Sheema County South

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on a matter regarding an outbreak of anthrax in Sheema District. It is so urgent. It is more than Ebola or coronavirus. The other day, five people died on the spot and nine people are hospitalised. I ask that this is treated as an urgent matter for the Prime Minister to take on because it is spreading to other areas of the district. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mine is on food security. Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Sheema District and other districts that plant Matooke, are currently experiencing severe drought and our bananas are ripening at an abnormal time. I would like to request - I heard an honourable member from Northern Uganda say, “ They are suffering from famine”. Can we have alternative markets? Can we have alternative ways of keeping our food safe, may be in the fridges so that our Matooke, in times of such a glut, we would have them stored or given to those markets or areas where people are suffering from famine. Sheema District and so many other districts are suffering from the same.

Thank you very much, Your Excellency. Notification for the coffee meeting in Bukedi and Teso is taken. In Tororo, we had cotton and it is not adding up. I am told the Member of Parliament from Sheema District was an accountant. She was denied the opportunity to speak and give testimony about this project during its Phase I. Let us take note that next time, minister, you should know she was a consultant who assessed the project. You can imagine the kind of people we have here. Honourable minister? Is there a point of procedure? We have exhausted.

Honourable members, thank you so much for laying the wreaths to our departed. In the VIP gallery this afternoon, we have the immediate fam ily members of the late Hon. Helen Nakimuli. We have Fr Christopher Walusimbi, who is the dad. Father, you are most welcome. We have Ms Irene Nampala, the sister. You are welcome. We also have Mr Nicholas Ntege, Mr Photius Ssekabira, both brothers of the late, and Ms Melanie Namirimu, the daughter of the late. They are here to observe the proceedings. In the VIP gallery this afternoon, we have the following members of Parliament-elect, who are here to support: 1. Hon. Bernadette Chandia Kodili, from Moyo District; 2. Hon. Esther Acom from Serere District; 3. Hon. Lydia Mutende Wanyoto; 4. Hon. Peace Tibyaze from Jinja District; 5. Hon. Betty Nakisita Mpongo from Namutumba District; 6. Hon. Ismail Kasule from Hoima West Division; 7. Hon. Topista Acamfua, Zombo District; 8. Hon. Sarah Itungo Masereka from Kasese District; 9. Hon. Annet Birungi, Workers’ Representative; 10. Hon. Harriet Ntabazi of Bwamba County; 11. Hon. Arthur Atuhairwe Kazoora from Ruhinda South County; 12. Hon. Sylvia Katooko Damba from Kibuku District; and 13. Hon. Adrine Katusiime from Sheema District. They are here to witness today’s proceedings in paying tribute to the late Hon. Helen Nakimuli, and they are all most welcome. We also have the Members of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). We have Hon. Dr Gerald Siranda Blacks and Hon. Veronica Kadogo. We will continue to introduce you as we receive notifications. I also want to - we have members from the National Unity Platform (NUP) in the VIP gallery. We have Dr Lina Zedriga, acting party president and Ms Jackline Tumushabe, Deputy Party President. We also have Mr Davis Lewis Rubongoya, Ms Katana Benjamin, Ms Sarah Muwonge, Mr Buwembo Habib, Ms Nabatanzi Faridah, Mr Rover Alex and Ms Nalukwago Judith. They are here to follow the proceedings. Also in the public gallery, we have members of the Uganda Volleyball Federation led by the federation president, Mr Sadik Nasiwu Zaid. They are in a delegation, and they are many. We also have students from Kibuli Secondary School, where the girl is studying. You are most welcome. Thank you so much for coming. I have condolence messages here. I have also seen Hon. Rose Akol; she is there. Thank you so much. I have a condolence message from His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and attached to it is Shs 20,000,000. We have a contribution of Shs 10,000,000 from the Buganda Parliamentary Caucus. Allow me to hand over the monies to Hon. Kirumira Hassan so that he will be accountable. I would like to request that the contributions that we are making go towards the support of the child. The Parliament of Uganda will take the responsibility of all the burial expenses, and I am saying ‘all’. I have a contribution from Hon. Anita Annet Among, “AAA”, of Shs 10 million. I have a contribution of Shs 5,000,000 from the Rt Hon. Thomas Tayebwa. [The Speaker] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

18417 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 26 MARCH 2026 In the VIP Gallery this afternoon, we have Members of Parliament-elect. They have come to observe the proceedings. They include: 1. Hon. Alex Ekoro Irukan - Bunya County East 2. Hon. Jane Frances Amongin – Kaberamaido District 3. Hon. Jeniva Arinaitwe Nalongo – Rubirizi District 4. Hon. Patrick Musinguzi – Kashari North County 5. Hon. Wilfred Babanga Erima – Terego East County 6. Hon. Johnson Nyeko – Lamwo County 7. Hon. Harriet Joyo – Obongi District 8. Hon. Adrine Katusiime – Sheema District 9. Hon. Peter Ojiit – Pingire County 10. Hon. Noel Matilda Kataike – Budaka District 11. Hon. Peace Tibyase 12. Hon. Etilu Margaret from Amuria 13. Hon. Ogwal Joseph Jones from Dokolo 14. Hon. Kiyimba Emmanuel from Bukoto County West 15. Hon. Kibaju Charity, Mbarara City 16. Hon. Nabaduka Annet from Kibale 17. Hon. Acom Esther Lucy from Serere 18. Hon. Kasule Ismail, Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) from Hoima West 19. Hon. Twinamasiko Onesmus – Old Boy (OB) (Applause) 20. Hon. Ahebwa Wilber from Nakaseke 21. Hon. Ssewagudde Robert, representing Persons with Disability and; 22. Hon. Mulemya Ismail Sowedi from Busia. Join me in welcoming them. You are all most welcome. (Applause) Honourable members, can we now hear from the minister because this is a serious matter?

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. My concern is the Innovations Fund. The Government of Uganda should have a policy on how a Ugandan can access the Innovations Fund; it should be made clear. At what stage that does innovation get commercialised? Does it mean that every innovation should be funded to be commercialised? I was privileged to be in the Budget Committee that did oversight on the Tropical Institute of Development Innovations (TRIDI) project on sericulture in Sheema District. When you physically see everything that is going on in that facility, it does not deserve the Shs 23 billion for which this committee is saying they are ready for commercialisation. We were also informed that TRIDI used some of the money of the Innovations Fund to buy land for the company, not for innovation. Mr Speaker, as a matter of policy, it should be clear how a Ugandan can access this Innovations Fund for fairness in the country. Also, at what point do we put commercialisation? Not every innovation should be commercialised. Some should be dropped when there is no value seen in them and they cannot yield any money. It is not fair for the country to continue to sink in money simply because we have invested in it before. I submit.

I put the question that the total sum of Shs 1,332,386,480,312 be provided for as a supplementary for development expenditure for central government for the Financial Year 2024/2025. (Question put and agreed to.) LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT EXPENDITURE 1. Vote 722 - Moroto Municipal Council: Shs 160 million; 2. Vote 820 - Bulambuli District: Shs 202,244,620; 3. Vote 827- Butambala District: Shs 36,356,530; 4. Vote 838 - Jinja District: Shs 213 million; 5. Vote 845 - Kalaki District: Shs 74,776,279; 6. Vote 858 - Kayunga District: Shs 235,200,000; 7. Vote 865 - Kiryandongo District: Shs 120 million; 8. Vote 866 - Kisoro District: Shs 567,851,100; 9. Vote 867 - Kitagwenda District: Shs 412 million; 10. Vote 875 - Kyankwanzi District: Shs 80 million; 11. Vote 882 – Luwero District: Shs 540,756,000; 12. Vote 898 – Mubende District: Shs 378,616,912; 13. Vote 906 - Namutumba District: Shs 40 million; 14. Vote 924 – Rukungiri District: Shs 198,591,279; 15. Vote 926 – Sembabule District: Shs 350 million; 16. Vote 928 – Sheema District: Shs 50,442,000; 17. Vote 932 – Tororo District: 651,605,442; and 18. Vote 933 - Wakiso District: Shs 165,137,504. Subtotal for Local Government: Shs 4,476,577,666.

\;. ,, ,- i. }lL tu .,./ l -rfu \, I ffi P d 1 41" i ..- I =+*i: _.1 - / r \ Vote Description Amouat (OOO') 39,r92,9t4 902 Nakaseke District 903 Nakasongola District 3 1,339,971 904 Namayingo District 24,254,473 905 Namisindwa District 3t,27t,520 Namutumba District 33,601,552 906 907 Napak District 18,335,569 908 Nebbi District 3t,604,472 909 Ngora District 22,787,323 910 Ntoroko District 16,176,344 911 Ntungamo District 60,306,t24 9t2 Nwoya District 22,660,361 913 Obongi District L3,625,732 9t4 Omoro District 26,662,006 915 Otuke District 20,1OO,789 9L6 Oyam District 40,233,515 \rz Pader District 30,440,385 I s\a Pakwach District 22,888,O83 919 Pallisa District 36,368,2L1 920 Rakai District 39,855,468 92r Rubanda District 30,627,663 922 Rubirizi District 23,403,496 923 Rukiga District 2t,899,306 924 Rukungiri District 44,4to,975 925 Rwampara District 21,596,061 926 Sembabule District 33,249,O59 - 927 Serere District 35,784,457 928 Sheema District 3t,378,544 929 Sironko District 35,653,624 930 Soroti District 23,844,786 931 Terego District 23,87r,940 932 Tororo District 62,770,477 {7 {-.. 16 ir[

13195 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 30 APRIL 2024 Vote 903: Nakasongola District – Shs 116,719,304; Vote 904: Namayingo District - Shs 11,900,000; Vote 905: Namisindwa District - Shs 1,118,779,694; Vote 907: Napak District – Shs 716,142,230; Vote 910: Ntoroko District – Shs 200,000,000; Vote 911: Ntungamo District – Shs 1,578,281,727; Vote 914: Omoro District - Shs 945,418,871; Vote 915: Otuke District – Shs 140,384,222; Vote 916: Oyam District – Shs 686,642,360; Vote 918: Pakwach District - Shs 1,194,282,483; Vote 919: Pallisa District - Shs 153,095,758; Vote 920: Rakai District - Shs 2,454,394,511; Vote 922: Rubirizi District – Shs 1,826,796,820; Vote 923: Rukiga District - Shs 147,370,222; Vote 924: Rukungiri District - Shs 885,488,277; Vote 925: Rwampara District – Shs 770,470,627; Vote 927: Serere District - Shs 311,478,920; Vote 928: Sheema District – Shs 1,953,424,896; Vote 932: Tororo District - Shs 91,205,614; Vote 933: Wakiso District – Shs 5,194,470,980; and Vote 935: Zombo District - Shs 819,580,024.

Strategic Objective 2: Develop, conseree and diversify tourism products (l) Commenced construction works at the Ekyomugabe site of the Kitagata Hot Springs in Sheema District with fencing and levelling of parking grounds. Construction of the visitor information centre and craft shops is on-going. (2) Kagulu Hill in Buyende District enhanced with climbing steps and safet5l railings to enhance the visitor experience. (3) Construction of a modern pier at the Source of the Nile in Jinja City is ongoing. (4) Osukuru and Tororo Rock Site: Designs and layout concepts developed and finalised. (5) Concluded nationwide religious tourism audit for religious tourism product development and promotion. (6) Invasive species management continued in PAs with 1,255ha (against an annual target of 1295 ha) of invasive species cleared. (7) A total of 259.5km (against annual target of 3O5kms) of PA boundary maintained { -__ffI, I (nvv |fr" ( + ffi, F

Distribution Lisr. o Kisoro District s Kabale District e R.ubanda District a Rukiga Districr o Kanungu District o ltukungiri Disrrict .:, R.wampara District ; Mungamo District ., Sheema District , I(ikuube District ; Kyenjojo District . Kabalore District r Zombo District.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question to the Rt Hon. Prime Minister, is about my constituency, where a range of hills pass from Buhweju through Sheema to Igara. These hills supply stones as building materials. People have been digging into these hills and have developed cracks. Recently, heavy rains exacerbated the problem. There is a big hill in a village called Ekijogoma and there is a very big crack, both in the hill and on the ground, and water is gushing out. Sheema District leadership formed a committee which wrote to your office, Rt Hon. Prime Minister, but nothing has been done. My question is; When is something going to be done before a catastrophe occurs? Thank you.

8759 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 18 MAY 2023 229) Vote 900: Nabilatuk District – Shs 8,965,015,000 230) Vote 901: Nakapiripirt District – Shs 11,039,255,000 231) Vote 902: Nakaseke District – Shs 33,609,209,000 232) Vote 903: Nakasongola District – Shs 29,199,461,000 233) Vote 904: Namayingo District – Shs 24,345,537,000 234) Vote 905: Namisindwa District – Shs 25,757,056,000 235) Vote 906: Namutumba District – Shs 29,395,177,000 236) Vote 907: Napak District – Shs 14,554,931,000 237) Vote 908: Nebbi District – Shs 28,393,138,000 238) Vote 909: Ngora District – Shs 20,015,428,000 239) Vote 910: Ntoroko District – Shs 17,856,009,000 240) Vote 911: Ntungamo District – Shs 52,482,302,000 241) Vote 912: Nwoya District – Shs 19,818,194,000 242) Vote 913: Obongi District – Shs 11,259,732,000 243) Vote 914: Omoro District – Shs 23,623,072,000 244) Vote 915: Otuke District – Shs 17,308,500,000 245) Vote 916: Oyam District – Shs 36,647,321,000 246) Vote 917: Pader District – Shs 28,538,070,000 247) Vote 918: Pakwach District – Shs 20,416,756,000 248) Vote 919: Pallisa District – Shs 32,319,522,000 249) Vote 920: Rakai District – Shs 35,470,398,000 250) Vote 921: Rubanda District – Shs 26,781,538,000 251) Vote 922: Rubirizi District – Shs 17,650,350,000 252) Vote 923: Rukiga District – Shs 21,557,840,000 253) Vote 924: Rukungiri District – Shs 40,111,677,000 254) Vote 925: Rwampara District - Shs 21,241,513,000 255) Vote 926: Ssembabule District – Shs 29,341,783,000 256) Vote 927: Serere District – Shs 32,000,876,000 257) Vote 928: Sheema District – Shs 26,927,219,000 258) Vote 929: Sironko District – Shs 32,016,598,000 259) Vote 930: Soroti District – Shs 22,110,246,000 260) Vote 931: Terego District – Shs 25,198,993,000 261) Vote 932: Tororo District – Shs 57,785,129,000 262) Vote 933: Wakiso District – Shs 78,280,713,000

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

Mr Speaker, I have great respect for my brother, Hon. Musasizi, and I do not intend to crucify him for this matter. However, as a representative, he knows we owe the people a duty of performance and representation. Just like we do here in the august House, local councillors owe their people at the local council level the same duty. The role of decentralisation is to empower the lower units to live to the aspiration of their voters in order for them to be a true reflection of what we are at the national level so that they can account to their people. That way, they reduce the burden on us to become the centre of all burdens. For example, the way we appropriate money for construction and development at the national level; they should also do the same at the local level. That is very important because at the end of the day, you may become the engineer for all roads in your constituency. Otherwise, when you go back, the councilors will say, “Honourable members and people of the society, or the people of our community, all powers are vested in Parliament. They are the ones that appropriate. We send out budgets, they scrutinise them and decide whether we weigh or do not weigh.” Let me give you an example of what goes on in our capital city here. Everyone can see potholes, but our hands and those of the councils are tied. The councillors tell you: “All the money is vested in the Consolidated Fund.” For example, in the first quarter, they had no development budget and so, potholes grew, enlarged and widened into gullies to include roads like the one in Katwe. And at the end of the day, when you ask them, they tell you, “Honourable Member of Parliament, what have we got to do? We do not control our money anymore. While we make a lot of collections, there is nothing we can spend.” Well, the powers are vested in this House: can we come up with a formula in the future, which indicates that when they collect say, 100 per cent, they can spend about 40 or 30 per cent on things that arise without our influence? Otherwise, if they cannot spend even two per cent, then why are they there and how are we helping decentralisation growth? That is why recently, Mr Speaker, you realise that in an office – was it in Sheema District or somewhere else – the CAO closed the office and went away. I am sorry if it was not in Sheema District; I do not want those people to become angry, but wherever it was – a council office was closed and everyone walked away and the reason was that they had no money to perform their duties. So, micromanaging a country from a central point – 100 or 300 constituencies plus several local councils – defeats the very same notion that we cry for, of decentralisation. – (Interjections) - The honourable colleague says I am right. (Laughter) Therefore, Mr Speaker, rule 224 is within your powers. Since we discuss all these matters as Parliament, and agree to include these honourable members of Parliament and the ministers that swear before you – (Interruption)