Igara County West

Thank you. Hon. Katusiime Annet Mugisha – (Interjections) – no, actually, I said that because she is popularly known for having provided water to all the people of Bushenyi. She is a very hardworking woman MP. (Laughter)

8 ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS 5. Kansiime Annah Woman Representative Rwampara NRM 6. Kanyesigye Mercy Youth Representative Female Independent 7. Kapyagon Brian Kongasis County Bukwo Independent 8. Karim Musa Aringa North County Yumbe Independent 9. Kasajja George Patrick Bulamogi North West County Kaliro NRM 10. Kasigwa Gerald Bihemaiso Kigorobya County Hoima NRM 11. Kasirye Nganda Ali Makindye East Division Kampala NUP 12. Kasukaali Methuselah Mwenge Central County Kyenjojo NRM 13. Kariisa Johnbosco Koy Buhweju West County Buhweju NRM 14. Katushabe Ruth Woman Representative Bukomansimbi NRM 15. Katusiime Annet Mugisha Woman Representative Bushenyi NRM 16. Kawalya Abubaker Rubaga Division North Kampala NUP 17. Kasaija Matia Buyanja County Kibaale NRM 18. Karuhanga Gerald Kafureeka Ntungamo Municipality Ntungamo Independent 19. Khalayi Peace Woman Representative Namisindwa NRMK 20. Kiirya Grace Paddy Wanzala Butembe County Jinja FDC 21. Kiiza Andrew N. Kaluya Kigulu County South Iganga NUP 22. Katushabe Doreen Birungi Woman Representative Lyantonde NRM 23. Kiyonga C.W.C.B. Bukonzo County West Kasese NRM 24. Muhwezi Jim Katugugu Rujumbura County Rukungiri NRM 25. Kenan Opio Busiro South Wakiso NRM 26. Kateshumbwa Dicksons Sheema Municipality Sheema NRM 27. Katusiime Jovia Woman Representative Kiryandongo NRM 28. Kiiza Kenneth Nyendwoha Bujenje County Masindi NRM 29. Kikabi Edward (Dr) Ntwetwe County Kyankwanzi NRM 30. Kinalwa James (Maj. Gen.) UPDF Representative N/A N/A 31. Kinobere Herbert Tom Kibuku County Kibuku Independent 32. Kinshaba Patience Nkunda Woman Representative Kanungu Independent 33. Kiruluuta Yusuf J. Nkerettanyi Kalungu County East Kalungu NUP 34. Kirumira Hassan Katikamu County South Luweero NUP 35. Kisekka Salim Bukomansimbi North County Bukomansimbi NRM 36. Kitiyo Patrick Kapchorwa Municipality Kapchorwa Independent 37. Kiyimba Emmanuel Bukoto County Mid-West Lwengo NRM 38. Kasule Ismail Hoima West Division Hoima City ANT 39. Khainza Agnes Shiuma Woman Representative Bududa NRM 40. Kugonza Emely Buyanja East County Kibaale NRM 41. Kungu Samuel Bamuteeze Kigulu County North Iganga NRM 42. Kwizera Eddie Wa-Gahungu Bukimbiri County Kisoro Independent 43. Kyambadde Amelia Ann Mawokota County North Mpigi NRM 44. Kyarampe Rebecca Woman Representative Mitooma NRM 45. Kyarikunda Loydah T. Woman Representative Mbarara NRM 46. Kisa Stephen Bakubalwayo Luuka South County Luuka NRM 47. Kavuma Samuel (Lt Gen.) UPDF N/A N/A 48. Kitanywa Sowedi Busongora County North Kasese NRM 49. Kizza Hakim Sawula Bukoto County South Lwengo NUP 50. Kuteesa Patrick Kimanya-Kabonera Division Masaka City NUP 51. Kwiyucwiny Grace Freedom Ora County Zombo NRM 52. Kibaaju Charity Kamuhanda Woman Representative Mbarara City NRM 53. Komol Joseph Miidi Dodoth North County Kaabong NRM 54. Karubanga Jacob Ateenyi Kibanda South County Kiryandongo Independent 55. Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama Mbarara South Division Mbarara City NRM

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

2 ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS 6. Abeja Susan Jolly District Woman Representative Otuke NRM 7. Abigaba Cuthbert Mirembe Kibale County Kamwenge NRM 8. Acamfua Topista District Woman Representative Zombo Independent 9. Acan Joyce Okeny PWD Representative N/A NRM 10. Achayo Juliet Lodou Ngora County Ngora NRM 11. Achia Lokiru Gabriel Jie County Kotido NRM 12. Achola Catherine District Woman Representative Pallisa NRM 13. Aber Lillian District Woman Representative Kitgum NRM 14. Acom Alobo Joan City Woman Representative Soroti FDC 15. Aayoo Joyce Makamoe District Woman Representative Abim Independent 16. Acon Julius Bua Otuke East County Otuke NRM 17. Adeke Anna Ebaju District Woman Representative Soroti FDC 18. Adidwa Abdu Bukooli South County Namayingo Independent 19. Agaba Gilbert Workers Representative N/A Independent 20. Agaba Peter Ibanda Municipality Ibanda NRM 21. Ahebwa Wilber Manyisa Nakaseke North County Nakaseke NRM 22. Akello Beatrice Akori District Woman Representative Agago NRM 23. Aine Godfrey Kaguta Mawogola North County Ssembabule NRM 24. Akello Lucy District Woman Representative Amuru FDC 25. Akello Rose Lilly District Woman Representative Karenga NRM 26. Akol Anthony Kilak North County Amuru NRM 27. Akorikin Francis Kapelebyong County Kapelebyon NRM 28. Aguti Sarah District Woman Representative Dokolo UPC 29. Akugizibwe Aled Ronald Buruli County Masindi NRM 30. Akumu Catherine Mavenjina Older Persons Representative Northern NRM 31. Alenyo Marshall Godfrey Jonam County Pakwach Independent 32. Alioni Yorke Odria Aringa South County Yumbe NRM 33. Among Anita Annet District Woman Representative Bukedea NRM 34. Magogo Moses Hassim Budiope East County Buyende NRM 35. Opolot Isiagi Patrick Kachumbala County Bukedea NRM 36. Okwere David Beecham Bukedea County Bukedea NRM 37. Namulondo Sarah District Woman Representative Buyende NRM 38. Pedun Josephine District Woman Representative Ngora NRM 39. Aeku Patrick Soroti County Soroti NRM 40. Alyela Denis Omodi Lira East Division Lira City NRM 41. Akifeza Grace Ngabirano District Woman Representative Kisoro NRM 42. Akugizibwe Lawrence Mwenge County North Kyenjojo NRM 43. Amanya Cohen Kyampene Igara County West Bushenyi NRM 44. Achia Cathy District Woman Representative Kaabong NRM 45. Acom Esther District Woman Representative Serere Independent 46. Amaniyo Draville Sheilah District Woman Representative Mukono NUP 47. Aceng Jane Ruth District Woman Representative Lira City NRM 48. Ajilo Maria Gorretti Elogu District Woman Representative Kalaki NRM 49. Adome Francis Lorika Moroto Municipality Moroto NRM 50. Ameede Agnes District Woman Representative Butebo NRM 51. Amongin Jane Frances Okili District Woman Representative Kaberamaido NRM 52. Angura Fredrick Tororo South County Tororo NRM 53. Angwech Colline Kioga County Amolatar UPC 54. Anifa Bangirana Mawogola West County Ssembabule NRM 55. Anyakun Esther Davinia District Woman Representative Nakapiripirit NRM 56. Acheng Sandra District Woman Representative Kole NRM

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

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

Honourable minister, I used to be in the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE), which REA used to report to. The only problem that REA had was with governance and management but all the other things were so perfect. Even when the management would quarrel amongst themselves, the lines would be fixed, and power would be there. Therefore, all that you ought to have done was to remove those top guys who were fighting and leave the institution because it had very competent people. On another note, what did the money that was transferred from REA to the ministry do? Can we have accountability for what has been done over time? Honourable minister, before you come, let me have Members from Nakasongola and Bushenyi.

Thank you. Honourable Member from Bushenyi -

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I raise a matter of national importance and concerns about the plight of smallholder tea farmers in the Greater Bushenyi. Igara Growers Tea Factory was opened in 1969, and then Buhweju Tea Factory was also opened in 2010. Both tea factories are owned by smallholder tea farmers from the districts of Buhweju, Sheema, Mitooma, Rubirizi, and Bushenyi. The farmers hold about one million shares worth Shs 5 billion as bona fide shareholders. Both factories employ more than 1,300 staff – skilled and semi-skilled – and thousands of others on farmers’ estates who are paid on a monthly and contract basis. They have been commanding a turnover of about Shs 60 billion per annum. In recent years, we have – and I in particular – been informing this august House about the huge challenges in the tea industry in Uganda. Finally, the Igara and Buhweju tea factories ceased operations in early March this year. This spells economic doom for the stakeholders mentioned above and the country economically. My prayers are: 1. I ask the Government to urgently intervene and rescue the tea farmers. 2. The Government should expedite the much-craved-for tea policy so that it can ameliorate some of the challenges causing hardships in the sector. 3. Thorough investigations into the mismanagement aspects should be carried out to find out the causes that led to the closure of our tea factories to our detriment. I beg to move.

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

Honourable minister, yesterday, I talked about the road from Mbarara to Bushenyi. It is basically potholes. As we wait for money to work on the whole road, why don’t you work on those small potholes so that the road is usable, the way you are working on Kampala-Jinja Road?

Madam Speaker, I would like to add to the issue of roads. What we need to hear from the ministries of works and finance is, what happened to the budget that we allocated to the roads? Most of us who come from the districts know that some of the funds for the last quarter were not released for maintenance. We would like to know; after rationalisation, what happened to the money that we had budgeted for under the Road Fund? What about the money that was allocated under UNRA? Did the ministry receive it or not? Secondly, do we still have axle control limits in this country because we have raised this before? Some of our feeder roads are being destroyed by Sino trucks; they are too heavy. In some of our constituencies, there are no more bridges. We have raised this before, but no one is coming out to regulate heavily loaded trucks that are damaging our roads. Finally, honourable minister, you need to give us assurance. The Rt Hon. Speaker talked about the issue of road safety. We used to have a unit under UNRA on road safety. When you go around the country, for example Mbarara– Bushenyi Road, they have been doing road repairs. However, they jump here and repair a pothole there, but there seems to be no one in charge of supervision or even making sure that they put road safety markers. As a result, we have lost people to accidents when these roads are being repaired. As you come here with a statement, tell us what is happening so that we can assure our people that the ministry is fully in charge and that you actually received the funds that we allocated. If you did not, then let us ask the Minister of Finance to tell us what happened to the funds that we voted for the ministry.

17522 BUDGET SPEECH resources, starting with iron ore, gold and copper, and strengthening their tracking systems; (ii) capitalisation of the Uganda National Mining Company; (iii) establishing mineral markets and buying centres to enable transparent mineral trading; (iv) expediting finalisation of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline; and (v) prioritisation of the construction of the oil refinery and refined products pipeline, among others. Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), including ICT and Creative Industry Madam Speaker, STI including ICT and creative arts provide an important avenue for the country to develop high-tech exports and add new sources of growth and jobs. Madam Speaker, this financial year, the following milestones have been achieved in the development of the knowledge economy: 1. Completed and operationalised the Kiira Motors vehicle plant in Jinja. The plant has an annual capacity of 2,500 vehicles. So far, 41 buses have been produced, out of which 29 are electric. The electric buses produced can run up to 500 kilometres when fully charged. The plant has signed a letter of intent to supply more than 3,700 electric buses to West Africa. The plant has signed a letter of intent to supply more than 3,700 electric buses to West Africa. (Applause) Kiira Motors has created 800 jobs and has the potential to generate more than 14,000 direct and indirect productive jobs. 2. Invested in vaccine development and commercialisation as well as innovations in therapeutics, diagnostics and other healthcare tools. The Government has cumulatively invested a total of Shs 724 billion in the Dei BioPharma manufacturing facility located at Matugga in Wakiso District. The facility is now licensed by the National Drug Authority and has started manufacturing generic drugs such as tablets, capsules, powders, non-antibiotic drugs and antifungal drugs, among others. Madam Speaker, the Government is making progress in development of vaccines for the Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever and Rift Valley virus. We also completed accreditation of the Alfasan vaccine manufacturing facility to produce anti-tick vaccines. Scientists at Makerere University developed a PCR kit that has been used to conduct more than 2 million tests at 50 per cent of the cost of imported alternatives, saving the country $37 million. Gulu University developed highly effective rapid testing kits for crop diseases for cassava and sweet potatoes. 3. Madam Speaker, the Government has invested in a coffee factory in Ntungamo to fast- track local value addition to coffee. The factory will have three processing lines for roastery, freeze dry and spray dry technology to produce instant, roast, and ground coffee, respectively. The roastery line has started production, and other processing lines are at 50 per cent installation. 4. The banana value addition facility in Bushenyi has started production. Katonda yebazibwe! The plant is producing several value-added products like banana flour used in bread, cakes, biscuits and baby food. The plant is increasing automation and capacity to 140 metric tons from 14 metric tons. It has started penetrating the local and international markets with orders from South Korea, the Middle East, South Africa, Italy, and the USA. Madam Speaker, with regard to ICT, the Government has continued to expand Internet connectivity and digital infrastructure across the country. The geographical coverage of broadband Internet connectivity stands at 72 per cent of the country, covering 4,387 kilometres. The Government has increased the digitisation of service delivery to improve efficiency, promote transparency, and reduce bureaucracy. Madam Speaker, a total of 36 electronic services have been developed and rolled out. Some of these include the Online Business Registration System (OBRS), Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP), and the online passport, visa, national ID and driving licence application system. The Uganda Driver Licensing System, which was introduced in 2021, has reduced the turnaround

The important thing is that this man moved into coffee and all those things when we were with NAADs – There was something we were calling “PMA” – Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture – which was like NAADS. He started growing coffee. So, what I am saying here is that the Government, through the Budgets, is the one that can help the people to solve their problems. Programmes such as NAADS, Operation Wealth Creation, PDM, Emyooga , etc., have already shown that they can liberate people from poverty. The current coffee boom was on account of the Government’s scientists who developed the improved Clonal Coffee, different from the old variety that the people in Bushenyi had abandoned for the dairy industry. Now, I heard some people saying that they are the ones who developed that coffee variety. I did not want to quarrel. However, coffee and all these enterprises – (Whereupon a stranger walked into the Chamber.)

This was in the 1950s. Oyo omwaana agamba 1970s . Some people were claiming that coffee – this one – You remember there was a group called – the one we abolished; what was it called? The one that we rationalised – Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA). (Laughter) They said, “Oh, we are the ones who developed coffee.” Coffee was saved by NRM, working with the scientists. When we developed, they improved the Clonal Coffee, which was yielding much more than the other coffee of the 1960s and 1950s. To prove that, we had very important coffee growers in Bushenyi – people such as Mukaira, Kikuri, Kekuruso, and others who were growing coffee. However, because the coffee price collapsed in the 1960s – I think – they abandoned it and went to cows. Up to now, they are big dairy farmers. They had abandoned coffee. We are the ones who rescued coffee. So, it is the Government. The current coffee boom is due to the Government scientists who developed the improved Clonal Coffee, which is different from the old variety that people in Bushenyi had abandoned for the dairy industry. The dairy industry in the Cattle Corridor – you can see for yourself what it is doing there. If you can show us people such as Kabeera – the one of Gomba. Can you show us Kabeera of Gomba? (A video presentation was made.)

17491 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 5 JUNE 2025 To achieve this goal, the Government is accelerating the construction of solar-powered irrigation schemes; medium-scale irrigation schemes, earth dams, communal and individual valley tanks, and large-scale irrigation schemes across the country. The construction works for 92 solar-powered irrigation schemes have been completed, adding an irrigation area of 900 acres. These are in the districts of Apac, Buhweju, Buikwe, Bukomansimbi, Buliisa, Bushenyi, Butambala, Buvuma, Gomba, Hoima, Isingiro, Kakumiro, etc. The new solar-powered irrigation schemes have benefitted 110,000 farmers and production yield from 120 schemes has increased to 3,600 tons per season. The major crop enterprises in these irrigation schemes include green pepper, onions, Irish potatoes, watermelons, tomatoes, apples, cabbages, pineapples, coffee, eggplants, vanilla, grapes, mangoes, and pumpkins. The construction works are also ongoing for 22 solar-powered irrigation demonstration sites in the districts of Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kole, Gulu, Napak, Abim, etc. In Nakaseke District, the construction works for the Kirema Phase 1, a medium-scale irrigation scheme, have been completed; thus adding a total of 124 hectares and benefitting 50 farmers engaged in coffee growing, passion fruits, maize, and bananas. The construction works for the Wadelai Irrigation Scheme, 1,000 hectares in Pakwach District, stands at 93.5 per cent. The construction works for the Namaitsu medium- scale Irrigation Scheme in Bududa District stands at 70 per cent. Kawumu Irrigation Scheme, which is in Luwero District, is at 90 per cent, among others. A mega irrigation scheme, Nyimur, covering 3,300 hectares, has been constructed in Lamwo District. Do you know where Lamwo is? You people, you do not know where Lamwo is? Lamwo is far away, on the South Sudan border. Other construction works include the Acomai Irrigation Scheme in Bukedea District, covering 1,480 hectares, and targeting 1,600 households; Atari Irrigation Scheme in Kween/ Bulambuli districts, covering 680 hectares, targeting 2,667 households; and Namatala Irrigation Scheme in the Budaka, Mbale, and Butaleja districts, covering 3,450 hectares, targets 4,923 households. The current production of milk stands at 5.4 billion litres at the end of 2024, compared to 2.5 billion litres in the Financial Year 2017/2018. We have also identified and secured foreign markets through government-to-government interventions, e.g. Algeria and Nigeria. These countries are now buying our powdered milk. This has resulted into an increase in the value of milk and milk products, as already pointed out, from $28.7 million in the Financial Year 2014/2015 to $285 million in the 2024 year. A new processing factory, Benni Foods, has been commissioned and is currently operational with an installed capacity of 10,000 litres of milk per day. The total value of fish catches from all the water bodies has steadily increased since the Government deployed armed forces to assist in fisheries enforcement. Currently, we are producing 658,000 metric tonnes of fish annually. The availability of raw material fish sustained operations of 12 fish processing factories; you know that debate. The fisheries unit has been able to stop overfishing or reduce it, although they have also been accused – once in a while – of being sinners, but we can audit their work by looking at the 12 factories that are now processing fish. Many of these had closed. I will meet the fisheries people soon; I will meet the traditional fishing communities, but this is one of the facts. Are the factories operating or not? Had they closed or not? When we meet, we shall discuss this. According to this one here, 12 factories are now operating, processing 658,000 metric tonnes.

17496 ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION 6. The PCR kit developed by scientists at Makerere University to conduct more than two million tests at 50 per cent of the cost of imported alternatives. This has saved the country $37 million in imports per year; 7. Gulu University developed highly effective rapid test kits for crop diseases – for cassava and sweet potatoes; 8. The engineering development and innovation centres in Rwebiteete, Kiruhura District and Namanve are enhancing capacity for industrial technology, metallurgy, electrical and electronics, civil engineering, automotive technology, agricultural mechanisation, and construction machinery. 9. The Presidential Initiative on the Banana Industrial Development (PIBID) plant in Bushenyi – can you show us that one? Bushenyi banange! If you don’t want to die from a heart attack, you eat our bananas. They have got potassium for your heart muscles. The Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development plant in Bushenyi has significantly increased commercial production capacity to 140 metric tonnes of fresh Matooke – “Matooke” is bananas – per day. The plant has sales orders from the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Italy. Over the last 17 years, the NRM Government has prioritised infrastructure development, especially the roads, railways and electricity. We now have a solid foundation to support industrial development. All parts of the country are interconnected using tarmac and good murram roads. This means that whatever is produced in the country can easily reach the markets. It also means that the cost and time of moving goods has reduced significantly, facilitating both investments and trade. The stock of tarmac roads is now 6,199 kilometres, compared to only 1,900 kilometres when the NRM took power in 1986. Of these 1,900 kilometres, only 114 kilometres were in fair condition, while the rest, totalling 1,786 kilometres, were in poor condition. The roads to commence construction to tarmac standard next financial year include: 1. 23.6km., Yumbe-Ure Road and bridge. Are my people from Yumbe happy? Awadifo. (Applause) 2. 69.3km., Katine-Ochero Road – apwoyo, apwoyo, apwoyo – and 2.9 kilometres of town roads in Kaberamaido and Kalaki towns. 3. 105km. of Kyenjojo-Kihura-Bwizi-Rwamwanja- Kahunge and Mpara-Bwizi. Mwebale muno. 4. 56.3km., Iganga-Bulopa-Kamuli-Jinja. Mwebale ino . 5. 127km Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Bukungu – at long last. 6. 10km., Jinja City roads. 7. 115km., Kitgum-Kidepo. Apwoyo, apwoyo! (Applause) 8. 88km, Ishasa-Katunguru Road. Mwebale munonga . 9. 65.3km, Luku-Kalangala-Mulabana Road. Do the bassesse have their own language? Bogera Luganda? Kale bagenderawo. 10. 10.67 kilometres on the seven town roads in Kalangala. 11. 72km, Nabumali-Butaleja-Namutumba. 12. 73km, Karenga-Kapedo-Kaabong. 13. 69.6km, Kotido-Kaabong Road. Alakara noi noi . 14. 25km, Bubulo-Bududa Circular Road. Akaguto ako banange. Aba Masaaba. 15. 21km, Mbale-Nkokonjeru Road . 16. 46.4km, Kabwohe-Nyakambu-Bwizibw - era and Nyakambu-Nsiika Road. Abany - abuhweju, at last. The Government is repairing the 78.9km road from Nebbi to Arua and I am also negotiating for more money to tarmac other roads, namely: Kabujogyera-Kitagwenda-Kamwenge Road – a batagwenda bangye mutebwo amastiko; Muhaanga-Rwamuchuuchu-Kisiizi-Rubaare Road with a branch to Nyakisheenyi and another one to Kebisooni – Abahooro, Abakiga tindabasa kubebwa; Lyantonde-Lumbugu- Rakai – abakooki baffe eyomunda eyo;

Voh OccaAUoo t hmt{UexoOOl 538 ru Mission in o00 Local Gwcraroatr 601 Arua city 42,627,79L @2 Fort-Fortal city 24.409.O33 603 GUU city 30.o16.334 604 Hoirna city L6,320.994 605 Jinja citv 48,585.173 606 Lira city 32.637.923 607 Masaka city 32,L23,397 608 Mbale city 4L.146.292 609 Mbarara cibr 39.917.390 610 Soroti city 22,695,436 70L Apac Municipal Council 9,229.883 702 Bueiri Municipal Council 6.521.357 703 Bushenyi- Istralra Municipal Council 13,883,756 704 Busia Municipal Council 8.729.34L 705 Eqtebbe Municipal Council L4.992.O40 706 Ibanda Municipal Council L7,O36,2LO 707 Iganga Municipal @rlncil 8.179.080 708 Ihbale Municipal Council t7.830.374 709 I(anuli Municipd Council 8,837,237 7LO I(apchorwa Municipal Council 10.959.904 7LL IGscse Municipal Council L6.2L9.979 7L2 Kira Municipal Council 26,4L3,268 713 Kisoro Municipal Council 5,652,058 7L4 Kitgum Municipal Council 8.661.003 7t5 Koboko Municipal Council 10.108.ele I 716 Kotido 97 n r 1 I N\ F a J rj; -iz- G ,s

Yotc drlhi- rrmdlUcXm0l 813 Bugiri District 3.942.420 814 Bugweri District 1.554.438 815 Buhureju District 3.228.651 816 Buikwe District 2.288.L42 8L7 Bukedea DisEiet 6.929.676 818 Bukomansimbi DisEict 1.587.386 819 Bukwo District 2.282.346 820 ButaEhli District 3.977.tO4 82t Buliisa District 2.271.496 822 Bundibugro District 5.452.O75 823 Bunyangabu District 3.177.556 824 Bushenyi District 2.452.23t 825 Busia District 4.602.736 826 Butaleja District 5.037.683 827 Butambala District 2.4@.773 828 Butebo District 2.553.114 829 Burnrma District 2.321,680 830 Buyende District 3,199.135 831 Dokolo District 3.603.294 832 Cromba District 2.LO9.4L 833 Gulu District 1.860.357 834 Hoioa District 2,473,660 835 Ibanda District 3,L75,902 836 Iganga District 3,266.O74 837 Isingiro District 6,739,455 838 Jinja Distfict 3.285.405 839 I(aabons District 2,68L,221 840 IGbale District 4,454.290 841 I(abarlole District 5,518,603 842 I(aberamaido District 2,492,506 843 Ikgadi District 4.825,013 844 IGkumiro District 7.553.407 845 IGlaki District ^^/F\ 2.L62.O23 846 Iklangala District \=*T ,', 1.285.413 847 I(alilo District s-\\ 7It 2.859.350 848 IGlungu District ,^A Jlh L.770.657 849 IGmuli Distuict r\( ) $A[/ 4.O98.749 850 IGmwenge District -^. Y\F-vl\ 4.6L2.349 -s ft s6 I t

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The annual crime report of the Uganda Police Force 2024 shows that since 2020, the total number of people who have died in road accidents is 22,306. Five thousand one hundred fifty four (5,154) people have died in 2024 only. This reflects a fatal increase of 7 per cent from 4,000 in 2023 to 5,000 in 2024. This is very alarming. In 2023, the Speaker convened a meeting of Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Police, the Leader of the Opposition, the Ministry of Health, the Chairperson of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, and the Shadow Minister for Works and Transport. Resolutions were made and adopted by this House. The Minister of Works and Transport pledged to implement those resolutions. However, those resolutions have never been implemented in respect to the accidents. Even before I go to the second one, the minister should update us on those resolutions; how they were implemented, if they were implemented. Secondly, the minister is lamenting. He convinced us here, together with the Minister of Public Service, that whatever they were doing in rationalisation was in this country’s best interests and that they were promoting effectiveness in the ministry. At least UNRA was managing the debt. Now you are failing to even manage the debt. Where we come from, through Sheema District, Mbarara District, to Buhweju, the road is impossible. It is a national road. Now, you say that you have no money, and so you will not be moving from Mbarara to Bushenyi. You are lamenting. Finally, the arrears: the high cost of financing the foreign companies. Why don’t we support the local companies? All these companies you are talking about have arrears amounting to almost Shs 1.581 trillion; most of this is to foreign companies. I [Mr Ecweru] MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Thank you, Mr Speaker. My concern is about the rehabilitation of Kitagata-Mutara-Kabira-Rukungiri Road. It connects people who use Kitagata Hospital, and it is the only hospital that serves Greater Bushenyi. It connects the people who use the Kitagata Hot Springs - actually, it is the route to Mutaka Mines. Mutaka Mines has heavy trucks that carry minerals from Mutaka to Kapeeka, and they have totally destroyed the road, honourable minister. Recently, some robbers started to use the bad spots, especially in Kafunzo, Rubanga, Mulama and Kitojo, to harm passengers. We request your urgent attention. Secondly, Mr Speaker, we have the Ncwera Bridge. Honourable minister, you visited the Ncwera Bridge. You know that even the Deputy Speaker cannot connect to his own district - (Interjections)- unless he uses another route. Three years down the road, honourable minister, you have not worked on Ncwera Bridge. I request that we at least get attention for it. Recently, it almost killed district officials. Their vehicle almost fell off that bridge. Mr Speaker, I request that at least we work together and make sure that the Ncwera Bridge is worked on. Thank you so much, Mr Speaker.

Thank you. This has been the greatest submission since we started. (Laughter) Yes, but honourable minister, I know you should be able to update us. I know there is a good update on the Ncwera Bridge – yes, I have been in touch. Since the honourable member has raised it, the road from Ishaka, that is from Kizinda, through Hon. Annet’s area to my constituency, honourable colleagues who visited me last time when I hosted the President, we thanked him for the good road. The Speaker and honourable colleagues called and asked: “Why didn’t you make us pass through that good road, which you are thanking the President for?” I said, no, it is the one you used – people have never forgotten. When some of us are complaining, we cannot come here very much. Honourable minister, we are dying silently. What is painful is that I do not have any Central Government roads in my constituency. We neighbour three districts. The districts of Bushenyi and Mitooma made recommendations for you to take over the road that comes from Kizinda, through Mitooma, and connects to Rukungiri – just a takeover, but

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mine is about the Mbarara-Kabwohe– Bushenyi-Ishaka Road. This road was in the National Development Plan I, II, III, and it has now been carried forward to NDPIV. When the report was being read, I was very sure, 100 per cent, that I would see this road in this budget. To my dismay, it is nowhere to be seen. In 2021, His Excellency, the President, directed Uganda National Road Authority (UNRA) then to rehabilitate the road, but the road is in a sorry state. It is too potholed despite its economic benefits. This morning, I took the initiative to call the regional traffic officer to give me the statistics of how many people have perished on that road. In Bushenyi alone, 23 people have died since January to date. Shema - 32, Rubirizi - 14, Mitooma - 7 and Buhweju - 8. In total, between January to date, 84 have perished on that road. Those are the ones that are known, but some are not known. Mr Speaker, it is very unfortunate and regrettable. Honourable minister, kindly, look for money from somewhere, because this road cannot wait - and work on this road. This is a road that connects very many tourist destinations. It is a road that connects to the Residence District Commissioner, Mpondwe Border - (Member timed out. )

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Thank you for the good report, the Committee on Education and Sports. My issue is on the rephased PTCs. I have an institution in Mitooma; Bikungu PTC, which was phased out in 2023. I have been following it up and I have been told that it has been repurposed to become a polytechnic; a teachers’ instructor’s school. Up to now, the school has been abandoned. The institution has a lot of land, but that land has now been encroached on. When I observe most of the teachers who were well-trained as primary school teachers, some are retiring, others are resigning, and others are dying. Soon, we are not going to have real primary school teachers. Most of the PTCs around Greater Bushenyi: Kitabi PTC, there was Ruyonza - all of them are no longer in place. Honourable minister, I request to know the fate of our children in the very few years to come, when most of the teachers are out of service? Secondly, the committee chairperson talked about teachers’ salaries. Arts teachers are asking, “I hear you are talking about deputy head teachers and the head teachers. What about those who go to the classroom to teach?” We need to have – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Madam minister, you are aware that you closed Bwera Teachers College yet Kasese District has 1.4 million citizens. Kaborole District, which has a Government university - the Primary Teaching College (PTC) there was closed same as that for Bushenyi and Mbarara. So, our request, Madam Minister, is that the very PTC that you closed, ungraciously, can be upgraded into a public university because the foundations and infrastructure are lying there, idle. Secondly, honourable colleagues, let us not allow this budget to pass without an increment or a package for the Arts teachers. They go to the same markets, school from the same schools, they have the same needs as they relate to the science teachers. In this particular budget, not even for next year, Mr Speaker, let us have something for our Arts teachers. Finally, this is for you, Mr Speaker, and the message is from Monsignor Dr Landus Bwambale. He said that when you or Madam Speaker are presiding, I have to raise this, that the Catholic schools and other faith-based schools should be supported. They educate fellow citizens. It is a pity that the Government abandons supporting religious schools – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I appreciate the committee for the comprehensive report and thank them once again for prioritising rural electrification. However, I have a concern; number one, I would like to know the plans the ministry has to survey and do the mapping of all villages in the whole country. If this one is not done, then the Ugandans will not be sure that the Government of Uganda is planning for them to get power. I have traversed the whole of Bushenyi district and looked at all the villages. There are many villages that are not surveyed, and in those villages that are connected to power, some homesteads have power, but half of the village has no power, and yet in the system, that village is taken as one with power. There is a big problem and since it is budgeting time, why can’t we allocate funds to the ministry to do the survey in the whole country? Because according to me that is basic. We become proactive so that when the money is available, we know where to start. Some members of Parliament have started doing that job but I think it is not sustainable. Let us know those villages that are connected to the grid and those that are not and there, we shall be able to move from one level to another.

16926 APPROVAL OF BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2025/2026 interest. As I talk now, farmers have lost their properties to banks. Some of them are battling with cases in courts. We do not know what to do. Mr Speaker, the nursery bed operators from Bushenyi have already petitioned your office, and I know it is there. They want to be paid. The unfortunate part of it, Madam Chairperson, is that I have – ( Interjection ) - okay, through Mr Speaker. In her report, I have not heard about anything concerning paying arrears for our farmers. If you are not paying in this financial year, incorporate these farmers in the next financial year.

16535 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2025 increased tremendously, and this necessitated us to raise the landing sites to match the new water levels, in order to ensure safe ferry operations. Between mid-December 2024 and January 2025, the water levels at the same ferry crossing dropped significantly, making the ferry operations risky and challenging. Despite the operational difficulties, the ferry team was able to continue with ferry operations up to the 10 th of February this year, when the ferry itself experienced a fatal challenge on one of its three operational engines. The new engine challenge led to the temporary closure of the ferry crossing in order to safeguard passengers and the ferry crew. Madam Speaker, the repair of the faulty engine is ongoing and will be fully restored. In addition, temporary civil works should also be completed by – that was 26 February 2025 – I think they must have completed by now. It is expected that the ferry operations at Obongi-Sinyanya ferry will resume today. I hope, today, they resumed. We shall find out whether they have resumed. The sixth question came from Hon. Juliet Achayo, MP Ngora County. She started by thanking the Government for constructing a bridge at Aleles, that connects Ngora to the neighbouring Pallisa District. The construction of the bridge is complete and the road is, by and large, usable. However, since the completion of the bridge, part of the road that connects to the bridge has not been properly worked on to provide seamless transition from the road to the bridge structure. There is a sudden change in elevation at the bridge, that is a potential cause of accidents. Furthermore, after heavy rains, water tends to flood in the area surrounding the bridge, making it look like an island and rendering the road impassable. Her prayer is that the Ministry of Works and Transport quickly responds to this concern, and ensures that a proper approach is constructed to allow a smooth access to the bridge, and also introduce culvert crossings that are necessary to eliminate the flooding at Aleles. My response was that the Ministry of Works and Transport signed a contract with M/s Coil Ltd and Motorways Construction JV, on 21 April 2019 for the construction of Aleles Bridge in Pallisa District. At the time these concerns were raised, the contractor had completed the bridge, although the approach road work was still ongoing. The contractor provided a temporary diversion to allow limited access to the community. I am pleased to report that the project, including the bridge and the approach road, has since been substantially completed and is now being used by the community for its intended purpose. The seventh question came from Hon. Ephraim Biraaro, MP, Buhweju West County. As we may be aware, His Excellency the President, through the NRM Manifestos of 2016-2021 and 2021-2026, and his several public pronouncements, has been pledging Bwizibwera-Nsiika-Nyakashaka-Nyakabirizi Road, with two spurs; Kabwohe and Bihanga- Katerera. Madam Speaker, the process has not only been delayed, but tampered with. According to the current plans geared by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), the road now apparently stops at Nsiika, but priority is given to the Kabwohe Spur. While we would not envy any question of the road being worked on, our concerns are raised by the total neglect and side-lining of an important section of 45.8 km of Nsiika-Nyakasharara-Nyakabirizi Road, which was meant to serve several tea factories, traversing these three districts of Buhweju, Sheema and Bushenyi.

16536 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME I have personally written letters to UNRA, Ministry of Works and Transport, Office of the Prime Minister, and the President’s Office, but no valid attention has been paid to my pleas. His prayer is a request that we take interest in this matter and provide an update. Madam Speaker, Bwizibwera-Nsiika- Nyakashaka-Nyakabirizi Road with a spur to Kabwohe, is in the National Development Plan (NDP) III and in the NRM Manifesto of 2021- 2026. The road is being implemented in phases. Even yesterday, the President, while in Bushenyi, talked about the same road and that the road will be implemented in phases; (i) A civil commercial contract for the upgrade of Bwizibwera-Nyakambu-Nsiika with a spur to Kabwohe road was signed in March 2023 and awaits confirmation of financing before physical works can commence. (ii) A detailed design for the upgrade of Nsiika- Nyakashaka-Nyakabirizi Road (48.3km) is currently ongoing and is expected to be completed by May 2025. Thereafter, procurement of civil works contractors will commence. Madam Speaker, upgrading of Nsiika-Ibanda- Kabujogera-Mashooro-Rwenjaza-Kyambura has been considered in National Development Plan IV (NDP IV) and will be prioritised subject to availability of resources. Madam Speaker, I want to thank you on this note because the Members do not give detailed information. That is why I am on question number eight. Hon. Shartsi Musherure, MP, Mawogola County North: Following the dissolution of both the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), and the Uganda Road Fund as part of the rationalisation process, her prayer was: could the Office of the Prime Minister clarify how people of Mawogola North, Ssembabule will ensure the completion of the promised Akagari Bridge, which connects Gomba to Ssembabule District? I wonder how they will do it. Madam Speaker, my response is that the Akagari Bridge on River Katonga is on a district road. Following the request from the area Members of Parliament, the former Uganda National Roads Authority intervened and installed the culverts that made the location motorable. The district will be advised to complete the outstanding works using the Shs 1 billion. Hon. Michael Timuzigu Kamugisha MP, Kajara County, Ntungamo asked that all counties in Uganda be turned into districts except 19, which are in the districts of Ntungamo, Isingiro, Kasese and Tororo. These districts are treated like former counties in provision of all services and staff. Each has one road maintenance unit, one district hospital, gets the same share of Government-sponsored students in public universities, gets the same share of seed schools and construction of primary schools, to mention but a few. According to Hon. Timuzigu, these districts have, therefore, not been able to fairly benefit from the decentralisation policy and are slowly being left behind in development. For example, in Ntungamo, parents have to first build primary school classrooms up to window level for the district local government to come in and do the completion and this is against the Government policy of no-fees payment in Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools. Prayer: When is the Government going to complete the harmonisation of district sizes by giving the remaining 19 counties district status to start developing at the rate of other districts? Madam Speaker, my response is that the Ministry of Local Government issued a moratorium, suspending creation of any new local government units or alteration of boundaries in April 2021, under which we were still operating, until a new position is approved by the Government.

I am raising a matter that has caused a public outcry in Bushenyi District. Madam Speaker, on 6 January 2024, the Ministry of Health allocated ambulances to some districts – constituencies – including Bushenyi. The ambulance for Bushenyi District was given to Igara County East. Madam Speaker, the Prime Minister presided over the function but up to now, the ambulance has never been handed over to the district, despite Bushenyi District Local Government writing several reminders. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, I ask you to intervene and hand over the ambulance-

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I have closely and patiently listened to the chairperson and Hon. Ssemujju, and you realise the paradox that the priorities are not funded, and that is why they are called “unfunded priorities” and the less-priority activities are funded. For me that is a paradox. However, I would want clarification on money to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) because it was not well explained; so, I would like the Attorney-General or Hon. Ssemujju to explain exactly why we are paying money to DRC, because it did not come out clearly. Secondly, Hon. Ssemujju talked about arrears. Mr Speaker, you recall the issue of tea seedlings; we have arrears for tea seedlings and the honourable minister came here and asked suppliers to supply and be paid later and had given them one year but it is now four years – the tea-seedling suppliers are suffering specifically in Greater Bushenyi. Mr Speaker, I am sure you know this very well because when the minister came here, you were in the Chair. I am also concerned about the Bwizibwera- Buhweju-Kabwohe road. I can see the MPs from Mbarara, Sheema and Buhweju but this has been a priority road in all the national development plans. That road was pledged in 1989 and it is now 2025. The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development knows about this road; it has been a priority in the National Development Plan (NDP) III. I really want to understand – from NDP I to IV – I want to understand what the problem is, as we continue to plan for this country. Mr Speaker, the issue of a draft budget; I do not want to go back to what has been dealt with but when we were dealing with the budget that was returned, the Minister for ICT said that Parliament cannot change anything in our

Thank you so much, Madam Speaker. My issue is with respect to the Bwizibwera-Nsiika-Nyakambu- Kabwohe Road and then Nyakabirizi-Nsiika Road. On 19 June 2024, the Uganda National Roads Authority wrote to the finance ministry about this road – and this was the letter addressed to the minister for finance. “The Uganda National Roads Authority has concluded the procurement of a contractor for the above-named project. China Railway 18 th Bureau Group Limited has been evaluated as the best bidder for the civil works for the upgrading of Kabwohe – that road – from gravel to paved standard at a contract price of Shs 249,774,854,000. The Solicitor-General has advised that we confirm financing with your ministry and obtain approval from Parliament before clearing the signing of the above contract. Being a priority project in the National Development Plan III, UNRA needs guidance on the way forward. The purpose of this letter, therefore, is to forward this issue to you for guidance.” Madam Speaker, this is a road that has a contractor. The price is already agreed on; it is pre-financing. The letter was written on the 19 th of June. It covers the districts of Mbarara, Buhweju, Sheema and Bushenyi. The finance ministry has refused or failed to respond to this letter, yet all that is needed is just a commitment because it is pre-financing. My concern, Madam Speaker, is to the ministry. Why has the ministry – (Interjections) - yes, I am sure the Speaker is listening; she is always listening.

15234 THE NATIONAL COFFEE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024 of the Bank of Uganda, it immediately intervenes. Madam Chairperson, that has created a problem for the leadership of UMRA for the last four years. If a cooperative credit SAACO in Bushenyi has Shs 4 billion, they will have to seek clearance first from the Bank of Uganda, after that they go to the registry of cooperatives, then they come back to UMRA. That has been a complication. If a money lender has a -

Last month, the two ships were lowered. Unfortunately, because Government owes contractors a lot of money, Terrain Services that was constructing the dock has withdrawn because they have not been paid their balance of Shs 2.9 billion. They cannot complete the work yet His Excellency the President is supposed to go and commission these ferries in November, on his tour to the Eastern side. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, can you use your powers to direct the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to release this money such that it is not an embarrassment to Government, such that the contractor goes back on site and completes this project properly? Finally, again I want to thank the Government for starting the students’ loan scheme under the Higher Education Student Financing Board. This is a list of the students who have been provided for, for this loan scheme. The unfortunate part is - when we adopted the report of the Committee on Public Accounts (Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises - COSASE) we realised there was unfairness in the distribution. This thing was supposed to be on a quarterly basis. However, it is surprising that there are districts that have been given 65 slots and others one. We do not know where this unfairness is coming from. I can see in: i) Karenga, only one person; ii) Kapelebyong, four; iii) Lira, they are 25; iv) Mbarara, 36; v) Ntungamo is 75; vi) Wakiso, 75; vii) Amudat, three; viii) Amuria, six; ix) Buliisa, three; x) Bushenyi, 39; xi) Busia, 58; xii) Buvuma, three; xiii) Serere, eight, and xiv) Hoima, 21. Last time we said, let us be the last. I have a list for all these districts. This is very unfair because this was intended to harmonise and bring equity. When you look at where the Executive Director comes from, there are 58. Why? That was the same problem in our COSASE report. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, before they report, call these people to order and let this thing be equitably distributed on a quarterly basis. The population census has just been released today. You will get to know the population. Even where the honourable minister comes from, they are very few. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, we beg you. There is even a student from Kasilo who got 16 in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM). He is admitted to Mbarara University. He applied for engineering and he was left out. We want to request you to take action. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to comment on the issue raised by Hon. Didi Bhoka, particularly relating to help extended by the Public Service Commission to the district service commission. When I was still the Chairperson of the Committee on Public Service and Local Government, the Public Service Commission used to organise regional induction programmes but the major challenge was funding. They would organise an induction which would only take one and a half days. We need to also look into the funding to the Public Service Commission to intensify the element of induction and training. That will be one way of helping them because the issues that have to do with the political influence of the district chairpersons are real. Sometime back, Bushenyi District for five years could not recruit because the district service commission was not constituted. There were around three members but two were rejected because the chairperson said, “No, I cannot work with these.” The same also affected Busia where the council rejected the whole team that was elected.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The matter I am bringing up is that at the beginning and in the middle of this month, heavy rains with hailstorms hit my constituency that is Igara West, in Bushenyi District. The subcounties that were affected are; 1. Kakanju, 2. Bitooma 3. Kyamuhunga, 4. Nkanga, 5. Nyabubare and 6. Kyamuhunga Town Council. Mr Speaker, some schools were affected; their roofs blown off, crops destroyed and some roads were washed away. I am seeking relief from the Prime Minister’s Office. In most cases, we come here, table our issues and reports come from the district, but a ministry that is in charge of disaster preparedness, tends to be unprepared. Therefore, Mr Speaker, I am seeking your indulgence that this time, let the ministry prove that it can assist our people. Thank you.

I have a matter of national importance requesting for relief and assistance for the victims of disasters in Igara West, Bushenyi District. The people of the sub counties of Nyabubare and Kakanju as well as Bitooma Town Council were affected by hailstorms, which destroyed a number of households and crops. The major crops, which were affected, were bananas, cassava, beans, maize, sweet potatoes, tea and coffee. These disasters occurred on 28 August 2024 and 9 September 2024. Buildings were also affected: two primary schools were affected and, actually, some pupils have not yet reported back to school. The owners of the houses that were damaged are sleeping outside. In summary, 1,460 homes were affected. My prayers, Mr Speaker, are that: 1. The affected households should be assisted with planting materials and seedlings. 2. The affected schools and parish headquarters should be funded to reconstruct the damaged structures and they should also be given building materials such as iron sheets. 3. The affected households should be given relief food items such as posho and beans. Mr Speaker, I have with me a copy from the district - it is already received in the Office of the Prime Minister – to justify what I have just submitted –

Madam Speaker, you are right to say that we should have a national spirit. Look at the development in the North and its people squarely. They have visited very many places in Uganda and they have admired what is happening in places like Mbarara, and Bushenyi. They see that if this is done here with the type of land that they have, it could be a big milestone. I have been privileged, Madam Speaker, to visit all these regions: Karamoja, West Nile, Lango and Acholi. Indeed, livestock farming is viable and the movers of this motion are right to request this for the people that they lead. It is the reason that I stand to support them. Madam Speaker, I will be quick to add that when I was in Karamoja, I discovered that it is normally hit with heavy drought. Other than having to increase resources for livestock farming, the Government must intentionally move to have this region access sustainable water sources. Madam Speaker, I want to see something tangible. When we talk about livestock farming, we are not talking about one cow in each household. What type of cow? We are talking about, maybe, five to 20 heifers, which if possible, can be zero-grazed such that these people can be engaged in heavy milk production, which they can sell to get the money that can help in increase capacities of these households so that they can have decent housing, educate the children they produce in their homes and have the capacity, in case they are invaded by any form of sickness, to treat themselves.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Katusiime Annet Mugisha, the Woman Member of Parliament for Bushenyi District. I am happy to be here.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I also join my colleagues in thanking God for saving you and our beloved Members who were with you. Mr Speaker, the matter of national importance I am raising is to appeal for the Government’s intervention in reconstructing the Kabagarame Pork Market in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality that was burnt on 1 August 2024. In the Greater Bushenyi District and beyond, one of the enterprises being promoted, under the various programmes, is piggery, which employs several farmers for a livelihood. As a result of these enterprises, the local community, in partnership with the municipal local government of Bushenyi-Ishaka, established a regional pork market at Kabagarame, Ruharo Ward, Central Division in Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, to support and provide market for the thriving piggery enterprise within Greater Bushenyi and beyond. This market has become so popular that it attracts people from different parts of the country in terms of pork sales. A total of 600 pigs are slaughtered per month, translating -

Thank you. Honourable colleagues, I will save Hajjati Rukia Nakadama from answering this. (Laughter) However, on a very serious note, before she can answer, I want to shed some light on this. Someone might hear that it is a pork joint or pork market and take it lightly, but that market goes beyond pork. It is a lifeline for many widows and the women around Bushenyi. I am a confessed and renowned client of that market. (Laughter) Yes, I know it is not offensive. Okay? The revenues from that market – they used to, I think once or twice a year, do a mobile market in Naguru here. What would be in Naguru was unbelievable. People come from all over. So, it is something that has really hit the economy of Bushenyi Municipality and the surrounding areas very seriously. They sell goats, chicken and every kind of - it is a huge market, every Saturday. I also received calls from very many local leaders on the ground and they said they had reached out to the area MP, Hon. Derrick Kabuura, and the Woman MP, Hon. Annet Mugisha. So, Rt Hon. Prime Minister, we really need help in that area. Hon. Magyezi can answer. (Laughter) That one, you cannot deny; I know for sure.

13526 RECONSIDERATION OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL, 2024 Then to improve, Buluganya Health Centre IV, Shs 1.5 billion; Bulago Senior Secondary, Shs 300 million; St Peter Claver Muyembe, Shs 700 million. Bushenyi District: for construction of a playground at Bumbaire subcounty to be utilised for various school activities, for talent identification and growth of child, Shs 450 million. Lwengo District: Shs 1.16 billion for health centre III maternity ward completion at Busibo and Kaboyo Primary School, Shs 200 million, Katuulo, Rwembogo Health Centre III, Kyazanga Town Council Market. Mitooma District: Mitooma District Shs 6.2 billion for the completion of an ongoing project by the UPDF at Rwoburunga Seed School Shs 600 million, Bitereko Skills Development Centre Shs 1.6 billion, Kigyende Health Centre III Shs 1.5 billion, Bitereko Health Centre IV Shs 600 million, Kigyende Seed School Shs 600 million and Rutookye Health Centre IV Shs 1.6 billion. Mubende District: Rehabilitation of a school, Kasambya DAS Primary School, Shs 500 million. Nabilatuk District: St Kizito Secondary School roofing and fencing Shs 480 million, construction of a classroom block at Lokapel Junction Primary School Shs 400 million, maternity ward at Sakale Health Centre II Shs 300 million. Colleagues, that is where we allocated those funds, which were picked from there. I beg to move.

13455 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 13 JUNE 2024 commitments were prioritised and delivered in the Financial Year 2023/2024: i) Skilling in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; ii) Construction and equipping of 21 laboratories across the country in selected secondary schools using the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) Engineering Brigade; iii) Upgrading learning facilities in 12 technical institutes and four vocational education centres of excellence at Uganda Technical Colleges in Bushenyi, Bukalasa, Lira and Elgon; and iv) Out of 259 seed secondary schools planned under UGIFT, 105 have been completed and 144 are ongoing. I have provided Shs 2.497 trillion to further improve the quality of education and the following are among the priorities: i) Supporting the new curriculum for S1 to S4 students; ii) Operationalisation of all the 111 seed secondary schools and completing the 27 seed secondary schools under the UGIFT programme; iii) Commencing the construction of 60 secondary schools and expansion of 61 existing secondary schools under the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project; iv) Providing loans to 5,192 degree and 1,125 diploma students who are on the Government-funded loan scheme both continuing students and new beneficiaries; and v) The Government takeover of the proposed Bunyoro and Busoga universities for inclusive and equitable access to university education. Banyoro, you can talk and clap because it has been a thorn in my flesh. (Applause) Social protection Madam Speaker, in the year we are concluding, the Government has provided social protection as follows: i. Continued with the provision of the Senior Citizen Grant to 439,069 older persons across the country amounting to a cumulative total of Shs 565.7 billion; ii. Under the Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons Program (SEGOP), the Government supported 590 group enterprises benefiting 3,636 older persons; iii. Under the Youth Livelihood Program (YLP), a total of 23,083 youth projects have benefited 263,897 youth in areas of agriculture, trade, services and industry. This has created over 1,250,000 indirect jobs; and iv. Through the National Special Grant for Persons with Disabilities, the Government is supporting 6,282 enterprises, benefiting 49,372 persons with disabilities. Madam Speaker, Government will continue to support the welfare of the elderly to keep them healthy and productive in their communities. While the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) targets those above 80 years, Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons (SEGOP) ensures the inclusion of those in the age bracket of 61 to 79 years. That is for us now. Government will also continue to support the youth and women beneficiary groups using recovery funds from the Youth Livelihood Programme and the Uganda Women’s Enterprise Programme. For greater efficiency, management of the two programmes has been unified. Madam Speaker, I have provided additional Shs 355.79 billion for social protection next financial year.

13460 PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET SPEECH FY 2024/2025 v. Enhance the conservation of Uganda’s 22 wildlife-protected areas with a focus on mitigation of human wildlife conflicts. The Government is going to construct an additional 150 kilometres of electric fence and maintain the existing 106 kilometre fence, carry out boundary surveillance through more than 13,904 patrols, uproot invasive species and construct four water dams in the protected areas. Madam Speaker, apart from the Shs 287.6 billion that I have directly provided to the tourism sector, an additional Shs 1.629 trillion has been provided for several critical interventions associated with tourism, including support to Uganda Wildlife Authority, construction of tourism roads, road rehabilitation and upgrade under Kampala Capital City Authority, support to AFCON ’27 and the completion of key stadia, strengthening security, law and order in our tourism destinations and extension of internet to tourism destinations, among others. In particular, I have provided an additional Shs 55 billion to Uganda’s missions abroad to support Uganda Tourism Board to market Uganda to potential tourists, market our exports and attract more investors. Science, Technology and Innovation Madam Speaker, Government has earmarked Science, Technology and Innovation as a key catalyst for the qualitative leap to achieve ten- fold growth of our economy. This financial year, building on investments made in recent years, the following are the key achievements attained: a. Kira Motors Corporation (KMC) Government has supported Kira Motors to construct and equip a magnificent 2,500 vehicles per year manufacturing plant in Jinja Industrial Park. This facility has capabilities for bus and truck body manufacture, vehicle painting, power train manufacture, electrical, electronic key systems and trim integration, and production quality inspection and testing. The complex has so far manufactured 39 buses, of which 27 are electric and 12 are low emission diesel. The company has orders of more than 100 buses from Tanzania, South Africa, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) and Nigeria. This demonstrates the huge market potential for the vehicles. Kira Motors Corporation currently directly employs 168 people in engineering, production, marketing and sales, finance and administration. This number will increase to 600 once the plant in Jinja is fully operational. Madam Speaker, next financial year, the Government is going to support Kira Motors with Shs 32.5 billion to complete the plant and access working capital. b. Presidential initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID) - Madam Speaker, Government has supported PIBID to establish a semi-automated plant in Bushenyi with a daily processing capacity of 14 metric tons of fresh matooke . (Interjections) This project has shown potential for import substitution by replacing wheat and providing gluten- free starch products. These have high global demand. The company has started fulfilling international orders, including from South Korea, the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Italy. The PIBID currently employs 150 staff and collaborates with 6,543 farmers. Next Financial Year, the Government has provided an additional Shs 50 billion to complete the capitalisation of the company to transition into a self-sustaining business. c. Pathogeny Economy Madam Speaker, the pathogen economy has made tremendous progress in developing vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and other health care tools for our public health security and import substitution. The scientists at Makerere University developed the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) diagnostic kit that has so far been used to conduct more than two million COVID-19 tests.

Yes, Madam Speaker, this was reported and the local government of Buhweju – from the Resident District Commissioner, District Police Commander and the rest of the security personnel in the district – is aware of what happened. We did not stop there, but we even went to the police headquarters in Bushenyi and reported the case. I am very sure – as they said, they are doing their investigations, but the attackers are known.

-"* .l i'l tv" f. (-> 4l- * OAL t T ,,/i t:' ^"Hi-* .) \.. Amount (OOO'I Descrlption Vote 9,877,949 531 Ankara Uganda Embassy in Tur 3,99t,682 532 Uganda Embassy in Somalia, Mo shu 8,682,632 533 Uganda Embassy in Malaysia, Kuala Lum ur 9,306,488 Uganda Consulate in Kenya, Mombasa 534 6,787,857 535 Uganda Embassy in Algeria, Algiers 6,t48,639 Uganda Embassy in Qatar, Doha 536 3,451,001 Uganda Mission in Havana, Cuba 537 3,475,000 538 Uganda Mission in Luanda, An 1a 264,336,145 Sub total -Mlssions Abroad ( Local Governments 40,679,88O 601 Arua city 2t,529,439 '\ 602 Fort-Portal city 28,O30,761 Gulu city \os 15,154,886 604 Hoima city 43,319,158 605 Jinja city 30,495,727 Lira city 606 30,239,526 607 Masaka city 39,177,649 608 Mbale city 36,031,699 Mbarara city 609 20,o6L,624 610 Soroti citv 8,879,420 70t Apac Municipal Council 6,476,93O 702 Bugiri Municipal Council 13,604,742 Bushenyi- Ishaka Municipal Council 703 8,671,010 704 Busia Municipal Council 15,990,314 705 al Council Entebbe Municip 16,424,644 Ibanda Municipal Council 706 7,638,634 707 Iganga Municipal Council 17,668,8r7 708 Kabale Municipal Council ,i, -\_:-- il^- 11 - --j!..ii,- "i+: 1j- \-i ' i''. --Ff" ( .\- . \

\*, q , i x onL & I .-4 1. t! .L C--/ rll f:) lr /... ( t !.{ -t t I t.' r. -,: Anount (OOO'I Vote Descrlptlon 23,367,459 809 Apac District Anra District L8,397,332 810 30,127,960 811 Budaka District 32,553,O55 812 Bududa District 37,760,tr7 813 Bugiri District 8t4 Bugweri District 22,934,t60 t8,395,462 815 Buhweiu District 27,Or2,84r 816 Buikwe District 8L7 Bukedea District 3r,487,669 818 Bukomansimbi District 20,244,423 Bukwo District 27,562,7t9 819 820 Bulambuli District 28,t95,238 14,678,016 82t Buliisa District Bundibugyo District 35,O81,962 822 \ 823 Bunyangabu District 24,t30,664 $.sz+ Bushenyi District 32,544,724 39,104,258 825 Busia District 826 Butaleia District 36,872,757 827 Butambala District 29,98t,750 828 Butebo District t4,866,234 15,011,553 829 Buvuma District 830 Buvende District 25,292,570 831 Dokolo District 25,388,251 832 Gomba District 22,5L6,206 Gulu District 20,t92,982 833 = 834 Hoima District 22,441,719 \83s Ibanda District 26,593,089 836 Iganga District 40,2t3,822 56,094,4t9 837 Isingiro District Jinia District 37,533,316 838 839 Kaabong District 17,947,269 Y L3 Htr+ .4i- (:-

'Bi -fu* {4+-. ll Y \**--= -X +.- #, w i i- t,'l'-- i 1' 23 #-- =--(.\, K Amount (OOO'I Descrlptlon Vote 10 790 oo0 Uganda EmbassY in United Ara b Emirates Abudhabi s28 490 o00 Uganda Embassy in Burun di, Bu umbura 529 t4 043 680 Uganda Consulate in China, Guan u 530 Uganda Embassy in TurkeY, Ankara 531 2 771 r64 Uganda EmbassY in Somalia, Mo shu 532 Uganda Embassy in MalaYsia, Kuala Lum 533 4 390 000 534 Uganda Consulate in KenYa, Mombasa Uganda EmbassY in Algeria, 535 390 000 da Embas 1n U tar Doha 536 537 U da Mission in Havana Cuba 1a U Mission in Luanda An 538 63 389 068 Sub total -Misslons Abroad l.ocal Governmclta 4 257 839 601 Arua ci 6 334 764 Fort-Portal ci 602 6 o22 534 Gulu ci 603 4 472 429 Hoima ci 604 7 884 358 Jin acl 60s 4 615 413 Lira ci 606 10 038 947 Masaka ci 607 6 140 296 608 Mbale ci t4 436 983 Mbarara ci 609 2 971 183 Soroti ci 610 5 371 776 A Munici al Council 701 673 734 702 Munici Council B 847 966 703 Bushenyi- Ishaka MuniciPal Council 2 360 688 Council Busia Munici 704 11 360 922 705 Council Entebbe Munici 1 o47 7tr Ibanda Munici al Council 706 \: . !.1 f;- l\ lr I r

13255 THE E LEVENTH P A RLIAMENT OF UGANDA MONDAY , 6 MAY 2024 Dokolo, Nakapiripirit, Nabilatuk, Bukedea, Bulambuli, whereas landslides were reported in Kasese, Kisoro, Bulambuli, Sironko, Bududa, Bunyangabu districts. Some claimed lives; we lost seven people. Recently, Uganda National Meteorological Authority released a 10-day rainfall forecast from 1 st to 10 th of May 2024, which indicates a continuation of wet conditions over most parts of the country. The heavy to very heavy rainfall events were expected over southwestern in some of the areas in Kigezi and greater Bushenyi districts. In the northeastern, in districts of Karamoja and Teso subregions and neighbouring Acholi subregions. Other areas expected to receive enhanced rainfall are in mid-western subregions in the districts of Masindi, Kiryandongo, Kagadi, Kabarole and Elgon Highlands. The 10-day rainfall forecast by Uganda Meteorological Authority indicates that very heavy rainfall events are expected to cause potential hazards, such as flash floods, debris flows, landslides, in addition, water logging, contamination of water sources due to increased surface rain off into such sources. Disruption of traffic flow along transportation routes as some bridges may be washed away or collapse, an example of the bridges you have already mentioned earlier. Moreover, these heavy rainfalls are expected to damage critical infrastructure- like schools-

12953 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 19 APRIL 2024 whole behind –(Laughter)- bench; The whole behind bench is seconding. The Member from Bushenyi, Hon. Patrick, Dr Ruyonga, the Member from Sheema, Hon. Ochwa, Workers’ Representative- Honourable members, it has been seconded by the whole House. I now put the question that the Agricultural Chemical (Control) (Amendment) Bill, 2024, be read for the second time. (Question put and agreed to.) BILLS COMMITTEE STAGE THE AGRICULTURAL CHEMICAL (CONTROL) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024 Clause 1

Madam Speaker, before I come to the issue of how the chairperson left the committee voluntarily, there were serious issues regarding the procurement of the company to do inspections. At that time, the committee sat and found that the intention of the Government to inspect vehicles was a good one; for purposes of safety. What was not acceptable to the committee and Parliament was that they had ring-fenced or monopolised the inspection yet there were several workshops, garages and companies that were ready to inspect. As a result, the pricing, the cost of the inspection regime were too high. For example, the trucks and buses were cost at Shs 1,000 twice a year. The saloon cars were priced at Shs 100,000. The question then arose. In terms of spending time to inspect, the two vehicles, which one would take more time? This House advised that the Government should go back and revise the rates. The boda bodas were supposed to be inspected twice at Shs 60,000, twice a year, every six months. Those were the issues raised. Thirdly, the company and only four testing centres; one on Bombo Road- within Kampala. How would you expect a vehicle in Moroto, Bushenyi, to be driven to Kampala, for inspection and to pay that amount of money? Those were the recommendations that this Parliament made. There were other unethical issues that took place within the committee and also within the Ministry of Works; conflict of interest. Therefore, based upon that, the chairperson, having read the mood in the committee, offered to step back from chairing the committee. That is how we ended up there, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Is it seconded? Okay, it is seconded by Hon. Joyce, Member of Parliament for Mityana, Hon. Allan, Member of Parliament for Nakaseke and Member of Parliament for Butaleja. Hon. Amooti, Hon. Ferigo, Hon. Anywar, Hon. Atyang, Member of Parliament for Ntoroko, and Member of Parliament for Mbarara – I am mentioning those I have not been mentioning – Hon. Max, Member of Parliament for Bushenyi and the Member of Parliament for Kiruhura. I have seen even the Member of Parliament for Kamuli, Hon. Kibalya also seconding, Hon. Magogo – (Laughter) – Member of Parliament for Aruu. Honourable members, what is wrong with Hon. Magogo Ssalongo seconding? (Laughter)

(2) Popularizing of PDM Marketing strategr and branding and packaging strategies.in the country includes Karamoja and west Nile. (3) Acquiring and scaring up of the use of international recognised bar GIS bar code for promotion of Ugandan products in the market and support L2O MSMEs to formalise their business in south western, Rwenzori, West Nile, and Sebei sub region. (4) Conduct awareness creation in Credit rating mechanisms in Mbale, Soroti, Lira and Gulu to 100 MSMEs in manufacturing sector. (5) Conduct awareness creation in Credit rating mechanisms in Mbale, Soroti, Lira and Gulu to 1oo MSMEs in manufacturing sector. (6) Facilitate, support, Sensitization 120 MSMEs, Youths, women, pLWHA and PWD to formalise their businesses. in West Nile, Rwemzori and Busoga Region. (71 Conduct 3 stakeholder (Academia, SMEs, Policy makers and tegislators) workshop on Circularity and Circular economy (Resource efficiency, cleaner production and industrial in symbiosis in central region. (8) Facilitating, the preparations, Mobilization, training, vetting of 250 MSMEs including women and youth, through and guiding them in packaging branding, and requirements to participate in the regional, international and domestic trade fairs and expos. (9) Training of 100 processors in Leather-and agro processors Mukono and Jinja, Greater Bushenyi, Mbarara, and formation of clusters in each district I tr- 1-. ft h 51 &

Fruits - Greater Bushenyi & Greater Mbarara-Grain Milling: -Masindi, Kibale, Kiryandotrgo, Mubende and Nwoya. (10) Profiling of 120 MSMEs (60Males and 60 Female) per region of the country and populating the MSMEs database from agro processing, leather and metal fabrication from central Region and Bunyoro region. (11) Facilitate MSMEs to participate in the International in MSMEs day (dl Regional Balanced Development (1) 8 cooperatives identified and proliled in Karamoja, Teso, Bugisu, Bukedi, Busoga, Bunyoro, West Nile and Acholi. (2) 4 beneficiary Cooperatives in the RDP regions sensitized on possible fi nancing institutions. Retooling Project. (1) Support construction of MTAC centre at Mbale (21 Procure Motorcycles for all commercial Officers to supervise pDM and two vehicles for coordination 6.4 vote 136 uganda Export promotions Board (uEBpf Table 13: UEPB Semi Annual Budget Performance Fy 2o2al24 (UGx Billionf Source.. SemiAnnual Budget Performatrce FY 2O2s/24 r ld- W v I, '\L .ng"f s N Expenditurc Approved Revised Released by Spent by o/o Budget o/o Budset o/o Releases Category Budget Budget End Dec End Dec Relcased Spent Spent Wage 2.561 2.56r 1.281 0.66 s0.00% 25.800/o 51.50% Non-Wage 5.588 5.588 2.578 1.898 46.lOo/o 34.OOo/o 73.600/o GoU Dev't 0.037 0.037 0.019 o.0r 5l.4Oo/o 27.OOo/o 52.600/o lqtaf Budget 8.187 8.187 3.878 2.568 4?.400/o 3L.4Oo/o 66.2Oo/o t+" 52 + '- l. i_ (

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I also thank the committee for the very pertinent and touching report presented about Zombo. Leave alone the losses made by the people from tea. Any overgrown tea garden is a danger to society. It is a very good haven for wild animals and thieves. It is a good forest for hiding. When we have tea gardens like those in Zombo and the ones growing wild in Mitooma, Bushenyi and Buhweju, we are also growing another danger of vermin within the societies. I am appealing to the Government - when we talk about Shs 19 billion for investing in a tea factory in Zombo, and then about Shs 180 billion in terms of returns, the Government should be very calculative and do that business. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

?.2 TEA GROIIIING IN UGANDA Tea was first cultivated in Uganda in the early years of the 2oft century at the botanical gardens in Entebbe. The crop was a success and commercial cultivation started in the 1920s. Unfortunately, Uganda's tea industry was decimated by political upheaval in the 197Os. It was revived in the early 1990s due to availability of Commonwealth development funds, foreign expertise, and investment by Indian owned companies (Ahmed Tea London, 2or9l. In the FY 2022123, tea was Uganda's fourth largest agricultural export after coffee, fish and maize, earning the country over USD 90 million. This represented a 5.3% increase compared to FY 2O2l122. Tea has generated an average of 3.60/o of Uganda's export earnings over the last five years and is recognizsed to have a higher potential to contribute more to national revenue, employment and environmental conservation (NAADS, 2021). Over the past eight (8) years, tea has been fetching average earnings of USD 76 million for the country, having apexes at USD 94 million 2018. Tea estates produce about 54o/o of the tea in the country while the small holder tea growers contribute about 460/o of the total average. The industry employs close to 8O,OOO farmer households and supports 150,000 skilled and unskilled workers with about one million people directly deriving their velihoods from tea growing (NAADS, 2021). The traditional tea-growing districts in Uganda are: Mukono, Buikwe, Mubende, Mityana, Masaka in the central region; Kyenjojo, Kibale, Hoima and Kabarole in the western region; Bushenyi, Buhweju, Kanungu and Kabale in south-western Uganda. Recently, tea growing has expanded to new districts like Kisoro, Rubanda, Rukungiri, Sheema, Nebbi, Zombo, Isingiro, Ntungamo, Mitooma, Ru 2O2Ol. Kamwenge and Mbarara (NAADS, .l ffit^-- t "# ffili, -\ l. 2 --- j=.r t\S'rr '.i'-5r a 1 hk h

2.9 HrsToRY OF TEA GROWING rN ZOI0IBO Tea growing in Zombo was initially introduced in the 1960s. However, the economic activity collapsed due to the political turmoil of the 1970s. Following a request by the Alur King (Wimu ker Alur) to His Excellency the President to support tea growing in Abanga and other parts of the Alur Kingdom in order to improve the livelihoods of the people; Government re- introduced tea growing in the district during the FY 2OI3l2014 through the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) II Programme. This happened at an opportune time when Government had started the expansion of tea production in the western and south-western regions of Uganda. In 2014, tea nursery beds were set up by Giant Seeds Company in Zombo and Nebbi districts. The National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) procured and distributed tea seedlings to the farmers for planting. ln 2016, nursery beds were established again in Zombo district by the sa.rne company and more tea planting was done in 20 17 and 20 18 in block farms. ln 2018, more nursery operators were invited to set up nursery beds across the district to increase the quantity of tea seedlings available to farmers. It was at that time that tea farmers' groups/cooperatives and nursery operators' organizations emerged, prompting the formation of the 300- member Zombo Tea Growers Cooperative Society Limited. However, procurement of tea seedlings by NAADS remained low, causing loses to nursery operators and this, coupled with the impact of COVID-19, negatively affected tea growing. In 2022, Government through NAADS, embarked on the process of distributing tea seedlings to farmers in 16 tea growing districts namely: Buhweju, Bushenyi, Mitooma, Rukungiri, Kisoro, Kyenjojo, Zornbo, Rubanda, Rukiga, Kabale, Kanungu, Sheema, Kikuube, Rwampara, and Kabarole. The main suppliers of these tea seedlings were Tea Development Agency Limited (UTDAL) and Zombo Nursery a Operators and Farmers' Associa POK& Vl- \ 3 :E# ffi** tS' d#*il/,' #

K 2.4 BACKGROUND TO THE PETITION Zombo Tea Nursery Operators and Farmers' Association was founded in 2OI9. It brings together over 200 local tea farmers, nursery operators and other value chain actors operating within the district. It is registered at the district as a community-based organisation. Since 2O2O, the association has supplied farmers with tea seedlings with support from Government through NAADS. On 21st September, 2022, Cabinet under Minute No. 340 (CT 2022) directed for a one-off procurement of tea and coffee seedlings for distribution to farmers during tlrre 2022 Season (September to December 20221. Under this arrangement, Government committed to procure and pay over two financial years (FYs) starting with FY 202312024, tea seedlings from verified nursery operators in the 16 tea growing districts mentioned above. On 28tt' September 2022, MAAIF wrote to the 16 district local governments (Annex 2) seeking details of verified tea seedling suppliers with tea seedlings in nurseries ready for planting, to be submitted not later than 5ft October, 2022. According to MAAIF, only six out of the sixteen districts namely Sheema, Rukungiri, Bushenyi, Kanungu, Mitooma and Buhweju were able to submit the required information within the designated timeframe of Sept 29th - lTtr:. Oct. 2022 under the initiation of NAADS (Annex 3). The Committee was informed that Zombo DLG provided information to MAAIF on the available and verified tea seedlings in the nurseries on 5ft October, 2023 but sought to defer procurement and distribution to March 2023 on account of the anticipated dry spell. However, this procurement was never effected despite various efforts to follow up. It is against this background that a armers Association petitioned the pply tea seedlings "ft.sctrc Zombo Tea Nursery Operators and Rt. Hon. Speaker concerning the to farmers in Zombo district. ) -- rr-- delayed/ to su '{rV::" 4 W ry <

ct- J.^ -, ^ ^^.^ r^r4r rmrltlslr J auu .r lsnerles iiiL{r,gl tdarti,oinati Agrue uul Plot S Kgado{ito Road., }' r 1i ) rl Lr (ii['i:i iiS C ri",, Towers, Btock H, Legacg P.O. Box 2 5235, Ka i*,il;i'l,iiiC.."-'S Nakasero J {( mpala - Uganda asury ltrc tc?urucof NAADS/Nr/oo8 31s August,2023 I.he Perrnanent S l4inistry of Finance KAMPALA ., ) i.lr UPDATE ON THE PROGR ESS OF IMPLEMENTATI ON OF THE CABINET DECISION ON PROCURE 2022 B (SEPTEMBER-D MENT AND DISTRIB ECEMB UTIO N OF TEA SEEDLINGS ER 2022) DURING RAIN SEASON Reference is made to letter ISS 461256/01 dated 21sr Fe bruary 2023 from the Mi nister of Finance plann ing and Economic Developrnent to the Minister of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries copied to the Executive Di rector NAADS, copied to yoU, requesting for in formation on progress of imple menting the Cabi net Directive on procurement of tea and co ffee seedlings d unng season September to December 2022. lt is notable tha t, in this letter, the Mini ster makes reference to the Cabinet Minute No.340 (CT 202 2) dated 26h September 2022 which approved a one-off payment arrangement to verified coffee and tea nursery operators ased over a period of twc ph ye3is starting FY 202.3-24. Arlditionalt y, the Minister,s letter enumerated actions to be perfcrrrred by different offices of Government, includi ng expected timelines for the actions with Ute final step being validation by the I nternal Auditor General of the relurns for seedlings dis tributed as submitted by the p rocuring Entity. ,Accord ingly, the NAADS Secretariat initiated and exec uted the procurement for the verifi ed tea seedlings under a de legated procurement arrangement to six (6) Districr Local Governments(Dl_Gs ) that submitted the requ ired information [o the Ministry of Agricultur-e Animai Industry and Fisheries ( MAAIF) within the prescribed timeframer iAnnexes 1 and 2 ). These included S heema, Ru kung iri, Bushenyi, Kan ungu, Mitooma and Euhweju DLGs. .Subseq uently, the NAADS riat provided the required update Secreta on the progress of irnplementing the Cabinet Directive on procurement of tea seedlings to your office in a letter dated 20th April 2023 and further update to you rna letter dated .3 ist May 2023 (copied the M inister, MOFPED ) both attached for your further referen ce. To date orrly five of the six D Mitooma were able to execute the LGs, namely Sheema, Rukungiri, procurement for the tea Bushenyi Kan and submit the ungu and relevant documents, with returns seedlings totaling to 4t, g74 , 638 procu red tea seedlings worth UGX 16, 749, 855,200 (Sixteen billion, seven h undred forty-ni ne million, eight hundred fifty-five thousand two hundred shillings only) For the case of Buhweju DLG , whereas the NAADS Secretariat received a co mmunication from the Chief Admin Officer lOu( of rhe rarget sixreen ( l6) DLGs. : 2564t4/312/34s440, 34s06s, 34s066, 34s060, Fax 256 4r4 347843, Email: ETVED * 0lSEpZ02J * TTEC S EC U R TY R E G S T R Y OFFI c E OF I HE PRIME MIN ts TER sEP ?023 0t EIVED R EC it : rlii tt: b i.t t: :; :..: c i t i ! i : t. t:.i -...:;.1,,3.i111..,.2..,r,, or.u8 a'l r, '1 r'ii the T 'i : .., ..':,:

sNo Oistrict No. of Nursery operator s No. of Seedlings verified in nurseries No. of seedlings demanded Submis sion Date Remarks I Bushenyi 92 23,240,300 23,240,300 r.o7.22 Submitted time, Procurement initiated. tn 2 Buhweju 304 103,246,999 101,210,669 r.07.22 Submitted time, Procurement initiated ln 3 Mitooma 38 9,411,429 9,41L,429 r.07.22 Submitted time, Procurement initiated tn 4 Sheema 2 6 L,007,902 1,200,000 7.10.22 Submitted time, Procurement initiated tn 5 Rukungiri 1,894,579 2,000,000 5.10.22 Submitted time, Procurement initiated in 27s 16,991,296 27,921,979 7.t0.22 Submitted time, Procurement initiated in 7 Rukiga 5 3,110,000 2,973,000 26.r0.22 Did not submit in time. Procurement not initiated 8 Kabale 4 2,809,900 4,935,650 3.tt.22 Did not submit in time. Procurement not initiated 9 Rwampar a 2 17 1,3 1g 108,000 26.10.22 Did not submit in time. Procurement not initiated 10 Rubanda 12 3,553,916 4,651,000 26.r0.22 Did not submit in time. Annex 1: sumrnary of verified tea seedlings and farmer demands submitted by oistrict Local Governments under the cabine[ decision as at 31.og.23 6 Kanungu

Annex 2: Progress on execution of Delegated procurements for tea seedlings as at 31.08.2023 Bushenyi Sheema Rukungiri Name of DLG No. of seedlings delegated Value (UGX) No. of seedlings procured as per submitted documents Value seedlings procured (uGx) of Remarks 23,240,300 9,296,120,000 14,087,976 957,4t2 382,964,800 957,412 1,790,349 716. t 39,600 1,790,349 5,635,150,400 Procurement executed. Documents submitted to NAADS and communication to made to MOFPED 382,964,900 Procurement executed. Documents submitted to NAADS and communication to made to MOFPED 716,139,600 Procurement executed. Documents submitted to NAADS and communication to made to MOFPED Mitooma 94rr429 3,764,571,200 9,104,995 3,64L,994,000 Procurement executed. Documents submitted to NAADS and communication to made to MOFPED Kanungu 16,132,225 6,452,890,000 15,934,016 6,373,606,400 Procurement executed. Documents submitted to NAADS and communication

ANNEX 6: suMMARy oF ADDTTT.NAL cLArMs FoR ExEcurtoN oF THE DELEGATED PRocuRrMrNi oF TEA srro.rNGs ,NDER THE cABTNET DECISION (OCTOBEA ZOZiI FOR BUSHENYI, MITOOMN-ANrO KANUNGU DLGS Value Seedlings UGX ol ANNE, 7: DETATLED ADDTTT.NAL suBMr,TED cLArM EXECUTION OF THE OE.CCATEO PNOCUNEMENT OF SEEDLTNGS UNDER THE ca-erNET DEcrsrbrv (ocroBER 2 FOR BUSHENYI DLG FOR TEA o22) sNO District o tors No.of Nursery No. of seedlings claimed 1 Bus I 100.000 000 40 000 2 Mitooma 35 9.104,985 000 3 641 994 3 Kanun 235 15 934 016 3 6 7 3 4 606 00 Total 27L oor 25 139 o 1 o5 5 600 4 , oo a SN Name of Nursery o erator No. ol Seedlings claimed Amount UGX) 1 Nuwe Sula r00 000 000 40 000 TOTAL

Anncx 1: SUMMARY OF VERIFIED TEA SEEDLINGS AND FARMER DEMANDS SUBMTTTED BY DISTRICT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS UNDER THE CABINET DEC r S r ON (OCTOBER 20221 q I 2 3 4 6 1 o I 10 1, t2 13 SNO District No. of Nur';ery operators No. Seedlings verified nurseries of tn No. of seedlings demanded Submission Date Remarks Bushenyi 92 23,240.300 23.240.300 t.07.22 Submitted in time. Procurement initiated. Buhweju 304 r03,246,988 101,210,668 t.07.22 Submitted in time. Procurement initiated Mitooma 3B 9.4 I r.428 9.4I1.428 t.07.22 Submitted in time. Procurement initiated Sheema i.007,802 i 200 000 Submitteci in time. Procurement initiated f .i0.27 Rukungiri 2 6 1.884,5 78 2,000.000 5.10.22 Submitted in time, Procurement initiated Kanungu 275 t 6.981.286 21,8)r,819 1.t0.22 Submitted in time, Procurement initiated Rukiga 5 3,1I0,000 2.873,000 26.r0.22 Kahale 4 2,808,800 4,83 5,650 3.11.22 Rwampara 2 171.318 r08,000 26.r0.22 Rubanda ).2 3.553,916 4.651,000 26.r0.22 Kagadi 1 500.000 731,000 31.10.22 Kyenjojo 6 955.000 95s,000 26.r0.22 Zombo 45 r 6,765,000 7.10.22 Kisoro 37 3.500,923 3,551,054 1.r0.22 Did not submit in time. Procurement not initiated Did not submit in time. Procurement not initiated Did not submit in tirne. Procurement not initiated Did not submit in time. Procurement not initiated Did not submit in time. Procurement not initiated Did not submit in time. Procurement not initiated Differed procurement to March 2023. Did not submit demand. Procurement not initiated. Did not submit demand. Pro ement t ,t I ,t. 14 init noI .t

rr^rrrrdLt J ,r ra'Err rLulLul tr, lallllllal llluustry illlu tt lsnerlgs -... l' - . a 1 i e il r;iiii i.\gi i ti"ii i,iij'iti rirl iisSi, i' _l +;. t ie,.):i Plot 5 Kyadoido Road., Legacg Touters, Brock b, Nakasero a il !' Uganda SECURI OFFICE OF I nrf MrutLtc or Lc{ 'I :r: . NAADS,/Nl/oo8 20th Rpril. 2023 The Permanent Ministry of Fina KAMPALA. 2 ( AFR ?023 RECET vE^ * 2 \ AP'R 2023 ) iii'i i -j\ .!;!r: .l -1.1- :1 Secrei4gy/SecrE nce, Pianhinqr-an taiyto tnC {.reaSury you on the progress of implemen idance on procurement and distributi TY REGISTRY HE PRIME MINIS-' UPDATE ON PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTTNG THE CABINET DECISION ON PROCUREMENT OF TEA SEEDLINGS FOR DTSTRIBUTION AND PLANTING BY FARMERS DUR!NG SEASON 20228 (SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2C,221 Refei-ence is rnacje io the ietter isS 4bl256/0i ciateo'21': February 2023 from the Hon. Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Animal tndustry and Fisheries copied to the Executive Director NAADS. requesting for information on progress of implementing the Cabinet decision (and related guidance) on procuring tea and coffee seedlings from verified nursery operators during season 20228 (September-Decemb er 2022\. As guided by Cabinet, the NAADS Secretariat initiated procurement of verified tea seedlings under - a .delegated procurement arrangement to six (6) District Local Governments (DLGs) that submitted !h. required information to the Ministry of Agricrrlture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) uuithin the prescribed timeframer (Annex 1). Th.e detegated procurement for the six DLGs was initiated between 29th September and 17'h october 20D^91d involved procurement of 1s2,142,382 verified tea seedlings worth ucx 6r.096,952.800 for distribution to farmers in Buhweju, Bushenyi. Mitooma, Sheema. Rukungiri and Kanungu DLGs (Annex 2). To date, three (3) DLGs namely Sheema. Ruku ngiri and Bushenyi have submitted procurement returns to NAADS Secretariat for 16 ,735.637 tea seedlings worth UGX 6,694,254,80O (Annexes 3, 4, and 5 ). All doc uments pertain t the procuremenI and distribution of the tea seedli ngs to farmers for the ble at the NAADS Secretariat for review. tr€ 65rv€ C The purpose of this letter therefore is three-fold: .a '' 'l ? \ Al '''' /\rI ' atGtS rtrY + )( To update related gu districts. To presen seedlings on ecision and ings in the target t to you to the returns indicating the quantit y and value of the of t procureci anci distributed in the three District Local Go namely Sheema, Rukungiri and B ushenyi worth UGX 6,694,254 ,BOO ion for.fu nding under Fy 2023-24 (Annexes 3 4 a n 0312 178 300 ilioi 305i303-Tollft'ee.0800 230 100, Entait info@naacis.or.Ltg, l4/ebsite.-rt,,,nnt.paads.or.Ltg " P ;' +. 11 1 6 i I ;, f p i r; ii i u l: i c ir gri c it ! t i t rr, ! u ro r! ; t c t i o tr,' Tel l.j.',.'r: i,.i I

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. In 2022, the Government, led by the Prime Minister, authorised the people of Buhweju, Kakumiro, Bushenyi, and Zombo; the tea suppliers to supply seedlings on credit in 2022. It is now 2024 and they are choking on loans. I am asking the Prime Minister; when will the Government pay these suppliers?

11889 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2024 per day, and 6,000 cubic meters per day to 9,000 cubic meters per day, respectively. The project also entails laying of 85 kilometres of pipe network, construction of a 2,000 cubic meter capacity reservoir, and the rehabilitation and expansion of the sewage system. The scope of work under the neighbouring towns is being implemented under the Ministry of Water and Environment. 3. Adjumani Water Supply and Sanitation Project This project targets Adjumani Town Council, Pakele, Zaipi and Ciforo, among others and involves the construction of water intake structure of capacity 12,000 cubic meters per day, water supply plant of capacity of 4,000 cubic meters per day, laying of 51.8 kilometre of water distribution network and installation of the water storage capacity of 1,150 cubic metres and construction of sanitation facilities. iv. Source protection measures in Arua, Gulu, Mbale and Bushenyi areas Works under package two of the Gulu project are currently at 61 per cent and the project is expected to be completed by the end of October 2024. Contracts for Adjumani and Mbale were signed on 21 December 2023, and the contractor is currently mobilising to commence works; this is expected in March 2024. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and Gulu City are jointly implementing the integrated program to improve living conditions in Gulu through grant financing from KFW. This program is being implemented in two phases. The works under phase 1 were completed in 2020 and the system is operational now. The scope of works included the following: 1. Rehabilitation and expansion of Oyitino Dam, raw water intake and Gulu water treatment plant run raw water intake and good water treatment plant from 4,000 cubic metres per day to 10,000 cubic metres per day. This also included development of ground water capacity of 2,000 cubic metres per day; 2. The rehabilitation and expansion of the sewage system; 3. The construction of a faecal sludge treatment facility at Pece–Cubu; 4. The construction of 20 water-borne toilet facilities in public places; and 5. The construction of 30,000 cubic metres per day water intake in the River Nile at Karuma. The scope of work under phase 2 includes the following: 1. Construction of a Water Treatment plant of capacity 10,000 cubic metre per day at Karuma; 2. Construction of 5,000 cubic metre capacity reservoir at Customs Corner in Gulu City; 3. Installation of reservoirs in the six small towns along Gulu Highway, namely Karuma, Kamdini, Minakulu, Bobi, Koro- Abili and Palenga; and 4. The construction of a sludge storage facility at Pece-Cubu. Works under Phase 2 are at 43 per cent progress, and the project is expected to be completed by July, 2024. Ongoing projects scope includes only towns that are en-route to Gulu along the highway (Karuma, Kamdini, Minakulu, Bobi, Kolo- Abili, Palenga). Apparently Oyam North is not en-route and will only benefit from other National Water and Sewerage Cooperation (NWSC) budgetary arrangements that are gazetted by the Ministry of Water and Environment. The Hon. Gorreth Namugga, Member of Parliament, Mawogola South Ssembabule District, said: According to 3 rd National

Thank you. I thank you for your passionate consideration for the people of Uganda, especially for bringing out facts on this people’s platform. The minister says that on Monday they are going to present a Cabinet Paper. However, if you recall, Mr Speaker, in the previous sitting, when they were about to bring the supplementary, they told us they were going to prepare a Cabinet Paper and that they would bring a supplementary on this Floor. I do not know whether he could clarify what happened and whether it is now factual that tomorrow, he is going to bring it up? Mr Speaker, the Minister of State for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (Industry) knows that the tea industry brings a lot of money into this economy, and it is dying in his hands. It is not only for Bushenyi or Ankole, but Kigezi, Central, Tooro, and now Zombo. Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence that you allow us to bring a comprehensive motion on this matter, and we discuss it comprehensively such that it incorporates more than we can bring through matters of public importance so that the ministers can appreciate what is underlying and what they are negating here on the Floor. I salute you, Mr Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I also want to thank the committee for the report. I will start on gazettement. All the forests in Uganda were gazetted from 1932 up to 1938. At the time of gazettement, they compensated everyone who was in the forest reserve. Then in the 1970s, there was a programme which came called “double production through self-reliance”. It was under Amin. They entered the forest reserves. In some other forests, when they were gazetting, they left what we call “enclaves”. They thought those enclaves – the people inside there would protect the forest and provide cheap labour to the forest. However, now, they have started expanding. So, those people that you hear want compensation actually expanded beyond the area – that is the example of Nakasongola. That is what happened – I am talking from a professional point of view. Then, when we talk of encroachment and the population, when you go to areas like Kabale, Mbarara, and Bushenyi, which have a high population, no one encroaches on a forest reserve. You ask yourself, between Nakasongola, Mbarara, Kabale and Bushenyi, which one has a bigger population? Let us also think of mind-set change and teach our people the use of forests. Every forest was gazetted with an objective. We have forests which were gazetted to remain natural namely, Mabira and others. There are areas which were gazetted for plantations, like Nakasongola, West Nile, and Fort Portal because we wanted to get timber, paper, and plywood from those forests. Encroachment has become a problem. It started under dam production. In 2011, when the digitisation of titles started, they made titles in the forest reserves. At the moment, it has gone high. Someone gets a title, goes to court, and the same person who has given the title in lands commission is the one that represents the Government. What happens? (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Buhweju was a big contributor towards the liberation of Uganda because it was a training camp for the Tarehe Sita liberationists. I thank my honourable colleague for raising this matter. We have what we call the bona fide farmers and bona fide shareholders and in the greater Bushenyi, they are shared between the current districts of Mitooma, Bushenyi, Sheema, Buhweju, and River Rubirizi. It so happens, Mr Speaker, that the factory that was commissioned in 1969 was based in Igara area. Buhweju remained pending with the registered company, which was registered in 1974. However, later on, there was a lack of funds and in 2008 -2010, I was a member of the board in Igara, and we asked the Government to finance Buhweju. In 2004, His Excellency the President visited the site, which was just a playground, and he offered to help Buhweju to put up a factory and the Government financed all the civil works. The total funding from the Government was about Shs 14 billion and Igara, together with Buhweju, Mitooma and Sheema, contributed machinery. Currently, Mr Speaker, to be very quick, the farmers in Buhweju have been molested by being denied payments on a monthly basis. Currently, we are demanding payments for four months. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

Thank you. Hon. Okumu Gabriel was one of the biggest coffee traders from Greater Bushenyi. He has stayed in our area for long; he is sure about what he is saying. Dr Noah.

11667 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 2024 allocated towards the construction of staff houses in the Financial Year 2023/2024. The strategy is to cut down construction costs by adopting different designs, using low-cost solutions/Force on Account, and phasing construction using the incremental approach of 500 staff housing units, starting with 900 housing units. Shs 46.5 billion is required to construct the 900 housing units in different designs and sizes using Force on Account as shown in the table below. I think the honourable members have it. The design One is to have a block of two houses (two- bedroom and self-contained). A total of 150 blocks of 300 houses are planned at a unit cost of Shs 0.140 million. The quantity required is 150 and the amount needed is Shs 21 billion. Two, a block of four houses (two-roomed houses with external sanitation facilities) – 150 blocks of 600 houses. The unit cost is Shs 0.170 million, quantity needed is 150 and the total amount needed is Shs 25.5 billion. The total for the 900 housing units is Shs 46.5 billion. Provided in the budget is Shs 1.4 billion and so, the shortfall is Shs 45.1 billion. Another issue raised is mistreatment of prisoners. They recommended that we strengthen the monitoring department to periodically interface with the inmates to identify issues that affect them. The response is that the monitoring and observation of human rights for both staff and prisoners is conducted through the regular supervision of all human rights activities, supporting and monitoring the activities of staff and prisoners’ human rights committees in 266 prisons. The Service has a Department of Inspectorate and Quality Assurance headed by a Commissioner of Prisons and charged with the responsibility of monitoring human rights of observance. However, this needs to be strengthened in terms of both human resource, financial support and facilitation. In addition, in order to strengthen human rights monitoring observance, we undertake to appoint and induct visiting justices in accordance with Section 109(1) and (2) of the Prisons Act. In the Financial Year 2022/2023, the Service appointed and inducted 33 visiting justices to undertake supervision of prisons in the Eastern Region in respect of human rights observance and compliance to custodial standards. In Financial Year 2023/2024, the plan is to induct visiting justices to monitor human rights practices and observances in northern, southern, Kooki, mid-central, north-central and mid-western regions. Shs 2 billion is required to appoint, induct and facilitate the visiting justices to monitor human rights observance and practice in all prisons countrywide. Another issue was the distance between prisons and courts of law. The committee’s recommendation was that the location of adjudicating courts of law should be well planned to be in proximity with prison facilities to reduce distances that inmates have to travel. Our response is that there is a misalignment of prisons locations to courts of judicature, which overstretches prisons operations in delivery of prisoners to court in terms of long distances between courts and prisons. The Service has been in constant engagement with other criminal justice agencies as well as the ministry of finance, to have the misalignment of the criminal justice agencies addressed, especially prisons and courts. As a result, the Service established new prisons at Paidha, Nebbi, Amuru, Oyam, Lugore, Koboko, Kapchorwa, Sheema, Kyenjonjo, Nwoya, Mutufu, Kotido, Nyarushanje, Mityana West, Patongo West, Sanga, Nakapiriprit and Amudat. The challenge of misalignment still exists as reflected in the table that follows: i) Rubirizi - Bushenyi - the distance in between is 45 kilometres; ii) Rubindi - Mbarara – 43km;

11581 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2024 Introduction Mr Speaker, FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that affects all cloven-hoofed (two hoofed) animals. These include cattle, goats, sheep, pigs and wild animals such as buffaloes, deers and antelopes. The disease spreads very fast, through close contact between infected and non-infected animals. The disease is transmitted through aerosols (fluid droplets) breathed out by infected animals and contact with affected surfaces. The aerosols can be transported by wind to far areas. The affected animals get wounds in the mouth, feet and teats in female animals. FMD is the most dreaded disease in international trade of animals and animal products. Countries that have eradicated the disease do not allow trade with affected countries, or those that control the disease by vaccination. The disease causes significant economic losses to the farmers and to the country due to disruption in animal production, productivity and in trade of animal and animal products. Scientists and economists have estimated the economic cost of FMD to a farmer per unit livestock to be $20 per infection. The cost can be higher with repeated infections. Our target, therefore, as Government, is to not only control the disease but eradicate it. Mr Speaker, the ideal situation that enables any livestock producing country to fully control and eradicate FMD requires the following interventions: i) Undertaking a bi-annual compulsory vaccination exercise of the entire susceptible animal herd in the country (all two hoofed animals; cattle, sheep, goats and pigs). For purposes of universal coverage, compliance and bio-security considerations (since vaccines are live organisms), governments normally offer the vaccines as a public good. This, however, varies from country to country, depending on the number of animals and the budget implications for buying the vaccines recurrently. ii) Another control and eradication approach is the “test and slaughter” followed by safe disposal of the carcasses (burning and/or burying). When the veterinary authorities confirm the outbreak, they determine the affected animals and those at risk for destruction. This, however, is followed with compensation by the government, which is a very expensive practice. This is the practice in developed livestock-producing countries like the United Kingdom, among others. You kill or destroy, but compensate the farmer. iii) In addition to the above, movement control restrictions (quarantine) are always imposed either in part or as a whole in the affected geographical location depending on the epidemiological assessment by the competent authorities. The competent authorities, Mr Speaker, are veterinary authorities. These animal movement restrictions, however, are temporary measures to disrupt transmission but their duration depends on the discipline and compliance of the different stakeholders (farmers, traders, processors and enforcement agencies) and also on the country’s ability to implement interventions (i) and (ii) above. Current situation in the country Mr Speaker, there are 36 districts currently affected and under quarantine. These are; Budaka, Bukedea, Bukomansimbi, Bunyangabu, Butaleja, Fort Portal City, Gomba, Ibanda, Isingiro, Kabarole, Kassanda, Kayunga, Kazo, Kiboga, Kibuku, Kiruhura, Kumi, Kyankwanzi, Kyegegwa, Kyotera, Luuka, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Mbarara, Mbarara City, Mityana, Mpigi, Mubende, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Namisindwa, Ngora, Ntungamo, Rakai, Rwampara and Ssembabule. All districts neighbouring the aforementioned districts are at high risk, under strict surveillance and the authorities are advised to remain vigilant. These include; Apac, Amolatar, Bugiri, Bushenyi, Butaleja, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kaberamaido, Kaliro, Kamuli,

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Honourable minister, we have one Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) called Bwera Teachers’ College in the entire country. Kasese does not have a Government University resource. We still continue to urge the Government to consider Kasese. Mr Speaker, the reason why I am rising on this particular matter is that the Government closed the only Primary Teachers’ College in the district; a district with over 1.4 million people. I would like to urge the Minister to reconsider reversing, on affirmative action and dimension, the closure of the Bwera Teachers’ College given the fact that other places like Tooro, Ankole, and greater Bushenyi have PTCs and at the same time Government universities. Honourable minister, I kindly request that you wrap that in when you are making your submission because that is the cry of the entire population of Kasese as it relates to Bwera Teachers’ College. Thank you.

11350 DESIGNATION OF MEMBERS TO COMMITTEES OF PARLIAMENT [Mr Obua] 3. Hon. Rosemary Nyakikongoro – Woman, Sheema; 4. Hon. Arinaitwe Rwakajara - Workers; 5. Hon. Moses Magogo – Budiope East; 6. Hon. David Kabanda - Kasambya; 7. Hon. Amos Kankunda – Akankuna – Rwampara; 8. Hon. Samuel Okwir – Moroto County 9. Hon. Sylvia Nayebale – Gomba; 10. Hon. Josephat Tumwesigye - Bugangaizi; 11. Hon. Herbert Ariko - Soroti East Division; 12. Hon. Agnes Atim - Amolator; 13. Hon. Donald Katalihwa – Mwenge County; 14. Hon. Aggrey Bagiire – Bunya County South; 15. Hon. Samon Bwiire – Bulamogi; 16. Hon. Keefa Kiwanuka – Kiboga County East; 17. Hon. Maximus Ochai - West Budama North; 18. Hon. Solomon Silwany – Bukooli Central; 19. Hon. Derrick Orone - Gogonya; 20. Hon. Alex Ruhunda – Fort Portal Central; 21. Hon. Iddi Isabirye – Bunya South; 22. Hon. Mourine Osoru – Arua City; 23. Hon. Annet Katusiime – Bushenyi; 24. Hon. Gyaviira Ssemwanga - Buyamba; 25. Hon. John Baptist Lokii - Mathenico; 26. Hon. Muhamad Ssentayi – Bukoto County West; 27. Hon. John Teira – Budiope County North; 28. Hon. Faith Nakut – Napak; 29. Hon. Mwine Mpaka – Mbarara South Division; 30. Hon. Brenda Namukuta - Kaliro; 31. Hon. James Kaberuka – Kinizi County; 32. Hon. Lillian Aber - Amolator; 33. Hon. Catheline Ndamira - Kabale; 34. Hon. Linos Ngompek – Kibanda North; 35. Hon. Dicksons Kateshumbwa – Sheema Municipality; 36. Hon. Laura Kanushu - Workers; 37. Hon. Fred Opolot - Pingire; 38. Hon. Bernard Odoi – Youth Eastern; 39. Hon. Juliet Bashiisha - Mitooma; 40. Hon. Michael Bukenya - Bukuya; 41. Hon. Moses Aleper - Chekwii; and 42. Hon. Fadil Twalla - Tingey. Madam Speaker, I beg to designate.

11039 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2023 When you look at the number of households that benefited, the figures we got from the MoFPED shows that they were 787,566 households while from the PDM Secretariat and MoLG 817,099 households had benefited by that time. According to the MoFPED, Shs 776,980,000,000 was disbursed while on the side of the MoLG, they indicated that by that time, they had already disbursed Shs 775,998,795,274. When you look at the balance that had not been disbursed in total, it amounted to Shs 371,157,381,210. However, Madam Speaker, the MoFPED also provided a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet on PDM disbursement performance and the committee observed that the total figures of the amount released, amount disbursed and number of beneficiaries deferred from its own table of summarised figures in the report. Committee observations The committee observed the following: (i) Some SACCOs still have arrears arising from Shs 17 million of the Financial Year 2021/2022 that they should have received. For instance, Otuke had 27 SACCOs pending payment under the first disbursement. In other words, these are parishes that never received money in the first displacement. (ii) Much as the SACCOs were meant to receive Shs 17 million each in the Financial Year 2021/2022, MoFPED released less amounts, ranging between Shs 7 million and Shs 10 million for most of the SACCOs across the country. However, there has been no clear explanation why MoFPED released less than what was appropriated. (iii) There were variations in the figures provided by the MoFPED compared to what was provided by the Ministry of Local Governments and PDM secretariat (as indicated in Table 1 above). (iv) The committee observed that nine parishes had not been funded and according to the MoFPED, this was due to the following reasons: a) Nadunget Parish in Moroto District, Kanabu Kei in Yumbe District and Kitwe Parish in Bushenyi District were found to be non-existent, according to the MoFPED. b) Nyakitojo, Rwenkuba and Kitaka -

What are you saying? Nadunget Parish in Moroto District, Kanabu Kei in Yumbe District and Kitwe Parish in Bushenyi District were found to be non- existent?

10957 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2023 there now exists a presidential skilling centre in Lira that takes care of the Lango Subregion. They have been recruiting young people, especially those in villages, to be skilled. Probably, we may need to interrogate that programme and see whether we can support His Excellency the President further, and we roll it out from one subregion to another. In addition to that, we also obtained a loan under the Ministry of Education and Sports from the World Bank. This loan was meant to establish centres of excellence in the five original Uganda Technical Colleges; Bushenyi, Elgon and Lira, to mention, but a few. Under that project, we annexed a number of technical institutes. When you move to Kaberamaido Technical Institute, you will see the development because it is annexed to UTC Lira - even Kigumba. The Government is doing all it takes both for formal and informal education. For Ugandans who cannot attain formal education, the Government is emphasising more of informal education. As Parliament, it is important that we support the Government policy of establishing a technical institute per county or per constituency because that will enable young people who cannot attain formal education to be recruited and skilled in the respective technical institutes. Madam Speaker, thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On behalf of the people of Bushenyi, I take this opportunity to congratulate you and your beloved Ssalongo . We pray to the Almighty that He gives the twins good health so that they can become responsible citizens of this country. I would like to add my voice to the honourable colleagues’ submission. I hail from a district where tea is grown on a large scale, employing very many people directly and indirectly. Due to continued outcry from the tea industry, as members of Parliament, together with the area local leadership, we had a meeting with the processors and tea growers. We did not stop there, we went ahead and visited factories that are processing tea to ascertain the magnitude of the problem, which is tea price cuts. Madam Speaker, the problem is very big. People are frustrated. The kilogramme that was at Shs 560 has now dropped to Shs 200. We are aware that the Government is processing

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As you have correctly said, I read the statement on behalf of my senior minister and I correctly quoted the specific words. I would like to report as follows: I would be very happy, Madam Speaker, if you permitted me to bring a statement to highlight where we came from, where we are today, where we will be tomorrow and the need for the support of the honourable Members of Parliament to back up this Pamoja bid, which gave us the hosting rights of the AFCON 2027. Madam Speaker, you have correctly stated - and I would like to put it on record that the Ministry of Education and Sports has a plan to construct regional stadia. The Ministry of Education and Sports is aware of the presidential commitments according to the pledges of constructing stadia in Akii-Bua and Buhinga. I also would like to say that this AFCON is a project. I would be very happy if Parliament supported the ministry’s plan to get resources to have this project implemented to the letter. That helps us as a country to improve the infrastructural development of sports in Uganda. I would like to call upon you, honourable colleagues, that nobody from Government is refusing to have the construction of stadia in the areas that I read here on behalf of my senior minister. All that is lacking are the specific conditions in this bid, which we are meeting as a country, called Uganda, jointly with Kenya and Tanzania. We cannot, at this particular time, attempt to get out of these conditions because we risk losing the hosting rights as a country. My question to you, honourable colleagues, is -the plan to construct regional stadia where we all come from - I come from Teso. For God’s sake, I need Oligoi to be constructed, but I do not have money. I have been to Bushenyi, Kasese and Buhinga; I have been everywhere where there is a need for this infrastructure to be invested. The challenge is that this bid as of now does not permit us to have this done at the same time. Unless you want to tell me that the Government should take away some projects and we specifically concentrate on this. Madam Speaker, as I conclude- I have just come out of a meeting for one project. We are going to construct a state-of-the-art indoor arena in Lugogo. The contractor has just submitted a design project and a structural plan for that state-of-the-art indoor arena in Lugogo. I have just met them. They will be coming back next week in line with what we have agreed with them. As a Government, I need your support for that specific project for the purpose of developing sports infrastructure in the country. Thank you.

Back to your communication, Madam Speaker. I thank you for talking about the patching of roads in Kampala by Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). In the same way, in the countryside, there is a lot of patching on the face but the rest of the body is unwashed. When they patch areas in Kampala where the guests are going to pass, they leave behind the other streets and roads untouched. Likewise, the districts which are in corners that are not on highways - from Kampala, Masaka, Mbarara, Bushenyi, Ishaka, and Kasese, there is some attention. For a district in a corner like Buhweju, there is virtually no road to talk about. Be it a Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) road, a district road, a community road, and even the bulungi bwansi , which is done by the natives; there is virtually no road. No one should tell us about the funds released by Uganda Road Fund. They are too meagre to cause any effect in Buhweju. I would like to make an appeal that the districts in corners - not only Buhweju, but those like Buhweju - should get affirmative action. I beg to move.

10704 STATEMENT BY THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION innovations and then individuals go with them. Like this banana project in Bushenyi, you heard that Mbarara University is fighting with Dr Ogwang saying, “We were funding you and now, you have gone to commercialise and you are saying we cannot get anything.” Then there is Kiira. That is very critical. Thank you, honourable member.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I appreciate your statements to this House today with regard to this Higher Education Scholarship Fund. It is not the first time you have mentioned but also, on national television about the idea of revising admission to some of these universities - because it rewards those who are better off; those who have paid fees for their children in better schools. However, for people largely from the rural areas, who struggle there, it is a tug of war. I want to attest to you and to this House, Mr Speaker, that last year when this scheme was running; it was able to support 65 students from Karamoja. A number of them are doing Medicine in Mbarara University, Bushenyi Campus, and a good number are doing Information Technology here in ISBAT University along Lugogo bypass. It is an equaliser for many parts and when the Chancellor invited me, I found that there were a number of students from Acholi, deep in Kisoro, who were there. I said, “this is great.” This is helping because for you to qualify, it is just enough to be admitted to a recognised institution of higher learning and then, you get the fund. Let us put affirmative action on this initiative. It is helping a lot of young boys and girls from across the country. Mr Speaker, this is October and those children already had admissions. What are we going to do - because not many universities take children in January? Can we understand the numbers that will be - Should we go out immediately and inform our young people that there is a window of or an opening and who have got admissions from any organised university in the science area, can we collect these numbers and prepare them for the January intake? That is the further clarification I want to get from the minister. Thank you.

Thank you. Members from Kumi, Bushenyi, Ibanda, Bundibugyo and Soroti.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Permit me to raise a community concern from Ibaare Subcounty, Bushenyi District, over continuous road accidents on the Ishaka-Kagamba road that has become a death trap, resulting in public outcry. I have been approached by the local leadership, religious leaders, school administrators and other stakeholders about the Ministry of Works and Transport’s stand on this death spot. At the spot between Ibaare Trading Centre and Bwoma-Ishaka road, since January, we have buried 20 people including school-going children. This is a busy trading centre followed by five primary schools –

9120 BUDGET SPEECH, 2023 – at 64 years, up from 53 years just as recently as 2015 – attains more years of schooling and enjoys a higher income per capita than ever before. Health Access to healthcare by Ugandans remains a key priority of this Government. Consequently, 381 health centre IIs have been upgraded to health centre IIIs. Dr Jane, you will confirm that. In addition, 250,000 health centre IIIs have been upgraded to health centres IV, equipped and are now functional, largely supported by the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UGIFT) programme, co-funded by the World Bank. Construction and equipping of 31 new health centre IIIs in sub-counties without any health facility are now 90 per cent complete. The health referral system has also been enhanced by fully functioning 143 Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and five High Dependency Units (HDUs) in national and regional referral hospitals across the country. Next year, the Mulago Super Specialised Hospital and the new state-of-the-art Intensive Care Unit at the Uganda Cancer Institute will be fully operationalised. They will provide specialised care to all Ugandans and reduce medical referrals abroad. In addition, all existing health centres IV and health centres III will be facilitated to offer quality healthcare to all Ugandans. In this respect, health worker supervision and management will be strengthened to reduce absenteeism. After the on-going payroll audit, the ban on health worker recruitment will be lifted. Government will, in the next few weeks, resolve the plight of medical interns and doctors designated as senior house officers, in view of their important role in supporting the healthcare system. Please, interns, calm down; we are coming to rescue you. In the meantime, I have provided Shs 22 billion to clear outstanding arrears for medical interns and senior house officers for the Financial Year ending June 2023. Education We have registered significant progress in access to education. Uganda’s literacy rate improved from 70.2 per cent in 2012 to 79 per cent in 2021. Education enrolment in public schools is now at 8.8 million children in primary school, 833,000 pupils in secondary and 174,000 students in tertiary institutions. These children were 8.8 million in primary schools and in secondary they are only 833,000, where did the rest go? To improve delivery of the recently launched curriculum, 3,100 teachers were trained and inspection of learning institutions was enhanced using the e-inspection system. The Teacher Effectiveness and Learners Achievement (TELA) system has helped reduce teacher absenteeism and improved pupil attendance. The Education Management Information System (EMIS) has been revamped to support data management and decision-making in education. To enhance sports development, talent identification, nurturing, and professional development have been emphasised. The Mountains of the Moon University was operationalised during this financial year. Upgrading of facilities was completed at Uganda Technical Colleges in Lira, Elgon, and Bushenyi. Next year, the construction and equipping of two-unit laboratories in 21 secondary schools currently without any, will commence in line with the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Policy. Government will continue with the construction of 115 seed secondary schools under the Uganda Inter-Government Fiscal Transfer Programme (UgIFT) in sub-counties without any.

9093 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 24 MAY 2023 My people have mixed up my papers but I will manage them. They have put page 21 before 20. Let me read it the way it is. They will sort it out. Here, they are saying districts of Buhweju, Bushenyi, Ibanda, Isingiro, Kabarole, Kamwengye, and Kanungu. They are talking about irrigation and saying, as a result, 2,373 acres have been added to the area under irrigation enabling 14,961 farmers to produce cabbages, tomatoes, apples, onions, pineapples, watermelons, green pepper, etc. They are still talking about irrigation. The following medium-scale irrigation schemes have been completed: Ngenge 808 hectares - Honourable Members of Parliament, get to know these things. These people may say “completed” when it is not. So, this is an opportunity for you to help them. We have: 1. Ngenge in Sebei - 808 hectares irrigated; 2. Rwengaju - 116 hectares; 3. Tochi - 500 hectares; 4. Mubuku II - 480 hectares; 5. Doho II - 1,000 hectares; 6. Olweny - 600 hectares and so on. Communal Valley Tanks The Government has constructed 44 communal valley tanks in Nabilatuk, Kotido, Amudat, Kaabong, Karenga, Soroti, Butebo etc. This has created a storage capacity of 6.6 billion litres serving 89,000 livestock. This is where they have mixed up. They put page 20 after page 21 but this is not the end of the world. (Laughter) Ekitatta muyima- ffe abaganda, tulina eddagala ly’ebizibu bino. Awo wengambila nti kasita obeera n’obulamu, ensobi zingenda kutelera. These people put page 21 before page 20. Somehow you can combine them. There has been a major disruption to transportation arising from the damage of Katonga Bridge which was washed away by floods. The floods also led to the eroding of wetland vegetation and gardens in the upstream parts of the catchment. This flooding was caused by a dam breach along the four- kilometer stretch of the Kalungu- Gomba Road in Bugomola Village, Lwabenge Subcounty in Kalungu District. The water had progressively built up on one side of the road due to blocked culverts, creating a damming effect. This created a massive force beyond the capacity of the road, creating a dam breach, which led to a sudden release of a large volume of water that moved downstream the Katonga River. As the flood wave moved downstream with a lot of papyrus and gardens causing significant damage to infrastructure. The interventions to address the problem of floods involve the protection of water catchments and the general environment so that they perform their function of storing and releasing water safely, even when there is increased rainfall. Regular maintenance of water bodies and rivers so that they perform their water storage and conveyance function. Demarcation and protection of lake shores, riverbanks and wetlands. To limit encroachment by settlements, construction of water storage facilities, agricultural activities and other developments. Strengthening of the early warning systems and enforcement of the water and environmental laws at all levels. People who damage the environment, do so at their own risk. Have we not seen enough examples? Nantabulirwa yasabala bwa bbumba . That is what we say in our language here. “The one who does not listen to advice insisted on using a clay boat on the lake and drowned in the lake”. Somebody made a boat from clay and people told him that clay cannot make a boat, do not do it but he could not listen. He made a clay boat, put it in the lake and drowned there. And that is how our people here in Buganda got a proverb, Nantabulirwa yasabala bwa bbumba . We tell people that please - in the book of Genesis- Ate bino bya Katonda - this is now

9102 ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION 6. Nabumali High School, Mbale; and 7. Namasagali College, Kamuli, among others. In addition, Government is constructing and equipping secondary schools with laboratories and completing the construction and upgrading of technical vocational institutions in Bushenyi, Luweero, Lira, Mbale, Nyamitanga, Rwetanga, Kaberamaido, Butaleja, Ssesse, Kitgum and Kaliro, among others. The construction of 115 seed secondary schools in the subcounties, which do not have these schools at the moment, will continue in the next financial year. To improve school learning and accountability in Government-supported schools, the following will be undertaken starting next financial year: (a) Strengthen the link between education and socio-economic transformation by promotion of Science, Technology En - gineering and Mathematics in education, research and incubation; (b) Enhancing the technical capacity and skills to support industrial growth especially manufacturing; (c) Electronic tracking of enrolment, dropout and retention, and identifying learners, teachers and institutions using ICT capabilities; (d) Improving the overall staffing levels in the schools and; (e) Development of a complete national vocational qualification framework. With our oil money, we shall be able to complete our targets of a Government primary school per parish and a Government secondary school per subcounty. The railway, electricity, technical and science education as well as some national roads, will be the elements our oil money will deal with. I intend to meet with the Petroleum Authority of Uganda and the oil companies to harmonise so that we do not miss the target of 2025 as the first oil date. (Applause) I do not want this Petroleum Authority of Uganda to delay our programme with petty things; local content. Let us start. Health Over the last three years, since the outbreak of COVID-19, the Government has strengthened health systems. This included equipping regional and national referral hospitals and 225 health centres II have been renovated and upgraded to health centres III. In addition, we have strengthened the capacity of the country in vaccine development. For the Government to be able to sustainably improve health services, emphasis will be placed on transforming the health care from predominantly curative to preventive, through: (a) Timely supplies of drugs to address stock- outs as well as provision of relevant medical equipment; (b) Prevention and control of communicable diseases through immunisation; (c) Operationalising Mulago Super Specialised Hospital and expediting the construction of the Lubowa Specialised Hospital, all existing health centre IVs and health centre IIIs; (d) Strengthening the supervision and accountability role of the regional technical supervisory structures; (e) Emphasising, through radio programmes, the importance of nutrition and hygiene, among others, and; (f) Malaria prevention through killing the mosquitoes and the use of treated bed nets. Strengthening security and good governance Uganda’s borders remain secure, save for the spill-over effects occasioned by activities of negative armed groups in Eastern Congo and

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_)

8754 BUDGETARY PROPOSALS & ESTIMATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024 60) Vote 819: Bukwo District – Shs 22,102,420,000 61) Vote 820: Bulambuli District – Shs 22,999,426,000 62) Vote 821: Buliisa District – Shs 14,874,929,000 63) Vote 822: Bundibugyo District – Shs 33,203,487,000 64) Vote 823: Bunyangabu District - Shs 19,891,642,000 65) Vote 824: Bushenyi District – Shs 28,896,953,000 66) Votes 825: Busia District - Shs 32,967,494,000 67) Votes 826: Butaleja District - Shs 33,927,473,000 68) Vote 827: Butambala District – Shs 23,446,766,000 69) Vote 828: Butebo District - Shs 16,607,616,000 70) Vote 829: Buvuma District – Shs 13,321,617,000 71) Vote 830: Buyende District – Shs 22,651,177,000 72) Vote 831: Dokolo District – Shs 21,223,707,000 73) Vote 832: Gomba District – Shs 21,231,932,000\ 74) Vote 720: Masindi Municipal Council – Shs 11,172,470,000 75) Vote 721: Mityana Municipal Council – Shs 10,365,633,000 76) Vote 722: Moroto Municipal Council – Shs 5,143,627,000 77) Vote 723: Mubende Municipal Council – Shs 10,465,947,000 78) Vote 724: Mukono Municipal Council – Shs 19,829,177,000 79) Vote 725: Nansana Municipal Council – Shs 24,351,761,000 80) Vote 726: Nebbi Municipal Council – Shs 6,907,898,000 81) Vote 727: Njeru Municipal Council – Shs 13,394,572,000 82) Vote 728: Ntungamo Municipal Council – Shs 4,845,867,000 83) Vote 729: Rukungiri Municipal Council – Shs 9,415,996,000 84) Vote 730: Sheema Municipal Council – Shs 14,106,079,000 85) Vote 731: Tororo Municipal Council – Shs 9,365,323,000 86) Vote 801: Abim District – Shs 18,295,895,000 87) Vote 802: Adjumani District – Shs 31,965,889,000 88) Vote 803: Agago District – Shs 31,061,514,000 89) Vote 804: Alebtong District – Shs 23,689,489,000 90) Vote 805: Amolatar District – Shs 19,357,798,000 91) Vote 806: Amudat District – Shs 10,632,904,000 92) Vote 807: Amuria District – Shs 22,290,290,000 93) Vote 808: Amuru District - Shs 22,428,999,000

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

Honourable members, I welcome you to this morning’s sitting. This sitting is purposely meant for us to finish the Budget and the outstanding business for this session. Section 14(1) of the Public Finance Management Act and rules 151(6) and 152(2) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament grant us timelines for the passing of the Budget. As custodians of the law, it is upon us to make sure that we follow the law to the letter. That is why we have this morning sitting. Honourable members, you have been seeing on social media and everywhere what is happening with the rains. The roads are cut off; Katonga is cut off and you cannot go to Masaka. The whole country is awash with what is happening with the rains. Communities are cut off and they cannot travel. Yesterday, the Deputy Speaker went to Bushenyi and he had to use the longest route; an additional 182 kilometres. It is terrible. As we do the budgeting, we must consider the issue of roads. The roads must be worked

8380 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR and Masaka District. It was further alleged that the process of shortlisting the applicants was marred with irregularities and that some of the shortlisted applicants in particular from Kimanya Kabonero Masaka subregion were not dully recommended by local council authorities but only obtained recommendations from the Resident District Commissioner. The shortlisted names did not reflect the indigenous names within the locality. The committee was informed that it was a requirement that after the advert all applications in that area must be supported by recommendations by the LC1 chairperson, Resident District Commissioner and a valid National ID card in addition to academic qualifications and a valid driving license for the drivers. All applications were verified and shortlisted candidates were from the districts where they applied from. The committee scrutinised sample applications from the regions of greater Masaka, greater Bushenyi and North Kyoga and it is satisfied that all the shortlisted applicants are residents of the districts where they applied from. Their names may not be of the indigenous communities within the locality but based on free movement of Ugandans in accordance to Article 29(2)a of the Constitution of Uganda and free movement of labour in Uganda, different localities have different ethnicities that have settled in those areas; it is easy to associate names with a certain locality. Evidence of residence is only based on particulars on the National ID supported by the recommendation from local authorities. The committee was satisfied that all shortlisted applicants met the required qualifications- so, the recruitment process should not be delayed. This was overtaken by events because the trainees are passing out in July this year. Conclusion The recruitment exercise is the only way to increase the police structures countrywide. This should be conducted on merit to give a chance to the majority of unemployed Ugandans and for quality force to serve the police purpose. The number of applicants was high indicating the desire of the youth to serve their country. I beg to submit.

8092 Disclaimer: The electronic version of the Official Report of the proceedings of Parliament (Hansard) is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Office of the Clerk to Parliament. MINISTERIAL POLICY STATEMENTS & BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR THE FY 2023/2024 iii. Inter-agency land wrangles The committee recommends that an inter- agency committee be instituted to resolve these wrangles and expedite the process of resolving the conflict to pave way for Government programmes. Anti-tick vaccines The committee notes that NARO is in the final stages of rolling out the anti-tick vaccine. The vaccine trials shall be concluded in the next six months; they are being tried in some of the NARO centres. The committee recommends that Shs 16 billion be repurposed to ZARDIs. We realise that ZARDIs depends on the headquarters and sometimes they are bogged down. That is why the committee recommends that to each of the 16 ZARDIs, one billion be sent to each to facilitate research. On sunflower and research and seed production for import substitution, the committee recommends that Shs 15 billion be provided to Serere ZARDI that is specialised in producing and multiplying sunflower seeds. On the multiplication and delivery of technologies for food and nutrition security at Nabuin, the committee recommends that Shs 10 billion be provided for to multiply and deliver technologies for food and nutrition security. Vote 151: National Agriculture Advisory Services The committee observes that the Vote has experienced significant budget cuts in the Financial Year 2023/2024, losing Shs 23.45 billion in total. The committee recommends as follows: i) That Shs 58.6 billion be reinstated to enable the Vote consolidate its current achievements; ii) That Shs 44 billion be provided to supply beans and maize seeds to address food security as the PDM gets fully operational; iii) Shs 10 billion be reallocated from Vote 010 – MAAIF, for related items, to Vote 152 - NAADS as follows: a) Shs 3.2 billion for Hass Avocado; b) Shs 4 billion for cashew nuts; c) Shs 2.8 billion for procurement and supply of goats; and d) Shs 20 billion be provided to purchase and distribute hoes to the remaining districts that have not received them. On the duplication of activities, the committee recommends that Shs 3 billion meant for the provision of milk coolers, under Vote 152: NAADS, be relocated to Vote 121: DDA, which is the mandated agency for the effective provision of the milk coolers. The committee observed that following a Cabinet directive on special intervention to evacuate tea and coffee seedlings from nurseries, NAADS supplied tea seedlings to a tune of Shs 61.096 billion to farmers in six district local governments (Mitooma, Buhweju, Bushenyi, Sheema, Rukungiri and Kanungu). No funds have been provided in the budget to clear these arrears. The committee recommends that Shs 61.096 billion be provided to clear these arrears. Vote 152: Uganda Cotton Development Organisation The committee recommends as follows: i) That Shs 0.163 billion be provided for setting the country’s cotton standards and reinstate it to meet its statutory requirements; ii) That Shs 5 billion be provided for farm - ers’ mobilisation, seed multiplication, production and pesticides to farmers; and

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I wish to support the minority report. Thank you, colleagues, who brought the majority report, but I think it lacked some facts. First and foremost, as my colleague, Hon. Ndeezi has said, you only concentrated here in Kampala because you wanted to save per diem. (Laughter) You were well facilitated; the facilitation you were given was good enough to make sure that you reach as far as Bushenyi and Mitooma. What made you stay here in Kampala? (Interruption)

7167 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2023 to inform you, Mitooma has not received it. Bushenyi, which is Hon. Magyezi’s district- I was there on Monday with Hon. Ecweru, they have not received it. But you will receive the reports from the area. On Prime Minister’s Time no procedure.

6958 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT d) Be healthy and willing to undergo medical and physical tests. e) Have no criminal record and this proof of good citizenship was LCI and DISO signatures and recommendations. The quotas were distributed as follows: a) 8,400 were shared nationwide based on the district population size. b) 1,000 were mechanics and drivers. c) 600 were scientists qualifying to join the Air force. d) 100 Medical personnel e) 100 brass band musicians f) 50 specialised sportsmen and ladies The committee findings The committee observed that the recruitment covered 146 districts and the recruitment plan covered 134 districts. The 12 districts were accommodated within their former districts, since their district headquarters were not yet established. Quotas allocated to each district were based on the Uganda Bureau of Statistics population data of 2020. On this note, districts like Mitooma, Sheema, Rubirizi, Bushenyi and Buhweju had their recruitment centre at Bushenyi District Headquarters, which was their mother district as well as Greater Mbarara of Rwampara, Isingiro, Ibanda and Mbarara City and Mbarara District as well. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the recruitments were done on zonal levels. For instance, the UPDF recruited a total of 163 people from the districts of Nebbi, Zombo and Pakwach. Here the recruitment centre was in Nebbi. All those that attended were recommended by LCIs and DISOs. Nebbi District was a recruitment centre hosting the other two districts. Despite their quota being 57 for Nebbi District alone, 163 recruits were recruited at the zone. While recruitment is not based on tribe, most of the recruits that came from Nebbi were the Alur, as per their identity cards. The committee was informed that a total of 195 people were recruited from Tororo District and most of their documents were verified by LCI chairpersons of various villages of applicants to ensure that they had no criminal record - and not necessarily to prove their ethnicity, tribe or place of abode. Attached are the copies of IDs and letters of recommendation; letters from LCs and recommendations by GISOs as well. However, this was misunderstood to mean proof of nationality. The committee recommends that LCs and the general public should be sensitised on recruitment procedures and guidelines, in accordance with the UPDF Act of 2005. Advertisements should be clear, easy to understand and should be published in all local newspapers and local radios for wider coverage. There were alarming numbers of forged academic documents and the Uganda national identity cards. Recruits who did not have national IDs, but had already applied were not allowed to use their national identification numbers because it was difficult to attach the face to the NIN. Verification of all other documents required more time and finances, which had its own limitations. The recruitment period should be long enough to allow time to verify all the required documents by the relevant Government institutions and agencies. The national identification numbers should be allowed as long as their genuineness can be verified. The recruitment process should be financed to undertake most of the required activities to avoid haphazard work. The recruitment was done for all Ugandans, as long as they had national identity cards and their LCI or GISO or DISO confirmed that they had the required documents verified by LCIs, DISOs, GISOs, as proof of no criminal record. The committee recommends that there should always be proper scrutiny or vetting of these

To come from my area, for instance – a subcounty like Kiyaga – to Bushenyi and back, you use around Shs 30,000. That is if you are going to recruit from Bushenyi. Honourable minister, maybe, you have to rethink and see the preliminary tests that can be done at district or subcounty level for people who would qualify. Most people felt that you were looking for excuses to eliminate them rather than reasons to recruit them. People got that negative attitude from the exercise. This shows that people love the UPDF – they would want to be part of the UPDF, but the moment people feel that those who have gone through are privileged, then, it becomes totally difficult. You will find someone complaining about Shs 30,000. Some people also said that they were beaten during the running test. (Laughter)

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

Mr Speaker, I request that I am given the extra minutes that have been taken away from me. Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Patience Naamara Tumwesigye –(Interjections)- yes, a wife to Hon. Fox Odoi-Oywelowo. However, I am here in my capacity as a woman, not as Odoi-Oywelowo’s wife. Thank you. I am a Ugandan, aged 46 years as of last week. For the last 26 years, I have been married to that gentleman and together, we have four children. Otherwise, I was born in Rukungiri and went to school in Bushenyi. I am a rural girl as any one of you. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Management from Makerere University. I also hold a Master’s Degree in Tropical Forestry and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Environmental Management, as well as several other qualifications in my field. I am a natural resource expert and since 2015, I have represented the country as part of the mitigation, thematic group to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change; as a member and also an alternate chair for this group. I am a board member of Uganda Timber Growers’ Association, to which some of you belong. I am the founder of an advocacy group called the Green Divas Association Initiative, which encourages women like you, Members of Parliament, to influence policy action in your areas of influence. To the Rotarians in the House, I am a guest Rotarian of the Rotary Club of Ssese Islands. I first stood in this House when I was 17 years old in 1994, and that time, I represented Rukungiri District in the mock CA debates. I do not know how many of you were here then, but I remember the people who inspired me - I do not know whether the Hon. Cecilia Ogwal is here. Those were the women that opened the way for people like me to stand here, as a woman, and ask for votes. I have not looked back and I am very thankful to all of you, who nominated me to come here and further my bid to represent my country at the highest level possible. I thank all of you, who nominated and have supported me this far. Honourable members, often times, we have heard people refer to Africa as the last frontier of the world. The honest truth is that East Africa is the last frontier of the world, given its positioning on the African Continent but that is not even enough; our location in the Great Lakes Region with our natural resources makes us a very enviable region. (Interjections) Mr Speaker, I request that you intervene so that I can be heard. I beg your indulgence.

Thank you. Honourable colleague, we do not have a Post Bank branch in Bushenyi and Mitooma. If you are getting their services, we are not. Secondly, Government has many interventions scattered in different banks. There is a facility under Bank of Uganda – you can go to UDB, Centenary - they are scattered. And what the honourable colleague is saying is that they could be consolidated under one bank instead of them being scattered. This would be a Government bank to focus on agriculture only. (Applause) Above all, this is not a directive to Government; it is a proposal for Government to go and look at. Therefore, Government will still have leverage on seeing how best it can implement this resolution, in case it is adopted. So, honourable member, I think we are proceeding well.

Mr Chairperson, I thought that the minister would be very appreciative of the amendment proposed by the committee because they are including other Government ministries, departments and agencies, but leaving out very important stakeholders. You will not go to Tororo, Jinja or Bushenyi to do things without these very important stakeholders. So, the committee chairperson is helping us. I beg that you reconsider your position, honourable minister.

Thank you very much, Mr Chairperson. I want to plead with you; I am coming from a totally different angle. We need to make a law that will allow business to flow. If you create too much bureaucracy, it will spill into a crisis. For example, in Tororo, to allow a project to take place – one time, it took more than six years because the council had to sit and make a decision. Money was budgeted - and this will happen in many districts - you have an investor, you want a place declared - you are creating too much bureaucracy. Therefore, I really request you, Mr Chairperson, you will have – like for us in Tororo, the Jopadhola will refuse, we the elders will refuse and there will be a standstill! The same may happen in Bushenyi and other places. Therefore, Mr Chairperson, this law is under tourism for purpose of promoting business. Let us make a law that will facilitate business to enable the country to move forward.

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

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Allow me to thank the chairperson of the committee for the comprehensive report. Fortunately, I was in Bushenyi when they visited the district and I moved with them to different institutions. Allow me to put emphasis on schools for PWDs. We have very few schools for PWDs. However, those schools are not given priority. For example, they have talked about the school in Bushenyi; the ironsheets are very old and

4994 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION are even leaking, while the structures are dilapidated. I would like to ask the honourable minister, with due respect, to take a proactive approach and send technocrats to look at those structures. Otherwise, since it has started raining, a calamity is expected to happen. I would like to assure you that these schools are in a bad state. Please, visit those schools in the entire country, not only in Bushenyi, and see the situation, and attend to them. I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Congestion and overcrowding in prisons The committee noted that overcrowding is an outstanding problem for the prisons management in the country. Congestion is an average of 339 per cent with some prisons housing above five times their designed housing capacities as detailed below. Mr Speaker, that is tabulated and we made reference to some of the prisons like Bushenyi, Mbarara, Masindi, Kiruhura, Lira, Rukungiri, Ndorwa, Kakiika, Fort Portal, Kitgum, Bushenyi. Masaka Ssaza and Upper Prison. The committee observes that overcrowding in prisons relates to challenges in the judicial system. For instance, shortage of judicial staff, prosecution officers, investigators, missing court files and few high court sessions. In addition, unnecessary adjournments by judges greatly negate the trial process by cases dragging on in courts for a long time, leading to the high number of un-convicted offenders in prison custody, who eventually contribute to a rise in population in prisons. The committee further noted that another cause of congestion in prison institutions in the country is the presence of a large number of prisoners who have been sentenced to death over the years, but have never been executed. This growing prison population has overstretched existing physical facilities and puts pressure on services like water, leading to unhygienic conditions and other unacceptable behaviours. The committee noted that delivery of justice is a coordinated process in the Justice, Law and Order Sector where departments within the sector have to be aligned and coordinated simultaneously to perform all activities in the process. The committee also noted that in some prison facilities like Katojo Prison in Kabarole District, juveniles were imprisoned together with adults instead of in remand homes, thereby increasing congestion in the prisons. However, the committee was informed that this was as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic where prisoners were restricted to particular facilities to avoid the spread of COVID-19. Recommendations 1. The Prison Service development budget should be increased to enable rehabilitation, expansion and construction of more prisons to accommodate the increasing number of prisoners and reduce on congestion in the available facilities;