Mbarara South Division

That is Busia Municipality, then Gomba. The camera man, please give space to Members. Okay. Fifth row. Those standing, do not vote. You will vote differently. The team of Hon. Cissy Namujju. I hope you counted the two votes: Hon. Ochai and the colleague. Their suits are almost the same; you would think it is one person. Those standing here. Hon. Amelia Kyambadde is somewhere there. I can see Hon. Ssentayi, Hon. Freedom, Hon. Paula Turyahikayo, and Hon. Kiyonga – have you seen them? Hon. Cissy Namujju, Hon. Emaju, the Senior Counsel. Somehow, I can see just the hands and know. Okay. Have you counted the other side, Hon. Bagiire and group? Hon. James Kaberuka, and Hon. Ofwono Opondo – he says he is the MP for the elderly, but not for the old. We come to the other row, where Hon. Patrick Obura is, Maj. Gen. Ssemwanga, Hon. Kateshumbwa and the group. Hon. Akello, there. Okay. The middle one, from Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, the whole row up to Hon. Asinansi Nyakato, the former candidate for Deputy Speaker. She is from Bunyoro. She has voted “Yes”. Just for the record, Madam Prime Minister, she is supporting you. We can go to Hon. Mapenduzi, Hon. Machika, Hon. Achola, Hon. Alex, Hon. Harriet Ntabazi, Col Knight Ikiriza, Hon. Nathan Byanyima. There is somebody else there I cannot see. Have you counted them? We can do the first row here. Hon. Ssenyonyi is perpetual – the Speaker is only taking note. Alliance for National Transformation has one MP and is voting positively. Second row, we are done. Third row. Those standing, do not. Dr Batuwa, do not raise your hand. Mbale, Hon. Fiona Nakku. There is a hand on the other side. Clerk, are you seeing? Where are you beginning from? Are you done? Fourth row. Hon. Mutonyi, Hon. Ngabirano, MP representing Buhweju, Hon. Martin Drito, welcome back. The last row. Yes, Hon. Okot, Hon. Otim, Hon. Sarah, I cannot see the rest. Hon. Molly Kamukama, and then the Woman MP for Mbarara City, that is Hon. Charity Kibaaju. Okay. Those standing there: Hon. Aogon, Hon. Emmanuel, Hon. Opio, Hon. Charles Ngabirano, and Hon. Kinobere. Have you counted those ones? Hon. Betty Aol – there are two standing. Hon. Akol has not voted. Okay. The Uganda People’s Congress – already counted. MPs in the Gallery, we acknowledge you with a lot of difficulty. The corridor here. Hon. Lokii, Hon. Sam Engola. Apparently, he could not get a fitting seat. (Laughter) Have you counted this one? Okay. Hon. Cissy Namujju’s team is back there. Clerk, this problem must end. We should find a solution. Everyone is elected to sit comfortably in the House. The voters are looking for their MPs, and they cannot see them.

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

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

17903 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2025 (GROW) Out of $10.6 million, Shs 38.1 billion was disbursed across four projects during the year under review, but only $1.46 million was disbursed to support micro enterprises for women groups, which is a core component and directly impacts the women, compared to $2.17 million, which is Shs 8 billion, disbursed to the multipurpose service and production facilities component. Madam Speaker, also Shs 576.2 million was spent on the procurement of a supervising consultant for construction works for the common user facilities, which is more than what the women’s group gets on average; Shs 576 million went for that purpose. Madam Speaker, below is the project component allocation and expenditure for the year ended. I have put a figure to it Under the reducing climate change vulnerability of local communities in Uganda through ecosystem-based adaptation in wetlands and forests in the Ministry of Water and Transport, Shs 1.24 billion had been allocated to increase knowledge and awareness of government officers and communities at the project intervention. The committee observed that the activity of increasing knowledge and awareness of community officers had already been catered for under project management costs, monitoring, and evaluation. This has left core project components such as improving technical and institutional capacity at the local and national level to integrate Ecosystem-Based Adaptation (EBA) into existing management plans for wetlands and forests, with only $512 million which is Shs 1.8 million as illustrated below. Exorbitant costs per unit cost This one should concern all of us. During the committee interaction and examination of project reports, the committee established that some of the project costs were obnoxiously high. The Auditor-General reported that under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) project, the cost of rehabilitating 1.37 kilometres of road in Arua City amounted to Shs 13.4 billion, with a supervision cost of Shs 3 billion. That means, they constructed 1.37 kilometres of a municipal road, built as is with no compensation it costed Shs 13.3 billion. The supervisor walked away with Shs 3 billion. In Mbarara City, the cost of constructing 1 kilometre of Buremba Road amounted to Shs 4.9 billion, with a supervision of Shs 0.249 billion. In Mbarara, you are achieving it at Shs 4.9 billion and supervision is Shs 0.249 billion. The other side, supervision is Shs 3 billion, and is the unit cost is Shs 13 - (Hon. Peter Ogwang rose_) The detailed report is there. In Fort Portal City, the cost of constructing 2.68 kilometres of road works amounted to Shs 21.4 billion, with a supervision cost of Shs 2.5 billion. While in Mubende, the cost of constructing 2.869 kilometres amounted to Shs 14.24 billion, with a supervision cost of Shs 2.5 billion. These roads measure the same in terms of kilometres, yet obnoxious differs in the cost of construction and supervision. The committee noted that the Ministry of Works and Transport undertook a study to establish the unit cost rates, quantity estimates, regional compulsion and development of a software-based cost estimation and monitoring system. The report established that the average cost of upgrading a paved road with bitumen surface treatment increased from Shs 2.3 billion in the Financial Year 2017/2018 to Shs 3.13 billion in the Financial Year 2018/2019. That was the average cost of constructing a bitumen road in an urban area. Here we are talking of Shs 24.13 billion. You wonder if someone else - Madam Speaker, these figures are approved by the committees of Parliament. Who approves? It is from the Cabinet to Parliament and to all our committees. If I had my way, I would summon the chairpersons of these committees and ask them, how on earth -

17727 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 7 AUGUST 2025 in Ntungamo District, had been fully upgraded to health centres III by the time the committee did the oversight. Works to upgrade 41 health centres II were ongoing, with the majority of the projects making less than 50 per cent progress. The details are attached in Annex II. Upgrade of the remaining 81 health centres II had not started. The committee established that out of the 62 health centres III earmarked for new construction under the UgIFT II programme, only three: Kasangati Health Centre III, Kakindo Health Centre III in Kakumiro District, and Kikooma Health Centre III in Kyankwanzi District had been completed. Construction of 28 health centres III was still ongoing, while works for 31 health centres III had not yet started. See details in Annex III. The committee further established that the progress on implementation of various construction projects of new health centres III and upgrade of health centres II to III was largely characterised by defective works, prolonged delays in completion by contractors, including the UPDF Brigade, due to lack of supervision by local government leadership. All project- related decisions, including contract award and the procurement of equipment, were managed by the Central Government. Non-compliance with the standard project design The committee discovered that essential documentation regarding contracts and BOQs was absent, and the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development delayed releasing funds, all of which affected the effective execution of the projects. There were double payments to some of the contractors by the Ministry of Health arising from a change of policy to award contracts, particularly to the UPDF Engineering Brigade. A case in point is Shs 400 million for the completion of the Ober Health Centre IV in Lira City maternity ward and theatre that was channelled directly to the Ministry of Defence by the Ministry of Health, well aware of another running contract with BP Enterprises and Construction Company Limited. See the letter attached in Annex IV. Other specific examples of such construction and upgrade projects include Kachuru Health Centre III in Butebo District, Rushare Health Centre III and Ruhare Health Centre III in Mbarara District, Kichwamba Health Centre II in Mbarara City, Kyabakuza Health Centre II in Masaka City, and Kabbo Health Centre II and Gayaza Health Centre II Mubende District. The committee observed that whereas Parliament approved Shs 552.6 billion to address infrastructure gaps in local government countrywide, a significant number of subcounties and town councils across the country still do not have health centres III. No work had been done on 81 out of 124 health centres II earmarked for upgrade to health centre III. Similarly, 31 out of 62 planned new construction of health centres III in subcounties without any Government health centres III had not even started. The committee observed that the upgraded health centres II and the newly constructed health centres III were not fully functional, largely due to inadequate staffing. There was adverse mismanagement of contracts by the Ministry of Health that involved re- awarding of already running contracts to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Engineering Brigade in total violation of the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) Act. There was a likelihood of fraud in the management and implementation of various Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Program (UgIFT) projects across the country. The Government had not yet fulfilled its pledge of establishing health centres III in every sub- country across the country.

17728 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT The committee recommends: i) The Office of the Auditor-General should call out a forensic audit into the implementation of UgIFT I and II Projects under the health sector, with specific focus on the upgrade of health centres II to III and construction of the new health centres III to determine whether there was fraud and report to Parliament within six months from the time this report is adopted. ii) The committee recommends that the Ministry of Health should develop a clear roadmap on how the Government intends to address the current infrastructure gaps of health centres III at the subcounty and town council levels across the country, and report to Parliament within three months from the time this report is adopted. iii) The committee recommends that the Government ensure that the presidential directives are implemented within the confines of the law. Madam Speaker, we considered the equipping of upgraded health centres II and newly constructed health centres III. The committee found out that the Ministry of Health procured and delivered medical equipment to the district local governments across the country for installation in the health centres earmarked for upgrade or construction. However, in a number of instances, the medical equipment was delivered to health centres prior to the completion of the projects, which exposed the equipment to the risk of gross mismanagement. See attached annex 5. In other instances, the Ministry of Health delivered medical equipment to health facilities that did not have the required staff in place. Some of these cases included: i) Kyarwabuganda Health Centre II in Mbarara City, recently upgraded to Health Centre III, and partially equipped, was operating with only two staff, a registered nurse and an enrolled midwife, out of the staffing level of 55. ii) Kitabaazi Health Centre II, Masaka City, was recently upgraded to Health Centre III and is fully equipped, but was still operating as a Health Centre II due to inadequate medical staff. iii) Anyagatir Health Centre III in Lira has new infrastructure, but only one medical personnel is on the ground providing all services, including maternity services. iv) Kachuru Health Centre III had partial equipment delivered, but had no personnel to operate it. The committee observed that the Ministry of Health procured and delivered medical equipment to incomplete health centres, or without the required medical staff, which rendered such equipment redundant and at high risk of misuse and vandalism. The committee recommends that the Ministry of Health should carry out an inventory of all the medical equipment procured and delivered to the various health centres, and report to Parliament within three months from the time this report is adopted. Madam Speaker, we also looked at the installation of the Computed Tomography (CT) scans, oxygen plants, and Intensive Care Unit bed equipment. Installation of CT scans The committee was informed that the Government procured, delivered, and installed 15 functioning CT scan machines in 14 regional referral hospitals and Bombo General Military Hospital, including one magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine in Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (see Annex 6). The committee found out that CT scan services were only accessible to patients at a user fee ranging from Shs 120,000 to Shs 250,000, depending on the type of imaging or investigation. The charges also varied across regional referral hospitals. For example, at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital, among others, patients pay a fee ranging from Shs 120,000 to 150,000 depending on the test done. At Mubende Regional Referral Hospital,

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the committee for the report. I have two critical issues related to bridges. I think that being, in the 21 st Century and struggling with making money, a city presents a very good opportunity. Mr Speaker, all over the world, the best cities have water bodies through them. Mbarara City is blessed to have River Rwizi, running through it. With it are about four bridges, three of which are very critical. We could use them for easing human transport, but as well make money. When people go to Paris, Sydney or London, they are clamouring – they are all over those bridges for tourist attraction. I have looked at the priority bridges mentioned. Surprisingly, Mbarara City – with the Kanyeyite, Taso and Katete bridges – is not there. Also, when we do small work without exhausting –

We shoot ourselves in the feet. You find that little money is allocated to do works on particular issues, like a bridge or road. However, in a short while, like after a year, you are back in the same position. That is happening to Mbarara City with the rehabilitation of Katete Bridge that happened, which was not very conclusive and exhaustive. It will not surprise you, Mr Speaker, that we are again here to vote for that same bridge. Therefore, I think that there has come a time when we must concentrate on particular areas to give us income and use that to reach out to other areas. Right now, I chair the roads committee in Mbarara City. All the roads we have worked on either had no culverts or they are not enough. When it rains, all the money that you have spent on a particular road comes back to zero. You used the Kihangire Road as you visited one of our entrepreneurs, Mr Kananura. I think you saw that road. Right now, it is flooded. Why? They put gravel, but there are no culverts so we are back to square one. I think we need to be smart on how we use our resources. I have seen the vouching for Shs 52.9 billion to be added to particular districts. I am wondering: what are the others going to use?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the chairperson and the committee for the good report. I begin by supporting your idea of paying bills from the source. I sit on the Committee on Health and during the time of budget framework papers and ministerial policy statements, all regional referral hospitals had water bills of over Shs 500 million, except for other entities that I do not sit on the committees. Saving that and paying bills from the source will solve many problems. In the wake of the drying up of the river Rwizi in Mbarara city and Mbarara District residents have suffered water shortage. Especially public entities like facilities. Bwizibwera health centre IV sometimes especially women who have come to give birth are told to come with their own water.

I put the question that a total sum of Shs 2,489,823,488,735 be provided for as supplementary recurrent expenditure for the Central Government for the Financial Year 2024/2025. (Question put and agreed to.) Local governments (recurrent expenditure) 1. Vote 601 - Arua City – Shs 64,613,108; 2. Vote 602 – Fort Portal City – Shs 348,225,108; 3. Vote 603 – Gulu City – Shs 116,433,601; 4. Vote 604 - Hoima City – Shs 62,006,925; 5. Vote 605 - Jinja City – Shs 233,784,000; 6. Vote 606 – Lira City – Shs 484,320,000; 7. Vote 607 – Masaka City – Shs 203,216,400; 8. Vote 608 – Mbale City – 10,533,056; 9. Vote 609 - Mbarara City - Shs 81,600,000; 10. Vote 610 - Soroti City – Shs 169,800,000; 11. Vote 701 - Apac Municipal Council - Shs 18,350,000; 12. Vote 703 – Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipal Council – Shs 57,960,000; Vote 704 – Busia Municipal Council – Shs 7,249,302; 13. Vote 715 – Koboko Municipal Council – Shs 24,318,144;

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to comment on two things: first, the Deputy Attorney-General’s statement has pointed out the issue of the presidential directive on bond. The issue of bonds is a two-edged sword. It amazes me that if you owe a moneylender any coin, you will not be granted a bond but if you steal a boda boda from a boda boda rider and you are arrested with the help of other riders, in a day you will be given bond. I had two meetings with boda boda riders in Mbarara City. On the 28th of December last year and the 24th of January. They are very

15788 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT [Ms Atukwasa] devastated and desperate to the extent that they think probably taking the law in their hands is the solution. Therefore, as we agitate to say that bonds should be given to people, we also need to consider the village thieves. I think the President’s idea is really factual. People who steal goats and chickens go scot-free because the moment they enter; they are given bond. Attorney-General, we need to be very considerate on that matter. As you cry, on the other side, that bond should be for everybody, the issue of the lack of small claims courts comes in here. Mr Speaker, the Attorney-General should be able to elaborate on this issue. If somebody has taken my goat and it is Shs 150,000, must I go through the whole process? The police stations, for instance, in Mbarara City, are full of young people who cannot process and clear all of these small claims so that they go back home. Mr Speaker, I beg your indulgence that you task the Deputy Attorney- General to substantiate this matter of the small claims and the issue of bond. The other issue, Mr Speaker, most times in this House, most of you are lawyers and are referring to the law, but also sociologists exist. The functions of the prisons are very key. There are four most cardinal reasons but I will use just two. One is the issue of deterrence and rehabilitation, and recently we talked about restitution. If you are confined in jail for three months, 15, or 28 years, which you should not be, are we solving any problem, or addressing the cardinal reasons why people go to jail? Therefore, Mr Speaker, I support that the committee goes back and brings the lists of individuals who are in these prisons. The person being spoken about here comes from Mbarara and I do not think she or he is the only one. Therefore, the committee should do us justice. Go back and bring these lists so that we task the Judiciary to drop these cases so that we know we are doing work and not just here speaking. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

15675 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 22 JANUARY 2025 Generally, the features of the facilities visited fall short of the characterisation of a modern abattoir. With the exception of the new facility under construction, that is, Kyentale Ward in Hoima City, nearly all the facilities visited had poor equipment and infrastructure establishment, which is typical of local and traditional slaughterhouses, with old-fashioned means of operation. A modern abattoir should have at least automated systems such as cold rooms for storage, pulleys for hoisting carcasses, reliable water and electricity as opposed to manual operations, which cause delays and compromise the meat quality. Abattoirs can be a source of zoonotic diseases, that is, diseases transmitted from animals to humans, and may expose workers to harmful pathogens. We go to the recommendations. i. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) should develop standard designs for the slaughter facilities at different levels, that will also cater for various categories of livestock. ii. The Government should construct more slaughterhouses and equip them with the necessary facilities. Throughout the oversight visits, the majority of the facilities were privately-owned, while the few government facilities were under the public-private partnership. iii. The Government should also undertake renovations and expansion of the dilapidated slaughterhouses to ensure that they comply with the required standards. iv. Also, the Government should equip the slaughterhouses with modern equipment for meat handling and processing. This includes equipment for cold storage, hoisting, laboratory, and transportation. v. The Government should provide incentives to abattoir owners to upgrade their infrastructure. vi. The district, municipal, and city authorities should ensure that the tenders for the slaughterhouses provide for the tenderer to operate and maintain the facility. vii. The Government should establish a public health and veterinary laboratory in line with the “One Health Approach” in the slaughterhouses to support slaughterhouses in examining the carcasses, organs, testing of drug residues, meat handlers, and other necessary tests. viii. The Ministry of Local Government’s approvals of new administrative units, for example, town councils, municipalities, cities and districts, should be premised on the availability of designated locations for abattoirs and environmentally-sensitive enterprises. Let us now go to functionality. We looked at utilities and one of them was water. Most of our cities do not have running tap water. Some are not connected to the National Water and Sewerage Corporation. Some facilities such as Mbarara City and Soroti City abattoirs had water harvesting tanks. The Fort Portal facility had reserve water tanks, while others such as Jinja had extra water facilities such as boreholes. The rest such as Masaka Pig Slaughter Space, and Hoima City Abattoir, depend on water ferried using jerrycans. Some of those with connections reported intermittent connection breakdowns, for instance, in Masaka City Abattoir, where the staff reported using jerrycans when the National Water and Sewerage Corporation water is off. Other facilities such as Jinja City Abattoir, had been disconnected by National Water and Sewerage Corporation due to accumulated arrears. For electricity, the committee noted that out of all facilities visited, about 21 per cent were connected to the national power grid. These include Masaka City Abattoir, Mbarara City Modern Abattoir, Kibimba City Council Abattoir, Kalerwe City Abattoir and Jinja.

15676 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT The majority of the facilities were operating without power services because of a lack of connection to the power grid, while others such as Mbale City abattoir were disconnected due to unpaid power bills. Sanitary Facilities The major sanitation facility was VIP latrines. Out of the l9 facilities visited, only nine (that is 47 per cent) had VIP latrines. The condition of the latrines, however, was very poor, manifested by lack water supply, dilapidated structures, smelly and many lacked demarcations for the male and female staff. Some facilities such as the Hoima City abattoir did not have a latrine facility while others such as City Abattoir, Kalerwe, and Mukono had a shared facility with the market vendors. Functionality of the waste management and disposal processes The facilities visited lacked proper waste disposal systems. By the nature of their operations, slaughterhouses generate a lot of solid and liquid waste such as rumen, dung, blood, and condemned internal organs, among others. The poor disposal poses significant environmental concerns such as pollution, operational hygiene and sanitary conditions in and around the slaughter facilities. Waste segregation and storage With the exception of the Mbarara new City Abattoir, nearly all the facilities lacked a waste storage management system. What was common in all the facilities was that the waste was cast in open spaces but segregated according to type. For example, Masaka and Mbarara city abattoirs had segregated spaces for keeping hooves and cow dung. In Mbarara, the segregated liquid was, for instance, channelled into a fish pond which was built for the purpose of consuming waste from the abattoir while the excess was channelled into the lagoon. Disposal Only three (16 per cent) of the facilities visited had drainage systems. Some of the facilities which had drainage systems and lagoons to which liquid waste was disposed include Masaka City abattoir, Mbarara City modern abattoir, Jinja City abattoir and the Pork Master Ricks in Masaka. The drainage systems for other facilities were in a poor status. The City Abattoir drainage runs into Nakivubo Channel while the drainage systems of Masaka, Kalerwe, Masindi were stagnant and visibly too old to provide appropriate drainage which caused stenches and pollution. Availability of incinerators and records The majority of the facilities had no functional incinerators to destroy condemned internal body organs, carcasses, and condemned animals unfit for human consumption. Only Iganga Municipal abattoir, KCCA, and Kalerwe had smal1 incinerators which were visibly less functional and inadequate. Considering the huge traffic of cattle, especially at the City Abattoir, the need for a modern and functioning incinerator is important for taking care of the condemned animals and inedible carcasses. Other facilities such as Iganga, Lira, and Mbale destroyed solid waste and condemned parts by burning, causing unnecessary environmental pollution. Lagoons The slaughtering process involves bleeding, skinning, dressing, and postmortem inspection. At this stage blood, urine, faecal matter, and other secretions are produced. Inadequate sanitary and hygiene conditions can lead to direct meat contamination and further expose the workers to various diseases and antibiotic- resistant strains of bacteria. Improper waste disposal and non-compliant effluent discharge can further result in water and air pollution and water-borne diseases.

'Contents 1 INTRODUCTION 2 TERMS OF REFERENCE: 3 METHODOLOGY 4 STANDARDS OF AN ABAT'TOIR/SLAUGHTER HOUSES..,.,. 5 GENERAL CATEGORIZATION OF ABATTOIRS/SLAUGHTER HOUSES IS AS FOLLOWS: 4 5 5 6 5.1 Categorization of Abattoirs/Slaughter houses according to size: .... g 5.2 Standard requirements of an abattoir/slaughter house Error! 6.1 Ceutral and Western Uganda Error! Bookmark not defined. 8 6.3 Masaka Pork Slaughter Housc: The pork Master Ricks 10 6.4 Mbarara City 1l 6.5 Mbarara City Modern Abatto 11 6.6 Kakoba Slaughter House.......,... .... ........1I 6.7 Fort Portal Ci 12 6.8 Kibimba City Council Abattoir ..............12 6.9 Kitumba Slaughter House........... 6,1O Hoima city.............. 6. 11 Masindi District 6.14 IgangaMunicipality l5 6.15 Mbale City ......................16 6.16 Soroti City Council ........tT 6.17 Lira City t2 1a I4 17 6.18 Kampala Capital City.............. 6.18.1 city /KCCA Abattoir ..................... t8 6.19 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATUS OF ABATTOIRS:....20 6. 19.1 Functionality and suitability of the Infrastructure: ..............20 2 Nf-3

6 FINDINGS: According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), animals are slaughtered in different spaces, namely: a) Slaughter slabs: there are 1,003 slaughter slabs spread in 93 districts. b) Slaughter houses: Central (23), Eastern (7), Northern (7), Western (7) and Karamoja (1). Table 1: Distribution of Slaughter Facilities in the country Region Specie (cattlel Swine Poultry Central 6 5 T2 Eastern 2 3 2 Western J I J Northern a 2 c Karamoia 1 0 0 Source: MAAIF The findings ofthe oversight are provided according to regions and the details for the abattoirs are provided on a case-by-case for each facility in the district, municipality and city visited. This section of the report presents hndings of tl:e oversight visit to abattoirs/ slaughter houses where nine cities and four district local government were covered. These included; Masaka City, Mbarara City, Fort Portal City, Hoima City, Masindi District, Jinja, Mbale, Lira and Kampala City. 6.1 Masaka City In Masaka, the committee visited the Masaka city Abattoir and Masaka city Pork Slaughter house. k W 9 FLC

Recommenddtlons Masaka Citg authorities should expedite the completlon of the Pork Master Ricks to achieae at least, the modest stand.c,rds oJ a modern slaughter house. 6.2 Mbarara City Mbarara City has four slaughter house facilities but only two facitities (a private and a government owned facility) were visited by the Committee. a) Mbarara City Modern Abattoir: The Mbarara Modern Abattoir is a Private establishment and is currently the major service provider for slaughter house services to Mbarara City. It slaughters between 20 to 30 cattle and about 30 goats daily and employs between 80 to 100 workers. The facility was generally in a good condition and manifests characteristics ofa fair to good abattoir house structure. The good conditions of the facility were attributed to the proper management by the facility owners. The Managers of the facility informed the Committee that people are hesitant to bring animals to the abattoir because of fees and costs involved, a farmer is charged 8,000 Ugx per cattle. Notwithstanding the costs involved per animal, the culture of non-use of the abattoir by some farmers was seen as dangerous because it exposes the public to consumption of meat from unknown sources and standards. b| Kakoba Slaughter House The Kakoba slaughter house is the only government facitity located in Kakoba Division in Mbarara City. The facility is small but sits on an approximate land size of 10 acres. The facility was generally in very bad state surrounded by bushes, poor drainage and waste dis posal. The poor ff-g

6.L3,2 Functionality of Utilities The utilities under this section inciuded water, electricity and sanitary facilities such as ventilated improved pit latrines (VIPs). 6.13.2.1 Water Of all the facilities visited, only 6 (31%) had running (tap) water, connected to the NWSC. Some of the facilities such as Mbarara city and Soroti abattoir had water harvest tanks, Fort Portal facility had reserve water tanks while others such as Jinja had extra water facilities such as borehole. The rest such as the Masaka Pig slaughter space, Hoima City Abattoir depend on water ferried using jerricans. Some of those with water connections reported intermittent connection breakdowns, for instance, in Masaka City Abattoir, where the staff reported using jerricans when the NWSC water is off. Other facilities such as Jinja City abattoir had been disconnected by the NWSC due to accumulated arrears for water bills. 6.13.2.2 Electricitg The Committee noted that out of all the facilities visited about 21 percent were connected to the national power grid. These include Masaka City Abattoir, Mbarara City Modern Abattoir, Kibimba City Council Abattoir, Kalerwe, City Abattoir, City Abattoir and Jinja. Majority of the facilities were operating without power services because of lack of connection to the power grid while others such as Mbale City abattoir were disconnected due to unpaid power bills. The Committee observed that the lack of power connection stifles the functionality of the facilities especially during late and early morning hours where the staff are compelled to use alternative lighting facilities such as torches. The situation is made worse during busy seasons such as holidays which require slaughtering more animals than usual. The slaughtering of 23 NLJ

animals at night against existing provisional laws and regulations jeopardizes the safety of the meat products. 6.13.2,3 Sanitary Facilities The major sanitation facility was VIP latrines. out of the l9 facilities visited, only 9 (47o/ol had VIP latrines. The conditions of the latringJhowever, was poor, manifested by lack water supply, dilapidated structures, smelly and many lacked demarcations for the male and female staff. Some facilities such as the Hoima City abattoir did not have the latrine facility while others such as City Abattoir, Kalerwe and Mukono had a shared facility with the market vendors. The latrine at Kalerwe had a huge crack underground posing a risk to users. 6.13.3 Functionality of the wastc managenent aud disposal processes. The facilities visited lacked a proper waste disposal systems. By nature of their operations, slaughter houses generate a lot of solid and liquid waste such as rumen, blood, dung, blood, condemned interna-l organs, cow dung, among others. It is concerning that these are improperly disposed. The poor disposal poses significant environmental concerns such as pollution, operational hygiene and sanitary conditions in and around the slaughter facilities. 6.13.3.1 Waste segregation and. storage with the exception of the Mbarara new city abattoir, nearly a1l the facilities Iacked a waste storage management system. What was common in all the facilities is that the waste was cast in open spaces but segregated according to types. For example, Masaka and Mbarara city abattoirs had segregated space for keeping hooves and cow dung. In Mbarara, the segregated liquid was, for instance channeled into a fish pond which was built for the purpose of consuming waste from the abattoir while the excess were ch eled into the lagoon. EJ

5,73.3.2 Dtsposcl Only 3 (16%) of the facilities visited had drainage systems. Some of the facilities which had drainage system and lagoons to which liquid waste was disposed include Masaka city Abattoir, Mbarara city Modern Abattoir, Jinja city abattoir, The Pork Master Ricks in Masaka. The drainage systems for other facilities were in a poor status. The city Abattoir drainage runs into Nakivubo channel while drainage system of Masaka, Kalerwe, Masindi were stagnant and visibly old to provide appropriate drainage which caused stenches and pollution. The solid waste such as cow dung, hooves, skins and hides, horns and inedible meat parts were dumped in open spaces. with exception of cow dung which was reportedly collected by farmers for processing manure for banana pla,tations, the rest of the solid waste was poorly attended too due to lack of disposal management systems. In this case, the use of cow-dung by farmers is arguably the most sustainable means of disposing it off and reducing the magnitude of the problem. Further, other facilities openly burn the solid waste such as horns and other inedible meat and other solid waste. During the oversight visit to Iganga Slaughter House, horns were being burnt and this causes a lot of pollution accompanied by a very irritable smell. 6.l4Availability of iucinerators and records Majority of the facilities had no functional incinerators to destroy condemned internal body organs, carcass and condemned animals unfit for human consumption. only Iganga Municipal abattoir, KCCA and Kalerwe had smal1 incinerators which were visibly less functional and inadequate. considering the huge traffic of cattle especially at the city Abattoir, the need for a modern and functioning incinerator is important for taking care of the condemned animals and inedible carcass. Other faciiities as Iganga, 25 FI.,i

I incinerators to destroy condemned internal body organs, carcass and condemned animals, unfit for human consumption. Some facilities like Masaka City Abattoir cow- dung is disposed on the open ground but fortunately, constantly picked by farmers for processing manure for banana plantations. The use of cow-dung by farmers is arguably, the most sustainable means of disposing it off and reducing the magnitude of the problem. 5 Drainage a Only 3 (16%) of the facilities had drainage syste ms. Some of the facilities which had drainage system and lagoons to whrch liquid waste was disposed include Masaka City Abattoir, Mbarara City Modern Abattoir, Jinja City abattoir, The Pork Master Ricks in Masaka. The drainage systems for other facilities were in a poor status and some. Facilities such as Masaka City Abattoir, Hoima, Masindi Kalerwe had a full and stagnated lagoon, which caused uncomfortable smell. 6 Water supply and availability a a Only 5 (260lo) had running (tap) water, connected to the UNWSC. The rest such as the Masaka Pig slaughter space, Hoima City Abattoir depend on water ferried using jericans. Some of the facilities with water connections reported intermittent connection and breakdowns. For instance, in Masaka City

Abattoir, sometimes the staff use jerricans when the NWSC water goes o[f. 7 Availability electricity of I Only of 4(219/o) of the facilities were connected to the national power grid. These include Masaka City Abattoir, Mbarara City Modern Abattoir, Kibimba City Council Abattoir, Kalerwe, City Abattior and Jinja. 8 PPEs a There was good use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) the sta-ff at most facilities. 9 Government Public Health Measures a The facilities were supervised by District, City and Municipal Veterinary Officers which do the animal examination, carcass inspection and approval for public consumption. 10 Processes at Facility, holding, isolation area I Only 3 (16%) of the 19 facilities had established processes from reception. These include Masaka and Mbarara, Jinja in, City Abattoir. Most of the facilities had no adequate holding areas for livestock and while some did not have separate spaces for holding cattle and goats and most did not isolation spaces. l1 Equipment/mac hinery I With exception of the new facility (under construction), all the facilities visited lacked the required equipment for meat processing. For instance, none of them had a cold room for meat storage, functional pulleys for hoisting meat. AII the activities at the facilities are malually done. t2 ICEs o None of the facilities had visible information, communication and education materials or signposts on the dos and don'ts at the facility.

Madam Speaker, we are discussing a very important subject matter that touches on the lives of the people of Uganda. My first submission which I want to bring to the attention of this Parliament is that the prevalence rate of HIV/AIDS is on the increase. Fort portal City leads with a prevalence rate of 14.7 per cent. Mbarara City follows with a prevalence rate of 14 per cent. Kyotera is number 3 with 13.7 per cent. Then in that sequence, Masaka City, Lira City, Soroti City, Arua City and others. The point I want to raise to the Minister- I am bound by collective responsibility, but let me raise this. We seem to be emphasising more of cure than prevention. I recall when we were young kids in primary, there used to be the film of the late Philly Bongole Lutaaya; Alone and frightened. And I recall either in primary three or four when we watched it, seated on the ground, I can assure you the fear it caused up to now, is the reason I am safe and sound up to this moment. ( Laughter ) But it also appears that our partners are not focusing on that. Our development partners are seemingly focusing on treatment. So, I think honourable minister, I have raised this time and a time and again, that time is up. For

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for this opportunity. First, I would like to thank the committee for the good work they have done. However, I have a few issues. One, I think the minister has taken so long to hear the cry of the cities. It would be imagined that when a giraffe stands in the middle of a national park, when you pass by, you are able to see it. Unfortunately, the cities were created, but they have absolutely lacked attention. The committee alluded to the issue of the wage bill, but in the cities it is more alarming. In Mbarara City, currently, the staffing level for health workers stands at only about 20 per cent. It is very heart-breaking that nurses and doctors cannot even take leave because they have no one to leave behind. Therefore, through you, Madam Speaker, I think it is time - four years down the road, the minister has promised, but not delivered. So, I wish you could compel him to bring the actualisation of the cities as fast as possible. The other issue is to do with the road funds and how the divisions within the cities are treated. They do not receive anything and, now, there is a situation where the city is fighting for both the road fund and the local revenue earned from property tax. The ministry knows about it. My good friend, Hon. Magyezi knows about this, but he has failed to come in and help them. Yes, the committee has been to Mbarara City to mediate on this issue. They have directed that the central shares its resources with the divisions, but this has gone without attention. There is a controversial issue – information? [Mr Magyezi] STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT

Thank you, my brother. Madam Speaker, there is an issue that the committee recommended on, to do with material testing for approved road works. I was not satisfied because they did not dig deeper. Contractors who are able to obtain murram from the communities exploit this issue, yet they cannot - in Mbarara City, for instance, there are community members who are willing to give free murram, but because this is a strong requirement, when you take the samples for testing, they refuse to approve them so that you go through a contractor to be able to procure. So, they deny the community the chance to be able to contribute for their own good and the well-being of the road, which I - (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am Atukwasa Rita. I represent Mbarara City and I am the Secretary General, Ankole Parliamentary Caucus. Thank you, the people of Northern Uganda, for hosting us.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am Mwesigwa Robert Rukaari, Mbarara City North.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is very clear to us that today it is me and tomorrow is someone else. In my language, I can loosely translate to say that when a stick beats your co-wife, you are supposed to burn it into ashes because you could be the next target. One of the things that has missed from the minister’s statement is the nature of the emergency of the state of the road to Kiteezi. I am even wondering how they got there to rescue the people. The road is in such a terrible state that it is an emergency itself. For over seven years, those garbage trucks go throwing garbage and now they have diverted and pass through Kyanja spreading the methane and all the dirt. Honourable minister, with due respect to the work you have done, that is one thing you have missed and you ought to track it. Secondly, I think we all need to be true to ourselves. For instance, you pass the city and KCCA has just had a project where they are putting little bins alongside the road. It is a shame how money can be wasted. The basics of waste management - if it cannot come from KCCA, then you wonder who will follow. It is very clear and my sister, Hon. Christine Kaaya, has said the same; you should set up a learning example by putting bins that separate garbage into different categories. However, if you cannot do that, which other Ugandans will do it in their home? My question is, after all the cries- Kiteezi has been on the red flag. I have lived along that road for as many years as possible but you still fail the Government and make us look bad; you should be held accountable. (Applause) As I conclude, I said that we should “burn this stick” right here- in Mbarara City now, we are in disarray. People have chased us from the Kenkombe dumping site, including where we bury people. If Kampala that is an attraction at an international level - what will happen to us; Mbarara, Lira and Nakasongola which is yearning to have a city? I think every coin must be accounted for. I have no kind words for the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA); we need to see you act. People have died- we need an action plan. If we can have Kira Motors produce a bus in this country, why can’t we manage our waste? Unfortunately, we are no longer going to be killed by natural disasters; we are now going to be killed by man-made degradation of our motherland. When mother earth cries, it is unstoppable. I implore you to save us from coming here again. The Government should produce an action that translates into a budget. At least, we have one plant that can process our waste - and we are losing job opportunities for young people. Thank you for the opportunity.

13525 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 2 JULY 2024 Makerere University gender equality project, Shs 1.2 billion. Uganda Tourism Board was given Shs 1.8 billion. National Citizenship and Immigration Control Shs 10 billion for border posts, technology and so on. National Animal Genetic Resource Centre and Data Bank (NAGRIC&DB), an additional Shs 10 billion, to kick start a demonstration farm in Bukedea District - (Interjection) - That one, yes. I also come from there, that is my district, honourable colleagues. Vote 410 - Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. It has been struggling to construct a surgical complex for about five years. It is not going far and they need Shs 5 billion to complete it. Mbale region covers a big area; that is Pallisa, Bukedea - Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB), Shs 4 billion. Uganda Microfinance Regulation Authority, Shs 3 billion. Uganda Export Promotions Board in order to participate in Expo 2025, Osaka, Shs 4 billion. Kisoro District was allocated Shs 1.3 billion for construction of Kanyamatekye Bridge, and rehabilitation of Buhoozi Health Centre III, Shs 350 million, Nyarusiza Health Centre III Shs 350 million. Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital. Ever since that hospital was upgraded from a district hospital to a regional referral hospital, the budget stayed constant. We had allocated an additional Shs 3 billion to Entebbe regional referral hospital. Uganda consulate in Mombasa, Kenya. They are supposed to host the Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference Centre in Kampala, November 2024. We had allocated Shs 1 billion. Vote 609 - Mbarara City, Shs 5.2 billion had been allocated for construction of Katete Bridge in Mbarara City that is going to connect to Isingiro and others. 1. St Helen Primary School refurbishment, Shs 100 million, 2. Kakoba Muslim Primary School, Shs 100 million, 3. Kagaga Primary School, Shs 100 million, 4. Nyamitanga Secondary School Shs 100 million, 5. Nyamityobora Health Centre II Shs 400 million. Sheema Municipal Council -

-"* .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" ( .\- . \

I put the question that a total sum of Shs 490,604,849 be provided for under Vote 608: Mbale City as a supplementary recurrent expenditure for Financial Year 2023/2024. (Question put and agreed to.) Vote 609: Mbarara City

I put the question that a total sum of Shs 715,035,199 be provided for Vote 609: Mbarara City as a supplementary recurrent expenditure for the Financial Year 2023/2024. (Question put and agreed to.) Vote 610: Soroti City

Thank you. According to section 96, these regulations are for information purposes. Honourable colleagues, we shall put them in the library and you can access them to help you in the execution of your duties. In the public gallery this afternoon, we have a delegation of Muslim leaders from Mbarara City led by the District Khadhi, Sheikh Mukwaya Abdallah. They include Hajj Rashid – District Chairperson, Mr Abdul Nasser Nsubuga – Public Relations Officer, Mr Siraj Ntutumo – District Secretary, Mr Ssenkayi Murishid – District Lands Chairman, Mrs Nuluat Musoke – Social Affairs; and Mr Uthman Nduhukire – Secretary for Education. They are represented in Parliament by Hon. Mwine Mpaka and Hon. Ritah Atukwasa. They have come to observe the proceedings of this House. Please join me in welcoming them. (Applause) Next item? MOTION FOR ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON INFORMATION, COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AND NATIONAL GUIDANCE ON THE PETITION BY THE UGANDA NATIONAL MUSICIANS FEDERATION ON AMENDMENTS TO THE COPYRIGHTS AND NEIGHBOURING RIGHTS ACT

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, Madam Speaker. When I checked on page 102 of the report, I saw that the development budget estimates for Mbarara City are Shs 31.4 billion, and Soroti City has Shs 6.8 billion. That is a variance of 78 per cent. They are allocating – (Mr Oguzu rose_) – Madam Speaker, I pray that you protect me.

Honourable members, listen. 1) Vote 601: Arua City - Shs 36,948,486,000 2) Vote 602: Fort Portal City - Shs 21,749,696,000 3) Vote 603: Gulu City – Shs 26,555,638,000 4) Vote 604: Hoima City - Shs 14,982,706,000 5) Vote 605: Jinja City - Shs 38,446,052,000 6) Vote 606: Lira City - Shs 25,298,264,000 7) Vote 607: Masaka City - Shs 28,740,158,000 8) Vote 608: Mbale City - Shs 36,977,607,000 9) Vote 609: Mbarara City - Shs 33,853,374,000 10) Vote 610: Soroti City - Shs 18,894,719,000 11) Vote 701: Apac Municipal Council – Shs 8,494,655,000 12) Vote 702: Bugiri Municipal Council – Shs 5,045,364,000 13) Vote 703: Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipal Council - Shs 10,811,439,000 14) Vote 704: Busia Municipal Council - Shs 6,584,841,000 15) Vote 705: Entebbe Municipal Council – Shs 14,974,279,000 16) Vote 706: Ibanda Municipal Council – Shs 12,652,788,000 17) Vote 707: Iganga Municipal Council - Shs 6,354,604,000 18) Vote 708: Kabale Municipal Council – Shs 15,642,752,000 19) Vote 709: Kamuli Municipal Council – Shs 6,980,978,000 20) Vote 710: Kapchorwa Municipal Council – Shs 8,378,122,000 21) Vote 711: Kasese Municipal Council – Shs 14,834,120,000 22) Vote 712: Kira Municipal Council – Shs 20,650,861,000 23) Vote 713: Kisoro Municipal Council – Shs 3,648,099,000 24) Vote 714: Kitgum Municipal Council – Shs 6,670,002,000 25) Vote 715: Koboko Municipal Council – Shs 7,501,016,000 26) Vote 716: Kotido Municipal Council – Shs 7,454,417,000 27) Vote 717: Kumi Municipal Council – Shs 6,938,873,000 28) Vote 718: Lugazi Municipal Council – Shs 7,853,940,000 29) Vote 719: Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipal Council – Shs 13,864,172,000

8604 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT iii. Local government absorption capacity The 35 local government votes considered were warranted to a total of Shs 1,278.2 billion an equivalent of 21.3 per cent of the total warrants to the local governments’ budget during the Financial Year 2021/2022 and this excludes the local revenues. Out of the Shs 1.278.2 billion resources warranted to 35 local governments, only Shs 1,163.9 trillion was expended representing 91 per cent absorption of the budget released. In this regard, Shs 114 billion was returned to the consolidated fund as a result of failure to absorb the resources, and this is from the 38 local governments that we are reporting. Madam Speaker, in overall out of the Shs 5,426.9 billion that was appropriated to all local governments, Shs 4,723 billion was utilised hence leaving unspent balance of Shs 703 billion return back to treasury. Madam Speaker, I have provided a detailed breakdown and even indicated the performance of the respective local government entities, showing those that performed well and those that did not perform well. This includes details of how much money each entity returned. For example, Madam Speaker, Mbarara City returned Shs 18 billion, Isingiro District Local Government returned Shs 10.8 billion, Kyegegwa returned Shs 9.8 billion, Kagadi district returned Shs 9.48 billion – and many others. Madam Speaker, there are also local governments that performed well. These local governments include districts like -

Madam Speaker, as I had said, there are local government entities that are equally performing well, with very high absorption levels. These local governments include Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality, Ibanda District, Rukungiri District, Kamwenge and many others. There are also districts that have performed terribly and need to be mentioned. These include Mbarara City with 67 per cent absorption capacity, Ntungamo (64 per cent), Ntoroko (76 per cent), Fort Portal City (77 per cent), Hoima City (77 per cent) and Kabale Municipal Council (77 per cent). These were below expectations. Madam Speaker, we have provided recommendations – and just to be specific, most of the local governments explained that their poor absorption was majorly rotating around the failure to recruit, failure to have teachers posted by Ministry of Education and Sports as well as the issue of USMID, where large sums of monies meant for road works were returned because the procurement processes got delayed. There was also the issue of delayed completion of projections under UGIFT. Madam Speaker, we have provided recommendations. 1. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should account for the under-release of funds to the local governments. 2. Entities whose absorption of funds was below 80 per cent should be subjected to further investigation to ascertain the underlying factors for the gross underperformance. 3. The accounting officers should develop clear revenue enhancement plans to assist the districts in future revenue mobilisation. 4. Finally, accounting officers should make a follow up with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development on the shortfalls affecting service delivery. 3.2 Government preparedness to implement the Parish Development Model (PDM)

8613 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 10 MAY 2023 Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the committee for the elaborate report. One thing that cuts across Mbarara, Ntungamo and Kabale and has not left this Floor is the USMID project. It has really been a pain in our necks for the last three years. The contractor, multiplex, has not left either the ears of the developed partners or parliament. We wonder: what exactly is happening that all those projects are given to a contractor that has no capacity in terms of finance, equipment and human resource? I think the forensic audit that is being proposed would alleviate the pain. The other issue could be about priorities. I have already briefed you on what is going on in Mbarara City, with the broken bridges of Kanyeite, Katete and Nyakaizi. They have even caused the loss of three lives – a 23-year- old student of Mbarara University and a 19-year-old student of one of the high schools were buried yesterday. However, money is being returned to the Consolidated Fund. I chair the Road Fund for Mbarara City. It is like a practice for you to be called to, in three weeks, sit and effect a programme that has been planned for three months. The ministry for finance cannot go unmentioned here. Whereas we may want to blame the technical officers, the Government should be able to take that blame. Lastly, we need to expedite the issue structures in the cities. The structure came out, but it is still wanting. In some areas, you cannot have a city engineer handling the issue of roads without the assistance of the different divisions. As we look at Mbarara City having returned all those monies, we really need help with USMID so that our roads can be repaired to the desired standards. However, I thank the committee and wish that this report, indeed, attracts actions by the concerned entities.

8489 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 3 MAY 2023 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. to thank you for delivering ‘twins’ to Mbarara City. I had my women’s day on Friday. And I would like to say that all colours in this House were well represented. Hon. Cecilia Ogwal, to mention but a few, was there. Madam Speaker, what we witnessed today and what happened to the women, I condemn in the strongest terms. Being women Members of Parliament, I think most of these RDCs being men, think, they have wives to tease around, which I condemn in the strongest terms. In this position, patriarchal tendencies - day, when we are serving. When somebody sees you, they do not even mind about Government protocol. They do not even want to care about the people who voted for you. And it is unbecoming that the government, I for one, which I credit for creating my capacity this far, now wants to turn the guns to the people they have empowered; I think that is wrong; the women! Because it is a natural process that a woman can give birth to a child, at some point, they will marry or get married and might probably make more money and/or earn more than you. Look at our teachers. They create professors, doctors and MPs like me, yet some are still in the classrooms. So, what am I saying? What I am saying is that there are fundamental and historical issues with Women’s Day that need and must be sorted. It is evident that this day has no money at all - when you went - you remember the meeting we had at Hotel Africana? While we had a little drop of that money, and thanks to you, it is insufficient. We are addressed as women Members of Parliament and that comes with a social obligation as per what our constituents expect. Women’s Day is on our shoulders. Therefore, for us to make an effort, you divide your finances but later on, you are fought. Madam Speaker, we are fighters. I had a successful day in Mbarara City because I am a fighter. The pockets of fighting do not come out in the same way. Yours could be security and mine could be that of a technocrat. But what we are saying? We need to support our colleagues. Let us not just laugh as we speak because we need to address the fundamental problem that as liberated women in this House, we must celebrate Women’s Day, as Government intends it to be. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Speaker, thank you very much. I appreciate the chairperson for the report he has given us. My concern is that if you go to some districts, you find there are poles that were installed four years ago and there are no electric wires on them. We wonder what could be happening. Secondly, there are those towns that were made cities – like Gulu City, Arua City, Mbarara City and others. I understand that the Government

Thank you, Mr Speaker. All of us are rotating around money or financial inclusion because all the things require money. Mindset change, mobilisation - almost all pillars involve money. Mbarara District has 43 parishes and almost all of them have received money save for one parish of Nyamiriro where my brother Hon. Basil comes from. However, no one has accessed that money. One reason is that people have been told to open individual accounts. People have been calling me - some of us represent rural areas. Mbarara District is a rural area and people are told to go to Mbarara City where the banks are, to open accounts.

6983 Wednesday, 25 January 2023 3. To evaluate the status and safety of savers’ money in the Fund; 4. To examine the extent of stakeholder engagement in decision making at the Fund; 5. To inquire into any other matters incidental thereto - She appoints the following people - if I read your name, you stand up: 1. Hon. Karim Masaba (Independent, Industrial Division, Mbale City)- Member 2. Hon. Kakembo Michael (NUP, Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso) – Member 3. Hon. Rose Nantongo Fortunate (DP, Woman Representative Kyotera) – Member 4. Hon. Laura Kanushu (NRM, PWD Representative) – Member 5. Hon. Kankunda Amos Kibwika (NRM, Rwampara County Rwampara) – Member 6. Hon. Bakkabulindi Charles (NRM, Workers Representative) – Member 7. Hon. Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama (NRM, Mbarara South Division, Mbarara City) – Chairperson.” They are supposed to report back within one month. I am told the party whips were consulted; so, that is it on that point. IN THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA Official Report of the Proceedings of Parliament SECOND SESSION - 7TH SITTING - THIRD MEETING Parliament met at 2.15 p.m. in Parliament House, Kampala. PRAYERS (The Deputy Speaker, Mr Thomas Tayebwa, in the Chair.) The House was called to order. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

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

Madam Speaker, my prayer is that the Government, through the Ministry of Works, UNRA and the Ministry of Water and Environment, should urgently block the flow of water from Lake Kagera and a study be done because the continuous flow of water into Lake Victoria might also cause another catastrophe. This morning, I have been told that as a result, levels of River Rwizi, which is also the lifeblood of Mbarara City and other areas, have also gone down. I beg to submit.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There are a number of issues which were raised touching financing and I would like to respond as follows: Issue one; on delayed releases. Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that we release quarterly budgets by the 10 th of the first month, meaning that if the quarter is beginning on the 1 st of July, by 10 th the law requires us to have released the funds. And after the release, the warranting begins. Therefore, the issue of delayed releases is not on our side. It occurs sometimes where we do not release directly to the spending agencies. Where the releases must go through the sector ministry, sometimes the delays occur at that point. I would invite the honourable colleagues to interest themselves in the particular votes they are referring to and if that is the case, we can take it on with the relevant accounting officer. Number two is an issue on local revenue, which goes to the Consolidated Fund. The law requires us to send all the monies to the Consolidated Fund, and under the Treasury Single Account, we find this to be the best practice. I wish to inform the House - and I did inform the local governments in September when we had engagements with them - that this is just for reconciliation purposes. If you collect, for instance - I want to use Mbarara City because I recently interacted with one of the people in finance in that city - they had collected Shs 9 billion in local revenue, and all this money I confirmed that it had been sent back. You just send it to the Consolidated Fund

6733 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 6 JANUARY 2023 session early; I immediately transmitted the same to the President, whereby the rules require that the President ensures that it reaches Hon. Persis Namuganza. Therefore, on our side, we did our part, as per the rules. In this process, where we have reached, we are being commanded by the law. It is not being commanded by someone talking to me; by someone whispering. It is implementing the law the way it is. I will follow the law and the rules, as they are. This is because rule 109(9) is very clear that after 14 days of transmitting it to the President, I must cause Parliament to sit and appoint a select committee that will investigate the minister with the aim of establishing a prima facie case. A prima facie case is the case on the surface; evidently visible. That will be the role of the committee. Therefore, I am commanded by rule 109 of our Rules of Procedure to cause the House to appoint that committee. That committee is supposed to process the motion within 15 days, as provided for under rule 109(10) of our Rules of Procedure. That committee, in the process, under the same rule: 1. It to co-opt any Member to support it in its duty. 2. Any Member accused to appear before the committee either directly or through their representative and defend themselves. It would ensure that indeed the rules of natural justice are followed. I have proposed the names clearly and I have avoided names of people who already debated this matter on the Floor. I want the people who have not debated this matter to be part of this matter. People like Hon. Macho –(Laughter)- we have to protect the integrity of this House. We do not want anyone to claim that they are being victimised. The moment something is done, we want to give you a fair chance of defending yourself. We want you to appear before people who are fair and have not yet pronounced themselves. The process has to be thoroughly done. We do not want anyone to claim that they are being victimised. No. This is within the rules; whatever is being done is being done because the rules and the law provides for that. I, therefore, propose the following Members: 1. Hon Mwine Mpaka Rwamirama - Member of Parliament for Mbarara City South, as the chairperson of the committee. 2. Hon. Wilfred Niwagaba - Member of Parliament for Ndorwa East, as one of the senior legislators and custodians of the rules, to ensure that the rules are well followed. 3. Hon. Mpindi Bumali - Member of Parliament representing Persons with Disabilities. 4. Hon. Charles Bakkabulindi - Workers Representative. 5. Hon. Nancy Acora - Woman Member of Parliament for Lamwo District. 6. Hon. Betty Ethel Naluyima - Woman Member of Parliament for Wakiso District. 7. Hon. Geofrey Ekanya - Member of Parliament for Tororo County North. Members, I now put the question that the committee be approved. (Question put and agreed to.)

2396 2397 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2022 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT The committee discovered that in Gulu City, the local leaders/ politicians, such as councillors that were meant to supervise and provide oversight, took over and abused the process by registering their relatives and themselves as beneficiaries. In situations where the local councils rendered support through identification and registration of beneficiaries, these lists were put aside during data entry and replaced with other beneficiaries. When the committee interrogated further, it was discovered that over 10 councillors, the speaker and former LC III chairperson of Layibi Division, for example, registered and benefited from the fund. Arua City and Kitgum Municipality had almost similar cases of abuse of the process by administrators. In Mbale, some city council staff were registered and benefited. The Lord Mayor Kampala Capital City Authority revealed to the committee that in Kampala, the DISOs abused the process by registering beneficiaries along party lines. The committee further noted that in some cases, the compilation of the list was left to chairpersons of associations of the different trade categories, in total disregard of the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, instructing that the compilation be carried out using existing administrative records. In Tororo Municipality, for example, the chairpersons of different trade categories took advantage of this loophole by registering beneficiaries along political party and social relation lines. There were also allegations of extortion by the chairperson of the boda boda association in Tororo Municipality, who was alleged to have been asking beneficiaries to part with Shs 15,000 to be registered. Relatedly, in Fort Portal City, some town agents were also accused of asking for between Shs 30,000 and Shs 40,000 before one was registered or their national ID would be retained until the money would be cleared. Recommendations 1. The committee recommends that the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development holds accountable all Town Clerks who negated on their roles and responsibilities during this exercise by delegating their functions without proper supervision, as this amounted to neglect of duty. Additionally, all officers responsible for the abuse of this exercise by registering themselves in disregard of the vulnerable, be reprimanded. 2. The committee further recommends that the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social development should ensure that administrative records like tax registers in all cities, municipalities as well as other administrative units are updated by registering all formal and informal businesses. This would ease identification and verification of beneficiaries of such an exercise in the future. Term of reference No.2: Ascertain the criteria used to select and identify the beneficiaries According to the National Social Protection Policy, 2005, vulnerability is defined as “limited ability to manage risks or cope with shocks that may lead to undignified lives”. While appearing before the committee, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development submitted that the Cabinet defined the vulnerable in the context of the lockdown to mean “those who were engaged in employment at the time of COVID-19 lockdown and depended on daily earnings, which were disrupted”. The committee notes that there was no standard selection formula used in selecting beneficiaries in the targeted areas. In most of the cities and municipalities, the principle of “first come, first served” was applied. As a result, many categories of would-be beneficiaries were left out and for those who benefited, resources were not equitably distributed amongst the categories. For example, more people 3. We met with the town clerks, city/ municipal mayors, RCC/RDCs and other stakeholders in the following locations: a) Soroti City, Mbale City, Arua City, Gulu City, Lira City, Fort Portal City, Hoima City, Mbarara City and Masaka City. b) Tororo Municipality, Masindi Municipality, Ntungamo Municipality, Kumi Municipality and Kitgum Municipality. i) The committee also carried out on- spot visits and verification at a number of boda boda stages, taxi parks, street vendors and special hire operators to try and ascertain the terms of reference. ii) We analysed documents submitted by the Rt Hon. Prime Minister, the town clerks of municipalities/cities, KCCA Lord Mayor and other stakeholders that the committee interacted with. iii) The committee also carried out random telephone calls, which were made to the selected beneficiaries from the list provided by the Rt Hon. Prime Minister. Whereas, the committee was desirous of visiting all cities and municipalities that received the COVID-19 relief fund, it could only afford to visit the selected few due to time and budgetary constraints. Observations Madam Speaker, the committee was informed that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development approved the COVID-19 emergency fund, amounting to Shs 53.5 billion to cover all 501,107 targeted beneficiaries. Out of these numbers, a total of Shs 2.854 billion was spent on administrative costs and Shs 50.6 billion was transferred to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development account in Post Bank to facilitate direct transfers to the chosen beneficiaries. During the meeting with the committee, Post Bank informed the meeting that the bank had since received 488,272 total transaction instructions from the Ministry of Gender and successfully processed 487,307. Payments had since closed, according to the Ministry of Gender, with a balance of about Shs 1.43 billion lying on its account. Term of reference 1: Establish who compiled the lists of beneficiaries in the different locations. The committee observed that COVID-19 and its resultant effects, as occasioned by the lockdown, needed to be treated as a disaster and, therefore, it was wrong for the Government not to involve the Ministry of Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees Management in its response, given its rich expertise in personnel and structures down to the local Governments. Although the town clerks were supposed to be in charge of compilation of the list of beneficiaries as stipulated in the guidelines, the committee noted that this was done mostly through delegation. In Soroti, Arua, Hoima, Mbarara and Fort Portal cities, for example, the town clerks were newly posted and therefore, delegated their deputies to undertake the exercise. This was, however, done with little, if any, supervision. The committee observed that the delegation of this responsibility without sufficient supervision, made the exercise susceptible to abuse, as the data collected by those delegated was greatly manipulated. Many would-be beneficiaries were left out, especially private school teachers and restaurant workers, as the committee found out in almost all locations visited. In Fort Portal City, the deputy town clerk monopolised the whole exercise. In Arua, most of the data entry clerks that carried out the exercise were volunteers/interns who took advantage and registered themselves and other persons in the different categories.

2398 2399 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2022 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT As noted earlier, in most locations visited by the committee, this exercise was marred by irregularities. Officials who were assigned the responsibility to carry out the exercise negated on their duties. There was also poor co-ordination between the offices responsible and the grassroot structures as such as GISOs, DISOs, RCCs/RDCs, LCI and town agents in the supervision and verification of the beneficiaries, which led to abuse of the process. Whereas in Masaka and Lira cities, the RCCs actively participated in the exercise, in Ntungamo Municipality and Mbarara City, the elected leaders were not involved at all. In Mbale City, the Office of RCC was denied the opportunity to verify the beneficiaries in the Office of the Town Clerk. As such, about 1,500 persons were verified out of the over 9,000 that benefited. In Arua city, the RCC and the Mayor only got to receive a report on the exercise while meeting the committee. There was no structural framework involving all leaders to ensure a co-ordinated execution. This led to people, who were not intended to benefit, taking part of the fund. It is worth noting that a few random telephone calls made by the committee to the beneficiaries revealed that some persons did not receive payments whereas their names are captured as having received relief and in the list provided. The committee could not, however, establish the accuracy of such assertions as the payments were made privately through their telephones and they could have deleted the confirmation messages. A one Ssewankambo Bashir Mbale captured in the list as having been paid under the bus/taxi conductor category denied having received the money when the committee called him. A one Oloya Geoffrey from Gulu purported to have been the first beneficiary of the relief fund under the boda-boda category could not be traced. When the committee consulted the boda-boda Association in Gulu, they denied him being a member and alleged that the Oloya in question is, in fact, a builder. While interacting with the committee, the Gulu City officials informed the meeting that their efforts to reach out to Oloya were futile. The committee noted that not all persons registered received the money due to various reasons, such as disparities in the names registered vis-à-vis those that appear in their NIN, using one’s NIN to register many telephone numbers and incomplete information, among others. The Committee further noted that there was an option in the guidelines to pay persons who qualified and were in possession of NIN, but had no telephones through the bank post. However, many would-be beneficiaries with these cases were ignored and replaced hence leaving out a big number. Recommendations 1. The Ministry of Gender considers verifying and giving relief to the vulnerable who had already been identified within the quota range but were left out due to errors in the information. This should be done before the end of October 2021; and 2. In future, systems designed for this kind of exercise should cater for vulnerable persons without phones and persons with disability. Term of reference number five was on how much money the beneficiaries received. We have indicated the figures and the committee recommends that should such an intervention be necessary in the future, the rates should be based on the current cost of living. We did observe before the recommendation on how we arrive at that conclusion. Term of reference number six was to establish the roles played by the different stakeholders. We have examined the same at page 17 and came to the conclusion that the committee recommends that should such an exercise be necessary in the future, elected leaders should be involved from the onset to give it ownership. benefited under the boda boda category than food vendors, salonists and car washers. In Mbale, the committee noted that the number of support staff who benefited in private schools was more than the teachers in those schools, which is not logical. In Tororo, a total number of 1,402 slum residents benefited, representing 37 per cent of the entire threshold, as compared to three vehicle loaders. In Soroti, the committee interacted with Mr Saleh Babu Opwonya, the Chairperson Teso Coach Stage, who intimated that out of the 75 members he registered, none of them received relief. Meanwhile, his counterpart, Mr Abdu Mugisha, the Gateway Bus Company chairperson, revealed that out of the 56 members he registered, 48 benefited. In Fort Portal, at Kampala-Kyenjojo Taxi Stage, 60 members were registered and on Kampala Road Boda Boda Stage, 132 members were registered but none of them received relief. These inequities meant that certain categories benefited more to the disadvantage of others. Suffice to note that the Government was able to set thresholds for beneficiaries in all the cities/ municipalities but did not consider setting out a workable formula to be used to equitably share the quotas. The committee noted that for success to be achieved in Lira City, identification was done based on the area of operation and business location for each category. Leadership structures for each category also supported the registration and verification process. Consequently, internal structures were put in place where the compiled lists were first submitted to the DISOs’ office and both physical verification and phone call verification was done to ascertain authenticity of the submitted lists. Once approved, the list would be submitted back to the Town Clerk for data entry. Other cities and municipalities did not fully verify their lists. Cognisant of the directive of the ministry to display the lists generated in public places within urban areas for purposes of updating and verification, with supervision of warden administrators and support of village health teams, the committee noted that across all the cities and municipalities, this directive was defied. This was attributed to limited time, technicalities in the online system, bulk and sensitivity of information. In the committee’s view, the display was avoided as it would expose the irregularities and abuse of the process. Nonetheless, if a display was to be done, raw data would have been the one to be displayed as and when the lists would come through. The committee recommends, therefore, that; 1. The Ministry of Local Government should, in liaison with UBOS, support the local government administrative units to set up a more robust database for future use. 2. In future, if such an activity reoccurs, the Ministry of Local Government should ensure that Town Clerks strictly adhere to the set guidelines. Term of reference No.3: Verify the list of people who received the money Madam Speaker, the observations here are contained on pages 12 to 13. I would wish to proceed directly to the recommendations, following the observations. The committee recommends that the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development should consider giving relief to residents of Ayivu Division and Northern Division of Arua and Fort Portal cities, respectively. This flows from the observations that there were no benefits to them. Term of reference No.4: Verify and establish whether the intended beneficiaries actually received the money.