Speaker, on the presentation of this loan, there is no financial option on request that were laid before the committee by the minister for consideration. The committee, while scrutinising this request, was not provided with any list of financing options. We were left green over the criteria used to arrive at Standard Chartered Bank as a lender of this particular loan. If other options were provided, maybe we would scrutinise this loan further. Without this information being provided to the committee and this House, Parliament shall be working contrary to their constitutional mandate as enshrined in Article 159. Therefore, this is working against the rule of law. Mr Speaker, we urge this House to adopt our dissenting opinion in the spirit of saving taxpayers from this costly loan. As I promised this House to be brief, allow me to draw your attention to the following recommendations: i. The minister responsible for finance should clarify why the African Development Bank, which financed this same loan in phase one, was not able to fund the same loan in phase two. ii. We recommend that the minister present to us a list of financing options considered when selecting Standard Chartered Bank

Yes, it is on the highway. People from DRC and Tanzania all benefit from Bugiri General Hospital -(Interjection) - yes, when the trailer drivers from DRC, get into accidents. Bugiri serves all the neighbouring districts, including Mayuge, where the 3 rd Deputy Prime Minister comes from. They find their way to Bugiri General Hospital. Therefore, I am glad, that the Government is also heeding my advice. When we passed the Anti-Homosexuality Act, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank decided to cut funding, I advised that we should seek funding elsewhere, and I am glad that it is happening, and we are now in the Arab Bank, although we are repairing our relationship with the World Bank and IMF. I am very grateful that you are doing so. In light of the straightforward nature of this report, and the excellent work done by the committee chairperson and the minister, I beg to move that this House unanimously and unequivocally, adopts the report of the committee, so that Bugiri General Hospital gets the role. I beg to move.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the gesture exhibited today. As I had already indicated, the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda establishes courts of judicature, including the Qadhi Courts. However, up to today, there is no specific law operationalising the Constitution to establish those courts in Uganda, yet there is evidence to show that Qadhi Courts are being operated informally and are playing a crucial role in the justice system for the Muslim community. Madam Speaker, across Uganda, several cases related to family disputes among Muslims have been decided in informal Qadhi Courts. Therefore, considering that various Muslim communities prefer Qadhi Courts as they are convenient and accessible to obtain justice and manage the escalating issues arising from family, marriage, and disputes in the Islamic faith, it is imperative that Parliament and the country consider adopting the Qadhi Courts. Madam Speaker, the concept of Qadhi courts is not new in Uganda. It appeared in the 1955 Mohammedan law; unfortunately, moving forward, there has not been an effort to ensure that those courts have a grounding as per the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. Relatedly, Uganda will not be the first country where minorities have specialised courts to deal with matters of Muslim personal law. Our neighbouring country, Kenya, despite having a minority of Muslims, has Qadhi courts to deal strictly with matters we call “Muslim personal law”; the same happens in South Africa, Tanzania and other jurisdictions. Therefore, the need to streamline, integrate and empower the courts to work in the interests of justice and the rule of law, recognising that Uganda is a secular state but is increasingly recognising the legality of Qadhi courts and has on several occasions upheld decisions that are based on Sharia. In the case of Sumaya Nabawanuka Vs. Meddi Makumbi, Divorce Case No.39 of 2011, Justice Kainamura highlighted Article 29 of the Constitution and confirmed the need and legality of Qadhi courts, holding that a divorce matter decided by the Qadhi courts at the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council was res judicata, having been heard and determined by a competent court. The same reasoning has been applied in other cases. Unfortunately, in the absence of a law operationalising the Qadhi courts and the application of Sharia, there is a concern that Islamic law is being applied by persons who may not fully appreciate the intricate nature of disputes and their resolution under Sharia. I would also like to remind this House that when we were passing the law on succession, I brought to the attention of this august House the fact that the law of succession had omitted provisions related to succession under the Muslim law as envisaged by the Constitution. And at that time, there was a commitment from the Government that that lacuna would be addressed by having a specific law to address matters related to Muslim personal issues. I, therefore, think that the time is now for this Parliament to consider having the Qadhi courts in Uganda. Finally, and for the record, I would like to mention that Hon. Masaba Karim is one of the seconders of this motion, replacing Hon. Iddi Isabirye, who is hosting my colleague in Mayuge. [Mr Basalirwa] MOTION SEEKING LEAVE TO INTRODUCE A PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILL

17497 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 5 JUNE 2025 Ssembabule-Mateete-Mbiriizi with a branch to Kibinge-Kyabakuza; Myanzi-Kasanda-Kiboga – abantu bange abe Kassanda akalulu mukatereeze; Kikagate Kitwe-Mirama Hill – Mama was about to kill me on this one here. Kati mponye; Kabiingo-Rugaaga-Magabi-Rakai; Luweero-Butalangwa-Ngoma-Bulyamusenyi- Masindi; Kayunga-Bbale-Galiraya. I am going to get additional money for these roads because we have been talking about them for a long time. These will be in addition to the completion of the following roads: 92km Muyembe- Nakapiripirit and 25 kilometres of service roads; 21km Kira-Matugga Road and improvement of five junctions, 26 kilometres of Tororo-Busia Road and Mayuge and Busia Town Roads, 6.6 kilometres of Kawuku-Bwerenga Road, the 100-kilometre Apac-Lira-Puranga road – these are already being worked on. They are going to be finished – and 1.6 kilometres to Namugonde-Bugiri fuel tank reservoir. The roads for maintenance or reconstruction include – 1. Kampala-Jinja Highway – 72 kilometres; 2. Busunju-Kiboga-Hoima – 145 kilometres; 3. Mityana-Mubende Road – 86 kilometres; and Mubende-Kyenjojo Road, 95 kilometres; 4. Mityana Town roads – 14 kilometres – ab’eMityana mutereze akalulu banange. Buno obuli eyo tebulina kyebukola, butabula. Muleta obusajjasajja – 5. Alwii-Nebbi Road – 33 kilometres – this is in West Nile - Pakwach and Nebbi Town roads; 6. Olwiyo-Pakwach Road – 62 kilometres; 7. Matugga-Semuto-Kapeeka – 41 kilome - tres – (Applause) Waliyo akasajja eyo e’Nakaseke. Abantu bange, mutereze ebigambo ebyo, obusajja obwo bugende bukole ebirala. 8. Tororo-Mbale-Soroti. This is a long one. 9. Soroti-Dokolo-Lira-Kamdini Road – 189 kilometres. These are ongoing already. 10. Karuma-Olwiyo – 43 kilometres; 11. Masaka-Kyotera-Mutukula Road – 89 kilometres; 12. Nyendo-Villa Maria Road – 11 kilometres; 13. Access Roads – 7 kilometres and rehabilitation of 166 kilometres equivalent of national roads that have reached their service life. What they call “service life” is zikadiye . The strategic bridges to be prioritised – there is a road in Mpigi, Kasanje – aka’town akalala bakayita batya? Kisubi. Waliwo aka town eyo munda akalala; Nakawuka. Elyo sirilabye wano. Tulina okuriteekako nalyo. Naye abantu batereze obululu banange. The strategic bridges - so I will have to add that road. I thought we had started on it. The strategic bridges to be prioritised in the next financial year include the Sezibwa Bridge along Kalagi-Kayunga Road, Katonga Bridge, Lwera Swamp, and Kalandazi Swamp. Electricity In 1986, the whole country had only one hydropower plant; Nalubaale, formerly called Owen Falls Dam, built by the British in 1954, and commissioned by our late auntie, Queen Elizabeth, with the maximum capacity of 150 megawatts of hydroelectricity. There are now four large hydropower plants at Nalubaale, Kiira, Isimba and Karuma, with a combined generation capacity of 1,163 megawatts. Other sources such as Kigwabya and XsaboKonge Solar Power in Mubende have added another 888 megawatts. This brings the total installed electricity generation capacity to 2,052 megawatts. However, given the growing electricity demand arising from the new manufacturers, this is very inadequate and the available capacity will run out in about five years from now. When people talk of surplus, there is no surplus. It will very soon be overtaken.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Salutations to the Committee on Physical Infrastructure. I thank the Government for compensating my people who were affected by the standard gauge railway project. Compensation stands at 85 per cent as of today, and I pray that the remaining 15 per cent is expedited so that people get value for their money. The area where they have already compensated people and demolished houses is turning into a habitat for criminals because jungles and bushes have developed in this place. I request that you clear the neighbours that remained to be cultivating fast-growing crops instead of us having forests in this place and turning it into a security threat. I have two Roads that originally belong to Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) that are costing me a vote if at all I am not helped in the –(Interjection)- Yes, because people are saying the road is not accessible from Iganga district quarters through Nakigo to Bugweri, then from Iganga district quarters to Mayuge up to Bwondha. These are formerly UNRA roads but nothing is happening and they are impassable as we speak. Honourable minister, I request that you intervene as fast as possible. Finally, on 20th December 2020, the honourable minister, with your team, including the Head of State, the Rt Hon. Former Speaker, the Rt Hon. Former Secretary General, and the former Minister for Presidency, launched the tarmacking of Iganga-Luuka-Kamuli Road. People celebrated that this was a Christmas gift then. The equipment disappeared from then to date - (Member timed out.)

17005 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 15 APRIL 2025 3) Oxygen plants Page 18, the committee recommends that additional Shs 8.6 billion be provided to the Ministry of Health to complete and commission the remaining oxygen plants and additional Shs 11.85 billion be provided to procure transformers that will stabilise the power supply for the oxygen plants and newly acquired medical equipment. 4) Medical equipment The Ministry of Health reported that it had acquired new imaging equipment, like CT scans, MRI, and ultrasound machines, for regional referral hospitals. This equipment requires constant maintenance that can cost Shs 7.7 billion annually. The committee recommends that additional Shs 7.5 billion be provided for the maintenance of that equipment. 5) Upgrade of health centres We can go to the recommendations on page 19. i) We need Shs 60 billion to complete the upgrade of health centres that had already been started. ii) We need an addition of Shs 7.6 billion for equipment that will be required to functionalise the upgraded health facilities. 6) Inadequate funding for the renovation and equipping of health facilities. In the second-to-last paragraph, the Ministry of Health reported that in 2024/2025, it had planned for the partial rehabilitation of 13 general hospitals. These include Kambuga, Masindi, Apac, Koboko, Kotido, Kamwenge, Kitgum, Katakwi, Amuria, Kasana Luweero, Kapchorwa, Itojo, and Muko. The total budget was Shs 39 billion, but the cumulative release from quarter 1 to quarter 3 was only Shs 12.7 billion, which is only 32 per cent. Recommendations on page 20 (i) The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development should provide additional funds amounting to Shs 46 billion to complete rehabilitation, expansion, and equipping of Masindi, Kambuga, and Itojo General Hospitals, which are currently very old and dilapidated. (ii) The Ministry of Finance should provide Shs 20 billion, which is required to commence the rehabilitation of the foreign general hospitals, Apac, Koboko, Kotido, Kamwenge, Kitgum, Katakwi, Amuria, Kasana Luweero, Kapchorwa, in a phased manner. The Ministry of Finance should prioritise the release of the transitional development grant to address the issues of delayed rehabilitation completion. Hard-to-reach areas, such as Mayuge, Namayingo, Kalangala, Buvuma, and the rest, should be given affirmative action regarding health service delivery. 7) Status of ambulances There are 158 constituencies that have not received ambulances. The honourable members are complaining. Also, we have 14 boat ambulances, but very expensive to maintain in terms of fuel and servicing. The recommendations i) The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development provides additional Shs 54 billion to procure 158 ambulances for the remaining constituencies, including mine. (Laughter) ii) Additional funds amounting to Shs 17 billion, that is, fuel – Shs 12.8 billion and Shs 5.6 billion for servicing, be provided for the maintenance and functionalisation of the current fleet of ambulances under the National Ambulance Call and Dispatch System.

16582 THE CONTRACT FARMING BILL, 2023 Contract farming is a unique arrangement that requires specific legislation, just as public procurement and disposal of public assets are unique and would not fit under the Sales of Goods and Supply of Services Act. We also scrutinised the Tobacco (Control and Marketing) Act. In 2015, tobacco farmers in the districts of Kanungu, Kibale, Kakumiro, and West Nile petitioned Parliament against Continental Tobacco Uganda Limited for failing to pay farmers who supplied tobacco leaves worth Shs 5 billion, which were sold to the company. Instead of paying the farmers, the company technical officers opted to confiscate the contract books from the farmers. The Tobacco (Control and Marketing) Act does not regulate farmers’ relationships with suppliers and contract farming. The Act regulates the supply of seeds just for quality assurance, harvesting, and marketing (sales). It does not deal with the contractual relationship with the seed supplier but rather provides the seeds with quality assurance to be followed while procuring them. The Act and the statutory instrument issued under the same Act gave the Government a big role in ensuring that seeds planted are of given standards. It was easier for the Government to control the value chain. This is no longer the case. The statutory instrument under the same Act does not clarify each party’s obligation to the agreement or address what happens when there are acts of God. It does not further envisage different interests vested in the land and how they may affect the enforcement of sponsorship agreements. The law and regulations do not provide for dispute resolution or the role of local government in settling disputes. The Sugar Act Over the last 10 years, the sugar industry has been expanding production by 20 per cent per annum. The boom has been legitimised through narratives of “Poverty eradication and prosperity for all Ugandans”. Much of the cane supply for this expansion comes from the out- grower farmers who are currently supplying about 50 per cent of the total cane required by the major sugar factories. The out-growers and smallholder farmers to sustain the supply of sugarcanes required financial support and technical expertise to improve their farms to enter commercial farming in the aftermath of state removal from the provision of agricultural services and inputs under the marketing boards and cooperative system. Thus, the sugar corporations end up having contracts with the supplies to provide the farm inputs, as farmers shall supply canes at the time of harvest. However, farmers and buyers have complained about sugarcane overexploitation, corruption, mistreatment, and missed payments, sparking friction between sugarcane out-growers and sugar corporations. Farmers in Hoima, Masindi, Mayuge, and Jinja complained. Whereas the Sugar Act, Cap 242 under section 24 provides for sugar agreements between the out-growers, the smallholder farmers, and -

15921 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 30 JANUARY 2025 Subcounty has no secondary school, Jagusi in Mayuge District, where the Rt Hon. Deputy Prime Minister comes from, has no secondary school, Bumba has no secondary school and others in Buvuma. In this budget, we should address these hard-to-reach areas. Finally, I have not heard about money for elections. I sit on the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs and the budget for elections was about to recruit 5,000 policemen and then also to recruit 5,000 polling constables. It is an unfunded priority, so it is an area that we need to look at because we need peaceful elections. Instead, the committee only says that the army requested money, which is a preserve of the Uganda Police Force. It has not come – (Member timed out.)

Honourable minister, this is very clear. Honourable colleague, the minister has requested for tomorrow. Let him give us an explanation – because this is a statutory obligation. You know, I get embarrassed. Whenever I go upcountry, the question from LC I leaders is to do with their low pay and even the failure to pay that little money. This weekend, I will be upcountry; these are the questions I will be answering. Honourable minister, please, save us. Let us wait for the minister tomorrow. Honourable colleagues, in the Public Gallery, we have a delegation of head teachers from Mayuge District. I have been given a long list. Unfortunately, there are no schools. They are represented in Parliament by Rt Hon. Rukia Nakadama Isanga, Hon. Aggrey Henry Bagiire, Hon. Iddi Isabirye and Hon. James Kubeketerya. They have come to observe the proceedings of this House. Please, join me in welcoming them. (Applause) Honourable members, in the Public Gallery this afternoon, we also have a delegation of lead farmers from Bukanga North Constituency in Isingiro District. They are represented by Hon. Nathan Byanyima and Hon. Clare Mugumya. They have come to observe the proceedings of this House. Once again, please, join me in welcoming them. (Applause) Thank you. Hon. William Chemonges - [Ms Busingye] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to speak as the Shadow Minister for Fisheries. Mr Speaker, yesterday, a boat with about 15 people capsized on Lake Victoria in the waters between Buvuma and Mayuge. These people who were on board had been arrested by the UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit, who are attached to Namugongo Barracks in Jinja District. The suspects were handcuffed with ropes, had no life jackets, the boat was overloaded and all the 10 suspects died. The FPU officials survived because they had life jackets and so, they managed to swim to save their lives. Mr Speaker, this is what we have always talked about. On so many occasions, as a shadow minister, I have been here emphasising that we should table the Fisheries and Aquaculture Regulations for the law to be fully operationalised. The UPDF on the lake does not have sympathy for our people and we said, that if this law becomes operational, the marine police - as we proposed in the law - plus officials from the fisheries sector, if they were the ones on the lake, maybe such accidents would have been avoided because these are well-trained people. It is really disheartening that someone can lose a life because she or he is unable to save themselves. This is illegal - how do you arrest someone, handcuff someone with a rope, and put someone in a boat that is overloaded, with no life jacket? My God! Mr Speaker, my prayer is that these people should be compensated or their families, but even compensating them is not enough. The officials attached to the UPDF Fisheries Protection Unit should be arrested and charged for negligence of people’s lives. Lastly, we should table the Fisheries and Aquaculture Regulations for the law to be fully operationalised. The UPDF is not supposed to be on the lake. It is really disheartening. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, I submit.

Honourable colleagues, I welcome you to today’s sitting. We shall be handling all matters of national importance during the Prime Minister’s Time. I received the statement from the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs on the ongoing voter verification exercise, which was supposed to be presented by the Attorney- General, who, unfortunately, was called by the President and is in Mayuge. Therefore, we shall do this on Tuesday. However, the statement is ready. Next item. ADDENDUM TO THE PROPOSAL TO BORROW UP TO € 162,445,694.1 FROM THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF CHINA (CEXIM) TO FINANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL PARKS (POWER SUPPLY TO INDUSTRIAL PARKS AND POWER TRANSMISSION LINE EXTENSION)

Madam Speaker, I thank you so much. I am Nakadama Rukia Isanga. I am the Woman Member of Parliament for Mayuge District in Busoga. I am the Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without a Portfolio. And right now I am representing the Office of the Prime Minister. I thank you. People of Gulu, thank you, for welcoming us.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Aggrey Henry Bagiire is my name. I represent the people of Bunya County West, Mayuge District. I am also the Chairperson of the NRM party in the district. When I joined this House, my people who had gathered somewhere watching us and told me to share with you and the entire august House about their problems associated with the lake; the fishing community is still suffering. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am Al-Haji Iddi Isabirye. I represent the people of Bunya County South in Mayuge District. I am the Chairperson, Busoga Parliamentary Caucus and also the Vice-Chairperson, Committee on Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance. Madam Speaker, about this sitting, my people said that they will also directly benefit if we talk about the suffering fishing communities on Lake Kyoga. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, once again, I am Nakadama Rukia Isanga. I am the Woman Member of Parliament for Mayuge District. I am also the Third Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without Portfolio in the Government of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. I bring greetings to the people of Gulu, from the Office of the Prime Minister and from the Rt Hon. Robina Nabbanja, who is out of the country on official duties. Thank you, for welcoming us to Gulu, the cleanest city.

Yeah - (Laughter) - but the point is made, Mr Speaker. The other question was raised by honourable - I am very brief - Hon. Noman Ochero from Abim District about the compensation exercise for the people who lost their livestock during the insurgency. This one in particular has issues because it is lopsided. It has only skewed itself to Acholi, Lango and Teso, leaving out other areas. You know of Sebei and Bugisu because of the spill over of the insurgence. Even in Busoga and Mayuge - there are quite a number of them. You had better cross-examine your records for those that are missing. Finally, the Hon. Acrobert Kiiza Moses mentioned a number of disaster-prone districts, particularly, Bundibugyo, and he raised a concern about why you cannot find a permanent solution to some of these challenges of infrastructure like the bridges he mentioned. Even in Bududa, where I should appreciate the relocation and eventual resettlement of the people through the compensatory approach, the challenge is the slow pace with which you are conducting this exercise. There are people living in high-risk hills with cracks and now that the rains are on, anything can happen. Otherwise, so far, so good. Thank you. (Applause)

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity. I come from the islands and these are unique areas including; Sigulu, the islands of Mayuge, and Vuma, the only area, apart from Northern Uganda, that does not have access to electricity. Honourable minister, when are these Ugandans going to get the opportunity to have electricity in their areas? Secondly, is the question of the solar energy that was established on Dolwe Islands. The people prefer that they go back to diesel power instead of solar power because a bulb is charged Shs 5,000, and it has become so expensive for the people. Like the shadow minister clearly indicated, people do not consume power. Honourable minister, when can this be reduced to make sure that people enjoy the power? Mr Speaker, there is the question of compensation. This House and the Government should think twice. How do we access electricity and then consider compensation? Many projects have failed because of compensation. This House should address the question of compensation such that people access power and services. I thank you.

You are debating in anticipation. Honourable members, as I said, I am going to read the President’s letter. The letter is addressed to the Right Honourable Speaker, Parliament of Uganda, Kampala. It is dated 22 June 2024. The Reference is: “Budget Reallocation by Parliament.” The letter reads: “The recent case of the Members of Parliament that were arrested for some alleged offences has again highlighted the mistake of Members of Parliament interfering with the constitutional mandate of the President of budgeting for the Country by reallocating monies budgeted for the core sectors of the economy. In the last four financial years, the Members of Parliament have reallocated a total of Shs 3.71 trillion. This is real sabotage. When we reconstructed the Kampala-Masaka Road, we used Shs 440 billion. Therefore, diverting Shs 3.71 trillion in four years is equivalent to aborting nine big roads of the Kampala-Masaka type, or a much larger number of smaller roads. You know very well the important roads that we have been struggling with. You have seen how much the Tirinyi-Pallisa- Kumi Road has helped the people of the area by avoiding the need to pass through Mbale City when they are travelling to Soroti. You have seen how the Musita-Mayuge- Namayingo-Busia Road has helped the people of that area. You have seen how the Mukono- Katosi-Nkokonjeru-Nyenga Road has helped the people of that area. Yet, for the Tirinyi- Palisa-Kumi Road, we used Shs 443.42 billion only. How much happier would Ugandans be, if we had tarmacked the Kumi-Ngora-Serere- Bugondo Road; the Soroti-Amuria-Acan Pii- Patongo-Abim Road; the Kanoni-Mityana Road; the Myanzi-Kassanda-BukuyaKiboga Road; the Ssembabule-Lyantonde-Rakai Road; the Luwero-Butalaangwa-Ngoma–Masindi Road; the Bwizibweera-Nsiika-Nyakabirizi Road; the Nakivaale-Rakai Road; the Fort Portal-Kijura Road, etc.? I have written on this issue - see my letter dated 28th April 2020. The Attorney-General has guided on the matter. The courts have guided, yet the practice goes on. There are three mistakes involved here and these are: (i) Indiscipline in budgeting; (ii) Sabotaging national priorities; (iii) And now the suspicion of massive corruption. I am, therefore, writing to request that this practice stops. As per Article 91(3)(c) of the Constitution of 1995, I decline to assent to the Appropriation Bill, 2024 and return it to Parliament, and request that no reshuffling of the Budget should ever happen again without the input of the Executive. Apart from the legality and constitutionality of the issues involved, there is common sense. Sprinkling money by MPs to get cheap popularity in constituencies will make us lose to focus on core items. How can patriots be part of this mistake? Signed by the President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.”

13464 PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET SPEECH FY 2024/2025 iii) Maintenance of 13 aerodromes, including Arua, Gulu, Pakuba, Masindi, Lira, Kidepo, Moroto, Soroti, Tororo, Jinja, Mbarara, Kasese and Kisoro. Madam Speaker, with regard to water transport, the following were accomplished during the financial we are talking about - we are winding up: i) Completed the construction of three strategic ferries, namely; Amuru-Rhino Camp Ferry and two ferries for Bukungu- Kagwara-Kaberamaido (BKK) route on Lake Kyoga; ii) Completed the construction of the Maritime Training Institute in Namasagali, and commenced construction works for the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) at Mwanza; iii) Completed 46 per cent construction works for search and rescue centres at Kaazi and 25 per cent at Kaiso, Panyimur and Zengebe landing sites; and iv) Continued with the development of new Kampala Port at Bukasa. With regard to railway transport, the following were accomplished during this financial: i) Acquired a 161-kilometre corridor for the standard gauge railway between Tororo and Mayuge; ii) Twenty eight per cent completion of rehabilitation of Tororo-Gulu Metre Gauge Railway; and iii) Completed emergency refurbishment and rehabilitation of the Malaba-Kampala- Namanve Metre Gauge railway. Madam Speaker, during Financial Year 2024/2025, more focus will be put on maintenance of the roads we have built, building a few new strategic roads, accelerated rehabilitation of the metre gauge railway and commencement of construction of the Standard Gauge Railway. I have provided a total of Shs 4.989 trillion for that purpose. In particular, the following transport infrastructure will be undertaken: Roads and Bridges i. Tarmacking of an additional 306 kilometres of roads under the ongoing projects; ii. Completion of upgrading of 210 kilometres of the following roads: Muyembe- Nakapiripirit (92 kilometres) and 25 kilometres of service roads; Kira-Matugga Road and improvement of five junctions (21 kilometres); Tororo-Busia Road (26 kilometres) and Mayuge and Busia town roads (18 kilometres); Kawuku-Bwerenga Road (6.6 kilometres) and Namugonde- Bugiri Road (1.6 kilometres); selected town roads (7.5 kilometres), in Pallisa and Kumi (12.2 kilometres); and remedial works on Ntungamo-Kabale-Katuna Road (65 kilometres); iii. Commencing the upgrading/construction of 643 kilometres of the following road projects: Kisoro-Lake Bunyonyi Road Kisoro-Mgahinga National Park Headquarters Road; Koboko-Yumbe- Moyo Road; Yumbe-Ure Road; Kitgum- Kidepo; Namagumba-Budadiri-Nalugugu Road; Katine-Ochero Road and 2.9 km of town roads in Kaberamaido and Kalaki towns; Kyenjojo-(Kihura)-Bwizi- Rwamwanja-Kahunge and Mpara- Bwizi; Iganga-Buloopa-Kamuli; and Jinja-Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Bukungu; and Jinja City roads; Kisubi-Nakawuka- Natete; Nakawuka-Kasanje-Mpigi; and Nakawuka-MawuguluNanziga-Maya- Kasanje-Buwaya roads; iv. Upgrading to bitumen standard (tarmac) 16.9 km of roads in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area, and Gomba District; v. Completing the construction of 20.2 km of Kayunga-Nabuganyi Road; vi. Completing the construction of Kakiri- Masulita-Mawale Road (23 km);

13389 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 MAY 2024 parasites. That is the rollout of anti-tick vaccines, NARO – Shs 60 billion; d) Research products and services suited for food, feed, market and industry under NARO – Shs 24.1 billion; e) Develop requisite research infrastructure to support the development of products for food, nutrition and industry in order to accelerate the agricultural transformation agenda under NARO – Shs 11.39 billion; f) Support to production, marketing and extension of oil palm in Buvuma, Mayuge and Kalangala districts under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries – Shs 24.88 billion; g) Supporting oil seed research, multiplication and agronomy in the oil seeds research, multiplication and agronomy in the oilseed growing districts under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has been provided Shs 72.65 billion; h) Support the certification and production of seeds, breeds and fingerlings to ensure seed quality, including the provision of machinery, laboratory and irrigation equipment for seed testing and evaluation under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries – Shs 30 billion; i) Establish and/or upgrade seed storage, threshing and drying facilities to ensure a sustainable supply of quality seed (storage, drying, cleaning, grading, packaging and so on) – Shs 14.18 billion; j) Purchase of assorted animal vaccines, tick acaricides, vaccine cold chain equipment and assorted laboratory reagents, consumables, and supplies for control of animal diseases under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries – Shs 18.52 billion; k) Construct disease diagnostic and analytical infrastructure for quality assurance (National Agricultural Diagnostics Laboratory and Support Centre, zonal research laboratories and compliance centres, National Veterinary Medical Stores) under MAAIF – Shs 32.4 billion; l) Revamp the National Animal Quarantine and Evaluation Centre at NAGRC&DB, Entebbe) to promote export and safeguard the national herd in case of animal imports under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries – Shs 21 billion; m) Construct and equip regional agricultural mechanisation centres, under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries – Shs 70 billion; n) Procurement of tractors, matching implements (planters, hullers, harrows, trailers, ploughs, rippers, rotavators), walking tractors, and assorted equipment and machinery units under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries – Shs 23.04 billion; o) Provision of bulk water supply for water for agricultural production to support irrigation, water for livestock, desilting of dams and aquaculture – Shs 97.5 billion; p) Construction of Acomai Irrigation Scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries – Shs 56.02 billion; and q) Construction of Atari Irrigation Scheme in Kween to support rice production under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries – Shs 30.42 billion; and r) Construct/improve zonal aquaculture indoor hatchery and cage culture facilities for massive fingerling production; construct seed multiplication infrastructure/facilities (greenhouses, basic laboratories, nurseries) for selected value chains; refurbishment of national aquaculture broodstock hatchery; refurbish feed facilities for formulating

13390 THE EXCISE DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024 feed at the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre in Kajjansi; establish and/or upgrade seed storage, threshing and drying facilities to ensure sustainable supply of quality seed under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries - Shs 134 billion. Transport infrastructure development The Government plans as follows: 1. Start construction of the SGR and continue implementing preparatory activities for SGR; that is update of feasibility studies for the western and eastern routes, and undertaking environment, social, economic impact assessments; acquisition of right of way for SGR (206 acres) of land are already acquired in seven districts. That is Tororo to Mayuge, among others – Shs 2.221 trillion; 2. Maintenance of 13 aerodromes; that is Arua, Gulu, Pakuba, Masindi, Lira, Kidepo, Moroto, Soroti, Tororo, Jinja, Mbarara, Kasese and Kisoro – Shs 3 billion; 3. Construction and upgrade of national roads and bridges – Shs 1.27 trillion. Some of these include – (Interjections) - colleagues, this is on roads. The Government plans to spend Shs 1.27 trillion and I will mention some of the roads: a) Hoima-Wanseko Road – Shs 141.1 billion; b) Kampala Flyover – Shs 69.8 billion; c) Construction of 66 selected bridges – Shs 54.2 billion; d) Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Acholibur Road – Shs 238 billion; e) Kisoro-Mgahinga National Park Headquarters Road – Shs 83.26 billion; f) Moyo-Yumbe-Koboko Road – Shs 180.6 billion; g) Upgrading of Kyenjojo-Kiruhura-Bwizi- Rwamwanja-Kahunge, Mpara-Bwizi – Shs 50 billion; and 4. Upgrading of Jinja-Mbulamuti-Kamuli- Bukungu Road from gravel to paved standard – Shs 34.5 billion. Continuation of the rehabilitation of over 450 kilometres of national roads. Some of those roads include: a) Kampala-Jinja Highway – Shs 20 billion; b) Busunju-Kiboga-Hoima – Shs 25.05 billion; c) Mityana-Mubende Road and Mityana Town Roads inclusive – Shs 42.38 billion; d) Alwii-Nebbi road and upgrading of Pakwach and Nebbi Town Council roads in total – Shs 17 billion; e) Rehabilitation of Karuma-Pakwach Road – Shs 20.05 billion; and f) Reconstruction of Matugga-Semuto- Kapeeka Road – Shs 61.12 billion; 5. Rehabilitation of district, urban and community access roads will continue under the Ministry of Works and Transport. There is Shs 142.3 billion; and 6. Shs 1 billion to each district, city and municipality for road grading, murram and compacting. In total, Shs 176 billion has been allocated for this purpose; Colleagues, in the last financial year, they are roads that the Ministry of Works signed contracts for and work has started. Those ones are worth Shs 33 billion, but they are not yet completed and not even paid. There are those where contracts have been signed but work has not commenced. They are worth Shs 33 billion. There is a whole list in the annex. There are also roads where the contracts have been procured but have not been signed, worth about Shs 13 billion. In the last cash release, the Government gave this particular vote Shs 19 billion, whereas the total requirement is Shs 79 billion. So, the budget at base is Shs 26 billion. We must recommend Shs 34 billion to cover those roads. The list of those roads covers the whole country. 7. The following ferries development/ construction will be undertaken. The total for this ferry is Shs 11.8 billion. That is: a) Substantial completion of two Bukungu- Kagwara-Kaberamaido (BKK) ferries and their landing sites; SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT [Mr Achia]

)4;{? #- ,} fl:' ,t \i 1 -- il- - .:i:- 4l'l "i \Ir- l,l A t \t, ./, ML 15 I l \\ i"r t, \- Amount (OOO'| I Vote Descrlptlon Kotido District 13,536,892 87t 32,287,740 872 Kumi District 22,448,O49 873 Kwania District Kween District 23,483,046 874 27,t44,881 875 Kyankwanzi District 30,023,121 876 Kyegegwa District 877 Kyenioio District 41,375,555 874 Kyotera District 38,098,598 20,772,32r 879 La.mwo District 25,977,O29 880 Lira District 88r Luuka District 30,193,940 882 Luwero District 76,754,416 31,951,654 883 Lwengo District Lyantonde District 2r,65t,622 884 \885 Madi-Oko1lo District 18,292,316 30,930,306 \beo Manafwa District 887 -\J Maracha District 27,86r,236 888 Masaka District t4,479,506 24,850,064 889 Masindi District Mayuge District 47,435,948 890 891 Mbale District 42,274,528 a92 Mbarara District 26,666,L35 31,888, 1 13 893 Mitooma District 33,OO2,47L 894 Mityana District 895 Moroto District t4,769,O25 -_896 Moyo District 24,665,O9O Mpigi District 32,393,3s3 897 898 Mubende District 28,702,368 54,266,t93 899 Mukono District 900 Nabilatuk District 10,830,654 12,968,813 901 Nakapiripirit District * ff*- I --L . .._.1r,

--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$*\

Honourable mem - bers, can I read the districts, which are includ - ed? Hon. Ssekikubo is that okay? With the amounts. Honourable members, listen. Read: Vote 804 – Alebtong District – Shs 848,733,704; Vote 805 – Amolatar District – Shs 220,815,010; Vote 807 – Amuria District – Shs 76,091,072; Vote 811 – Budaka District – Shs 569,774,320; Vote 812 – Bududa District – Shs 871,310,151; Vote 813 – Bugiri District – Shs 80,000,000; Vote 816 –Buikwe District – Shs 634,351,309; Vote 817: Bukedea District - Shs 557,998,824; Vote 818: Bukomansimbi District - Shs 138,976,150; Vote 819: Bukwo District - Shs 3,457,961,447; Vote 820: Bulambuli District – Shs 237,021,273; Vote 823: Bunyangabu District – Shs 371,453,937; Vote 825: Busia District - Shs 2,493,045,786; Vote 830: Buyende District - Shs 325,110,681; Vote 831: Dokolo District – Shs 1,200,052,179; Vote 832: Gomba District – Shs 132,794,807; Vote 834: Hoima District – Shs 663,105,613; Vote 835: Ibanda District - Shs 2,181,084,002; Vote 837: Isingiro District – Shs 3,142,687,738; Vote 838: Jinja District - Shs 2,158,144,238; Vote 840: Kabale District - Shs 122,770,149; Vote 841: Kabarole District – Shs 413,457,210; Vote 842: Kaberamaido District - Shs 1,189,601,445; Vote 846: Kalangala District – Shs 499,303,936; Vote 848: Kalungu District – Shs 1,919,206,727; Vote 851: Kanungu District - Shs 2,355,337,661; Vote 855, Kassanda District – Shs 1,076,055,328; Vote 856: Kasese District - Shs 1,428,572,362; Vote 858: Kayunga District - Shs 886,274,114; Vote 861: Kiboga District – Shs 877,544,449; Vote 862: Kibuku District – Shs 55,309,755; Vote 864: Kiruhura District - Shs 1,272,038,110; Vote 866: Kisoro District – Shs 1,147,709,409; Vote 867: Kitagwenda District – Shs 292,329,260; Vote 868: Kitgum District - Shs 260,346,061; Vote 869: Koboko District – Shs 1,346,133,500; Vote 870: Kole District - Shs 508,409,292; Vote 872: Kumi District - Shs 2,856,532,203; Vote 875: Kyankwanzi District - Shs 280,000,000; Vote 876: Kyegegwa District - Shs 2,218,090,875; Vote 877: Kyenjojo District - Shs 1,050,288,984; Vote 878: Kyotera District - Shs 1,273,322,749; Vote 879: Lamwo District - Shs 403,256,222; Vote 881: Luuka District - Shs 931,990,097; Vote 882: Luwero District - Shs 5,365,516,069; Vote 883: Lwengo District – Shs 1,967,438,860; Vote 884: Lyantonde District - Shs 253,488,082; Vote 885: Madi-Okollo District - Shs 676,404,553; Vote 887: Maracha District – Shs 416,761,385; Vote 889: Masindi District – Shs 84,336,637; Vote 890: Mayuge District – Shs 930,316,165; Vote 891: Mbale District – Shs 1,720,742,693; Vote 892: Mbarara District - Shs 455,148,176; Vote 893: Mitooma District - Shs 505,896,701; Vote 894: Mityana District - Shs 471,519,063; Vote 895: Moroto District – Shs 165,753,246; Vote 896: Moyo District - Shs 1,293,741,625; Vote 899: Mukono District – Shs 2,529,351,767; Vote 900: Nabilatuk District – Shs 1,252,915,918; Vote 901: Nakapiripirit District – Shs 30,000,000; Vote 902: Nakaseke District – Shs 933,060,184; [Mr Ekanya] THE SUPPLEMENTARY EXPENDITURE SCHEDULE NO.2

Honourable members, can we have some silence? Honourable minister, before you bring your report, in the public gallery this afternoon, we have a delegation of all the LC III chairpersons of the Busoga subregion, from the districts of Bugweri, Bugiri, Luuka, Buyende, Iganga, Namayingo, Mayuge, Namutumba, Jinja, Kamuli and Kaliro. They are represented by the Members of Parliament from Busoga, headed by the Chairperson of Busoga Parliamentary Group. All the Basoga, stand up and we see you. (Applause) Join me in welcoming them to the Parliament of Uganda. (Applause) This is your Parliament. They are here for a two-day training on capacity building for local leaders and the role of Members of Parliament. By the time the councillors go back, they will have known the role of a Member of Parliament – not buying an ambulance, doing burials – (Laughter )- you are most welcome. Thank you so much for coming. (Mr Muzaale rose_) There is a procedural matter from the Member for Buzaaya.

The model village like the ones in Mayuge, Gomba and so on. This is State House property. Tomorrow when you become the President of this country, that will be your property; it will not go with President Museveni.

Thank you, Mr Speaker and the minister for the statement. The minister points out that hard-to-reach areas are going to be covered and that they are going to give out standby generators and also employ the use of hydropower. That is why we say that there are some areas that need affirmative action, for example, when the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development was tasked to bring a statement indicating subcounties. It is known that islands, for example, Bukooli Islands, Buvuma Islands and Jaguzi Islands in Mayuge are disadvantaged to the extent that sometimes charging these batteries is a challenge. They are given the generator, but there is a question of fuel. We find that maybe if they have charged, they can only operate for two hours and again they are off. I do not know how the minister is going to address this issue when it comes to hard-to-reach areas. I thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. This Bill speaks to several millions of Ugandans who are in the sugar industry. For us to be very objective, we need to look at both the plight of the farmers and the millers. I am glad all sides have been considered in the Bill. By raising these issues, we are looking at how the situation is, with the information from the ground. Mr Speaker, until 2012, when Mayuge Sugar Industries Limited came in, the millers, from as early as 1920s were determining the price of cane in the factories. When we opened up for other millers to come in, the price shot from Shs 40,000 to a reasonable amount, which attracted so many people into the sector. When many people came into the sector, the forces of demand and supply dropped the prices. By 2019/2020, the sugar prices were very low. The farmers suffered. The plight of the miller was to buy cheaply and sell sugar at the prevailing market rate. If we intent on having an objective debate on the plight of sugar, we can come up with a middle position. I am afraid, Mr Speaker, the sentiments are not balanced. As the Presiding Officer, if you permit debate on this matter openly, we shall balance the sentiments. (Applause)

11582 THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2023 Kamwenge, Katakwi, Kasese, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kyenjojo, Mbale, Masindi, Mayuge, Mukono, Namalemba, Nakapiripirit – I am trying to remember Namalemba; my apologies – Pallisa, Rukungiri, Sironko, Wakiso and Soroti. Policy and control measures in place Our policy on FMD is for the Government to avail vaccines to farmers as a public good for reasons explained earlier. For many years, I think since during colonial times, the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has been providing a budget item for procuring vaccines. This, however, has been insufficient and only covers 1.1 Per cent of the susceptible domestic animal population, contrary to the recommended at-least 80 per cent coverage, leaving the rest of the herd vulnerable. This explains why the country experiences repeated outbreaks. Although the Animal Diseases Act, CAP. 38, empowers the Commissioner of Animal Health to order for the destruction of affected animals under the “test and slaughter” approach, the country cannot afford to implement this provision of the law due to high compensation budget requirements. Mr Speaker, with the budget limitations alluded to above, our ministry adopted the ring vaccination methodology, targeting the locations with animals at high risk. When we buy a few vaccines annually, the budget we get gives us, on average, half a million doses. We distribute them to district veterinary officers of the most prone districts and those with outbreaks to carry out ring vaccination around the infected herds or kraals. We also institute quarantine and other measures in the affected and susceptible districts to prevent spread or disrupt transmission. Mr Speaker, our total susceptible animal herd that requires FMD vaccination, as per current estimates, is 44 million cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. This, therefore, requires an annual vaccine stock of 88 million doses for the bi- annual vaccination requirement at a cost of $2 per dose. The financial implication for this translates into $ 176 million. The Government has been studying this financial implication and notes the financial stress it would impose on the national Budget, if the requirement for the bi-annual mass vaccination is to be achieved. Accordingly, and with the guidance of the President, a Cabinet Paper is scheduled for discussion at the next Cabinet sitting on Monday, 5 February 2024 to consider a number of policy options, including cost-sharing by the farmer, since the cost per dose is affordable by most livestock farmers. I will revert to this House and the country on the final position adopted by Cabinet. In the meantime, my ministry has repurposed some of the budget you gave us, under the development budget, and managed to avail 2.56 million doses to the country through the district veterinary officers of 94 districts last year. The list is attached to this brief. It shows which district veterinary officers took what. Under the same arrangement, we have ordered for 2.3 million doses, expected in a few months to come. Mr Speaker, another challenge associated with procuring FMD vaccines is that they cannot be bought off-shelf, since they are biological; live organisms with a short shelf life. You order and they manufacture for you. This explains the delay in their supply chain. In the circumstances, it becomes inevitable for the Commissioner of Animal Health, who is the commander of the animal disease control chain in the country, to order or impose animal movement restrictions or what you know as quarantine in affected districts. Quarantines are unpopular and an inconvenience to people’s livelihoods yet again, inevitable as temporary measures to control further spread to alarming and uncontrollable epidemic levels. We can lose the whole herd, if we do not become strict. If the stakeholders can be disciplined and comply with the quarantine protocols, the MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS [Mr Tumwebaze]

Thank you. The next review will be informed by the proper post-legislative studies. We are going to understand how this legislation that we made is impacting the communities and how best we should make an amendment to fit the situation at hand. Honourable members, in the public gallery this afternoon, we have teachers of Bufulubi Primary School from Mayuge District. They are represented in Parliament by Hon. Rukia Nakadama Isanga - (Applause) - a Prime Minister, Hon. Aggrey Bagiire, Hon. Iddi Isabirye and Hon. Kubeketerya. Please stand up and we see you; very good people from Mayuge. Members, stand up and see your constituents. These are your very good Members. Hon. Isabirye, speak and then I will ask the Prime Minister to welcome her members.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to welcome our people from Bufulubi in Mayuge; Bufulubi is one of our good schools. It is not very old, but they are doing well. Now that they are here in Parliament, I know that when they go back, they will add to what they have been doing. They might be the best in Mayuge and the whole country. Thank you very much for coming to visit our Parliament. (Applause)

11040 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT (iii) The MoLG and MoFPED should ensure that all the parishes receive the funds as required by the PDM policy. TOR 2 Eligibility of the various categories of beneficiaries of the PDM Fund Madam Speaker, in the interest of time, I will take you to page 10 which gives details on the status. The subregions reported that vetting committees and SACCO leaders have ensured that there is proportional access for the different groups. However, contrary to guidelines, some government employees and their families as well as richer persons were benefiting from PDM funds. This was reported in Buganda and Lango subregions. There were allegations of a ghost SACCO set up to benefit ineligible persons in Okwongo Town Council in Otuke District, where the beneficiaries were family members of the CDO and other district officials. In addition, a one Janet Akullu from the same district was known to be someone who was well-off owning a storeyed building, therefore, not part of those who were meant to benefit from this programme. Once reported, the disbursement of Shs 434 million was put on halt, and investigation proceeded, which helped in saving Government from losing the said amount to ghost beneficiaries. In Kole District, irregularities in payments to beneficiaries of Ogwangacuma SACCO were noted, with cases of suspected unauthorised withdrawals from the account. On examination of the SACCO account, discrepancies were noted in the bank statement of the SACCO account in Postbank. In response, Postbank explained that the discrepancies arose from erroneous export of data into Excel by one of their officers. On the issue of equity in the PDM implementation across the regions- with the same amount of funds to be given to all parishes across the country, stakeholders have raised a concern about coverage of PDM in areas with big parishes that have many villages, households and enterprise groups. Some of the examples cited include Koboko North, Gulu City, Wakiso, Mayuge and Kaliro districts. On the other hand, the Ministry of Local Governments had not disbursed any funds for Kampala City, due to the uniqueness of the city setting. The Ministry is, therefore, redesigning the programme for Kampala accordingly. On the aspect of adherence to quotas for special interest groups, The PDM guidelines provide for mandatory quotas for disbursement of the funds. The distribution is supposed to be 30 per cent for youth, 30 per cent for women, 10 per cent for the elderly and 10 per cent for persons with disabilities (PWDs). According, to the Ministry of Local Governments the quota system has been emphasised and is being realised, with women receiving the bulk of the money because they are found in all categories; that is women, youth, elderly and PWDs. All subregions indicated that the criteria were not being fully met, especially in regard to the elderly and PWDs. In some cases, the number of special interest groups in the enterprises were very low. For example, in Podo Parish, Koboko District, PWDs refused to get the money for fear of failure to repay, that is according to the regional report. Gender issues were also noted in some areas where women were denied funds unless a spouse guaranteed them. Mityana District had reports of sexual harassment hindering women from full participation in PDM. Committee observations The Committee observed the following: i. None of the sub-regions was able to present detailed data indicating the categories of beneficiaries from which the

I do not see properly so I am very grateful. Madam Speaker, I represent Iganga Municipality and Iganga is located on a highway along the Mbale – Jinja - Kampala Road. It serves the districts of Luuka, Kaliro, Mayuge, Namutumba and Bugweri. To our surprise, in all the arrangements – first of all, we thank the Government for renovating Iganga General Hospital to a status of qualifying it to be a referral hospital. As per the plans of the Ministry of Health, it was supposed to be upgraded to a referral hospital, but there are powerful people – I think in Iganga, we are not as powerful and supportive of the NRM government. They said that the referral hospital will be taken to Bugiri [Mr Kafuuzi] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

10801 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2023 the prescribed time to ensure the timely preparation of the treasury memoranda and timely implementation of recommendations of Parliament; NOW, THEREFORE, Parliament, in accordance with Article 163(5) of the Constitution and Section 19(4) of the National Audit Act, 2008, resolves to adopt the recommendations of the Auditor-General in respect to the following local government entities: Entities under the Public Accounts Committee (Local Government) 1. Mbale District Local Government; 2. Mbale City; 3. Namisindwa District Local Government; 4. Manafwa District Local Government; 5. Bulambuli District Local Government; 6. Kibuku District Local Government; 7. Tororo District Local Government; 8. Sironko District Local Government; 9. Budaka District Local Government; 10. Busia District Local Government; 11. Busia Municipal Council; 12. Butaleja District Local Government; 13. Kapchorwa District Local Government; 14. Kapchorwa Municipal Council; 15. Kween District Local Government; 16. Tororo Municipal Council; 17. Bukwo District Local Government; 18. Pallisa District Local Government; 19. Bududa District Local Government; 20. Soroti District Local Government; 21. Soroti City; 22. Amolatar District Local Government; 23. Kaberamaido District Local Government; 24. Kalaki District Local Government; 25. Serere District Local Government; 26. Amuria District Local Government; 27. Dokolo District Local Government; 28. Bukedea District Local Government; 29. Katakwi District Local Government; 30. Kapelebyong District Local Government; 31. Otuke District Local Government; 32. Kumi Municipal Council; 33. Kumi District Local Government; 34. Ngora District Local Government; 35. Nabilatuk District Local Government; 36. Nakapiripirit District Local Government; 37. Karenga District Local Government; 38. Kotido District Local Government; 39. Kotido Municipal Council; 40. Amudat District Local Government; 41. Kaabong District Local Government; 42. Moroto District Local Government; 43. Moroto Municipal Council; 44. Abim District Local Government; 45. Napak District Local Government; 46. Kamuli District Local Government; 47. Kamuli Municipal Council; 48. Iganga District Local Government; 49. Iganga Municipal Council; 50. Jinja District Local Government; 51. Jinja City; 52. Northern Division, Jinja City; 53. Southern Division, Jinja City; 54. Kaliro District Local Government; 55. Buyende District Local Government; 56. Mayuge District Local Government; 57. Bugiri District Local Government; 58. Bugiri Municipal Council; 59. Namayingo District Local Government; 60. Namutumba District Local Government; 61. Njeru Municipal Council; 62. Lugazi Municipal Council; 63. Luuka District Local Government; 64. Bugweri District Local Government; 65. Buikwe District Local Government; 66. Mukono District Local Government; 67. Mukono Municipal Council; 68. Wakiso District Local Government; 69. Nansana Municipal Council; 70. Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipal Council; 71. Kira Municipal Council; 72. Mpigi District Local Government; 73. Nakaseke District Local Government; 74. Luwero District Local Government; 75. Mityana District Local Government; 76. Mityana Municipal Council; 77. Buvuma District Local Government; 78. Entebbe Municipal Council; 79. Butambala District Local Government; 80. Kayunga District Local Government; 81. Nakasongola District Local Government; 82. Masaka District Local Government; 83. Masaka City; 84. Kimaanya-Kabonera City Division; 85. Nyendo-Mukungwe City Division; 86. Kalungu District Local Government; 87. Gomba District Local Government;

Mr Speaker, I thank the House for that clear endorsement. On Thursday, 19 October 2023, the country received unfortunate news of the passing of Hon. Henry Kisadha Magumba Kyemba, former Minister in the Governments of Obote 1, Idi Amin and the National Resistance Movement. Hon. Kyemba succumbed to diabetes-related complications at URO CARE Hospital, Kampala. Hon. Kyemba was born on 8 December 1939 to Suzana Mutekanga and Suleiman Kisajja, who served as a colonial administrator in Bunya County, present- day Mayuge District in the Busoga Region. Kyemba was the last born of the seven boys. He attended local primary schools and later joined Busoga College Mwiri for his Cambridge School Certificate, from 1951 to 1956. Subsequently, he pursued further education at Makerere University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1962. He pursued a Masters’ Degree in History and a Certificate in African Studies from North Western University, Evanston in the United States of America. Hon. Kyemba’s journey in Public Service and politics began shortly after graduating from the university, marking the start of an eventful and influential life, growing through the ranks from Principal Private Secretary, to a Member of Parliament and then minister. Hon. Kyemba was a distinguished statesman and one of the great senior leaders in this country whom we should emulate for his patriotism. Hon. Kyemba is famously known for the book he authored titled: “ A STATE OF BLOOD: The Inside Story of Idi Amin”, which provides a first-hand account of his experience as a Minister of Health in Uganda. He was a dedicated member of the Rotary International movement; that is why you have seen many Rotarians in the gallery. He became a Rotarian in l987 as a charter member of the Source of the Nile Rotary Club, now in Jinja City. Under Hon. Kyemba’s influence and contribution, the Rotary movement grew exponentially bigger in Uganda, to now include some 400 clubs, as of 2023. That is no mean achievement. At the time of his demise, Hon. Henry Kyemba was a Past District Governor of Rotary International District 9200, made up of Uganda, Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Tanzania. His contributions and service above self have truly impacted the masses in their millions. Mr Speaker, as a country, we shall remember Hon. Kyemba for being a fixture in Uganda’s public life. Prof. Derek Peterson, an American Cultural Historian from the University of Michigan, described Hon. Henry Kyemba as “a dedicated civil servant, a courageous critic of Amin’s brutality and a custodian of memory.”

Thank you so much, Mr Speaker. I stand here to support the motion to pay tribute to the late Hon. Kyemba Kisadha Henry who was born in Bunya, which is the present-day Mayuge District. Hon. Kyemba has been a peace-loving person. There is a lot to say about him but I can mention one of them. In that area of Mayuge, there is a very big chunk of land belonging to them and part of that land is occupied by squatters. However, we have never had any scandal concerning that land and those who are occupying it. Hon. Kyemba practised mature politics. Around 1961 and 1962, Hon. Kyemba’s elder brother, Hon. David Nabeta, stood with Hon. Shaban Nkutu who is also my uncle during the elections of Busoga South East Parliamentary seat. After contesting for two consecutive times, Hon. Kyemba remained a close friend to the family of the late Shaban Nkutu. Even after the death of my uncle, Shaban Nkutu, the late Hon. Kyemba, whom we are mourning here today, remained with the family and continued supporting them in the situation they were in at that time. I would like to say that we should also continue to practice mature politics. As was said by one of the leaders here, we should not use common sense at certain times but at all times. I thank you and may the soul of Hon. Kyemba rest in eternal peace.

10744 TRIBUTE T O T HE L ATE HON. HENRY K . M . K Y EMBA what is remembered. I see some of you trying to hide; it is wrong to hide a wrong. Please do not, for heaven’s sake. What they will be speaking about you is exactly that. If there is something going wrong in the country, we are all cooked as Ugandans. It takes sober voices, like the one of Hon. Kyemba to tell Amin “Please, there is this; why can’t you sort it out?” and a soul is saved. Regimes commit mistakes every other day but sober people in those regimes help. Sometimes they are overwhelmed and there is nothing you can do about it. However, if you are serving a regime and it is committing a mistake and you have a voice, please say, “This is wrong.” You may say it internally; you do not have to go in the newspapers or social media, but we expect you when you have an opportunity to point it out. How do you for heaven’s sake- Somebody saying one person has been kidnapped and you come to the House and say “No, it has not happened.” What is the difference between you and the one who served Amin and committed a crime? Honourable members, Hon. Kyemba was a great statesman. Why? Basoga can own him naturally because he came from our place. By the way, his first primary school - Rt Hon. Kadaga, was Busesa Primary School in Bugweri. The foundation of his education is Bugweri – (Laughter)- and indeed, many of the big Basoga personalities, it is Bugweri-founded, including Rt Hon. Rebecca Kadaga; she is our daughter from Bugweri. We donated her to Kamuli - (Interjection) isn’t that so? Even Rt Hon. Nakadama is from Bugweri and we donated her to Mayuge - (Interjection)- Yes, ask her. She is from Buwooya and you can go on. Whether you are talking about Hon. Wanume Kibedi, Mr Luwuliza-Kirunda, Hon. Kirunda Kivejinja, mention it –(Interjections)- and yours truly, of course. (Laughter) For us, at that time, Busesa Primary School produced some of the best and we are happy that we donated Hon. Henry Kyemba to this country. The testimony of non-Basoga because – Mr Speaker, 60 per cent of the people who have spoken today are non-Basoga; therefore, it ceases even to be a tribal issue. How many of you are beyond your small little tribes, and clans? Everybody wants to say, “I am a Musoga; I am a Munyankole ; I am Lango,” but it does not work in this Parliament. We should be saying, “We are Ugandans.” That is why that man managed to serve the Rotary movement – because it was “service beyond self.” In Rotary, they do not know their tribes and religions. That is why you see them as nationalists and statesmen. Hon. Kyemba was soft-spoken. By the way, he was not an orator but he was a communicator and very knowledgeable. That is an encyclopaedia lying in that coffin today. And my young brother, Hon. Nathan, has just talked about it; you could ask Henry Kyemba anything and he would have an answer. As a country, we have lost one of one of our finest. Hon. Kyemba, travel well and rest in peace.

10748 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. HENRY K. M. KYEMBA left politics. However, he would stay home, and gave her the opportunity to serve the community to which they belonged. I want to thank him, because not many men can do that. I would also like to bring out the issue Hon. Baba talked about – the issue of forgiveness. Hon. Baba, on behalf of us Basoga and Busoga, thank you for forgiving our great father, our great leader. I say this because he had equally forgiven the same subregion which you come from and our former President Idi Amin Dada, because it was during his leadership in this country that Hon. Henry Kyemba’s brother Lume Kisadha disappeared. His son is in the gallery but he cannot give accountability even to the grandchildren because he disappeared and yet he had a job in Nytil as a store manager. The story did not come out clear; what was the cause? Was it because of politics, the job he was doing? Because at that time, being a manager of a store meant that you could influence things by opening and things are carried to support a particular individual especially in politics. However, he forgave them, the President and he painfully went and worked with President Idi Amin because he had a mission to accomplish. God wanted to use him for certain things so that people would benefit. I thank Hon. Cecilia Ogwal, for telling us that and we appreciate it, as Busoga. When it comes to issues to do with family, Hon. Kyemba was from a very rich family. His father Suleiman Kisadha was an administrator of the Gombolola called Mayuge. That means, right from that time the family had money. For those of you who have just seen money, we saw the family of Mwami Kisadha with money in Busoga. When his brother Nathan James Nabeta would go to the Bank of Baroda to bank, that day they would lock the whole branch because a rich man in Jinja, a brother to Hon. Henry Kyemba called Nathan James Nabeta, the father to Hon. Nathan Igeme Nabeta had gone to bank. Despite the fact that they were educated and had money, they remained humble in the community. How many of us would carry both education and money and remain humble wherever we are? Let us pick lessons. You have the money; it is yours and not for everybody; keep it to yourself. Yes, you went to school; use your education to help the community as you help yourself. You do not have to throw around yourself because you carry money and degrees. We should learn from them; humility is very important. By the way, being humble is not simple; it means that you have to sacrifice and make sure you register within your mind to remain humble in the community because that is what it is looking for. Being arrogant and braggart is not useful to the community and that is not what you would want the children of others to learn from you. So, we take it from them as a family that their grandparents and parents taught them to be humble. It also brings in the issue of reading and being informed before you talk, and talk when you must. Mzee Henry Kyemba talked less but because he talked less, we are here seated and all want to talk about him, not because he talked much. He only talked when he was supposed to talk and he would have sense in what he was saying. There was a message, and that is why we are here to say, “I have this to talk about him.” Are we all the same, in our era of politics of showbiz? I sometimes say politics of celebrity, talking because you have to but are you communicating? Is there a message you are carrying? I call on Members in this House to carry important messages to the people whenever we stand up to speak. And if you do not have anything to communicate, I would request that

Thank you. I can see you have guided us very well. Honourable colleagues, in the Public Gallery this afternoon, we have a delegation of district and subcounty speakers and council clerks from Pakwach District Local Government, represented by Hon. Emmanuel Ongiertho and Hon. Jane Avur Pacuto. They have come to observe the proceedings of this House. Please, join me in welcoming them. Thank you. (Applause) Honourable colleagues, we also have pupils and teachers of Joy Dominion Academy from Bunya County West, Mayuge District. They are represented by Hon. Aggrey Bagiire Henry and Rt Hon. Rukia Nakadama Isanga. They have come to observe the proceedings of this House. Please, join me in welcoming them. Thank you. (Applause) We also have students and teachers of Fountain of Hope High School from Ntenjeru County South, Kayunga District. They are represented by Hon. Patrick Nsanja and Hon. Idah Nantaba. They have come to observe the proceedings of this House. Please, join me in welcoming them. (Applause) Thank you. Honourable colleagues, I have a lot of business to handle today, so, no matters of national importance. Hon. Nsereko?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I do not have any pending lines, neither poles, nor wires, but in the NRM manifesto since 2011, the President has been indicating that there are two districts without power and Buvuma is one of them. We are only separated by 1.8 kilometres, which requires a marine cable from Mayuge. Mr Speaker, you will appreciate; I was with you on the Committee of National Economy and the Minister had pledged that he would not bring any other loan without the one of Buvuma. And we have approved many other loans. These loans are also paid by people from Buvuma. Of course, I am the chairperson, but at times we think that those in the kitchen are also thinking about us. My appeal is - in the statement of the Minister; I saw they are projecting 100 per cent access yet they are talking about wires and poles. I would like to see a marine cable provided in that statement and I am sure the Minister knows Buvuma very well, having been the Minister of Fisheries. This is as well your constituency. My appeal is to have power.

Mr Speaker, that matter was brought to my notice when I was in Mayuge recently, and the answer I got was that Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) had not been given enough money. Now that they have been given money this quarter, I will make sure that those people are compensated.

Honourable colleagues, in the Public Gallery this afternoon, is a delegation of pupils and teachers of Kyanvuma Primary School from Luuka District. They are represented in Parliament by Hon. Stephen Kisa and Hon. Esther Mbayo. They have come to observe proceedings of this House. Please, join me in welcoming them. Please, stand up. We equally have students of Global College Mayuge and Mayuge Hill Secondary School. They are represented by Hon. Aggrey Bagiire and Rt Hon. Rukia Isanga Nakadama. They have come to observe proceedings of this House. Please, join me in welcoming them. Honourable colleagues, again in the Public Gallery this afternoon, we have a delegation of artists, under Uganda National Musicians’ Federation. They include the following: Idrissa Musuuza also known as Eddy Kenzo; Sheebah Samali Kalungi; Joseph Mayanja a.k.a Chameleon; Walukagga Shafik; Nabawanuka Lydia commonly known as Lydia Jazmine; Carol Nantongo; Hanson Baliluno; Lucas Sam Lubyogo, that is Levixone; Kiggundu Bruno; - Hon. Kayemba should be near me because he knows all their names –(Laughter) - Raymond Joseph Mugerwa; Lilian Mbabazi, who is the secretary and chief petitioner; Chris Banina; Magada Isaac; Okori Moses Buju, that is Coco Finger; Kankunda Rose, that is Nina Rose; Lwanga Sulaiman; - Hon. Kabanda, unfortunately, I do not have their numbers to share with you. (Laughter) I see some of you are very excited; they did not include their numbers on the list - Mutebi Ramadhan; - Hon. Kayemba, you have to keep reminding me of their stage names - Hon. Kayemba has all their numbers - Anne Kansiime; Fred Sabbata, our historical; Kasagga Julius -I have known the average age of this Parliament, from the way you welcomed Fred Sabbata . (Applause ) The others are: Peterson Ssali Mugisha Richard; Kalumba Michael; Martin Muhumuza - those who said Banyankore cannot sing – (Laughter)– we have a representative; we even have albums . We have George Kigozi a.k.a Geosteady; Odora Denis - he is a clear confirmation that the Japadhola can sing - we are yet to get a Musoga - Ntege Emmanuel Isaac - the Basoga musicians are in Parliament - Sentongo Emmanuel; Hon. Rachel Magoola - our very own who does good work; Ssewanyana Malcolm James a.k.a Sewa Sewa; Luyonga Uzair ; Muhumuza Anthony - I think the Banyankore are dominating this list. Then there is Geoffrey Odhiambo - the Basamia are well represented - Othieno Daydrick; Agaba Ezra; Layeng Fortunate Agrey; Kayuza Solomon; Segujja Madil; Lokutan Alex; Mandera Kennedy; Jurua Joseph; Kyobutungi Charity; Amodoi John Bosco; Awor Zulaika; Babirye Halima; Atwine Amon; Mugwanya James Robinson; Mamawenge Jennifer; Owere Phillip; Kukiriza Drake James; Ongom Jimmy and Mubiru Vincent. Honourable members, we also have in the Chambers, Hon. Geoffrey Lutaaya – (Applause)– and the manager of many musicians, Hon. Ssolo Kayemba. (Applause) Honourable colleagues, as I indicated earlier, we have their petition. Yes, Hon. Nyanzi, do you have a procedural matter?

10251 Tuesday, 3 October 20 23 I would like to inform the Leader of Government Business and the Government Chief Whip that the Ministers should always be here to answer these issues so that we do not have pending items, which clog the Order Paper. Once we do it that way, we shall be smarter. I utilised the recess to visit all my parishes. I have 27 parishes in my constituency and I was accompanied by the Mitooma Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Juliet Bashiisha. We sensitised our people on the Parish Development Model (PDM), but also did oversight on how it was working. We found, among other issues, that money had, indeed, been released to districts, but there were some parishes which had released zero and others a hundred per cent. By the time I left, Mitooma District was at about 56 per cent in terms of disbursement. We also received many complaints from the people including your constituents, ranging from Mayuge to Mityana districts. Most of them came through social media and I compiled them. There were cross-cutting issues including; people being charged money to be listed on computers, for filling forms and for following up. I found out that husbands had to sign for their wives before the latter could receive money. One of the women told me that when she got the money, her husband said that they had to share it because, without his signature, she would not have received it. IN THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA Official Report of the Proceedings of Parliament THIRD SESSION - 1ST SITTING - SECOND MEETING Parliament met at 2.04 p.m. in Parliament House, Kampala. PRAYERS (The Deputy Speaker, Mr Thomas Tayebwa, in the Chair.) The House was called to order. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. The issue of land is a very sensitive one because land is an asset, not only to individuals, but to the Government. There is something that Government should investigate in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. I raised a matter here that there is a forest reserve in my constituency, Bunya County South, which has not been de- gazetted. However, the lands ministry has continued to issue land titles on the same land that has not been de-gazetted, although there is a will by His Excellency the President - he explained to the people about 48 villages to be de- gazetted. However, this has to be done through Parliament. I wonder how the ministry can issue land titles in an area that has not been de- gazetted. Madam Speaker, this area is regarded as a forest, as I speak. The National Forestry Authority is chasing people day after day in an area where the lands ministry is issuing land titles. Madam Speaker, yesterday, you met a delegation of leaders from Mayuge District and they raised their petition, through your office. I beg that you give me an opportunity, after recess, to raise their petition on the issue of the land titles being issued in an area that has not been de-gazetted.

No, mine has the same signature of last week – (Laughter) – I mean the signature for Hon. Peter Ogwang; it is here. This is the same report we threw out last week and asked the minister to come up with regulations. Honourable minister, can you help this House and country? We made a law in this House and you are aware of it that you will come up with regulations to regulate school fees to avoid exploitation of our people. Most schools, including Government aided schools, are charging very high school fees. That is what we are asking for! We are not asking too much. We want uniformity, and we said, last week, that we need to grade these schools; a school in Kampala is different from that in Mayuge and you cannot charge that school a certain amount. That is why we are saying we need minimum and maximum school dues. Give us the regulations on how we should run the schools.

10114 RECONSIDERATION OF THE NATIONAL CONTENT BILL, 2023 [The Speaker] Also, we have constituents from Mayuge District. They are represented by Hon. Rukia Nakadama, Hon. Iddi Isabirye and Hon. James Kubeketerya. You are most welcome. Thank you for coming and for bringing us these good Members of Parliament. The minister has asked for one week for him to see the implementation and he says that he received the resolution from Parliament. After getting the resolution, did you write to the local governments and if you did, can you lay on the Table a copy of what you wrote? There is only one thing that will solve the whole problem: give us a copy of the letter from the Ministry of Local Government that forwarded the guidelines that were passed by Parliament to all the local governments.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on a matter of national importance. Yesterday afternoon, the National Forestry Authority (NFA) officials in Mayuge, specifically in my constituency, in Bugata village, Bumwena Parish, Malongo Sub- county, Mayuge District did an operation that led to the killing of one resident called Paul Kijama and another four were shot. As I speak now, two are critically injured and admitted at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital. Mr Speaker, this was as a result of a conflict that has been there for long. I recently raised this matter here and the Rt Hon. Prime Minister committed herself and on behalf of Government that they were going to solve it. Mr Speaker, the directive that His Excellency the President gave was the allocation of 48 villages to the wanainchi and 14 villages to NFA to continue planting trees. But, what is happening there, you do not see trees but business being conducted. This year you see trees - as I speak now, they are harvesting trees. It would be good to plant trees to protect the environment, but you see them harvesting the trees instead of protecting the environment.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to join colleagues to thank His Excellency the President for the State-of-the- Nation Address. The President clearly indicated that the fisheries sub-sector brought to this country Shs 166.9 billion. This is a goldmine. If properly put to use, fish can turn around the economy of this country. What the fisheries sub-sector requires is to energize our people and provide them with affordable loans so that they get the necessary gear. Once this is provided, the fishery sub-sector will contribute a lot to the economy of this country. The President also talked about water for production, that is, irrigation. Some of us who come from Namayingo, Busia, Mayuge, and Bugiri have plenty of water. It is not good that we have one season in our country, yet we have plenty of water that could be put to use for irrigation. This is an area clearly the agricultural ministry and the water ministry have to look at and ensure that Uganda is a food basket for this region. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I want Members to appreciate this ban. Recently, there have been a number of small Chinese- owned factories and they are cutting trees indiscriminately and our people are paid peanuts and they are exporting this timber raw. They are not adding value and yet they were given licenses to add value so that they can come up with plywood and furniture to export, but they are taking our products raw and exporting them out of the country. Those factories are the ones we stopped yesterday. We are saying enough is enough. We were given statistics that every day, each company can cut over 1000 trees and they are more centered in the districts of Mubende, Kibale and Kakumiro. Recently, as I was flying to Mayuge, I saw another one in one of the forests. They are going to finish our forest cover. So, the President directed me to stop that practice. I want to request the Members to support this initiative - (Applause )-

Madam Speaker, I rise on a procedural matter related to the same issue. It is basically on the illegal use of the gun that has become so rampant in the country. As we are talking about the Kasese issue, killings have increased. The other day in Mayuge, they murdered a businessman. Just early morning, they shot and killed him. Every day, there is somebody being killed with an illegal gun that is being misused. That incident happened in Bukatube, and the Prime Minister present here was around. The community overran the small police post and started killing others; they killed everyone they suspected. Wouldn’t it be procedurally right for the minister to come here and also tell us about this gun misuse and the killings that are happening rampantly every day? What is the problem? What is not being done because it is continuous -

They are killing them and yet that is how these people earn their living; they rob them. So, honourable minister, as you come back, we need a statement on what is happening because people are dying. Today it might be you, but tomorrow it is somebody else. We lost that Hajji in Mayuge. Now, you are making locals take the law into their hands because when they suspected another person, they also beat up that person to death. Do they still keep law and order? They wanted to lynch the police as well. Honourable minister, we need a statement on that.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In line with the same, what happened in Mayuge is really very embarrassing. Hajji Hamza, a very prominent businessman, was gunned down and yet he was neighbouring the police. On the right-hand side of his home is the Marine Police and on the left-hand side of his home is a police post, just 50 metres away. However, someone came and fired very many bullets, but there was no response. Madam Speaker, as we talk about the Kasese issues, there are even more issues within our homes, villages and communities that go undetected. Something wrong is actually not being fixed. The Minister of Defence and Internal Affairs should come up with a comprehensive report. Otherwise, our people are not secure, and yet the obligation of Government is to keep people with their property. It is in the hands of the police, which is their cardinal role. I beg that the Minister of Defence and Internal Affairs comes up with a report for us to debate and find out exactly what happened. Is it about money? Corruption? Welfare? Deployment?

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

Mr Speaker, reading from where I had stopped, the staff of State House provide the necessary logistical and technical support for efficient and effective operations of the Presidency. State House, in turn, provides the necessary facilitation for the staff to carry out their responsibilities effectively. This is the mandate which informs the budgetary allocations across the various items. For instance, to explain what has been in the media as to whether the President, in State House, consumes Shs 500 million, we want to clarify that the expenditure on this electricity consumption is addressed to Entebbe State House, Nakasero State Lodge, the Vice- President’s residence and 23 upcountry state lodges distributed in the various parts of the country including Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Bardege in Gulu, Arua, Masindi, Luwero, Kyankwanzi, Mubende, Fort Portal, Kisozi, Masaka, Bushenyi, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro, Kapchorwa, Ngoma, Kawumu, Mayuge, and Buvuma and five administrative office blocks that support State House and many other forms of infrastructure. In the media, there has also been a discussion as to whether the President spends Shs 350 million per year to buy clothing. Our President is one of the smartest presidents according to us who see him regularly. I just want to clarify that the item that appears under the State House Budget on beddings, clothing and footwear is meant to cover the protective gear for support staff, beddings for the state lodges, which I have read, the curtains, the various linens for furniture and State House functions as well as uniforms for staff as need arises. The categories of staff include drivers, housekeepers, caterers, kitchen staff, cleaners and the regular office staff. The State House also supports skilling programmes where you have seen young people who are skilled in various vocational skills and it usually provides uniforms. Therefore, this is to dispel the misinformation that the budget caters for clothing the President. Rather, it facilitates all these functions that I have explained. I could go on and on but that is the point I wanted to make, Mr Speaker. I hope this information clarifies the issues to do with budgeting for State House and states proper the record on the Hansard of this House. I want to appeal to all of us that we should always desist from raising sensational and unsubstantiated information, which misleads the public. I beg to move, Mr Speaker, and I thank you. (Mr Ssemujju rose_)

8757 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 18 MAY 2023 161) Vote 876: Kyegegwa District – Shs 23,846,624,000 162) Vote 877: Kyenjojo District – Shs 35,581,507,000 163) Vote 878: Kyotera District – Shs 35,036,531,000 164) Vote 879: Lamwo District – Shs 18,485,759,000 165) Vote 880: Lira District – Shs 27,100,374,000 166) Vote 881: Luuka District – Shs 25,440,932,000 167) Vote 882: Luweero District – Shs 63,300,117,000 168) Vote 883: Lwengo District – Shs 27,153,735,000 169) Vote 884: Lyantonde District – Shs 18,276,836,000 170) Vote 885: Madi-Okollo District – Shs 17,665,819,000 171) Vote 886: Manafwa District – Shs 25,992,671,000 172) Vote 887: Maracha District – Shs 25,235,124,000 173) Vote 888: Masaka District – Shs 13,315,598,000 174) Vote 889: Masindi District – Shs 23,520,737,000 175) Vote 890: Mayuge District – Shs 42,544,940,000 176) Vote 891: Mbale District – Shs 36,346,216,000 177) Vote 892: Mbarara District – Shs 23,774,583,000 178) Vote 893: Mitooma District – Shs 27,230,403,000 179) Vote 894: Mityana District – Shs 31,132,617,000 180) Vote 895: Moroto District – Shs 13,533,113,000 181) Vote 896: Moyo District – Shs 20,493,308,000 182) Vote 897: Mpigi District – Shs 30,334,080,000 183) Vote 898: Mubende District – Shs 25,717,019,000 184) Vote 899: Mukono District – Shs 49,808,239,000 185) Vote 900: Nabilatuk District – Shs 8,965,015,000 186) Vote 857: Katakwi District - Shs 25,335,675,000 187) Vote 858: Kayunga District - Shs 37,361,049,000 188) Vote 859: Kazo District – Shs 18,099,602,000 189) Vote 860: Kibaale District - Shs 17,514,216,000 190) Vote 861: Kiboga District – Shs 25,621,222,000 191) Vote 862: Kibuku District – Shs 21,510,868,000 192) Vote 863: Kikuube District – Shs 22,027,669,000 193) Vote 864: Kiruhura District – Shs 18,214,354,000 194) Vote 865: Kiryandongo District - Shs 28,181,672,000

8758 BUDGETARY PROPOSALS & ESTIMATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024 195) Vote 866: Kisoro District - Shs 41,251,167,000 196) Vote 867: Kitagwenda District – Shs 19,274,549,000 197) Vote 868: Kitgum District - Shs 28,277,064,000 198) Vote 869: Koboko District - Shs 19,175,066,000 199) Vote 870: Kole District – Shs 24,145,853,000 200) Vote 871: Kotido District – Shs 11,301,208,000 201) Vote 872: Kumi District - Shs 25,388,394,000 202) Vote 873: Kwania District – Shs 22,753,848,000 203) Vote 874: Kween District – Shs 19,391,073,000 204) Vote 875: Kyankwanzi District – Shs 24,244,929,000 205) Vote 876: Kyegegwa District – Shs 23,846,624,000 206) Vote 877: Kyenjojo District – Shs 35,581,507,000 207) Vote 878: Kyotera District – Shs 35,036,531,000 208) Vote 879: Lamwo District – Shs 18,485,759,000 209) Vote 880: Lira District – Shs 27,100,374,000 210) Vote 881: Luuka District – Shs 25,440,932,000 211) Vote 882: Luweero District – Shs 63,300,117,000 212) Vote 883: Lwengo District – Shs 27,153,735,000 213) Vote 884: Lyantonde District – Shs 18,276,836,000 214) Vote 885: Madi-Okollo District – Shs 17,665,819,000 215) Vote 886: Manafwa District – Shs 25,992,671,000 216) Vote 887: Maracha District – Shs 25,235,124,000 217) Vote 888: Masaka District – Shs 13,315,598,000 218) Vote 889: Masindi District – Shs 23,520,737,000 219) Vote 890: Mayuge District – Shs 42,544,940,000 220) Vote 891: Mbale District – Shs 36,346,216,000 221) Vote 892: Mbarara District – Shs 23,774,583,000 222) Vote 893: Mitooma District – Shs 27,230,403,000 223) Vote 894: Mityana District – Shs 31,132,617,000 224) Vote 895: Moroto District – Shs 13,533,113,000 225) Vote 896: Moyo District – Shs 20,493,308,000 226) Vote 897: Mpigi District – Shs 30,334,080,000 227) Vote 898: Mubende District – Shs 25,717,019,000 228) Vote 899: Mukono District – Shs 49,808,239,000

That is why I am saying, write and we will write back to the ministry, then they will do an analysis and we see what has taken place. Honourable members, in the Public Gallery this afternoon, we have students from Makerere University Law School. They have come to observe the proceedings. You are most welcome. (Applause) Thank you for coming. We also have, in the same Public Gallery this afternoon, students from Mayuge Light Secondary School. They are represented by Hon. Rukia Nakadama and Hon. Aggrey Bagiire. You are most welcome and thank you for coming. Still in the Public Gallery, we have a delegation of students from Cavendish University Law School. Join me in welcoming them. They have come to follow this afternoon’s proceedings. Honourable members, on issues of national importance, we are going to get your issues. Write your issues; we will forward them to the respective ministries. Some other matters of national importance will be discussed but because we are running out of time, we will handle them. Next item.

Thank you, Hon. Jonathan. We want ministerial statements for Financial Year 2023/2024. I will ask the chairpersons of committees to verify these statements and report back to the House on whether these are the correct statements and whether they meet the standards that we require. Honourable members, in the public gallery this afternoon, we have students from Conquerors Secondary School and Rena College, Mayuge. They are represented by the Rt Hon. Rukia Nakadama and Hon. Iddi Isabirye. They are here to observe the proceedings. You are very welcome. Please, stand up. Join me in welcoming them. (Applause) Thank you for sending very good Members of Parliament. Still in the public gallery we have officials from Serere Town Council represented by Hon. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

- Through the district committee and probably, give a slot to the Members of Parliament to endorse on these forms. Let UPDF get a finished product of who has been shortlisted in a particular district from where they have a pool of people to select from. Otherwise, that is the root cause of problems such as armed robberies and desertion. The other issue I would like to bring to your notice is the issue of medical. Can this medical period also be extended? This will prevent loss of lives. In Butebo, we have lost people during training and another recruit died in Mayuge during the running process. Thank you.

I rise to engage the House regarding the suffering of the Standard Gauge Railway Project-Affected Persons (PAPs) along the linear path of the proposed Standard Gauge Railway. To be specific, I am talking about communities such as Magamaga Parish in Mayuge District, Wandago – that popular place – Kakira, Wairaka, Wanyange, Bugembe, Mpumudde-Kimaka and Amber Court, touching the Nile. About three years ago, the Government earmarked the affected areas for purposes of passage of the standard gauge railway. It, as such, stopped the project-affected persons from developing their homes, businesses and social institutions among others. Notably, Madam Speaker, Fairland University’s construction was stopped. Other affected institutions were St. Monica Senior Secondary School, Guardian Primary School and Sole Hope Hospital, which was established to fight jiggers in Busoga sub region – we remember that outbreak - Kateyemba, Mpumudde, Kiresa Primary School - (Interjection)- honourable colleague, take a chill pill; calm down. I am legislating for the people, not you. These people stopped the development of their homes, businesses and social institutions. I have addressed the issue of St. Monica Secondary School, Guardian and other places such as Mpumudde, Kiresa. Others were a Pentecostal Assemblies of God church and five other churches, Airport View Hotel and 150 fish farmers in the area. Needless to mention, some of these institutions and individuals had acquired loans to develop their enterprises. They have since fallen prey to banks and lost livelihoods. It should be noted that this is not the first time the Government is doing this and leaving project-affected persons in dire straits. In 2007, the same communities were demarcated for passage of the Eldoret-Jinja Oil Pipeline. Surveys were conducted, property evaluations were undertaken and the project affected- persons were instructed to discontinue any development. Madam Speaker, it is now 17 years down the road and the Government has not compensated the project-affected persons. It did not restitute their losses or at least communicate to the project-affected persons that the Eldoret- Jinja Oil Pipeline had flopped. To date, some project-affected persons fear to develop their land because they think that the Government is still intent on implementing the Eldoret-Jinja Oil Pipeline. As a result, Madam Speaker, jobs have been lost, education opportunities of the children who were in the affected institutions have been

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On behalf of the people of Bunya County South in Mayuge District, and on behalf of the Busoga Parliamentary Caucus, I bring condolences to the family. A lot has been said concerning our honourable colleague lying before us here. His generosity cannot be overemphasised. I remember one time, when we went to support Hon. Moses Magogo in his constituency, we had organised this as the Busoga Parliamentary Caucus, but shortly, I saw him arrive and he gave us a lot of money to support our colleague in his constituency. May he rest in peace.

6648 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME Mr Davies Dembe Bayeza, who worked in Ngora District Local Government as the first Chief Administrative Officer, retired from Sheema District. His exemplary leadership and innovations have earned him a mentor role and was made a member of the faculty of trainers at the Civil Service College Uganda. Hon. Julie Achayo says that while she supports the restoration of wetlands because of the critical role they play in the water cycle and maintenance of a healthy environment, the exercise of demarcating wetlands in Ngora, especially in the villages of Omaditok and Opelu, was hurriedly and haphazardly done because: l. There was inadequate sensitisation of project affected persons. 2. There are complaints of inclusion of chunks of arable land into areas demarcated as wetlands. She requests that the demarcation exercise be reviewed in Omaditok and Opelu. Mr Speaker, my response is that one of the key result areas for the Wetland Management Department under the Ministry of Water and Environment is restoration of fragile ecosystems and demarcation of wetland boundaries as a way of protecting their hydrology so that they continue providing ecosystem services. The Agu Wetland system is located in the four parishes of Agu, Kopege, Odwarat and Ongodi and the nine villages of Agu, Opelu, Orit, Omaditok, Okoboi, Galilaya, Angodi, Odwarat and Ogirigiro. Agu Wetland system is among the priority wetland systems in the country because of its importance as a catchment for the Nile Basin and water source for both domestic and production purposes. These services deem it necessary for demarcation and other wetland management interventions to be undertaken. The demarcation line was informed by the 1994 Wetland Data and the pillars were planted. The exercise was preceded by consultations and sensitisation of the stakeholders at district, subcounty and community levels. During the first phase, some of the wetland dependent communities received alternative livelihoods including goats, pigs, chicken and beehives as a way of providing alternatives to the activities foregone in the wetlands. The next phase will include distribution of additional livelihoods and further sensitisation on the various interventions and will address any grievances arising out of the exercise. Hon. Atkins Katusabe, Member of Parliament, Bukonzo County West said: “There is rising concern on the mounting of roadblocks in the Rwenzori region contrary to the presidential directive waiving all roadblocks in the country.” His prayer is that can he be informed as to why the presidential directive has not been implemented? My response is that the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety has indicated that there are no police roadblocks in the Rwenzori area. However, there is a roadblock set up by the fisheries department at Kikorongo manned by the Fisheries Protection Unit Personnel (FPU). Hon. Iddi Isabirye, Member of Parliament, Bunya County South, Mayuge District said there is information about titling of parcels of land in South Busoga Central Forest Reserve by unscrupulous individuals at the expense of the locals in whose favour a presidential directive was issued. His prayer is: could I please inform the House on the status of South Busoga Central Forest Reserve? Mr Speaker, the Central Forest Reserves affected by the presidential directive are Bukaleba and South Busoga Central Forest Reserves, which were gazetted in 1932 with an area of 9,663 hectares and 16,382 hectares respectively, and are located in the current Mayuge District, like I told you earlier. On 29 April 2002, Idi Mwandha for and on behalf of the residents of Malongo, Bumwema and Kityerera subcounties, Mayuge District,

The districts to be connected are: Buikwe, Bukomansimbi, Butambala, Buvuma, Gomba, Kalangala, Kalungu, Kampala, Kassanda, Kayunga, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Kyotera, Luwero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Masaka, Mityana, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Rakai, Ssembabule, Wakiso, Bugweri, Kitagwenda –(Interjections) - that is central. I am going region by region. In eastern Uganda, we have Amuria, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bukedea, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Busia, Namayingo, Butaleja, Butebo, Buyende, Iganga, Jinja, Kaberamaido, Kaliro, Kamuli, Kapchorwa, Katakwi, Kibuku, Kumi, Kween, Luuka, Manafwa, Mayuge, Mbale, Namisindwa, Namutumba, Ngora, Pallisa, Serere, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Kalaki and Kapelebyong.

He specifically raised concern regarding the land acquisition process being undertaken in that area. Madam Speaker, as per your guidance, my ministry undertook to provide clarification in respect of the operations of Rwenzori Rare Metals Company in Bugiri, Bugweri, Iganga and Mayuge districts. Background My ministry carried out an airborne geophysical survey covering 80 percent of Uganda in 2005. The survey detected potential for rare earth elements in Makuutu, among other findings. Subsequently, my ministry granted an exploration licence to Rwenzori Rare Metals. Further, geological studies by Rwenzori Rare Metals, including drilling, have revealed 532 million tons of ore containing rare earth elements. The exploration activities have confirmed the existence of rare earth elements in mineable quantities in three districts of Mayuge, Bugweri and Bugiri. The rare earth element deposits found within the Makuutu Rare Earth Project Area is one of the largest in the world, after South China. Rare earth elements are essential for the manufacture of medical equipment, smartphones, laptops, crude oil processing, batteries for electric vehicles, and wind turbines, among many other uses. Rare earth elements are critical for the global transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy. Rare earth elements are key in many new and upcoming technologies; technological applications in electronics, including computers, lighting, magnets, and various other uses. With this innovation, the ministry will ensure that Uganda minerals are explored and exploited in a sustainable manner that supports the growth of the economy of the country, and uplifts the standards of living of our people. The Makuutu Rare Earth Project is one of the key projects that can lead to the industrialisation of Uganda and position the country on the international stage as one of the very few countries in the world that mine rare earth elements. Currently, the production of rare earth elements is dominated by China; so we would only be second to China. The exploration and development of the project requires land access and support from the community and the different leaders. The land acquisition laws of Uganda ensure that adequate and fair compensation will be paid judiciously to the land owners that would be affected. Compensation, land access and resettlement for Project Affected Person (PAPs) The ministry will ensure that where PAPs properties, including land and infrastructure are affected, the PAPs will be duly compensated or resettled before the company can utilise the land. There will be no evictions carried out by the company. The ministry is aware that the development of the Makuutu project will create lots of benefits to the community and the country both through direct and indirect benefits that come with such projects. The development of the project will also cause temporary and permanent resettlement impacts in the project area. Rare earth mineral is currently developing a resettlement action