Soroti West County

3 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 13 MAY 2026 57. Alum Santa Sandra Ogwang District Woman Representative Oyam UPC 58. Akoth Angella Nzokire District Woman Representative Tororo Independent 59. Alero Tom Aza West Moyo County Moyo NRM 60. Anywar Ricky Richard Agago West County Agago NRM 61. Aogon Silas Kumi Municipality Kumi Independent 62. Aol Betty Ocan City Woman Representative Gulu City PFF 63. Arinaitwe Jeniva District Woman Representative Rubirizi NRM 64. Arinaitwe Rwakajara Katambuka Workers Representative N/A NRM 65. Aseera Stephen Buhaguzi East County Kikuube NRM 66. Asiimwe Florence Akiiki District Woman Representative Masindi NRM 67. Attan Okia Moses Soroti East County Soroti City FDC 68. Kiconco Katabaazi Patrick Rukiga County Rukiga NRM 69. Atuhwereire Arthur Kazoora Ruhinda South County Mitooma NRM 70. Atukunda Rebecca Mubangizi District Woman Representative Kassanda NRM 71. Atuto Jacinta District Woman Representative Kapelebyong NRM 72. Atwijukire Boaz Katerera County Rubirizi Independent 73. Alupo Jessica Rose Epel District Woman Representative Katakwi NRM 74. Atwijukire Dan Kimosho Kazo County Kazo NRM 75. Acora Nancy Odonga District Woman Representative Lamwo NRM 76. Atyang Stella District Woman Representative Moroto NRM 77. Auma Janet District Woman Representative Amolatar UPC 78. Auma Kenny District Woman Representative Kwania UPC 79. Avako Melsa Naima Gule District Woman Representative Yumbe NRM 80. Anyango Janet Hope District Woman Representative Busia NRM 81. Ayagalachi Jamali Bukooli County Bugiri NUP 82. Achia Remigio Pian County Nabilatuk NRM 83. Ayepa Michael Labwor County Abim NRM 84. Ayoo Janeth Phoebe Obol District Woman Representative Gulu NRM 85. Apolot Christine District Woman Representative Kumi Independent 86. Ayume Charles Koboko Municipality Koboko NRM 87. Avur Jane Pacuto District Woman Representative Pakwach NRM 88. Atugonza Allan Buliisa County Buliisa NRM 89. Baatom Ben Koryang Dodoth West County Karenga NRM 90. Babirye Kityo Sarah Bukoto County East Masaka NRM 91. Babirye Milly Babalanda Budiope West County Buyende NRM 92. Ariko Herbert Edmund Okworo Gweri County Soroti NRM 93. Kakooza James Older Persons Representative Central NRM 94. Awor Betty Engola District Woman Representative Apac NRM 95. Engola Sam Erute County South Lira NRM 96. Baryomunsi Chris Kinkizi County East Kanungu NRM 97. Nabbanja Robinah District Woman Representative Kakumiro NRM (The House was suspended at 11.38 a.m.) (On resumption at 1.29 p.m., the Clerk presiding.) 98. Auma Linda Agnes District Woman Representative Lira NRM 99. Babanga Wilfred Erima Terego East County Terego NRM 100. Babula Noel Kataike Matilda District Woman Representative Budaka NRM 101. Bahireira Sylivia Tumwekwase District Woman Representative Kamwenge NRM 102. Bakireke Nambooze Betty Mukono Municipality Mukono NUP

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

17732 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT v. The Government’s assurance to renovate Busolwe Hospital was not fully implemented when the committee visited. The committee recommends that: 1. The district local leadership should get involved in the entire process of supervision of the construction works; and 2. The UPDF Engineering Brigade should expedite the renovation works for staff houses in Busolwe Hospital. The committee looked at rebuilding Kilembe Mines Hospital, and I would also like to go to the observations and then the recommendations. The committee observed that: i. The absence of a fully functional government- supported hospital within Kilembe Mines presented a dire health situation for a very large population of over 500,000 people from six subcounties of Kilembe. That is the subcounties of Nyakabingo, Mbunga, Rukoki, Bulembia and Kyarumba; ii. Despite the dilapidated structures, Kilembe Hospital has continued to offer medical services to the community and its surroundings. iii. The Office of the Prime Minister and the local leaders disagreed on the appropriate location of the new Kilembe Mines Hospital; and iv. The Government’s assurance to rebuild Kilembe Mines Hospital has been broken. The committee recommends that: 1. Government should fulfil the presidential directive to rebuild and construct Kilembe Mines Hospital at the site provided by Kilembe Mines to ensure utmost accessibility to all the targeted subcounties and in line with the preferences of the local leaders, as well as the affected population. 2. The Ministry of Health should reinstate the Vote, all the equipment, the Primary Health Care fund, credit line, and staff of Kilembe Mines Hospital with immediate effect. It should not keep the Vote within the private for-profit entity, as it is happening now. That is St Mary’s Hospital, which they are supporting; and 3. The Ministry of Water and Environment should be tasked to provide a hydraulic report on its findings about the proposed site at Macgown in Kilembe. There is a site that has a dispute. Madam Speaker, we also handled a very important hospital that takes care of the people of a very important person in this country, who is number three: the Speaker of Parliament. That is the construction of Soroti Regional Hospital. Allow me to go through this. The committee established that the current Soroti Regional Referral Hospital is located in the middle of Soroti’s business district, which has three counties and 12 subcounties, 11 health centre IIs, five health centre IIIs, and one health centre IV. The catchment population is 2.7 million people from 10 districts of the Teso Subregion and one city, Soroti City. The hospital has a bed capacity of 274. It is a teaching hospital designated for internship training for graduate students from medical schools nationwide. The committee further established that Soroti Regional Referral Hospital was given land allocation, measuring 8.6 acres, by the district local government of Soroti and 50 acres by the university in Arapai to construct a new Soroti Regional Referral Hospital. The committee visited the two sites and discovered that part of the 8.6 acres in the proposed site was used to construct a regional blood bank and associated staff housing and that the funds meant for the upgrade of Otetai Health Centre II to Health Centre III were diverted for the construction of the said blood bank. The committee ascertained that the Ministry of Health has not formalised the process of acquiring the proposed land from Soroti University to finalise the university’s decision to house the referral hospital. Furthermore,

Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. Let me also thank the chairman for the report and maybe comment on two or three things. One is the issue of access to water. There are new cities that were approved, but with difficulties. If I use the example of Soroti City, we still have the same access point of water from Awoja, supplying the city and supplying Kalaki and Kaberamaido districts and a fleet of all those. So, it would be good for the ministry to now plan the source of water for only Soroti City and also plan other sources for the fleet of the other town councils in all those districts. In Kaberamaido Town Council, we face water challenges, and it is because we are dependent on Soroti City to extend the water to Kaberamaido. It would be important for the ministry to pay attention to that. The other thing is about the emoluments of local councils, which I will tell you, is the same issue, probably in the cities as it is in the rural areas. The work for most of the LCIs has increased beyond what it used to be because of the growth in our economy. Today, in the city, most LCIs would get paid a percentile out of sales of land and other things like that. They continue to look for ways to be rewarded. The chairman and committee were right to point out that for local councils, whether they are councilors or LCIs chairpersons, they need better - the Government needs to plan better for them, as their level of involvement has increased. Finally, generally, the role of what we call a “parish” or “ward” has also increased. Ever since the coming of the Parish Development

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would have loved my honourable colleague here - because the Nubian community is not only concentrated in Bombo. There is a Nubian community in Soroti City in Kijijanji, in Fort Portal in a place called Kitumba, and in Arua. I think this petition should cover the whole country where the Nubian community is based. I support the petition. Thank you.

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

YotL OcaOmr Aror4tffiml 519 Usanda Embass!, in ltaly. Rome 520 Upnda Embasgrr in DRC, Kinshasa 521 Usanda Embasor in Sudan, IGrartoum 522 Uganda Embass]r in France, Paris 2.000.000 523 Ugands, Embassfi in erermanfi, Berlin 390.000 524 Ugarura* Embassy in Iran, Tetrran 525 Uganda Elnbasrv in Russia, Mosconr 526 Uganda Embassy in Australia, Canbera 527 Uganda Embasqr in South Sudan, Juba 528 Uganda Embassrr in United Arab Emirates. Abudhabi 3.O00.ooo 529 Uganda Embasst, in Burundi, Bujumbura 530 Uganda Consulate in China, Guangzhou 531 Uganda Embasgy in Turkey, Ankara 532 Uganda Embasgy in Somalia, Mogadishu 542.000 533 Uganda Embasgy in Mataysia, Kuala Lumpur 390.OOO 534 Ilmnda Consul,ate in l(errya, Mombasa 8.000.000 535 Ugerrda Embasry in Algeria, Algiers 390.OOO 536 Uganda Embassy in Qatar, Doha 537 Usanda Mission in Havana, Cuba 538 Mission in Locrl Govcranoatt 601 Arua city 3.898.842 602 Fort-Portal citlr 2.784332 603 Gulu city 3.319.911 604 Hoirna city 3.21O.937 605 Jinja city 6.885.624 606 Lira city 3,342,673 607 Masaka city 6.620.770 608 Mbale city 3.912.27L 609 Mbaramcitv l- 5.986.198 610 Soroti city 2.202.259 ) 701 Apac Municipal Council T 1.311.041 702 EUEIi Municipal Council \ 853.432 703 Buetrenyi- Istraka Municipal Council ' 1.315.O43 704 Busia Municipal Council l- 1.154.104 705 Entebbe Municif4 Council 'lw 575 ( \s a s4 I

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

16671 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 11 MARCH 2025 In a special way, he is also a Member representing the East African Region Bureau under the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). On a personal note, this is the gentleman who coordinated for me to become the President of the OACPS. (Laughter) The person who should clap most is Hon. Jonathan Odur because I managed to ensure that the dream of the late Hon. Cecilia Ogwal was achieved. Thank you, Hon. Andre Clifford. It is always a pleasure for us to host you in this country. Honourable minister, kindly take your seat. Thank you. When one stands up, especially from the Front Bench, I know that they are going to submit. Honourable colleagues, in the public gallery this afternoon, we have a group of students from Karamoja Students Development Association, Karamoja. They are represented by their patron, Hon. Moses Aleper. They have come to observe proceedings of the House. Please join me, again, in welcoming them. (Applause) Thank you. Honourable colleagues, in the public gallery this afternoon we have students of Light Senior Secondary School, Soroti East County, Soroti City. They are represented by Hon. Edmund Ariko and Hon. Joan Alobo. Please join me, once again, in welcoming them. (Applause) Thank you. Matters of national importance - Hon. Biraaro?

Mr Speaker, we have one of our colleagues, the Woman MP for Soroti City, who, even as I speak to you now, is still

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

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

Figure 4: Holdittg area of Mbale City Abattoir 6. loSoroti City Council Soroti Ciby has two abattoirs which are operated by a private entity contracted by Soroti City Council. These two facilities are the major slaughter house service providers for Soroti City. Soroti City has a siaughter facility for pigs. The committee was informed that the city council resolved to open up a pig slaughter point in order to regulate the hygiene of pork siaughtered in the region since many pork joints are being opened in the area. 6.11Lira City Lira City has two major abattoirs, but Lira Cify Abattoir is the biggest. It is managed by a private entity contracted by Lira City Council. The Lira Cattle Traders Association that runs the abattoir helps the city council to raise some minimal tax. 6, 12Kampala Capital City Kampala City has hve major Abattoirs / slaughter houses, these are; City Abattoir, Nsooba, Kishita, Wambizzi and Wankululu which are lq-.j 7 ately # N{

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

Madam Speaker, my name is Herbert Edmund Ariko, the Member of Parliament for Soroti City East, the Chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. I thank you for this very wise idea COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

1 Kayunga Regional Referral RRH Ka5runga Hos ital t6 Lira Regional Referral Hospital RRH Lira City 17 Masaka Hospital Regional Referral RRH Masaka City 18 Mbale Hospital Regional Referral RRH Mbale City 19 Mbarara Hospital Regional Referral RRH Mbarara ciw 20 Moroto Hospital Regional Referral RRH Moroto District 2t Mubende Hospital Regional Referral RRH Mubende District 22 Soroti Hospital Regional Referral RRH Soroti City 23 Entebbe Paediatric Specialized Hospital Surgery Specializ ed Hospital Wakiso District 24 Entebbe Hospital Regional Referral RRH Wakiso District 25 Yumbe Hospital Regional Referral RRH Yumbe District 22

13493 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 19 JUNE 2024 7. Hon. Hassan Kirumira of Katikamu County South; 8. Hon. Joan Acom Alobo of Soroti City; 9. Hon. David Aga Isabirye of Jinja North Division; 10. Hon. Geoffrey Okello of Nwoya East County; and 11. Hon. Eunice Otuko Apio of Oyam County North. I designate the following Members on the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs: 1. Hon. Shamim Malende of Kampala; 2. Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe of Manjiya County; 3. Hon. Medard Sseggona Lubega of Busiro County East; 4. Hon. Robert Ssekitoleeko of Bamunanika County; 5. Hon. Mathias Mpuuga of Nyendo- Mukungwe Division; 6. Hon. Richard Kizito Lumu of Mityana County South; 7. Hon. Anna Ebaju Adeke of Soroti District; 8. Hon. Santa Sandra Alum of Oyam District; 9. Hon. Jonathan Odur of Erute County South; 10. Hon. Asuman Basalirwa of Bugiri Municipality.

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

I put the question that a total sum of Shs 275,856,299 be provided for under Vote 610: Soroti City as a supplementary recurrent expenditure for Financial Year 2023/2024. (Question put and agreed to.)

Thank you. Honourable member for Soroti City.

Bzsiness Deuelopment and. Qualitg Assurance (1) National business development services guideline developed for 200 men, women, and youth & mainstreamed in the BFP in Central, Northern, West Nile & Eastern Regions. (2) 220 MSMEs of men, youth and women entrepreneurs trained on making Business Plans, Financial Literacy, Resource Mobilization, and Record Keeping. Kiruhura, Rwampara, Kabale,Rubanda, Mitooma, pallisa, Serere, Oyam, Kalaki and Otuke. (3) 60 youths, women, and entrepreneurs prepared to attend trade exhibition in South Sudan Capital, Juba. (41 160 MSMEs of men, women, youths PWDs mobitized and sensitized on the importance of product certification, aud.its, food fortification, and GHp for enterprises in Kotido, Napak DLG, Abim, Amudat, Zombo, Arua, Madi-Oko1o Serere & Kole. (5) T\ryo (21 Business tinkages established between MSMEs and large-scale enterprises for men, women and PWDs. in Soroti City, Amuria, Katakwi, Kumi, Busia, Tororo and Butaleja for men, women and pwDs. (6) 850 MSMEs profiled per region of the country and MSMEs database populated for 212 youths 212 women, 25Omen and 176 pWDs. in Central, Northern and Western Regions. Process ing and. Marketing (1) A detailed study and assessment on various stages of the textile value chain in Uganda from yarn production to manufacturing conducted. ( t u , T +n {> ,.:'._J!!}.$F (\-.

Thank you. Honourable colleagues, I would like to correct the record. I was reading what was sent to me here, but Soroti University is in Soroti City and it is represented by the ever-present Hon. Joan Alobo. (Applause) That is our “Kiprotich”. (Laughter) Whenever we have our athletics, she always wins all kinds of medals.

The Committee on HIV/AIDS and Related Diseases, the following – (Interjection) - matters – (Laughter) - thank you for the correction. Madam Speaker, the following are the Members I am designating to this committee: 1. Hon. Michael Kakembo - Entebbe Municipality; 2. Hon. Veronica Nanyondo - Bukomansimbi; 3. Hon. David Sserukenya - Makindye- Ssabagabo Municipality; 4. Hon. Geoffrey Lutaaya - Kakuuto County; 5. Hon. Amere Oneka Lit - Kitgum Municipality; 6. Hon. Joan Acom - Soroti City; 7. Hon. Yusuf Nsibambi - Mawokota County South. I beg to designate.

Madam Speaker, I would like to go on record and thank you, on behalf of the people of Soroti City, because we are going to host this conference during your time as the Speaker of this Parliament. I am also happy that it is going to come at a time when I am a Member of Parliament of Soroti City. I am a member of the committee and I am at the secretariat. We are going to do everything possible within our means to ensure that this conference is hosted in Uganda successfully. However, I thank you for the job well done. The world, women and the Government is happy. I thought I would go on the Hansard record to thank you.

Thank you. Madam Speaker, the people of Soroti City-

The people of Soroti City and the greater part of Teso congratulate you and Amuran upon your becoming Toto Oduwe and Papa Oduwe . They are the same as you saying Nnalongo a nd Ssalongo . Madam Speaker, I rise on a matter of AFCON. A short while ago, we were all up in euphoria, very happy and excited having won the right to do the Pamoja hosting of AFCON. However, there have been concerns being raised in different areas of the country, and different sub- regions, as far as the criteria and methodology of choosing the places that will provide stadia to host some of the games. Madam Speaker, the question that arises is that it is apparent that we need to see a schedule of activities in preparation to host this important tournament; a schedule that will help us to know when each activity is going to happen, what criteria will be used and the timelines in as far as preparations are concerned. Today, it might appear as though 2027 is very far, but sooner than later, we will find that the time is nigh and we do not have that much time to prepare. Madam Speaker, I, therefore, request that the Government provides this House with a detailed schedule of activities and a briefing on what steps are being taken as of now to ensure that we do not embarrass the international community when we host AFCON. I thank you, Madam Speaker.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Close to two months ago, I was on this Floor raising a matter regarding the constant power blackout affecting Soroti City and the surrounding areas. We all know that His Excellency the President issued a letter to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development that the Umeme concession is, probably, one that we are not going to renew. The challenges of Umeme are escalating by the day. In the constituency where I come from, Umeme no longer replaces transformers, services the power lines or invests in infrastructure yet, according to the concession agreement, the Government and Ugandans continue to meet their obligations. The people that I represent, who comprise those that live in the central business district (CBD) of Soroti and most of whom are involved in manufacturing, industrial work and other artisanal kinds of engagements, cannot operate anymore because they do not have power. I know the Rt Hon. Prime Minister promised that she would call a meeting in which the Umeme people and I would be in attendance. Madam Speaker, I wish to report that, that meeting has not happened. I therefore pray that this House takes up the matter of Umeme failing to supply electricity to Ugandans thereby affecting their economic productivity. We have a committee that can delve into this matter in detail – [Mr Sseggona: “Information.”] - I grant you the opportunity. (Interruption)

Thank you. There is also an issue of poor revenue collection. I will give an example of Soroti City where we have tenderers who have defaulted for almost three quarters of the entire financial year. However, when it comes to awarding them new contracts, they are awarded and yet the Local Government Act says, once you have defaulted the previous financial year, you cannot get another contract. In addition, I think the human resource officers in our local governments need to be supervised closely. How do you explain a scenario where there are new recruits in a local government and the human resource officer sends the new recruits to a certain individual in an internet cafe to do e-registration in order to get a supplier number? What is the work of our HR if such details are supposed to be handled in a cafe at a cost of Shs 120,000? Could the minister guide on that? Otherwise, we might end up having ghost workers in our local governments for every recruit that we have in a given financial year. Thank you.

Minister of Local Government, is it true or false? Soroti City is smelly because you have failed to take back the money that is collected.

To the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, I designate: 1. Hon. Saazi Godfrey of Gomba East County; 2. Hon. Nambeshe John Baptist of Manjiya County; 3. Hon. Ssekabira Denes of Katikamu County North; 4. Hon. Balimwezo Ronald of Nakawa Division East; 5. Hon. Kabuusu Moses of Kyamuswa County; 6. Hon. Nsibambi Yusuf, Mawokota County South; 7. Hon. Alobo Joan Achom, Womar Representative of Soroti City; 8. Hon. Sebamala Richard of Bukoto County Central; and 9. Hon. Okello Nelson of Maruzi North.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. That is exactly the Statutory Expenditure, which means that once supplied, it has to be handled as it is. Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the Parliament approves and adopts the report with amendments so we can go to supply. I also received a notification and the report of the minority, which forms part of our committee report. The minority report is signed by Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi, MP for Butambala County, and the Shadow Minister for Finance; Hon. Namugga Gorreth, MP for Mawogola South constituency; Hon. Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, MP for Kira Municipality; and Hon. Anna Adeke, the Woman representative for Soroti City. (Interjection) I am reading what the minority has indicated - “Woman Representative for Soroti City.” And she signed it.

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

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

Thank you. Before Government comes in, honourable members, we are here to legislate for our people. I sent my team to the Committee on Budget but I think they have challenges. I have told Members of Parliament to stop being mercenaries. When you insist too much, you end up disorganising a particular entity. This business of being mercenaries - If I do not get a report by 2.30 p.m., I will name and shame the Members who are disorganising the committee and we will disband the committee. We are not going to continue working that way. Some few Members cannot go and start disorganising a committee. Disorganising a committee means disorganising Parliament. Honourable members, in the VIP Gallery this afternoon, we have His Worship the Mayor of Soroti City, Hon. Joshua Edogu. He has come to observe the proceedings. He is represented by Hon. Jonathan Ebwalu, Hon. Ariko, Hon. Joan Acom and Hon. Adeke. You are most welcome. You have very good Members of Parliament. Thank you. Government? (Mr Ebwalu rose_ ) Hon. Ebwalu, do you want your mayor to see that you can speak? (Laughter)

Thank you. Member for Soroti City? Now that we are in cities, let us hear from Soroti City. ( Laughter)

Madam Speaker, as my sister has said, we have a big problem with the issue of structures in the cities. The structures have not been effected up to now. Secondly, the cities are still operating within the budgets of the former municipalities. We curved out a number of parishes into the cities, but it is very unfortunate that up to now, the cities are running using the budgets of the former municipalities. In Soroti City, we are still borrowing graders from the district to grade our roads. Madam Speaker, you rightly said it here that when you pass by the streets of Soroti, especially the main market, you find that the skips are like anthills. We do not have skips up to now. You wonder where the problem is. Soroti City collects money like other cities do. The money is sent to the Centre and our people request for the money, but the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Ministry of Local Government take time to give this money back to the cities for operations. For instance, if money is requisitioned on the 30 th of August, it will come on the 30 th of September. During that time, what should we use for running of the city? I thank you.

Madam Speaker, I will start with the introduction. You guided that a statement be presented by the Government - that was supposed to be yesterday. In response to the incident of Thursday, 27 April, 2023 in Kampala and those before it, in some parts of the country. However, I could not present the Government statement yesterday because of the Cabinet meeting that took place on the same day. I would like to thank you for allowing me to present these statements today. Madam Speaker, let me give the background. In the recent past, we have witnessed confrontations between security personnel and political actors in various parts of the country, including Hoima, Mityana, and Kasese and recently at Parliament and Soroti. These confrontations resulted in the incident of 27 th April in Kampala, which involved 11 Members of Parliament and the police. Madam Speaker, our country is governed by the rule of law. Our rules create rights as well as obligations for all people, including citizens as well as for law and order enforcement officers. Following the incident of last Thursday, investigations into that matter, and all the previous ones were started to establish the circumstances under which they happened. These investigations will enable the Government to gather evidence surrounding these incidents and take appropriate action. In addition, this will help ensure that such incidents do not happen again in the way they did, or in the unlikely event that they do happen, they are managed better by security. A summary of these incidents, which is limited to the extent that will not jeopardise investigations is as follows: Kasese The Forum for Democratic Change, on 3 April 2023, held a leaders’ meeting successfully at Bellevue Equator Guest House in Kasese. Before the meeting started, there was confusion as the organisers had not notified Police about it, resulting in a standoff with the police authorities. However, upon notifying the police, the organisers of the meeting were immediately provided with security and the event took place smoothly. Soroti On 14 th April, Soroti City planned to hold Women’s Day celebrations. However, due to limited resources and other unavoidable circumstances, the event was rescheduled to another date yet to be confirmed. Hon. Joan Alobo, the Woman Member of Parliament for Soroti City, reportedly continued to mobilise people for the function in spite of the resolution of 13 th April in a meeting by Soroti City authorities, which postponed the event. Hon. Joan reportedly declined to attend this meeting. The tension that followed was, however, well managed by the police and the situation returned to normal. Buvuma On 19 April 2023 at around 4.00 p.m., the District Police Commander, Buvuma, briefed police officers at the Central Police Station about the unlawful assembly organised by Hon. Suzan Nakaziba the Woman Member of Parliament for that district.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The function was postponed, following a report that the Resident City Commissioner (RCC), gave, upon hearing that the chief guest of the day was going to be the Hon. Cecilia Ogwal. He is on record saying that as long as he is the RCC of Soroti City, he will never allow any Opposition member to preside over a national function.

Mr Speaker, I acknowledge the report of the honourable minister. However, I would like to say that his orders are appreciated but he should understand that orders on actions illegally done really do not matter; an illegality with or without an order is an illegality. We wait for action on the officers that manhandled these honourable Members of Parliament. Mr Speaker, for the record, the Members are 11 and I want this to be on record so that when we are looking for culprits, they know the victims are known: i. Hon. Joan Namutaawe, Woman MP of Masaka District; ii. Hon. Betty Ethel Naluyima, Woman MP of Wakiso District; iii. Hon. Juliet Kakande Nakabuye, Woman MP of Masaka City; iv. Hon. Manjeri Kyebakutika Woman MP of Jinja City and Deputy Opposition Chief Whip; v. Hon. Nyakato Asinansi, Woman MP of Hoima City; vi. Hon. Joyce Bagala Ntwatwa, Woman MP of Mityana District; vii. Hon. Florence Kabugho, Woman MP of Kasese; viii. Hon. Stella Isodo Apolot, Woman MP Ngora District; ix. Hon. Helen Nakimuli, Woman MP of Kalangala District; x. Hon. Hanifa Nabukeera Woman MP of Mukono District; and xi. Hon. Joan Acom Alobo, Woman MP Soroti City. Mr Speaker, this comes against the backdrop of what you explained in your opening statements that honourable members had lodged a petition to the Speaker over this mistreatment. Mr Speaker, they logged the complaint in their own right. That complaint is not a legal battle, but a public demonstration of their dissatisfaction. SUPPLEMENTARY RECURRENT EXPENDITURE FOR FY 2022/2023

Hon. Nambeshe, if you do not mind, let me give the full information so that it flows very well with you. Honourable Minister of Health, I have got information that a one Margret Iloku, 63 years old, has been digging at a farm of the administrator of Princess Diana Health Centre IV in Soroti City. Her labour is supposed to cover the cost of the caesarean section that was done on her daughter-in-law, Grace Acen. For over two weeks, she has been digging, and up to now, we are not sure whether she is about to finish digging. They did a C-section on her daughter, who had come to give birth. She first raised Shs 150,000 from friends after mobilising foe the money. After she reached the hospital, they told her that she needed a C-section and she did not have the money. They even told her that if she did not hurry, her daughter was going to die, according to the interview I read, which was conducted with her. She is now on the farm of a caretaker for two weeks and she is not about to finish because the bill seems to be a bit high. Let Hon. Nambeshe speak and then the honourable minister will respond.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. When I hear about the fire in Sudan, I always feel that Uganda should continue to champion the principle of being our brother’s keeper. Apart from evacuating Ugandans – which means we are focusing more on the security of our very own – what is it that Uganda is doing to stop that conflict? That, to me, is very important, because whatever affects one African country, affects all of us. Mr Speaker, what Uganda has done in Somalia and in the neighbouring countries has been applauded. Therefore, Uganda should do something to show that we are concerned about what is happening in Sudan – over and above securing the lives of our own. Finally, unless we, Ugandans, also have continuous mechanisms for conflict resolution, we may find ourselves – as my colleague has said – in the same situation. As an elder, what I am seeing is not right. If elders continue to be quiet, we shall all be responsible for what will happen in this country if we plunge ourselves into chaos. We are seeing people moving in parallel lines. Right now, if I am blocked from going to Soroti City, but there are others who are moving all over the country, people will judge: What is happening? Ogwal is harmless; she has no gun, but there are others who are moving all over the place. Mr Speaker, something, that is not right, is going on. And I think it is our responsibility, as Parliament and leaders in this country, to make sure the disaster happening in Sudan does not happen in Uganda. I beg to submit.

Secondly, we have cities but it is embarrassing for the cities to keep borrowing graders from the neighbouring districts. Soroti City last year almost returned money because we had to wait for Soroti District to first grade its roads before we were given the equipment. Mr Speaker, I would like to urge this Parliament to support the Ministry of Works and Transport; we need graders, wheel loaders, rollers and dump trucks in the cities. Also, these cities need to be treated as special districts. Why am I saying this? Cities are still receiving the budget of the municipalities. For instance, Soroti Municipality had only 12 wards but when the city was created, they brought in additional 13 parishes yet the budget is for the municipality. I request Parliament to provide additional funding to the cities so that we have good roads. Thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, I got a question from Hon. Andrew Ojok Oulanyah, Member of Parliament for Omoro County. He would like to seek guidance from Government and an update on the status of the compensation of Omoro war debt claimants. He said the people of Omoro were yet to receive their compensation from the Government. His prayer was that I update the House on the compensation of the war debt claimants of Omoro. Madam Speaker, my response is that on 26 March 2022, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda launched payments for war debt claimants and beneficiaries for cattle lost in the subregions of Acholi, Lango and Teso at Soroti University grounds, Soroti City. Following the launch, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs started processing payments of livestock compensation for beneficiaries and claimants in the sub-regions of Acholi, Lango and Teso. A total of 92,634 data cards, in triplicate copies, were distributed to the 29 districts in the subregions of Acholi, Lango and Teso. The data cards were distributed as follows: 45.4 per cent (42,024) to the districts of the Lango sub- region, 36.3 per cent (33,664) to the districts of Teso sub-region and 18.3 per cent (16,946) to the districts of Acholi sub-region. Madam Speaker, by 30 June 2022, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs had received 33,017 (35.64 per cent) livestock claimants and beneficiaries records, out of the 92,634 data cards submitted. Omoro District had submitted hardcopy data cards accompanied by soft copy information. However, when the data cards were subjected to verification, the ministry realised that the data cards had been wrongly filled, that is to say, each claimant/beneficiary had filled triplicate copies, each with a different serial number (0001, 0002 and 0003) instead of a set of triplicate data cards bearing the same serial number (0001, 0001 and 0001). The ministry procured 2,000 new data cards from Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation, which were sent to Omoro District for the claimants/beneficiaries to fill in, again. A total of 1,258 data cards were resubmitted by Omoro District in July 2022 and have since been verified. Madam Speaker, this current Financial Year 2022/2023, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has allocated Shs 30 billion to pay verified and validated war debt claimants/beneficiaries in the subregions of Acholi, Lango and Teso. Hon. Phyllis Chemutai, the Woman MP Kapchorwa District, raised a matter concerning lack of water in Kapchorwa District and the need for Government to fulfill a presidential PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

Thank you very much. Attorney-General, you will need to respond to that. Most of these new cities have no garbage collection centres; they are the dirtiest places I have ever seen. I went to Soroti City and I could not stop because garbage was dumped almost everywhere.

Madam Speaker, we are talking about service delivery. You rightly put it that Soroti City is choking with garbage everywhere you pass. The ministry delivered a skip loader to Soroti, but I can tell Parliament and the country that, that car is parked. Why? Thugs went and stole a battery of that car and up to now, it is parked in the city. That is negligence. Soroti City is fully guarded not by private security, but Uganda Police Force, but up to now, nothing has been done.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Secondly, there is constant conflict between Soroti City and the district. There was a document circulated, written by the Attorney- General, that the movable assets are divided 50/50 while the immovable assets remain in the city, whether true or false. There was a very embarrassing situation in Soroti where the engineers of Soroti District went and pulled down the signpost of Soroti City planted by the Speaker of Parliament then, Hon. Alitwala Kadaga. We are sharing officers in the city, LCV is here, the Mayor is here, the RDC of the district is here. The RDC of the city is the other side so, there is total confusion. We implore and appeal to the Attorney-General that please, guide and direct where the city should be and where the district should be. I beg submit.

6740 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT The worst performing entities in this regard in terms of absorption capacity were Hoima City at 30 per cent, Kitgum Municipal Council at 36 per cent, Gulu City at 36 per cent and Masaka City at 37 per cent while those that absorbed 100 per cent of their releases were Arua City, Kitagwenda District Local Government, Terego District Local Government and Madi- Okollo District Local Government. (i) Cost of service in local governments The Auditor-General’s report highlighted the amount of resources spent on non-core service delivery activities such as employee costs and transfers to other units like subcounties, schools and health facilities. These amounted to Shs 1,101.75 billion, equivalent to 74 per cent of the expenditure made by the entities. In other words, on average, the Government spent three shillings on each shilling for outputs that directly affect service delivery. The entities with the highest cost of administration of over six and above, include Masaka at eight, Nakasongola at seven, Gulu City at seven, Bundibugyo at six, Mbale City at six, Kiboga at six, Mpigi at six and Arua City at six, while the most efficient local government was Kalangala and Obongi District Local Governments at 0.4 per shilling for output service delivery. (ii) Local revenue performance of Financial Year 2020/2021 The audit reports for the 60 entities reported on indicated that some local governments’ local revenue was not reported on, well aware that this is a core source of revenue for the functioning of the district councils. This denied the councils facilitation to supervise and monitor the works of local governments. These local governments included Mitooma District, Nakasongola District, Kyankwanzi District and Lamwo District. Mr Speaker, details of these are provided in Annex one. Overall, the local governments underperformed on local revenue, registering revenue underperformance of Shs 30.4 billion of the target of Shs 68.248 billion, translating into local revenue performance of only 56 per cent. The local governments that performed dismally were Kole District, Soroti City, Zombo District, Kitgum Municipal Council and Moroto District Local Government. (iv) The performance of salaries, gratuity and pensions The report of the Auditor-General highlights the planned salaries, gratuity and pensions by the entities for the financial year. The reports overall indicated that Shs 632.75 billion was approved for salaries, gratuities and pensions at the close of the financial year. And at the close of the financial year, Shs 610.543 billion was availed to pay salaries, gratuities and pensions. However, only Shs 571.3 billion was actually absorbed by the entities, causing a return of Shs 38.6 billion to the Treasury, indicating underperformance of 6.3 per cent in the budget item. Mr Speaker, the committee made observations and request Members to look through those observations. I will take you directly to recommendations: The committee recommends that – i. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development accounts for the under-release for funds to the local governments. ii. Accounting officers under whose supervision local governments fail to utilise funds released to them be held personally liable. iii. entities whose cost of administration was above six times the cost of output service delivery be subjected to further investigations to ascertain the source of the abnormality in the operation cost of the local government.

6153 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2022 Shs 15.68 billion out of the required Shs 36.68 billion was appropriated in the budget for the current financial year, leaving a funding gap of Shs 20 billion. The Electoral Commission had planned the election activities to take place commencing in June 2022 in order to avert a vacuum that would arise when the term of the current women council office-bearers expired on 23 August, 2022. Therefore, the Electoral Commission embarked on preparatory activities for the conduct of the elections hoping that additional resources would be provided by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. On release of details of the approved budget estimates for Financial Year 2022/2023, the Electoral Commission realised that the approved budget levels were not sufficient to conduct the activities. Without the required funding, the Electoral Commission had to indefinitely suspend the activities geared toward elections of women councils because there were no funds. It should be noted that the term of women councils and committees elected in 2018 expired and therefore lapsed on Tuesday, 23 August 2022 and therefore, there is currently no women council or village committees at national level. The Electoral Commission was invited and, indeed, appeared before the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to brief them on the status of women councils and their Vote 102 for Financial Year 2022/2023. This matter was brought to their attention, including the activities, which had been completed at the time of the suspension of the women council elections. The Electoral Commission received Shs 12.5 billion non-wage for both operations and electoral activities for the first quarter of which Shs 3.613 billion was allocated toward the conduct of by-elections for directly elected Members of Parliament for Soroti East constituency in Soroti City, Gogonyo County in Pallisa District, Bukimbiri County in Kisoro District, Busongola County in Kasese District and local Government councils by-elections in 26 districts across the country. The balance of Shs 8.445 billion went to the operational costs whose actual requirement for the quarter was supposed to be Shs 9.252 billion. Accordingly, the Electoral Commission is constrained to pay the outstanding obligations, yet, service providers and ad hoc staff that were engaged during the concluded activities are agitating for their pay. The Commission can only resume activities when the requisite funds are provided. Consideration should be given to the Electoral Commission’s request for a supplementary budget of Shs 20 billion to bridge the funding gap and immediately release the appropriated Shs 15.68 billion. This will enable the Electoral Commission to settle outstanding obligations and also fulfil the statutory requirement of organising and conducting elections for new office bearers for women councils and committees from village to national level. I beg to submit.

Mr Speaker, on the 8 th of this month, students of Soroti University went on strike, protesting the non- payment of the living-out allowance and faculty allowance. I have also learnt that it is not only in Soroti University, but all universities in the country. My question is: What has caused the delayed payment or non-payment? Secondly, the security cameras in Soroti City are dead. Recently, a boy called Geoffrey Eboi was murdered in Nakatunya. The police failed to trace the culprit because the cameras were dead. This is a security matter. What is the police doing about this?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. My issue is about Soroti Regional Referral Hospital. In July, the Prime Minister was in Soroti and promised that she would work on the floodlights in the theatre, but up to now, the people in theatre are using torches other than the floodlights. Secondly, we have only one delivery bed on the maternity side, and it is as new as 1954. My question is: When are you delivering on the promise you made to us in Soroti City?

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