Ochero County

the motion by the Prime Minister, seeking to convey appreciation to His Excellency, based on Article 101 of the Constitution. (Applause) On pages two and three of the address, His Excellency the President calls upon the entire nation to embrace “no more sleep, no more corruption or diversion of public resources and no more complacency in leadership”. This is not merely a slogan; it is a national call to action, required by every leader. I fully support this because Uganda’s transformation will be achieved not only through speeches but also through accountability, timely implementation, and effective service delivery. (Applause) Mr Speaker, on pages 13 and 14 of the State of the Nation Address, the President outlined Government achievements in expanding the national road network and reminded district leaders that marram roads must always be maintained. I would like to raise my submission on this. We have roads in various districts. It has become a matter of national importance because most of the roads that would connect businesses are not connecting the businesses, and we are lagging as Ugandans. Take an example: in Amolatar District, the Dokolo-Ochero-Namasale road was budgeted for in 2023, and the budget was passed. I do not know why it has not been implemented up to now.

Thank you, Mr Speaker for giving me this opportunity. Allow me to draw the attention of the Rt Hon. Prime Minister. Mr Speaker, Oyam District is the food basket for Lango subregion. As we talk, the abandoned national road, especially the one connecting from Minakulu-Mitakyo-Kamdini-Loro to Oyam District headquarters is not accessible. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, Lango Subregion is supportive of other areas in terms of food. These roads are impassable. Trailers and trucks are stuck inside those subcounties. We call upon you to do something. Relatable, the road from Namasale, Ochero, Dokolo to Alebtong needs the attention of the Ministry of Works and Transport.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would have loved to hear the chairperson of the committee talk about Katine-Ochero Road, which this House passed, the Cabinet passed –

Madam Speaker, you are spot on. This particular road project – Katine-Ochero Road – has been riddled with corruption. Last year, twice, that road was supposed to be awarded to a contractor, and they said there was a whistleblower who came up. That issue was investigated but we never saw the report. Around December last year, the same thing happened. Around March this year, the same thing happened. I would have loved to hear what that report is, and the dates for the contractor to be given the road. Secondly, on the issue of ferries, we informed the process in the beginning that Kaberamaido has the largest number of people who would use that ferry to come to Busoga and Kampala. The information available then suggested that the place where the workers should be staying would be in a place called Akampala, where the ferry docks, in Kaberamaido. However, up to now, there is no housing there. Instead, the housing was placed in Buyende, where the ferry starts from. Recently, the minister acknowledged and accepted that they would construct new buildings on that side. I would have expected to see that in the budget for the next year. As I speak, the ministry has started renting houses for workers to stay on the side of Kaberamaido, which is a better step, but we would have loved to see, in the budget, figures showing that construction will take place on the other side, to enhance the usage of the ferry. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to underscore the importance of what Hon. Lugoloobi said about the landing sites. This investment is very strategic. As we speak, like Hon. Okupa said, we have two ferries that have been built, but they are floating on the water because we do not have Shs 2.9 billion. I think it would be important for the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to find that money. Truly, with this investment on Lake Kyoga, those landing sites become a catalyst to all this infrastructural development. Therefore, the finance ministry should focus on making sure that the money is provided for Bukungu, Kagwara and Akampala landing sites in Kaberamaido. The second is the issue of Parliament passing loans here, and those loans not being applied to work. I remember this House passed the Katine- Ochero Road loan in 2023. If the Minister of Works and Transport were here, we would have asked why, up to now, the contractor has not been given work, and yet this House approved that loan. All of these are within the same Lake Kyoga area, which would unlock significant potential for the people in that area. I thank you.

18214 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR There is also a section enabling access to Kabaale International Airport of about 3.2 kilometres. There is Kawuku-Bwerenga Road – Hon. Naluyima, congratulations. Your cries have been listened to. Tell our people that the road is going to become super. Laropi-Afoji Road – that is the West Nile road – and also Laropi Bridge. Things are getting better. There is upgrading of Katine-Ochero. Hon. Ebwalu, Katine-Ochero Road is here. Kampala-Jinja Expressway – this is to clear the right of way. We also have an oil road from Karugutu- Ntoroko. I saw Hon. Ibanda. There is also Kitgum-Orom-Karenga Road. Madam Speaker, you had inquired about this road - (Interjection)- very good. Your pronunciation is better. Karenga – they wrote “…ng”. I pronounce it as “nga”. That road is 116 kilometres. Madam Speaker, we also have Kitala-Gerenge Road, Kigumba-Bulima Road and Kagandi Bridge, which is supposed to be part of this. There is Bumbobi-Lwakhakha Road and Mubende-Kakumiro-Kagadi Road. All those need improvements. Madam Speaker, those are the roads so far provided under this supplementary schedule No. 2, amounting to Shs 1,696,000,000,000. I beg the House to approve so that the General goes direct to do the work.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank you for - in 2023, this House approved a loan for the construction of the road from Atiene to Ochero, and we hoped that in 2024, works would start on that road. The honourable minister has tried to provide information, but the population there is very anxious about this road. Please clarify what happened, because we had hoped that by now, the works would have started on that road. Thank you.

17706 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT own resources. The challenge, of course as I said, is resources but we know the roads. Masindi-Gulu potholes were filled by our people. For Masindi-Biso, we owe the contractor, China Railway No.7, Shs 111 billion. It was in my report. Therefore, we need to pay the contractor so that they can finish the road. Regarding Koboko-Yume-Moyo, I have talked to the Minister of Internal Affairs and I think that will be addressed. Laropi Ferry and Laropi Bridge. We have finished the design for Laropi Bridge and it has been approved by an independent consultant and the bank is willing to fund it. We are now in the final negotiations to fund the Laropi Bridge and then we shall remove the ferry. Possibly, we will take it down to Obongi where we have a challenge with its ferry. Talking about the ferries, we are actually in advanced stages of doing a detailed and comprehensive rehabilitation of the ferries. Most of them are not doing very well but we are going to rehabilitate them. This will answer the Bussi Ferry which has been doing some work under the Pakwach Bridge which was being threatened by the floating island. We had to take the Bussi ferry there. I am in talks with the Bussi team and we are soon finalising the landing site, and the ferry will come back. On the Katine-Ochero Road, we had moved to the final stage but then we got a whistle-blower. Now, when a whistle-blower comes in, the bank stops everything. The company that had been selected had issues and the bank stopped the process and advised that we re-advertise and get new contractors which has been done. We are going to the selection process. Madam Speaker, the bank has a system that for every stage, they must get a no objection from their headquarters, which has been delayed but I think it is now on the right course. Therefore, the Katine-Ochero Road will soon be completed. Regarding compensation for Nyakambu- Nyakabirizi-Nsika at Kabwohe, the compensation of these people has not yet been done and we need about Shs 29 billion. This is what I told the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; that if we get Shs 29 billion, we can start the compensation so we can acquire some land for the contractor to start as we get more money. As I said in my report, compensation is one of the biggest challenges we face on the project. I have already answered Atiak. On maritime, we are keeping an eye on maritime transport. We are not neglecting it. We have rehabilitated MV Pamba and it is now plying between Port Bell, Mwanza and Kisumu. MV Kawa, which was also grounded, is now about 85 per cent ready. We hope that by September, it will be back sailing. Madam Speaker, there is a private player who has also put a big ferry on the waters of Lake Victoria called Mpungu, which can take 20 trailers. It is a drive-on and drive-off. You can put on 20 trailers of cargo and it moves up to the other side. We are cognisant of the fact that Tanzania is aggressively developing the standard gauge and very soon, it will be in Mwanza. Therefore, traders may be moving towards using that corridor. So, we must be able to evacuate the cargo if dropped at Mwanza. We are developing that capacity within the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC). Of course, URC is still challenged with no funding; they are just struggling. We have a project under the African Development Bank moving slowly but we will be moving. The Busongora—Nyakalingijo Road is a national road. We cannot tarmac it as of now. However, I will make sure we maintain it. Madam Speaker, Kumi-Serere-Kagwara Road project is under the Islamic Development Bank and mostly everything has been done. The Islamic Development Bank is in talks with the finance ministry to finalise the financing terms. One of the new issues that the bank is bringing up is that they want to pay everything, including land compensation so that we do not

17565 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 29 JULY 2025 17. Hon. Ssentayi Muhammad 18. Hon. Ngoya John Bosco 19. Hon. Ikojo John Bosco 20. Hon. Karubanga David 21. Hon. Clare Mugumya 22. Hon. Bagiire Henry 23. Hon. Kwizera Eddie 24. Hon. Ruhunda Alex 25. Hon. Aeku Patrick 26. Hon. Namukuta Brenda 27. Hon. Nathan Nabeta Igeme 28. Hon. Mwine Mpaka. Committee on Presidential Affairs 1. Hon. Alex Byarugaba – Chairperson; and 2. Hon. Natumanya Flora – Deputy Chairperson. The members are: 3. Hon. Kamukama Benjamin 4. Hon. Kasolo Robert 5. Hon. Lokoru Albert 6. Hon. Lagen David 7. Hon. Fadil Twalla 8. Hon. Kibaaju Naome 9. Hon. Mamawi James 10. Hon. Mawanda Michael Maranga 11. Hon. Auma Hellen Wandera 12. Hon. Taaka Agnes 13. Hon. Adome Francis Lorika 14. Hon. Dr Nsaba-Buturo 15. Hon. Opolot Simon Peter 16. Hon. Peninah Busingye 17. Hon. Ababiku Jessica 18. Hon. Jenifer Muheesi. Committee on Foreign Affairs 1. Hon. Catherine Lamwaka – Chairperson; 2. Hon. Opolot Fred – Deputy Chairperson. The members are: 3. Hon. Akamba Paul 4. Hon. Maneno Zumura 5. Hon. Mutebi Noah Wanzala 6. Hon. Achan Judith Peace 7. Hon. Okumu Gabriel 8. Hon. Irene Margaret Nafuna Muloni 9. Hon. Natukunda Midius 10. Hon. Loy Katali 11. Hon. Sulaiman Hashim 12. Hon. Dr Mutono Patrick Lodoi 13. Hon. Muwuma Milton Kalulu 14. Hon. Kisa Stephen 15. Hon. Kayogera Yona 16. Hon. Okot-Ogong Felix 17. Hon. Mwesigwa Robert Rukaari 18. Hon. Komakech Christopher 19. Hon. Dr Abraham Isamat Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, whose minister is in charge of everything in the air and the sea. (Laughter) 1. Hon. Wilson Kajwengye – Chairperson; and 2. Hon. Linos Ngompek – Deputy Chairperson. The members are: 3. Hon. Niyonsaba Alex 4. Hon. Ochero Jim Norman 5. Hon. Otukol Sam 6. Hon. Bainomugisha Jane 7. Hon. Mugabe Donozio Kahonda 8. Hon. Wakooli Godfrey 9. Hon. Ssekikubo Theodore 10. Hon. Nakwang Christine Tubo 11. Hon. Ssebikaali Yoweri 12. Hon. Kauma Sauda 13. Hon. Kintu Alex Brandon 14. Hon. Kyoto Ibrahim 15. Hon. Okeyoh Peter Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development 1. Hon. Amos Kankunda – Chairperson; and 2. Hon. Moses Aleper – Deputy Chairperson. The members are: 3. Hon. Ogwal Moses Goli 4. Hon. Dr Kugonza Emely 5. Hon. Basil Bataringaya 6. Hon. Herbert Tayebwa 7. Hon. Kyooma Xavier 8. Hon. Gerald Nangoli 9. Hon. Wamukuyu Ignatius Mudimi 10. Hon. Atima Jackson Lee 11. Hon. Kambale Ferigo 12. Hon. Ochai Maximus 13. Hon. Wanda Richard 14. Hon. Okot John Amos 15. Hon. Asiimwe Enos

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

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. For the record, this morning, I made a phone call to the chairman of the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and told him that I have a minority and the chairman is here. Secondly, when I reached Parliament, I again notified him on our platform and then filed this report with the clerk of our committee, who duly submitted it to the Clerk to Parliament. It has been duly stamped as received. So, the records should show that I am not smuggling; I am just complying with the rules. Madam Speaker, before I read, I beg, with these two situations, for Members to bear with me. First of all, as Hon. Ochero rightly observed, my boss, the Leader of the Opposition, has led a walkout from this sitting and I am his shadow minister for justice and constitutional affairs. You can imagine the situation I am in; I may finish and get fired, so allow me to present this report here. (Laughter) Secondly, in tense moments like this, you would beg that Members bear with me. During the ruling in the Supreme Court, many others and myself against the Attorney-General, when their Lordships had judged three against three, the last judgement was by the then Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe. When he began to read, he informed us that his glasses and the eyes had a problem, and he needed to be rushed to South Africa immediately. I pray, when I am reading this report, my glasses will not fail me. Having said that, Madam Speaker - Introduction This is a minority report in dissent of the majority report of the joint Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs on the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill, 2025. This minority report is brought under Rule 215 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament.

For now, this is what has been asked for. This is what they are borrowing and their need. Abim, Hon. Ochero?

Honourable colleagues, I have questions from Members that I had registered and who wanted to raise matters of national importance. I will first pick those and then I will pick the rest. I do not see some Members so I will not read their names but the ones I see are Hon. Martin Muzaale, Hon. Bernard Odoi, Hon. Ephraim Biraaro, Dr Isingoma Patrick, Hon. Atima Lee, Hon. Moses Kabuusu, Hon. Mourine Osoru, Hon. Yovan Adriko, Hon. Gilbert Olanya, Hon. Gabriel Okumu, Hon. Christine Akello, Hon. Patrick Aeku, Hon. Noman Ochero, Hon. Betty Naluyima, Hon. Medius Natukunda, Hon. Christine Apolot, Hon. Allan Mayanja, Hon. Elijah Okupa and Hon. Agnes Kirabo. Hon. Martin Muzaale has moved out. Hon. Bernard Odoi? We shoot right away.

That is the problem of warning and then you come to report. However, what Hon. Noman Ochero is very critical. I usually see even members of the NRM on the front bench. The front bench is for the shadow Cabinet and this is for the Government ministers. Hon. Atima –

Thank you. Hon. Patrick Aeku, followed by Hon. Noman Ochero. Hon. Aeku, we do not know what you are up to. (Laughter)

15940 THE NATIONAL BUDGET FRAMEWORK PAPER FOR THE FY 2025/2026 - 2029/2030 Kwizera, Hon. Bhoka Didi, Hon. Grania, Hon. Angura, Hon. Nangoli, Hon. Komakech, Hon. Norman Ochero, Hon. Wandwasi and then Dr Kamara.

Thank you. Hon. Komakech, then Hon. Noman Ochero.

Thank you. Now, chairperson of the Committee on Health, this is an area where we should pick special interest. If we are providing money for perimeter walls and money for what yet these people can be helped with modern treatment, they remain home and are even treated in their homes; it is critical that we look into it. I request the Government and the Committee on Health to interact. You do not need to report back here. You can use it when you are making your own report or processing the Ministerial Policy Statement. Interact with the Minister of Health, and you look at – because when a Member says the medicine we are giving is outdated – manufactured in 1900 – and it is causing problems to our people, we cannot just take it for granted. Okay? You call Hon. Komakech and he presents and we will bring in the minister. We will see how we can update the services that we are giving to our people suffering from mental health. I will follow up with you, the committee chairperson. Please take it seriously. Hon. Noman Ochero?

Thank you, Hon. Noman Ochero. For people who do not know Noman Ochero, former chairman LC V of Abim District – the issues he is raising are very critical. Attorney-General, I do not know how you are managing these contracts. Contracts of 2018; they started building power in 2018 all over the country. Some, they even put transformers. The transformers were ransacked. Those were the lucky ones, not commissioned. You ask yourself; how will the Government gain and how is it protected? Hon. Okaasai, minister for energy, people of Abim are doubting whether you have energy, but you will answer later. He also said “The power has no power.” The power in Abim has no power because it cannot even run an X-ray. Hon. Wandwasi and Dr Kamara?

Thank you very much , Mr Speaker. I want to thank the chairperson of the committee and Hon. Ssemujju Nganda for their presentations. Mr Speaker, a number of issues have been tackled by this Parliament. I have not heard of the issue of land funds being discussed here. I come from the central region, and the challenges of the different regions vary. When you come to the central region, a number of Ugandans are being evicted by the rich people every day and night. When you sit at home every evening and watch TV news, you will see Ugandans crying, “The Prime Minister and minister of lands, come and help us.” Go to Kiboga, Nakasongola and Luweero – the issue of the land fund has not been considered. I want to urge and implore the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to consider empowering the Uganda Land Commission so that they have money to secure land for Ugandans who are becoming landless every day and night. Secondly, Mr Speaker, is about connectivity roads. The Government is planning to connect the road from Dokolo-Ochero-Namasale. That is the same road which comes to Zengebe, Sasira up to the Gulu highway. Why do you work on one part of the road and leave the other? I think the finance ministry could be isolating Nakasongola and leaving it as an island. They need to tell us. Lastly, Mr Speaker, for some years, the President has been pledging to tarmac the Zirobwe-Kikyusa-Bamugolodde road. Ever since I joined Parliament, it has been a presidential pledge but you do not see it in the development plan, the budget or anywhere else. I would like to ask the ministry of finance

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I join my colleagues in thanking the committee. Just like my sister, Hon. Christine, put it, right from the time the compensation started, you will realise that there are people who have been paid over Shs 30 million; there have been others who have been paid more than that, while there are people who have spent so much money, moving almost weekly, trying to pursue their payment. This is unfair. The other interesting thing is the payment that the Attorney-General is talking about. At some point, we agreed that a cow would cost Shs 1 million, but there are people who have received about Shs 250,000 or even Shs 300,000. We have got those records. I wonder whether the Attorney-General is paying half a cow plus the tail or something. I think that needs to be streamlined. The other thing is - I will hit you because when you speak in this room - I want to give a very personal experience. The day our cows were raided, I was physically there. The guys who came to raid the cows chased us, and we ran. Two people were killed on that day. I do not want to blame any tribe, but these are things that happened, and we know of them. Actually, our cows were raided by two groups. First, they were raided by the people who were speaking Karamojong. Then, another group consisted of soldiers. Even the rebels came and raided - There was a time I talked about my brother, Norman Ochero, because their military detach was right in our village. These are facts we know. Mr Speaker, what is very important - because we cannot undo - we cannot rewind the past. What we need to do is to be proactive. We need to recognise that there are people who are suffering. There are elders who are working day and night, believing that they would be paid. If your cows were raided—in one day, 150 cows got raided, and then you have to spend over 20 years chasing, and you are paid either half a cow or one cow in a year. Is that really realistic? Our hope was that this money would help revitalise the economy. However, if you are going to pay my father, grandfather or uncle Shs 1 million, when he lost 200 cows and he has to wait for 200 years, I think that is not realistic. I am happy with the recommendation, and hopefully, this discussion will take us to a better stage, when we will find a more comprehensive solution. Thank you.

Thank you. Hon. Herbert and then Hon. Norman Ochero.

Thank you. Colleagues in the public gallery this afternoon, we have a delegation of Karuguuza Development Radio Listeners from Buyanja East County in Kibaale district. They are represented by Hon. Matia Kasaija, Hon. Emely Kugonza, and Hon. Noeline Kisembo Basemera. They have come to observe proceedings of this House. Join me in welcoming them. (Applause ) Thank you. Hon. Noman OChero –

15724 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME 5. Engagement with stakeholders The Government - like I am doing now - will continue to engage with key stakeholders, including Parliament, financial institutions, other political leaders, civil society, and community leaders to ensure a collaborative approach to ending this practice. This will include dialogue and consultations aimed at identifying and addressing the root cause of this issue. Mr Speaker, confiscation of National Identity Cards as security for loans is a deplorable practice that must be stopped immediately. The Government is fully committed to protecting the rights and dignity of our citizens by ensuring that their National Identity Cards retain their integrity and remain in their possession, and are used only for their intended purpose. To achieve this, citizens themselves must cooperate by avoiding this illegal practice as much as possible or reporting to authorities to retrieve the confiscated National Identity Cards. Question 2 is from Hon. Noman Jimbricky Ochero, Abim District. He says that Abim Hospital was constructed between 1969 and 1971 during the Obote 1 regime and enjoyed decay up to date. The hospital is dilapidated to the extent of becoming non-functional. Every time the government allocates money to its renovation, it is made at the tail end of the financial year and gets caught up and swept back to the consolidated fund before being utilised. His questions are two. 1. Why is Abim Hospital the only one in the country that suffers from budget cuts and its money swept back into the consolidated fund? 2. Who decides which hospital takes the first call on the releases? My response: Abim General Hospital was constructed in the 1970s and like any other general hospital that was constructed during that period, it needs serious renovation of its infrastructure and expansion to cater for the increased population and demand for health services. The estimated cost of renovating and expansion of this hospital is about Shs 40 billion. However, the G overnment has been allocating funds for critical infrastructure renovation of these hospitals and Abim General Hospital received Shs 2 billion for uplifting key service delivery units to improve service delivery. The funds were extended to the District Local Government but, which failed to provide accountability and the IGG took over the issue of investigation. Additionally, the Ministry of Health has submitted to the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MoFPED) a project proposal to renovate/refurbish all general hospitals in that category. The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has committed to mobilising funds to undertake these capital-intensive projects in the medium term. 3. Hon. Dr George Didi Bhoka (MP, Obongi Constituency) There is a persistent border conflict between Obongi –

Thank you, Mr Speaker. You have called me the MP from Soroti, but I am from Ochero in Kaberamaido -

15647 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 21 JANUARY 2025 even tell you openly that if you want to wait for the normal way of doing it, you will wait for years, but if you can cough this amount of money, which is almost ten times the normal price, they will connect you. There are people who have waited for years but they have not been connected. I do not know whether you are aware of those other categories; the two categories. Two, while Hon. Onzima complained about the poles and the wires hanging in his constituency, mine is even more painful in Ochero. I have a wire, which is just 100 meters from my compound. It has had power for three years. I have applied for a step-down transformer to help us get power there, but they have never responded to us. Mr Minister, the letter even reached your office. I do not know whether you can check your files and then see. Three years and power is on the line, but there is nothing. Thank you.

Hon. Alex Byarugaba, wait. Hon. Noman Ochero, what is the issue? First, do this for me, then submit - Hon. Byarugaba, as you conclude. THE CONSTITUTIONAL (AMENDMENT ) BILL, 2024

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. The first is on the policy related to primary schools. We have 44 parishes but about 18 schools only. My request is to at least add some more three, which are Ochero, Ayira and Obwola. On the policy related to the secondary seed schools, I request that we handle Adok Seed Secondary School. I am passionate about this because it was being handled by my late Member of Parliament and that was a key area she was following up. Please, handle it. I thank you for Bata Seed Secondary School, which I thank Hon. Obua for opening but it has no electricity. Therefore, I really thank you for that argument about having electricity in those areas. Lastly, I come to the issues of the university. I have seen the cost of about Shs 1 trillion. That is what they have said yet the gap between pupils and teachers is big. That shows you that we must have some innovative ways of handling things. The first is: we need to use digitalisation in training. Mr Speaker, sometimes some people think I am an agriculturalist but I have really trained myself in agriculture issues via YouTube. What is the competition we are going to find in this world of universities – (Member timed out.)

Thank you. (Hon. Ochero rose_) Honourable colleague, that is not how I run the House. Please, we have points of order. You seek permission; you do not get a microphone and start speaking. Hon. Gilbert Olanya, any further amendment? (Hon. Ochero rose_) Honourable member, do not speak through the microphone without my permission. First get that permission and then you speak.

We shall vote on all the amendments later. Hon. Noman Ochero?

14141 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 Madam Speaker, the Government had programmes for restocking various parts of northern Uganda, but without giving farmers basic knowledge in livestock disease control. These animals are given to the farmers. The farmers are clueless in terms of diseases that are common there, and how they can prevent those diseases, and so, the animals end up dying without giving farmers what they should have got. This is worsened by livestock disease control decentralisation. There are some diseases, which the Ministry for Agriculture has decentralised to the farmers. When you decentralise a disease like Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), which is a lung disease, caused by ticks, to livestock farmers, they have no capacity. Farmers do not have the capacity to control diseases. Why is the Government running away from the technical responsibility of controlling diseases in the countryside, especially among the people who are keeping animals? Madam Speaker, I passionately support this motion, which urges the Government to increase money. I take the information. (Hon. Ochero rose_)

Hon. Ochero came to see my cows and he said “This cow looked like mine.” (Laughter)

Madam Speaker, Hon. Norman Ochero is my good friend -

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Julius Peter Emigu is my name. I represent the people of Ochero County in Kaberamaido District, a member of the Forum for Democratic Change. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Ochero Jimbricky Noman. I represent the people of Labwor County who are suffering and enjoying the worst roads and the worst hospitals in the country. I belong to NRM, but now, I am in PLU to sort out the question of transition in this country. I can assure you transition is now sorted.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. May the record show that I appreciate the input of the committee for the excellent work done. The committee in their findings did make very good recommendations, but they excluded key roads in Lango, inter alia, the road that connects Dokolo-Amolatar. This road, Madam Speaker, did appear in NDP III and was approved in a supplementary budget. I am not privy to the NRM manifesto but I am alive to the information that it was in the NRM Manifesto. It beats my understanding how this road has disappeared and never has it surfaced anywhere yet it shares a nexus with Dokolo-Ochero, which is being worked on. Is it because the line minister has close proximity with Dokolo-Ochero? May I be informed? Secondly, Madam Speaker, Masindi Port Bridge was approved in the budget. We did approve a loan. We coded the loan 1795. At the same time, Ochero-Katine loan was approved and coded 1796. I am persuaded to think that Masindi Port that was the initial inventor of the loan that Katine benefited from has disappeared but Katine is being worked on. What has Lango done not to get this road? Madam Speaker, with the closure of Karuma, my constituency road of Dokolo-Amolatar is overloaded; it is un-motorable. If the line minister deems it fit to close Masindi Port and overloaded our road, let it be tarmacked. Lango wants to hear this. I submit. Thank you.

13976 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME (ii) Cards expiring by January 2025. They are 3.7 million. (iii) Cards expiring beginning this month - 26 August - that is one week away, to 30 December 2025 at Shs 15.8 million. (iv) Delivery of data to the Electoral Commission by 30 November, like I have already told you, this year. (v) Original planned start date was 1st June, like I have already told you. (vi) Citizens registered are projected to be 27.3 million people. (vii) Cards issued are 17.3 million. Mr Speaker and honourable colleagues, the following activities towards the implementation of the mass enrolment and mass renewal exercise have been completed. You will read from your iPads. The key items on the critical path of the exercise have been in place before the commencement of the exercise, and these are; (a) The delivery of the 5,650 biometric registration kits. (b) Delivery of blank cards. (c) The following five (05) software modules; i. NID cards renewal module. ii. New registration module. iii. Replace card module. iv. Change of particulars module. v. Get 1 st ID module. (d) Mr Speaker operationalisation of the card printing and personalisation equipment, and then; (e) The data centre hardware, including hardware security modules, in the data migration and the ABIS solution. Despite the unexpected delays, the Government has taken measures to ensure that all persons eligible for voting in 2026 will have their details captured within the timelines outlined in the Electoral Commission roadmap. The commencement of the project is expected before 15 October this year, and as soon as the equipment arrives in the country, the exercise will begin within the set timelines. That is why the Government has extended the National Identification Card (IDs) for one year. 9. Hon. Ochero Noman, Member of Parliament, Labwor County, Abim District said, “Rt Hon. Prime Minister, allow me to thank the Government for compensating its people wherever losses occur to them like it is done with the cooperatives and the other regions on animal compensation. However, in the case of Abim District, we are not appearing anywhere on the list to be compensated.” And his people are asking why they are being left out. According to him, it is important to note that the Ethur ethnic group of 141,000 people in Abim are Karimojong, who do not raid but are always raided (non-raiding community). They have been raided not only by the cattle rustlers, according to him, but even by the Government militia and rebel groups including the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). His prayers are that I inform the House why Abim District is not appearing anywhere on the list for war debt claimants to be compensated. His second question is that can the Government allocate funds in the next financial year budget to cater for the compensation of the people of Abim District? Mr Speaker, this is my last answer and response. The Government commenced the compensation exercise of war debt claimants and beneficiaries in Acholi, Lango and Teso Sub-Regions for their lost livestock in 2021. This was after verification and validation of the war debt claimants by both the inter-ministerial committee and the district structures in conjunction with elders from the community. In that regard, it is important to note that the Government’s policy is limited to compensating

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to bring to your at - tention and that of the Prime Minister that the Government has put a lot of effort into con - necting the Kaberamaido road network. As you know, this House passed a loan for the road from Katine to Ochero but also there has been a lot of progress on the works for the ferry for the Bukungu - Kagwara – Kaberamaido route. That has brought a lot of hope to the people. However, since December, the contractor, who had been working on the docking side of Kaberamaido, left that site. I am told that the work accomplished for the landing dock is only about 30 per cent. Yesterday, several pictures circulated on the social media about the tests for the vessel that is going to ply that particular route. A lot of people from my constituency have been calling and asking what is going to happen when their docking site is not yet prepared. Relatedly, is the access road -

Hon. Noman Ochero .

Hon. Noman Ochero, do not respond to people who are off the microphone.

Can I make a request? Rt Hon. Prime Minister, can you confirm that on Thursday, you will answer the Hon. Noman Ochero’s question because it is a long question?

Thank you. On. Naome Kabasharira, Hon. Ochero, Hon. Akugizibwe and Hon. Okot Boniface.

Thank you, honourable member. Honourable minister, if the project has ended, what would happen to projects that are pending? Okay, Hon. Norman Ochero, what is in Karamoja?

Thank you honourable. That is Hon. Norman Ochero, former Chairman LCV Abim District. Hon. Akuguzibwe?

13614 TRIBUTE TO THE L A TE H ON. S I MON P E TER A L E P E R tribute to a man I called a colleague, a friend, and a comrade. I first met Hon. Aleper Simon in 1996 at Makerere University. I had entered a year earlier in 1995 and in 1997 when I contested for guild presidency, he was my supporter. What surprised me about him is that we had a candidate from Karamoja, Hon. Norman Ochero, but you can imagine at that level and time, he was not tribalistic, he was in my camp. I think this speaks about the Karimojong; they are not tribalistic because there was another colleague here who was doing veterinary medicine, Hon. Loki who supported Ms Sarah Kagingo and not Mr Ricky Norman Ochero. He was a minister in the guild just like me and later we met here in the Ninth Parliament. He was a nice person, I related with him so well. I wish to concur with those who have said that he was smart - not only smart but also elegant and as you know, he was tall and handsome. He used to dress so well that anyone would admire him; I also admired him so much because we grew up with stereotypes thinking that the Karimojong were not well-dressed. However, this was a gentleman, very fine, handsome, tall, smart and elegant; that was Hon. Simon Aleper. He was well-spoken, fluent, and eloquent. No wonder, as we have heard from a member from the CEC when they were driving, they were in a chat until they passed the way to Kyankwanzi up to Fort Portal. He was well- spoken, especially one-on-one would be so good; that is the Member we have lost. Two quick ones, Hon. Aleper was a Vice- chairperson for Karamoja. Just as we have heard Hon. Okori-Moe was the first vice chairperson. Karamoja has always supported the NRM - if these people were bad leaders at the time when we created that position of regional Vice Chairperson for Karamoja, they would have antagonised our support there but they offered good leadership. After Hon. Janet Okori-Moe, he came in and we have maintained our support in Karamoja. I wish to thank him for that good leadership at the party level. Finally, the decorum that I have witnessed today in the House, where a Member is given an opportunity to speak out their mind without being interrupted with points of order, information, and procedure. I wish the House could be like this each day, even when we are handling controversial matters. This is how the decorum should be in this House. Mr Speaker, the very last one is that we were castigated by Hon. Ssemujju for thanking the President, for offering an official burial to our colleague. Hon. Ssemujju should understand, and I thought it was obvious that this is the biggest honour a person can get. An honour for a death of this nature is the best we can offer to a colleague who has fallen. So, Hon. Ssemujju should let us mourn – (Member timed out.)

I thank you, Mr Speaker. I join honourable colleagues to mourn, “ mamayi” , Hon. Simon Peter Aleper (ASPRO ) , the one we used to call at university, termite . Mr Speaker, I happen to have been at Makerere at the same time as the late Hon. Aleper. While we were there, we used to have dreams. One of our dreams was that at a certain point - and we used to think that it would be sooner - that our cohort was going to be in charge of this country. In that group, we were congealing our ambitions around the person of Peter Ojur. Mr Speaker, whenever we would be in our discussions plotting on what to do politically at the university, one of the most industrious persons in mobilising our students, and our team members onto a cause was the late Hon. Aleper. That is how in our group, he got the name, Termite . This is because whenever he would speak, he would tell us, “You know, Mr President - he would tell Ojur - the only way we can be able to take charge of the reins of power in this country is that we must work as termites. Otherwise, when termites agree that today we must build the anthill, they do it on that same day.” Mr Speaker, the late was an astute negotiator. After the election of our colleague, Sarah Kagingo, as Guild President, we needed to form a guild government. I supported Jimbricky Norman Ochero. Jimbricky Noman Ochero had won the election. Hon. Baka Mugabi had been beaten thoroughly - (Interjection) - yes, we were the second. But now we needed to form a government that was strong because the governments in Makerere always collapsed. So, there was a need to bring in Ochero and the rest of us to support the government of Sarah Kagingo. One of the key elements was that we wanted to enter the government with Jimmy Opigo as the Guild Speaker, however, we had Hon. Betty Amongi who was also standing for guild speaker. We also had Kaggwa Stephen Kyalwaazi, who also wanted to be a Guild Speaker. So, we needed one person to drop down so that we could easily get in there. Mr Speaker, one of the key people who convinced Kyalwazi Stephen Kaggwa to step down as deputy speaker and Hon. Betty Amongi to give way, was the late Hon. Simon Peter Aleper. Later, even after that negotiation went through, we got into some turmoil and now we needed to bring the government down. Mr Speaker, I want to tell you that in our meetings, in room 186, Mr Ojur was occupied at that time, one of the key people who would give us a strategy on how and what to do next was the late. He was a very astute politician and indeed one of the strategies you have said - now that Sarah seems not to be working the way we expected, let us start by making the regime collapse through resignations. The first person to resign was Mr Jim Ochero and later we had the Vice President, Mr Enoch Kibamu, resign, who had taken over foreign affairs. What am I trying to say? As the NRM in the Hon. Simon Peter Aleper, we had a negotiator, a mobiliser, and a person who would rally people around ideas and issues. Indeed, I am sure that in our cohort, we have lost a person who was going to be the pinnacle of the next phase of Ugandan politics. We pray that God, the Almighty, who has chosen that this is the time when his servant, termite, goes back to do the work that termites do in heaven, will be granted eternal peace. I thank you.

Madam Speaker, Pursuant to Rule 15(10)(c), Rule 187 and Rule 188 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, I beg to propose the designation of the following honourable members to the leadership and membership of the following sectoral committees for the Fourth Session of the 11 th Parliament of the Republic of Uganda. Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries: 1. Hon. Auma Linda Agnes – Chairperson 2. Hon. Hope Grania Nakazibwe – Deputy Chairperson Members 1. Hon. Rugumayo Edson 2. Hon. Muhumuza David 3. Hon. Christine Akello 4. Hon. Isamat Abraham 5. Hon. Biraaro Ephraim 6. Hon. Acen Dorcas 7. Hon. Komol Joseph Miidi 8. Hon. Lematia John 9. Hon. Locap Peterkhen 10. Hon. Stephen Kasaija Kagwera 11. Hon. Robert Migadde 12. Hon. Loki John Baptist 13. Hon. Esenu Anthony 14. Hon. Driwaru Jennifer 15. Hon. Anwyar Ricky Richard 16. Hon. Nyongore Enock 17. Hon. Begumisa Mary 18. Hon. Magoola Rachel 19. Hon. Mbayo Esther 20. Hon. Okullo Jallon Anthony 21. Hon. Alyek Judith 22. Hon. Akello Christine 23. Hon. Andrew Ojok Oulanyah On the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, I propose to designate the following; 1. Hon. Kajwengye Wilson - Chairperson 2. Hon. Ngompek Linos - Deputy Chairperson Members 1. Hon. Niyonsaba Alex 2. Hon. Ochero Jimbricky Noman 3. Hon. Otukol Sam 4. Hon. Bainomugisha Jane 5. Hon. Mugabe Donozio Kahonda 6. Hon. Wakooli Godfrey 7. Hon. Ssekikubo Theodore 8. Hon. Aeku Patrick 9. Hon. Ssebikaali Yoweri 10. Hon. Kauma Sauda 11. 13. Hon. Kintu Alex Brandon 12. Hon. Kyoto Ibrahim 13. Hon. Okeyoh Peter 14. Hon. Nakwang Christine Tubo

13492 DESIGNATION OF MEMBERS TO SECTORAL COMMITTEES 5. Hon. Yusuf Nsibambi of Mawokota County South; 6. Hon. Francis Mwijukye of Buhweju County; 7. Hon. Ssemakula Luttamaguzi of Nakaseke South County; 8. Hon. Fred Kayondo of Mukono County South; and 9. Hon. Nelson Okello of Maruzi North County. I designate the following Members on the Committee on Public Service and Local Government: 1. Hon. Betty Ethel Naluyima of Wakiso District; 2. Hon. Jimmy Lwanga of Njeru Municipality; 3. Hon. Teddy Nambooze of Mpigi District; 4. Hon. Juliet Kakande Nakabuye of Masaka City; 5. Hon. Godfrey Atkins Katusabe of Bukonzo West; and 6. Hon. Julius Peter Emigu of Ochero County I designate the following Members on the Committee on Education and Sports: 1. Hon. Geoffrey Ssolo Kayemba of Bukomansimbi South County; 2. Hon. Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu of Kalungu West County; 3. Hon. Michael Kakembo of Entebbe Municipality; 4. Hon. Emmanuel Ongiertho of Jonam County; and 5. Hon. Sarah Aguti of Dokolo District. I designate the following Members on the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries: 1. Hon. Dr Abed Bwanika of Kimaanya- Kabonera Division; 2. Hon. Charles Matovu of Busiro County South; 3. Hon. Veronica Nanyondo of Bukomansimbi District; 4. Hon. Stella Isodo Apolot of Ngora District; 5. Hon. Florence Kabugho of Kasese District; 6. Hon. Betty Aol Ocan of Gulu City; 7. Hon. Asinansi Nyakato of Hoima City; 8. Hon. John Paul Lukwago of Kyotera County; 9. Hon. Maxwell Akora of Maruzi County; and 10. Hon. Santa Okot of Aruu North County.

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

11500 THE NATIONAL BUDGET FRAMEWORK PAPER FOR THE FY s 2024/2025 - 2028/2029 together with the Ministry of Education and Sports said that they did not have the money. They said they would do it the following year. In 2023/2024, we again appropriated the money. However, to-date – we should be thinking about those students and pupils, because the parents, once the list was published in the New Vision , they pulled back saying that the Government had taken over. What is the fate of these children today, after hearing what the Minister of Education and the Minister of Finance said? We appropriated money. Can the Minister of Finance together with the Minister of Education and Sports confirm to the parents who come from those areas, where those schools are, that this year, there will not be any money, they should just continue paying for the services of the teachers? Otherwise, without that, the schools will close. I appeal to the minister to follow up on that matter. The Equal Opportunities Commission published a damning report, a strong indictment to Government about the distribution of services and jobs in this country. Honourable minister, as you work on the National Budget Framework Paper, please, can you take that into consideration such that we do not see that reoccur in this country? We all belong to this country and we all pay taxes. Please, take note of that and incorporate it when you are doing the National Budget Framework Paper in the allocation of resources. Finally, on the issue of the infrastructure, I cannot conclude without saying, please, Kumi- Serere-Kasilo-Kagwara Road; the President promised us in 2011, 2016, 2021 and we do not want him to say the same thing in 2026 campaigns. We even got a letter in 2022, the blue letters, putting that road. They even wrote a letter in 2022 indicating the roads to be worked on: Soroti, Serere , Pingire, Bugondo, Garama and the one of Ochero. I am happy with the one of Kaberamaido- Ochero, we passed the loan here but those are the two. Those are the few roads on the eastern part of the Greater North road, if you started from Jinja up to Soroti. How many roads on the left-hand side of the road are tarmac? It is only one, the one of Tirinyi. Please, help us to sort that matter such that we can – (Member timed out.)

2. Hon. Joseph Ssewungu Gonzaga - Kalungu West County; 3. Hon. Stephen Sserubula - Lugazi Municipality; 4. Hon. Robert Ssekitoleeko - Bamunanika County; 5. Hon. Paul Nsubuga - Busiro County North; 6. Hon. Brenda Nabukenya – Luwero; 7. Hon. Hanifa Nabukeera Hussein – Mukono; 8. Hon. Peter Julius Emigu - Ochero County; 9. Hon. Florence Kabugho – Kasese; and 10. Hon. Nelson Okello - Maruzi North County. I beg to designate.

11368 DESIGNATION OF MEMBERS TO COMMITTEES OF PARLIAMENT 16. Apollo Yeri Ofwono - Tororo Municipality; 17. Hon. Barnabas Tinkasiimre - Buyaga West; 18. Hon. Agnes Kirabo - Youth; and 19. Hon. Norman Jimbricky Ochero - Labwor County. I beg to designate.

I would like to justify the loan as follows. The implementation of the project will contribute directly to the National Development Plan III key result areas of increasing the stock of transport infrastructure, reducing freight transportation costs and travel time. The upgrading of the national roads project is part of Uganda’s National Roads Network and will involve: 1. The upgrading of Katine-Ochero Road (70kilometres); 2. The construction of Masindi Port Bridge; and 3. The upgrading of Kyenjojo (Kihura)-Bwizi- Rwamwanja-Kahunge (68kilometres) and Mpara-Bwizi (37 kilometres). Madam Speaker, you can notice that Hon. Frank is happy about this project. The Katine- Ochero Road is currently gravel and does not provide a reliable and an efficient all-weather link. This reduces the number of people who travel to the project-influence areas. The traffic levels on the road cause fast deterioration of the unpaved surface resulting into increased costs of maintaining the road in a motorable state. At the Masindi Port Bridge, the existing ferry that facilitates crossing Victoria Nile to connect Rwenkunye-Masindi Port section to Kungu- Apac section is old with insufficient capacity to carry the ever-increasing traffic. The Kyenjojo (Kihura)-Bwizi-Rwamwanja- Kahunge and Mpara-Bwizi Road is characterised by surface corrugations, inadequate drainage, poor alignment and a total carriageway width that varies between five to six metres. Madam Speaker, the third National Development Plan identifies “access to and efficiency of transport infrastructure” as critical to Uganda’s competitiveness and the country’s ability to harness its regional and globalisation potential. Transport infrastructure is noted as a key component contributing to the NDP III goal of increased household incomes and quality of life by linking growth opportunities in key development sectors of agriculture, tourism and minerals, which facilitate national and international integration, and supports job creation and poverty alleviation. The proposed improved road infrastructure is expected to trigger rapid socio-economic development and transformation of communities living within the project-impact zone. The selected roads are prioritised for implementation during the third National Development Plan under the Integrated Infrastructure and Services Programme. The proposed date is consistent with the existing national vision, public debt management framework and the third development plan. The terms and conditions of borrowing are as follows: i) Loan amount - $295 million; ii) The loan period is 20 years, including a grace period of five years; and iii) The effective interest rate is 4.75 per cent. Madam Speaker, we have another component of $30 million and its terms are as follows: the loan period is 20 years, including a grace period of five years and the interest rate is at 2 per cent. Madam Speaker, with this justification, we presented the loan to the committee and they looked at it. With your guidance, the committee can take us through the details of what they saw in our proposal. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I request that I come on the Floor as soon as Parliament resumes, to bring an updated report on where we are on the Kampala-Jinja Expressway. The demands and requirements of that project are much deeper and more complex than the ones for the Katine–Ochero Road, which is a straightforward project. However, I will bring the details. I request that I be allowed to bring more details as soon as Parliament resumes.

11329 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 13 DECEMBER 2023 The OPEC Fund is expected to offer $30 million through a parallel financing and this will be dedicated to the Katine-Ochero section. The Government of Uganda is expected to provide $22 million in land acquisition. Therefore, that is counterpart funding. Economic returns on the project The project positive net present value averaging $41.65 million with economic rates of returns for upgrading Katine-Ochero Road, construction of Masindi Port Bridge and upgrading of the Kihura–Bwizi–Rwamwanja- Kahunge is at 17.4 per cent and 15.7 per cent in addition to 20.8 per cent, respectively. Since the internal rate of return is higher than Uganda’s economic opportunity cost of capital at 11 per cent, it is an indication that the project is economically viable and impactful to the entire country, with both indirect and direct benefits. According to the Ministry of Works and Transport, the funding requirements for the proposed interventions in the country, as far as the status of roads is concerned, amounts to Shs 580 billion; the bad roads. These requirements are categorised in the following entities: National Road Network - Shs 64 billion; DUCAR (DLGs and UCs) - Shs 429.8 billion; Ministry of Works (in terms of emergency response items for culverts, gabions, bailey bridges) - Shs 50.7 billion; and KCCA road network - Shs 35 billion. That is under observation. The committee recommends that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should, as a matter of urgency, find money to cater for emergency repairs of the roads in the country. Grace period of the financing The committee observed that the Islamic Development Bank Draft Instalment Sale Financing Framework Agreement defines the payment period as being the period of 15 years, starting from the end of the gestation period, provided that the period from the first disbursement date up to the last payment date shall not exceed 20 years. The gestation period provided for under Article 2 of the framework agreement is five years from the first disbursement date. The committee noted that the brief to Parliament by the Minister of Finance, Planning and the Economic Development indicated a grace period of four years, contrary to the provision in the financing agreement. The committee recommends that the grace period be maintained at five years, similar to the gestation period provided for under Article 2 of the Draft Instalment Sale Financing Framework Agreement. This should be maintained in the financing agreement. Risk Premium of the Financing Agreement The committee observed that the Draft Instalment Sale Financing Framework Agreement provides for a risk premium as compensation for market risk assumed by the Islamic Republic Bank in refinancing prevailing at the time of disbursement. Such prevailing spread would be fixed for the relevant disbursement to be calculated for the remaining financing tenure. The committee also noted that the risk premium was subject to semi-annual update by the bank to reflect changes in the market condition. The committee observed that whereas the Minister of Finance’s brief to Parliament indicated the risk premium being 0.5 per cent, the Draft Instalment Sale Financing Framework Agreement provided for the prevailing risk premium to be 0.7 percent. The committee notes that higher risk premium reduces the grant element of the financing from the Islamic Development Bank and increases the debt servicing cost of this facility. Additionally, updates made to the risk premium complicate the computation of the

Is it seconded? Okay, it is seconded by the honourable member from Ochero Subcounty and the honourable member from Kahunge Parish. Honourable members, I now put the question that the Motion for a Resolution of Parliament to authorise Government to borrow up to $295 million from the Islamic Development Bank, and $30 million from the OPEC Fund for International Development, for the upgrading of the National Roads Project in Uganda, be adopted by this House. (Question put and agreed to.) Report adopted.

Rt Hon. Prime Minister, to avoid Members continuing to raise this issue here, you should instruct the trade minister to invite the MPs from West Nile for a meeting and he updates them, so that they are also able to update their people. Yes, Hon. Noman Ochero.

10691 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2023 To construct a kilometre of tarmac road in Tanzania, it costs Shs 2.1 billion, in Kenya it costs Shs 1.6 billion and in Uganda, it costs Shs 4.1 billion. In other words, it is twice as expensive to construct a road in Uganda than in Kenya and Tanzania. It also means that the same money we are using right now, Uganda can get twice. We are constructing about 900 kilometres of roads and it means that we can construct an extra 900 kilometres of roads. That means every subregion in this country can get 40 kilometres of tarmac roads. The Ministry of Works and Transport, in their Financial Year 2021/2022 Budget Framework Paper, said that by the end of the Financial Year 2023/2024, they would have ensured a reduction in the cost of road construction to Shs 2.7 billion. However, we are at Shs 4.1 billion. We are aware that in Lango Subregion, we are among the most marginalised. Yeri Corner- Aboke road is 55 kilometres, Dokolo-Ochero- Namasale road is 88 kilometres and Lira-Aloi- Kotido-Abim road is 120 kilometres. These are presidential pledges that are being recycled for the third time without fulfilment. I would like a statement on that. Secondly, although the Ministry of Works and Transport committed that by end of this year, they would have reduced road construction costs to Shs 2.7 billion, that has not been achieved. My prayer is that the Committee on Physical Infrastructure inquires into the high cost. I have all the data that has been analysed, more than 40 Votes for that –

Thank you, honourable member. Is the motion seconded? (Members rose_) It is seconded by Hon. Komakech, Hon. Noman Ochero, Prof. Mushemeza, Hon. Nakut, Hon. Sylvia, Hon. Kabanda, Hon. Aisha Sekindi, Hon. Okaasai, Hon. Huda Oleru, and many of you, honourable colleagues. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. My concern is mainly about Ochero Constituency in my district. In the whole constituency there is no power. I have written to the ministry and talked to Hon. Okaasai but nothing has been done. I pray that you take it as something very serious. Because each time I pass there I get a lot of pressure to answer questions. Secondly, in my constituency, Kaberamaido; there are very many subcounties of Alwa, Kaberamaido, and Aperkira with transmission poles, but without Connections. I wrote to the ministry informing them of the several schools and health centres that are outside the power grid; I requested them for solar panels because the primary seven candidates cannot revise their books. I pray that you try to plan for those schools and health centres that are outside the power grid; that will go a long way in helping us. Thank you so much.

7. Hon. Simon Peter Opolot Okwalinga – Member 8. Hon. Theodore Ssekikubo – member 9. Hon. Kyoto Ibrahim Mululi – member 10. Hon. Sauda Kauma – member 11. Hon. Alex Niyonsaba – member 12. Hon. Mugabe Kahonda - member 13. Hon. Noman Ochero - member 14. Hon. Alex Brandon Kintu - member 15. Hon. Peter Abrahams Lokii– member 16. Hon. Phiona Nyamutoro – member 17. Hon. Yoweri Ssebikaali – member. Madam Speaker, I beg to designate.

Madam Speaker, I beg to designate the following Members to the Committee on Public Service and Local Government: 1. Hon. Betty Naluyima, Woman Representative, Wakiso District; 2. Hon. Jimmy Lwanga of Njeru Municipality; 3. Hon. Teddy Nambooze, Woman Representative, Mpigi District; 4. Hon. Juliet Kakande Nakabuye, Woman Representative, Masaka District; 5. Hon. Atkins Katusabe of Bukonzo County West; 6. Hon. Julius Emigu of Ochero County.

8419 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 2 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. Hon. Niyonsaba Alex Hon. Nkunyingi Muwada Hon. Nkwansibwe Zinkuratire Henry – Aye Hon. Nsamba Patrick Oshabe Hon. Nsanja Patrick Kayongo – Aye Hon. Nsegumire Muhammad Kibedi – Aye Hon. Nseroko Muhammad Hon. Nsibambi Yusuf Hon. Nsubuga Paul – Aye Hon. Nyakato Asinasi – Aye Hon. Nyakato Dorothy – Aye Hon. Nyakikongoro Rose Mary – Aye Hon. Nyamutooro Phionah Hon. Nyangweso Dennis – Aye Hon. Nyeko Derrick Hon. Nyirabashitsi Sarah Mateke Hon. Nyongore Enock – Aye Hon. Obiga Kania Mario Hon. Obigah Rose – Aye Hon. Obong Vicent Shedrick – Aye Hon. Oboth Marksons Jacob – Aye Hon. Obua Denis Hamson – Aye Hon. Ocan Patrick Hon. Ocen Peter – Aye Hon. Ochai Maximus – Aye Hon. Ochero Jimbricky Noman – Aye Hon. Odoi Bernad Onen Mutusa – Aye Hon. Odoi Oywelowo Fox – Nay Hon. Odongo Jeje Abubakar Hon. Odur Jonathan – Aye Hon. Oguzu Lee Denis Hon. Ogwal Moses Goli – Aye Hon. Ogwang Peter – Aye Hon. Ogwari Polycarp – Aye Hon. Ojara Martin Mapenduzi – Aye Hon. Ojok Andrew Oulanyah – Aye Hon. Okaasai Sidronius Opolot Hon. Okae Bob – Aye Hon. Okello Geoffrey Charles – Aye Hon. Okello Nelson – Aye Hon. Okeyoh Peter – Aye Hon. Okia Joanne Aniku – Aye Hon. Okin P.P Ojara Hon. Okiror Bosco Hon. Okori-Moe Janet Grace Akech - Aye Hon. Okot Boniface Henry - Aye Hon. Okot John Amos

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let me also thank you, on behalf of the people of Kaberamaido, for they will always remember this Parliament for that Shs 1 billion. We have been receiving less than Shs 160 million a year yet we have over 360 kilometres - now you do the math. Therefore, I thank you and this House very much for that. Secondly, I would like to ask the minister - I have been worried by the statistics I have seen that we daily accumulate Shs 227 million on contractors - the money we are not paying. Ever since we started sitting here, we have probably accumulated, per hour, Shs 9.4 million. I want to know; what is happening? Why is Government not able to find money to pay these contractors? Even tomorrow, it will be more. Related to that, honourable minister, Kaberamaido has waited for the construction of Katine-Ochero Road. This House passed a loan through the Islamic Bank. The financial year is coming to an end - and I am worried that out of these same debts, maybe we will not have that road constructed. Please, help me clarify. Finally, on the issue of the Land Information Systems, out of 10 people who are in jail in Kaberamaido, nearly five of them are there due to land disputes. My appeal is: Let us find money for this commission to improve the information for the land system. UNRA and the Uganda Land Commission will agree with me that there are thousands of people whose land titles have been lying up to now. They do not know the status of their land titles yet – (Member timed out.)

Honourable colleagues, if know you brought a matter to my office, please stop harassing me. Be patient. I know some of you are rushing because you want to speak and go. Many I have allowed to speak have gone. So, be patient. I will give you chance. Yes, Hon. Noman Ochero?

Now let me conclude with the issue raised in regard to Abim Hospital by my former colleague, Hon. Noman Ochero. Abim Hospital is a serious issue, Rt Hon. Prime Minister. You know very well that the state of our health facilities in Uganda is deplorable, including Bududa and Kambuga hospitals. Kambuga is in Kanungu. You know what happened. Had the Member not been airlifted, he would be “RIP”. The last one is about the reverends that were arrested, arising from the question that was raised by Hon. Ssewungu. That question has not been given justice. You know that they are on remand and are not seeking any legal redress. They were tortured by the police. We have seen the video clips on electronic media. So, these are issues, which your docket is not –

Honourable members, kindly do not go away please. Hon. Obong Vincent Shedrick – Present Hon. Oboth Marksons Jacob – Present Hon. Obua Denis Hamson – Present Hon. Ochan Patrick – Present Hon. Ocen Peter – Present Hon. Ochai Maximus – Present Hon. Ochero Jimbricky Norman Hon. Odoi Bernard Onen Mutusa – Present Hon. Odoi-Oywelowo Fox – Present Hon. Odong Jeje Abubakar Hon. Odur Jonathan – Present Hon. Oguzu Lee Denis Hon. Ogwal Moses Goli – Present Hon. Ogwang Peter – Present Hon. Ogwari Polycarp – Present Hon. Ojara Martin Mapenduzi – Present Hon. Ojok Andrew Oulanyah - Hon. Okaasai Sidronius Opolot – Present Hon. Okae Bob – Hon. Okello Charles Patrick Engola Hon. Okello Geofrey Charles – Present Hon. Okello Nelson – Present Hon. Okeyoh Peter – Present Hon. Okia Joanne Aniku – Present Hon. Okin P.P. Ojara Hon. Okiror Bosco Hon. Okori-Moe Janet Grace Akech Hon. Okot Boniface Henry – Present Hon. Okot John Amos – Present Hon. OKot Moses Junior Hon. Okot Ogong Felix – Present Hon. Okot Peter Hon. Okot Santa – Present Hon. Okullo Aabuka Anthony Hon. Okumu Gabriel Hon. Okupa Elijah – Present Hon. Okwir Samuel – Present Hon. Olanya Gilbert – Hon. Oleru Huda Abason – Present Hon. Olobo James – Present Hon. Omara Paul

Hon. Muloni is on zoom . We shall give her another chance. Let the ICT team get in touch with her. We also agreed that a sign that is clearly visible can be used if there is a breakdown. Hon. Naigaga Mariam - Yes Hon. Najjuma Sarah - Yes Hon. Nakazibwe Hope - Yes Hon. Nakimuli Helen - Yes Hon. Nakut Faith Loru - Yes Hon. Nakwang Christine Tubo - Yes Hon. Nalule Kabanda Aisha - Yes Hon. Naluyima Betty Ethel - Yes Hon. Namugga Gorreth - Yes Hon. Namujju Cissy Dionizia - Yes Hon. Namukuta Brenda Yes Hon. Namutaawe Joan - Yes Hon. Nandagire Ndiwalana Christine Yes Hon. Nangoli Gerald - Yes Hon. Nantongo Fortunate Rose - Yes Hon. Nanyondo Veronica Namaganda Yes Hon. Natukunda Midius - Yes Hon. Natumanya Flora - Yes Hon. Nayebale Sylvia - Yes Hon. Ndyomugyenyi Roland - Yes Hon. Nebanda Florence Andiru - Yes Hon. Ngompek Linos - Yes Hon. Ninsiima Boaz Kasirabo - Yes Hon. Niringiyimana Kaberuka James Yes Hon. Niwagaba Wilfred - Yes Hon. Niyonsaba Alex - Yes Hon. Nkwasiibwe Zinkuratire Henry Yes Hon. Nsanja Patrick Kayongo - Yes Hon. Nsegumire Muhamad Kibedi Yes Hon. Nsereko Muhammad - Yes Hon. Nsibambi Yusuf - Yes Hon. Nyakato Dorothy - Yes Hon. Nyakikongoro Rosemary - Yes Hon. Nyangweso Dennis - Yes Hon. Obigah Rose - Yes Hon. Ocen Peter - Yes Hon. Ochai Maximus - Yes ( Zoom ) Hon. Ochero Jimbricky Noman - Yes Hon. Odoi Bernard Yes Hon. Odoi-Oywelowo Fox - Yes Hon. Ogwal Moses Goli - Yes Hon. Ogwari Polycarp - Yes Hon. Ojara Martin Mapenduzi - Yes Hon. Ojok Andrew Oulanyah - Yes Hon. Okae Bob - Yes Hon. Okello Geofrey Charles - Yes Hon. Okia Joanne Aniku - Yes Hon. Okiror Bosco - Yes Hon. Okori Moe Janet Grace Akech Yes Hon. Okot Boniface Henry - Yes Hon. Okot John Amos - Yes Hon. Okot Moses Junior - Yes Hon. Okot Peter - Yes Hon. Okullo Aabuka Anthony - Yes Hon. Okumu Gabriel - Yes Hon. Okupa Elijah - Yes Hon. Okwir Samuel - Yes Hon. Olanya Gilbert - Yes Hon. Olobo James - Yes Hon. Omara Paul - Yes

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Hon. Ochero Jimbricky is my friend. I listened carefully, but I failed to understand his presentation. Madam Speaker, now that you said it has something to do with compensation - and he mentioned the fact that he is from the Karamoja Subregion - the President has pledged to give me a directive, specifically on some areas in Karamoja. However, currently, as the Attorney- General’s Chambers, the compensation we are carrying out is for the three subregions, for which verification has already been done and money allocated. That is Acholi, Lango and [Mr Ochero] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR