Upper Madi County

That sounds good. Honourable members, in the VIP gallery this afternoon, we have the Rt Rev. Constantine Rupiny, Bishop of Nebbi Catholic Diocese. (Applause) He is the main celebrant at today’s Feast of St Thomas More. He is accompanied by a delegation of the following: 1. Fr Ponsian Kaweesa, Chaplain of the Parliamentary Catholic Chaplaincy here; 2. Fr Camillus Chandini; 3. Fr Norbert Azale; 4. Fr Charles Lwanga; 5. Fr Joseph Musoke; 6. Fr Deo Ssengendo; 7. Fr Stephen Oribdhogu, the Chancellor Nebbi Diocese; 8. Fr John Mary Muzei Kibirige; and 9. Sr Alice Jacan. Please join me in welcoming them and make them feel welcome. (Applause) The leaders of the four districts, namely Nebbi, Zombo, Pakwach and Madi-Okollo, please stand up for recognition so they can see your faces. The elder, Hon. Catherine Akumu Mavenjina, Hon. Jane Pacuto, Hon. Emmanuel Ongiertho, Hon. Martin Drito, Hon. Topista Achamfua, Hon. Marshall Alenyo, Hon. Isaac Otimgiw, Hon. Gabriel Okumu, Minister Phiona Nyamu-something (Nyamutoro) - (Laughter) - Hon. Grace Freedom Kwiyucwiny, Hon. Joan Aniku and Hon. Ali Ogama Hon. Joseph Ssewungu is a member of the Catholic - he was an altar boy who wanted to be a priest but - on this note, Rt Rev. Constantine Rupiny is the first Catholic bishop to come to this new term of Parliament -(Applause)- and I was blessed - this morning at 10:00 a.m., he came, prayed for me and blessed me. I am very blessed now. (Laughter) Honourable members, we shall have to release the Members from Greater Nebbi; the four districts, when time comes, and - let us process this. Hon. Annet Pamela Kirungi, the MP for Kabarole - is she here? Can you raise your issue in one minute?

Thank you very much. Mr Speaker, I also rise to thank the President for the State-of-the- Nation Address. Two areas from the address caught my attention, and my comments will be based on that. Number one, I would also like to thank the Government for the income-generation initiatives, particularly aiming at improving household incomes. But every time such initiatives come up, I feel there is one group of people that is left out. In all our villages, we have village savings and loans associations. When those initiatives come up, they do not target them. I am asking, if possible, particularly the ministry responsible for cooperatives, they can look at the possibility of working with these savings groups in the villages to support the individual households. That is one area. The second is the area of human capital development and specifically for the health sector. Nebbi Municipality, where I come from, houses the hospital of Nebbi. That hospital has become a referral hospital for Zombo, Nebbi, Pakwach and Madi-Okollo districts, leaving the municipality with three divisions without any health facility. When you go to the district hospital, you find their focus is mainly on the people who have been referred there from distant places, leaving out the local population. Mr Speaker, one thing that amazed me was: I discovered that some years back, 15 staff members were recruited to start one health centre III in one of the divisions. Unfortunately, because there was no construction, the health workers, some of whom were absorbed into the district, and five of them have remained unabsorbed. They are there; they continue to draw salaries from the Government, but after a certain period, they were stopped. Some of them are now thinking of taking the Government to court, which to me is unfair – (Member timed out.)

Uganda’s population was about 21.2 million. The government introduced the district quota system in 2004, and by then the number of slots had increased to 4,000. But remember, again, the population at that time had grown to about 27.1 million people. Today in 2026, the slots have remained stagnant at 4,000 while the population of Uganda is hitting 50 million plus. The number of students who sit yearly - for example, last year alone, the number of students who sat A’ level was 165,172 compared to only 59,329 in 2004. The difference is over 100,000 since it was introduced in 2004. Mr Speaker, don’t you think that there is a need to consider the population growth and increase the slots for government sponsorship from the current 4,000? Secondly, as I conclude, Mr Speaker, all the records indicate that the majority of the students who qualify for this admission are mainly drawn from schools that are said to be performing much better, and most of these are congested in the urban centres, as I had indicated. As such, schools from Kaabong, Koboko, Madi-Okollo, Kisoro and elsewhere have to struggle and you can imagine the schools that are concentrated in the urban centres. I will not mention districts and cities. You may find one school alone producing 80 or 100 students admitted on government sponsorship while there are regions in this country that cannot even produce 50 students. The very bad impression is that children from poor families are not able to access this education and it appears as if we are trying to reward the rich and segregate those from poor families. My prayer is that this is supported for the good of this country and for the good of the future of our children. Thank you very much.

where Uganda has been, where Uganda is, and where we are going. It also demonstrates that for the last 40 years, the NRM Government has shown the way. The President highlights three specific issues: 1. Wealth creation. 2. Human capital development. 3. Infrastructure development. The PDM programme, which is our flagship programme, has been inclusive, including even the last man at the village level. I stand to support the motion to appreciate His Excellency for such a wonderful State-of-the- Nation Address. In the area of infrastructure, we have a road that runs from Pakwach all the way to Difule, the border between Uganda and Sudan. The President emphasised that our infrastructure development supports wealth creation and trade. We remind the Government about tarmacking the road from Pakwach through Madi-Okollo, through Moyo and Obongi up to South Sudan. Thank you.

Yes, I will be glad, so that we can all know about it. This is an interesting scheme. I had already allowed Hon. Nyanzi. He will be followed by Hon. Ogama from Madi-Okollo.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Three villages in Madi-Okollo have been submerged with floods since 2022/2023 when the Government constructed an irrigation plant in the neighbouring Pakwach District. Flooding in the three villages affected hundreds of acres of land and the district wrote a disaster report during that time. The affected persons have been waiting for compensation; they already opened bank accounts. For four years, they have not had access to the land because it is completely submerged. During elections, people swam across the same village just to reach their polling stations. When are those people going to be compensated?

Thank you very, Mr Speaker. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, as other areas like Madi-Okollo District are grappling with floods, Teso sub-region is hit hard by drought. Aware that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Government cares for its people, what plans does the Prime Minister have to supply seedlings and planting materials, especially cassava to the people? As I speak, Rt Hon. Prime Minister, all the gardens are very dry. Do you have plans to cater for your people? Thank you.

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

5 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 13 MAY 2026 153. Ezama Siraji Brahan Aringa County Yumbe NRM 154. Fungaroo Kaps Hassan Obongi County Obongi FDC 155. Gashaija Shyaka Steven Entebbe Municipality Wakiso NRM 156. Goire Moses Budaka County Budaka NRM 157. Gonyi David Robert UPDF Representative N/A N/A 158. Guma David Gumisiriza Ibanda County North Ibanda NRM 159. Habyara Fortunate Bufumbira County North Kisoro NRM 160. Ibaseret Josephine Nkibs Agule County Pallisa NRM 161. Ibrahim Ibrahim Aisu Pallisa County Pallisa NRM 162. Ikiriza Knight UPDF Representative N/A N/A 163. Drito Martin Andi Upper Madi County Madi-Okollo NRM 164. Ilukol Emmanuel Bokora County Napak Independent 165. Isamat Abraham Kapir County Ngora NRM 166. Isingoma Patrick Mwesigwa Hoima East Division Hoima City Independent 167. Ismail Muhammad Lomwar Kotido Municipality Kotido NRM 168. Itungu Sarah Masereka District Woman Representative Kasese NRM 169. Jalameso Fred Ajuri County Alebtong UPC 170. Joyo Harriet District Woman Representative Obongi Independent 171. Kabaasa Balaba Bruce Rubanda County West Rubanda NRM 172. Kabanda David Kasambya County Mubende NRM 173. Kabasharira Naome Rushenyi County Ntungamo NRM 174. Kabuye Kyofa Nakaseke Central County Nakaseke NRM 175. Kafuuzi Jackson Karugaba Kyaka South County Kyegegwa NRM 176. Kaheeru Vincent Freedom Kyaka North County Kyegegwa NRM 177. Kahima Moses Mugabe Ruhaama East County Ntungamo NRM 178. Kajwengye Twinomugisha Wilson N y a b u s h o z i C o u n t y Kiruhura NRM 179. Kaka Lubega Ismail Uthuman Kakuuto County Kyotera NRM 180. Kakooza Joseph Buwekula County Mubende NRM 181. Kaliisa Jovrine Kyomukama District Woman Representative Ibanda NRM 182. Kambale Ferigo Kasese Municipality Kasese NRM 183. Kampanya Abdu Swaibu Iki-Iki County Budaka NRM 184. Kanaabi Jimmy Buikwe County South Buikwe NUP (The House rose at 4.18 p.m. and adjourned until Thursday, 14 May 2026 at 8.00 a.m.)

Do you know why I am asking about how much has been allocated? This is because even after that allocation, we do not find the roads being worked on. What did you say about the Kampala-Jinja Expressway? As you look for that, we also need to synchronise the issue of the regional mechanical workshops. You find a district like Bundibugyo with a regional workshop in Fort Portal – It is in Mbarara, not even Fort Portal. You find the one servicing Soroti in Bugembe. We are wondering what happened to the – because Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) used to be very organised. They had regional offices. What happened to those offices? What happened to the equipment that they had? Where are the regional labs? Before we start talking about the roads and whatever, how do we test the materials? Where are those labs or the regional mechanical workshops? Then, what happened to the UNRA roads? Honourable chairperson, you may need to enlighten us on that because we are giving you a lot of money. Now, the fact that you have a lot of money, tell us which roads you are going to give us – when we are doing appropriation – which roads are we working on? I told you about the road leading to Buhweju. You cannot even think of passing there. There is the road from Lira-Otuke-Abim up to Karenga; it is very bad. When you look at Kachonga-Butaleja-Tororo- Namutumba road, it is terrible. Look at where Hon. Joan comes from, Madi-Okollo. That road of Madi-Okollo connecting to Arua - I can tell you all the roads now. Let us look at the critical roads and make sure that we use the money effectively. With all this money that is being given, we must achieve what we need to achieve. You find the roads in Kampala – like my road, somebody is working on McKinnon Road, but I have failed to pass there for a whole two weeks. Nothing is moving. I was wondering why they removed my little tarmac which was there; they should have left it the way it was. Therefore, honourable chairperson, there is a big problem in your sector.

18650 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 straight to Vote 139: The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU). PAU remains central to Uganda’s transition into the production phase of the petroleum sector, particularly with respect to the independent measurement, regulation, local content monitoring, production oversight, and economic monitoring, as well as environmental coordination. The allocation reviewed by the committee places Vote 139 at Shs 106.87 billion for the next financial year. Madam Speaker, I will invite colleagues to look at the subsequent tables regarding PAU. I would like to request that I go straight and look at the committee comment. The committee notes that additional funding of Shs 28.24 billion was provided to support the establishment of the real-time monitoring centre, and this significantly strengthens our preparedness for the production phase of the oil, which is expected to commence on the 31st July this year. Under the national content and employment, the committee further notes that PAU reports 2,626 companies on the national supplier database, of which 2,257 are Ugandan, and 369 are non- Ugandan, and that over 360 tier-one contracts have been awarded to Ugandan companies in reserved and ring-fenced categories. As of December 2025, the sector employed 21,072 personnel, of whom 18,137 are Ugandan nationals, and 6,631 are from host communities in particular. The committee notes that PAU currently has 222 staff against an approved structure of 278, and it still has 51 positions without wage funding, with a further unfunded recruitment requirement of Shs 11.09 billion. Honourable colleagues, if we are to go into the production phase of the oil, it is important that our Authority, which is responsible for supervising this for us, is strengthened so that it is able to be up to speed. I would like to invite you to go to the section on water and environment, which is Vote 019. Madam Speaker, Vote 019 remains the most politically exposed vote under the committee’s jurisdiction because the citizens encounter the State most directly through access to clean water, functionality of boreholes, performance of piped schemes, sanitation in institutions, irrigation investments, climate information, and visible action against environmental degradation. The committee notes that the total budget allocation for vote 019 in 2026/27 is Shs 1.8 trillion compared to Shs 1.5 trillion in 2025/26, representing an increase of Shs 318 billion. The ministry further reports that its strategic requirement for the financial year 2026/27 is Shs 2.185 trillion, leaving a funding gap of Shs 361.9 billion. Honourable colleagues, I invite you to look at table 9 by yourselves. Table 10 is an additional allocation of resources after the first one. Projects under Vote 019 I think this may be interesting for colleagues for us to go through. The committee commends the ministry for providing a more detailed implementation geography for the Financial Year 2026/27, as always requested by colleagues. This has enabled the committee to identify where the Government intends to undertake actual works and where oversight should be concentrated. Table 11 provides us with projects that are intended to be undertaken in the northern region. The Ala-Ora piped water scheme to 100 per cent completion. This will serve Terego, Yumbe, Madi-Okollo and Nebbi district areas. The refugee settlement and rural growth centres water supply and sanitation project, which is

18651 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 intended for Laropi and Lefori in Moyo, Akoro and Pangila, and Padibe West in Lamwo. The institutional water supply and sanitation project This one is intended to supply the Arocha prison in Apac and the Iceme health centre and surrounding areas in Oyam. The rural growth centre schemes in Ewanga in Madi-Okollo, Edrayo in Terego, Rodo and Nyori in Yumbe. The gravity and piped water schemes are intended for Ambe GFS in Zombo, the Ogili water supply and sanitation scheme in Agago, as well as Pader. The solar-powered schemes for Achukudu solar RGC in Napak. Colleagues, I am sure that the Hon Faith Nakut is now going to give me a bit- Table 12, in the Eastern region. There are rural growth centre piped water projects that are intended for Bulange in Namutumba, Nango in Mayuge, Bubugo- Itanda in Jinja, and Kagumba in Kamuli. Additional rural growth centre schemes, one intended for Oyama RGC in Kaberamaido. The institutional water supply and sanitation schemes in Ivukula prisons and the surrounding areas in Namutumba. The public sanitation facilities are intended for Mulatsi S.S. in Mbale and Lubani SSS in Jinja. The urban and small town water system schemes under the Water and Sanitation Development Facility East. In Manafwa, Bulangira, Bukumi, Kaproron, Kadungulu, Iyolwa, Mukura, Atutur and Mbale Industrial Park. Central region The ministry intends to undertake piped water schemes in Nankondo in Ssembabule, Moone in Nakasongola and Bulera in Mityana. The institutional water and sanitation schemes - Masaka Army Barracks. The solar-powered water schemes in Kyegegwa, Rakai, Namayingo and Buvuma districts. Then the other additional schemes and extensions are intended for Ngoma, Nyanseke, Busaale, Lunya, Kapeeka Industrial Park extension and Kikuube. In Western and Southwestern regions The major towns and cluster water systems. In Nyakashaka and Rubaya in Buhweju and Mbarara, Mabira, Bukiro, and Nyabisirira, Ntungamo Industrial Park, among others. The integrated water management and development schemes Kaliro-Namungalwe and Kyegegwa-Mpara- Ruyonza-Kabagore. This is the learned DAGs area. Isingiro water and sanitation scheme That is for the Isingiro District. Institutional water schemes in Butanda Secondary School in Kabale, Rugazi Health Centre IV in Rubirizi, and Ishekye School of the Handicapped in Sheema. The rural growth schemes Kyampangara and Nyamushojwa in Kazo, Kasaba in Kyenjojo, Rwentuha in Kyegegwa and Buhanda in Mubende. The solar-powered scheme Bikone and Isule-Katebenyangorongo in Kasese; Kagunga Iremera 1, Iremera 2 in Kisoro; and the Rubanda extension scheme.

Thank you so much, Madam Speaker. The ministry has money for refugee-hosting districts but people have been bruised. On the Floor of Parliament, we promised that we were going to start with Obongi and the committee was to go there. Unfortunately, up to now, they have not gone to Obongi, and the constituency has remained without poles. The two MPs have been removed, and if you go to Terego, they told us they were starting in March. We have money specifically for refugee- hosting districts - If you go to Madi-Okollo, we are fed up. Something drastic should be done in that ministry. Tables should be turned so that they know that this country cannot only talk, but it can bite. Thank you.

Mr Chairman, you know the critical issues, which we consider here. Just allow me to recognise our visitors. In the public gallery this afternoon, we have students and teachers of Katiyi Primary School, Uleppi Subcounty in Madi-Okollo District. They are represented by Hon. Isaac Etuka and Hon. Joanne Aniku Okia. They have come to observe the proceedings of this House. Please, join me in welcoming them. You can stand up for recognition. (Applause) Thank you. We are glad to have you here. Mr Chairman, conclude.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On behalf of Ker Kwaro Jonam - that is from Pakwach, I want to congratulate the people of Tooro as they celebrate today. On the issue of rhinos, Pakwach is a neighbour to Madi-Okollo where there are plans by the Ministry for Tourism to transfer a number of rhinos to Ajai Reserve National Park. As the Ministry for Tourism plans, I would like to implore the Government that in planning, there should be synergies whereby different ministries work together. Even us locals, if we wanted to promote domestic tourism, we are unable to as people of West Nile and as people of Uganda. Why? The roads are so bad. If you went now and moved on the road from Panyimur, Pakwach, Wadelai, that takes you to Ajai Game Reserve. I would like to request the Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities together with the Ministry of Works and Transport that as they plan to take the rhinos, how will people go to the park to look at the rhinos?

17919 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2025 Besides, the area has no power. Nobody wants to go to such a place and you just stop looking at the rhinos. You may decide to stay overnight. You may need to charge a phone. Really, in planning and allocation of resources, and looking at what our cash cow is, I think tourism is next to coffee or even more than coffee now in Uganda. Therefore, we cannot understaff the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities with resources, together with the Ministry of Works and Transport. We need perfect roads for tourism to thrive in every part of Uganda. I, therefore, want to plead to the Government - we, the people of West Nile, the people of Madi-Okollo and Pakwach are eagerly waiting to see road equipment as the rhinos pass through our villages. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to comment on the issue of naming the white rhinos. You are well aware that I come from a Rhino Camp and the white rhinos are called rhinoceros. I was born in a Rhino Camp and it has been many years, during the past Government, that the rhinos became extinct in my own location, that is Ajai Game Reserve. At this point, I want to credit the Government of Uganda for playing a crucial role in restoring these white rhinos. A number more than 50 is a very significant intervention that our Government has played. However, the second important thing, as the people of Lower Madi or Madi-Okollo, is that the white rhinos were known to be in Madi- Okollo or from Madi-Okollo. The Government and Parliament, which you preside over, should allocate resources to translocate these animals from Ziwa to Ajai Game Reserve. Ajai is my great-grandfather and was the chief of the area. This is a very significant step in ensuring that there is some equity in tourism appropriation in this country so that the people of West Nile can benefit from the incomes from tourism. I want to say, thank you, to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities that has played a crucial role in this. As far as the people of Madi-Okollo are concerned, Madam Speaker, we are more than willing to receive these animals because we have already started receiving them. Allow me just to make this statement on their behalf. The road passing through Ajai Game Reserve -

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This is a House of record. I just heard Hon. Odur mention an honourable member by the names of Afidra Ronald and is locating him in a constituency in Tororo. The Hon. Afidra I know of is from Madi-Okollo. Wouldn’t it be procedurally right, Madam Speaker, that this record is corrected for posterity?

Vota Dclodgtlo fm*,{gGIEo0(Il 876 Kyegegwa District 31.470.913 877 Kyenjojo District 41.947.987 878 Kyotera District 40,338.213 879 Ianwo District 22.L74.Ot2 880 Lira District 27.502.131 881 Luuka District 30,991,532 882 Luurcrc District 78.LO3.724 883 Lwengo District 32.483.519 884 Lyantonde District 21,935,852 885 Madi-Okollo District 2t.f3/.L.5g2 886 l{anafua District 32.457.37r 887 Maracha District 29,492,485 888 Masaka District 14.615.925 889 Masindi DisEict 27.738.604 890 Manrge District 4),514,128 891 Mbafe District 42966,325 892 Mbarara District 27.253.74L 893 Mitooma District 36,257,O32 894 Idi@Pistrict 35.248.748 895 Moroto District 15.165.026 896 Moyo District 24,948,054 897 Meigi Distrist 33.986.704 898 Mubende Distrbt 30.641.693 899 Mukono District 55.925,165 900 Nabilahrk District LL.358,444 901 Nakapiripirit District .rl L3.874.296 902 Nakaseke District ,7/ 43.L87.786 903 Nakasonsola District d{// 31,982,802 904 Namafiinso District w, 27,875.777 905 r*i"irraoo Pi"oi", -l7EF r\ 1 \P ? - s 4FE)-. s

Votc Dcrc$tlor *rdtUCxmul 851 IGnurUu District 4,183,383 852 IGpchomn District L,981,743 853 I(apelebyorU District 2,630.719 854 I(arcnga District 1,399,598 855 IGsanda District 3,428,678 856 I(asese District 13,603,845 857 IGtaklrri District 3,370,949 858 IGnrnga District 5,669,819 859 IGzo District 3,L52,276 860 Kibaale District 6,579,O11 861 Kibosa Distriq! 3.960.200 862 Kibuku District 2.969.425 863 Kikuube District 4.561.406 8& Kinrhura District 3.903.054 865 IGryandongo Distrist 3.830.644 866 Kisoro District 3,722.933 %7 Kitagurenda District 2.382.403 868 Kiteun District 3.380.974 869 Ifuboko District 2.087.W3 870 Kole District 2.663.870 87L Itutido District 2.707.O70 872 Kumi District 4.245.534 873 Kwania District 2,78r.O82 874 Kween District 2.518.346 875 Kyankqranzi District 3,276.736 876 Kyegegrf,a District 4.992.9L6 877 Krrenjojo District 6.437.830 878 Krrotera District 4.648.360 879 Lamurc District 3.525.410 880 Lira District 2.946.27s 881 Luuka District 2.679.967 882 Luwero District tL,lLo,747 883 Lwengo District 2.755,524 884 2,61L.925 885 Madi-Okollo 1,47L,340 886 Manaftna District I a(|AnZ t-l )frt I \ 2,O76,1L3 887 Maractra District ( f ttW ,( \ *ttr 3,193,327 888 Masaka District t,/ '.K 1,566,265 ( \$ 5TlPage --a

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The committee makes reference to the term “low-volume roads”. The road from Pakwach-Madi-Okollo to Arua used to be such a road but due to the breakdown of Nebbi-Goli- Arua Road, all traffic, heavy trucks, even many of the MPs in this House have passed through Pakwach-Madi-Okollo-Arua. That road, which was a low-volume road, has been completely destroyed by these heavy trucks and so my question - and part of this road was a presidential directive to the ministry for works that they should work on it using high grade murram. This has never happened and there is a lot of patch-up work. This road is now in a sorry state. Ministry of Works, what is the plan? His Excellency has said the Government will look for tarmac for these roads, but in the meantime, he has said, why can’t we put high-grade murram on these roads? What is the plan? This was pledged in the 2023/2024 budget, but nothing happened. In 2024/2025, we waited, but still nothing. What is happening in 2025/2026 on this road? Thank you.

17175 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 16 APRIL 2025 Presidential pledges The committee recommends that the Government, through the ministry for finance, commits to fulfilling all the presidential pledges that were made with the earlier unfulfilled pledges taking the first call. Specific issues on the universities Makerere University The committee recommends that the ministry for finance allocates an additional Shs 15 billion to enable the university to undertake renovation and the construction works to full completion, since it is an old university and most of the infrastructure needs rehabilitation. Mbarara University of Science and Technology The committee recommends that the ministry for finance allocates additional Shs 4.1 billion for recruitment of at least 26 new staff and promotion of the staff who meet the criteria. Makerere University Business School (MUBS) The committee recommends that the ministry of finance allocates Shs 9.199 billion to MUBS for its institutional development project for acquisition of the assets and equipment of PWDs. Kyambogo University Recommendation The committee recommends that the finance ministry allocates an additional Shs 9.9 billion for a perimeter wall to avert encroachment on the university land for the university to be able to effectively manage its resources and maintain it in a secure environment. The committee also recommends that an additional Shs 9 billion be given to fulfil the presidential directive for the renovation of the student halls of Kyambogo. Busitema University The committee recommends that the finance ministry allocates an additional Shs 10.32 billion to the university to recruit additional staff and an additional Shs 15 billion to address its infrastructural challenges in its six campuses, including the Maritime Institute and the Kabwangasi Primary School Teachers’ College. Muni University, which has several uncompleted buildings The committee recommends that the finance ministry allocates: i) Shs 4.6 billion for the completion of the main building; ii) Shs 1.6 billion for the completion, renovation and expansion of Madi-Okollo farm; iii) Shs 2.55 billion for completion and renovation of Erepi Primary Teachers’ College; iv) Shs 2.3 billion for the completion of the Multipurpose Health Science Lab; v) Shs 0.9 billion for the completion of the construction of a welding workshop, to roll out engineering programmes; vi) Shs 2.75 billion to construct a modern ICT hub; and vii) Shs 0.363 billion for lab equipment to support increased health research and training for medical professionals. Kabale University The committee recommends that: i) Additional Shs 18.772 billion be provided to Kabale University as seed capital for its infrastructural development; ii) Shs 1.78 billion for the university to clear its previously inherited arrears from private expenses of the university; and iii) An additional Shs 0.65 billion to meet the demands of the Government-sponsored students.

16835 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 9 APRIL 2025 On the overall performance of the budget under the UPF, we recommend reallocating funds from the assistance to Uganda Police Force projects to critical UPF areas. Uganda Police Force must create a comprehensive successor project for nationwide investments. The second recommendation is that the Uganda Police Force should expedite the preparation and approval processes of the CCTV Phase III Project to ensure its inclusion in the national plan budget. We reviewed the traffic and road safety and, therefore, recommend as follows: 1. An additional Shs 7.577 billion for transport equipment be provided; 2. Shs 1 billion for an IOV inspection lane and certification centre to be provided; 3. Shs 18 billion for 10 mobile inspection stations for IOV to be provided; 4. Uganda Police Force should link the EPS to the NIRA database; and 5. Uganda’s driver licensing system should be adjusted to capture details of foreigners who commit traffic offences. On police accommodation and the ongoing construction projects, we note that 74 per cent of the police officers lack institutional accommodation. However, the Uganda Police Force is working on a police accommodation project. This project is excluded from PIP. The Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to build 69,000 housing units for the Uganda Police Force and Uganda Prisons Service, and the DCIC, through a PPP arrangement. We, therefore, recommend that the Uganda Police Force accelerates the completion of the accommodation project to comprehensively address police accommodation challenges in the year 2025/2026. On the subcounty policing model – this is a flagship security solution to the country, initiated by His Excellency, the President, and it is now under implementation. The model aims to use limited resources in subcounties to improve policing services for communities, including establishing a police station in each area, following: 1. Deployment of a minimum of 18 personnel; 2. Two motorcycles per police station; 3. A counter phone and radio communication; 4. An office; and 5. Staff accommodation for at least 18 personnel. The Uganda Police Force has tested this model in Greater Masaka in the Financial Year 2023/2024, establishing 892, which is 41 per cent of the 2,190 subcounties, nationwide. In the Financial Year 2025/2026, Shs 5 billion is allocated for the construction of 30 model police stations and completing 11 in greater Masaka, along with acquiring 333 motorcycles and communication equipment. However, there is a funding gap of Shs 557 billion. We, therefore, recommend that Shs 587 billion be provided for the nationwide rollout of the subcounty policing model. On crime management, we recommend that Shs 17 billion be provided for CIID investigations and Shs 2.3 billion for crime intelligence in the Financial Year 2025/2026. On the Canine Unit, we see that expanding the Canine units to 36 locations of Budaka, Bukomansimbi, Butambala, Zombo, Adjumani, Madi-Okollo, Pakwach, Vurra, Kaberamaido, Koboko, Terego, Maracha, Moyo, Ayivuni, Buyende, Kaliro, Namutumba, Ngora, Hima, Namisindwa, Kwania, Agago, Nwoya, Amuru, Kyankwanzi, Apac, Kole, aerodromes and border points of Jinja, Soroti, Arua, Mbarara, Kisoro, Mpondwe, Katuna and Mirama Hills nationwide, requires an additional Shs 2.259 billion. The unit faces challenges with unreliable transport for sniffer dogs to crime scenes. Reliable transport is needed at the district stations, requiring Shs 28.44 billion for equipment in 29 regions.

16787 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 12 MARCH 2025 50. Vote 871: Kotido District – Shs 503,436,072; 51. Vote 872: Kumi District – Shs 202,740,000; 52. Vote 879: Lamwo District – Shs 47,114,000; 53. Vote 880: Lira District – Shs 23,760,000; 54. Vote 881: Luuka District – Shs 56,760,000; 55. Vote 884: Lyantonde District – Shs 6,720,000; 56. Vote 885: Madi-Okollo District – Shs 44,695,393; 57. Vote 886: Manafwa District – Shs 251,040,000; 58. Vote 887: Maracha District – Shs 103,800,000; 59. Vote 892: Mbarara District – Shs 18,195,000; 60. Vote 896: Moyo District – Shs 11,070,000; 61. Vote 900: Nabilatuk District – Shs 36,240,000; 62. Vote 902: Nakaseke District – Shs 27,735,600; 63. Vote 904: Namayingo District – Shs 6,580,000; 64. Vote 906: Namutumba District – Shs 472,752,800; 65. Vote 907: Napak District – Shs 186,300,000; 66. Vote 910: Ntoroko District – Shs 23,400,000; 67. Vote 911: Ntungamo District – Shs 17,160,000; 68. Vote 912: Nwoya District – Shs 259,740,012; 69. Vote 914: Omoro District – Shs 92,920,000; 70. Vote 917: Pader District – Shs 356,782,000; 71. Vote 919: Pallisa District – Shs 114,335,970; 72. Vote 923: Rukiga District – Shs 51,000,000; 73. Vote 924: Rukungiri District – Shs 6,298,000; 74. Vote 925: Rwampara District – Shs 26,694,209; 75. Vote 928: Sironko District – Shs 60,000,000; 76. Vote 929: Soroti District – Shs 56,881,000; 77. Vote 932: Tororo District – Shs 3,035,429,737; 78. Vote 935: Zombo District – Shs 153,577,688; and Sub-total for local government – Shs 15,985,336,921.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on matters of boundary conflict between Arua District, Madi-Okollo District, Terego District and Arua City. It seems no proper demarcation on the boundaries was done after the creation of the districts and city. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, my request is that you send the Minister for Lands, Housing and Urban Development to intervene and make proper demarcations on the district boundaries to avoid conflicts among the people. I beg to submit.

Mr Speaker, in 2022, the President directed me to handle the issue of boundaries in Arua, Madi-Okollo, Terego and many others and to some extent we have moved. The Ministry for Lands and Ministry for Local Government have been on site and we are waiting for the report. I believe that it will be respected by all parties.

16496 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION laid by Hon. Ssewungu, should be provided by the Government. For your information, between the years 2000 and 2004, when I was still a primary school teacher, the Ministry of Education and Sports provided the cumulative assessment forms even for the primary schools. This curriculum had, in fact, started in primary schools. I taught in primary school for 20 years. The curriculum had started, but there was inconsistency. If that is done, it will reduce the cost of implementing this curriculum. Secondly is the issue of staffing gaps. If we are to really implement this curriculum, we need to address the staffing gaps in all the schools. For example, Madi-Okollo District – and the ministers are aware - operates at 18 per cent. In fact, it is the district with the lowest number of teachers in this country. Therefore, when you look at the results, you notice that it is one of the least-performing districts. This is cross- cutting. If that – (Member timed out.)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity. Ajai Forest Reserve and Ajai National Game Park are in Madi-Okollo, on the border between Arua District, Vurra Constituency. Last week, animals crossed to Arua District in Vurra and destroyed a lot of crops. I am requesting the minister to go on the ground and inspect the area and also fence that line because many people of Vurra are suffering a lot. These animals always cross, destroy very many crops and it is going to cause a lot of problems. I request the minister to consider Madi-Okollo; this is Ajai Forest Reserve in West Nile. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to applaud my chairperson and Hon. Ssemujju for presenting the views from both sides. I start with Article 32 of the 1995 Constitution, as amended. I want to read it verbatim; “The state shall provide affirmative action in favour of groups marginalised on the basis of gender, age, disability, or any other reason created by history, tradition or custom, for the purpose of redressing imbalances which exist against them.” I want to thank my Government for addressing this specific constitutional right, to some extent. We know that in this House, we have Affirmative Action represented. The women are here, people with disabilities are here, and the age limit has been removed, but there is one critical thing that, in my view, the budget should address. These are imbalances created by history. What is this history about? The marginalised community we have in this country. History has taught it in all the indicators we have in this country. The education indicators; when the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results come out, there are regions in this country well known, from history, that will be coming last. This includes Karamoja, West Nile, and in particular, my district. In the previous PLE, Obongi, Madi-Okollo, Lamwo – they are consistently coming last. In my view, these regions have been marginalised. For us, as Parliament, to improve them and bring them equity and match other regions, we need to reflect it in the Budget Framework Paper. To what extent has this budget addressed this imbalance in education performance? I will cite more, Mr Speaker. In my district, Madi-Okollo, we have 1,700 teachers required to teach in 78 primary schools. But as we speak now, we only have 600; a ratio of one teacher to 250 pupils. How can this community continue to thrive if they are being marginalised over time? Therefore, I would like to see this being addressed across all the marginalised communities reflected in the budget. The second issue, Mr Speaker, all of us have come here for this budget, which is the cake; it is a national cake. My district and my constituents want to see what is in this budget that shall be going back to them. And this can come if the Budget Framework Paper, to some extent, can be broken down into different regions, especially the development bit. It will be to our surprise or not to our surprise. At the end of next financial – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Madi- Okollo District is grappling with low staffing levels – the lowest in the country at 33 per cent. There was a ban on recruitment and the Shs 250 million that was meant to recruit staff in that financial year was swept back. Now, a few districts with higher staffing levels were approved to continue recruiting and their wage was returned, but not for Madi-Okollo. My question is, because there is a correlation between the staffing level and education level, even in the schools – Right now, PLE results have been released – (Interjections) - They have been released. It will be a great miracle for Madi-Okollo at 33 per cent staffing level to compete with anyone in this country. My questions are: 1. The same way we have done with Shs 1 billion road equipment and Parish Development Model funds to all districts, can’t Madi-Okollo get staffing like other districts so that we can actually compete and also give service delivery?

Thank you , Mr Speaker and the Prime Minister, for giving me this opportunity. The ban was lifted for those who have the wage bill and recruitments are ongoing. We are now going to take special interest in Madi-Okollo and make sure we help them to recruit as well, if they have the wage bill. Thank you very much.

Okay. Hon. Annet is here. MR RONALD AFIDRA (NRM, Lower Madi County, Madi-Okollo) Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me a chance to speak to the whole House about approving this loan. Water is life, and without water, there is no life. The previous House had approved some loans for water, and my constituents were part of the beneficiaries. During this break, there is a subcounty called Ewanga where the World Bank project drilled two boreholes, and the entire subcounty was to be connected-

Madam Speaker, as I conclude on the World Bank grant to benefit the people of Madi-Okollo and Wanga, the two boreholes which were sunk by national water in the north - during this break, the people of Wanga indicated that national water went over there and declared to them that while the resource-

No, that is about the loan for water, and the previous loan for the people of Madi-Okollo has not met its expectations. Those are the two boreholes that I was reporting on. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Government has plans to connect the whole country to the network and to the internet. On a private basis, for the last two years, I have been pursuing a private network; a private organisation to come and install some masts in Madi-Okollo. They installed it in one far corner in a place called Offaka. Now, we have been talking for two years and they were supposed to install a mast in a place called Rigbo. Rigbo is a refugee hosting area and the sub-county headquarters do not have internet. They kept telling me that they were about to bring the mast. Out of the blue, they told me that the Office of the Prime Minister has directed that, that mast should not go to the sub-county headquarters but instead, it should go to the refugee area yet the biggest population of the people are at the sub-county. The refugee area already has a mast. The people in Rigbo are in distress and wondering why the refugee population is being prioritised over the Uganda population.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Kabbyanga may not answer this. According to her, Madi-Okollo and that sub-county is a refugee hosting district, therefore, it is my office. I request that you allow me to investigate. I will get in touch with the honourable member. I have been to Madi-Okollo. We shall handle this matter together. I promise.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the committee for the report. I would like to address myself to two issues: the issue of unabsorbed funds and the other is the issue of local revenue. On the issue of unabsorbed funds, the committee observed that one of the reasons the funds were returned was the issue of the ban on recruitment. One of the recommendations the committee gives is to engage the relevant ministries. On the issue of Madi-Okollo, which has the largest staffing gaps, we have engaged the Ministry of Public Service and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. However, a few special districts, I do not know what criteria they used, were allowed to continue. However, the district with the largest staffing gaps is still on the ban. For Madi-Okollo, most of these gaps are in the education sector. This has affected the performance of education in primary. Many colleagues say, “Oh, Madi-Okollo is the last in education;” I am not ashamed. How do you tie someone’s legs in a race, beat them, and clap your hands? With the large staffing gaps, there is no way we are going to improve our education status in Madi-Okollo and in Uganda for that matter. The second issue I would like to discuss is the issue of local revenue. Most of the new districts, which were formed were left with a small revenue collection base –

Member for Madi-Okollo, are you done?

15111 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2024 that our districts can also create some revenue. Madi-Okollo is on the list for industrial parks but we still do not know. When the minister came here, there was nothing clear to say these are the districts that are getting industrial parks. These are some of the areas where we can collect local revenue. Thank you.

14736 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Water and Environment is implementing the Integrated Water Management and Development Project across the country. Subcomponent 1.2 of the project targets construction of water supply and sanitation systems in refugee-hosting districts in Western Nile and northern Uganda. The refugee-hosting districts that were targeted to benefit from the project include Moyo, Madi-Okollo, Terego, Yumbe, Adjumani, and Lamwo in West Nile and Kiryandongo District in the mid-western. A total of six solar-powered water supply systems in six rural growth centres of Awoba, Rodo, Goboro, Lomunga, Lobe and Nyori were planned to be constructed in Yumbe District. Furthermore, Enyau Gravity Flow Scheme will cover part of Ariwa Sub-county, including Zone 5 of Bidi-Bidi Refugee Settlement. A total of 26 sanitation facilities will also be constructed along the water supply system in Yumbe District. Due to foreign exchange losses, the project is not able to implement all the activities as had been planned. Furthermore, the feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs have recommended the inclusion of water treatment processes due to the quality of the underground water that required full-scale conventional treatment that was not envisioned at the project proposal. The inclusion of the water treatment processes ultimately made the system costlier as compared to the planned cost. As a result of these changes, the project had to be reprioritised by reducing a number of systems to be implemented across the project districts to match the available resources. The water supply systems that were ultimately chosen for implementation are those that provided the highest impact. I mean those with high yielding borehole sources and covering large populations. Therefore, this reprioritisation affected the mentioned rural growth centres of Nyori, Rodo, and Awoba. Madam Speaker and Members, with available funding, the project will therefore construct the three solar-powered water supply systems of Goboro, Lomunga and Lobe, and Anyau Gravity Flow Scheme which will also cover parts of Ariwa Sub-county and Zone 5 of Bidi- Bidi Refugee Settlement in Yumbe. Government will continue to source for finances to construct the remaining three solar- powered water supply systems of Rodo, Awoba and Nyori in Yumbe and the other systems that have been left out in other districts as well. The designs for all the systems have been completed and will be implemented as soon as funds are available. Hon. Byakatonda again, the question is: Why are pensioners attached to Mbale Hospital have discrepancies in their pension payments whereby officers with same seniority, that is, title and duration of service, but who retired in different years, would be paid a different monthly pension? Madam Speaker, my response is a statement of law and facts: i) The Public Service Pension Scheme is an un-funded PAYGO and non-contributory, Defined Benefit (DB) Pension Scheme. The Scheme rules are provided under Article 254 (1) of the 1995 Constitution, which for avoidance of doubt, states that, “A public officer shall, on retirement, receive such pension as is commensurate with his or her rank, salary, and length of service.” ii) Article 254(2) on the other hand, provides that, “the pension payable to any person shall be exempt from tax and shall be subject to periodic review to take account of changes in the value of money.” iii) The parameters and formula used to compute pension and gratuity are further provided by the Pensions Act, Cap 89, and Regulations therein. And these are: [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

14682 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT by bringing these investors. For 10 years, they do not pay taxes yet after the 10 years, the Government expects to reap from them. Yesterday, in the report of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), we saw that our tax revenue to GDP is very low in the region. But I see a situation where, after most of these investors have started making profits, Uganda will be one of the countries with a good tax revenue in the region. However, if the Government does not invest in the facilities that are needed to promote these industrial parks and industries, we are going to have a very big issue. The second issue is that I would like to agree with the committee on the issue that the Uganda Investment Authority should be facilitated to invest and procure the eight industrial parks of which Madi-Okollo is one. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The woman representative for Madi-Okollo asked a very pertinent question. She observed that the procurement at the district level is tampered with and UWA wants to use its own. I would like to guide that at the district level, we follow the Government’s guidelines, rules, and regulations. So, in the Local Government Act, there is supposed to be a district procurement committee. Any money that comes, be it the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Programme (USMID) or Local Government Economic Growth, we use the district procurement committee. So, there should not be an objection. That is what the districts should use. Someone has just talked about the revenue from tracking gorillas being mismanaged. We introduced a scientific system; the integrated revenue administration system. This does not allow anybody to collect and put in the pocket. So, please when we discuss things, go and help in the districts. Otherwise, the CAOs are already aware. They meet every three months. We call them and emphasise this. Mr Speaker, we cannot get tired of advising. I will compel the Permanent Secretary of Minister of Local Government to issue another stringent circular so that rules can be followed. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to speak about the people of Lower Madi. The issue I would like to raise as a matter of national importance is about the reinstatement of the wage bill for Madi-Okollo District. Madi- Okollo is a new district, which was carved out of Arua District. When we came out, Arua gave us staff to start with. For the past three years, consecutively, the wage bill has been allocated by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for Madi-Okollo District. However, every time the District Service Commission would wish to advertise to recruit people for different positions, three things happen: One, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development always delays clearing the District Service Commission for recruitment. THE CONSTITUTIONAL (AMENDMENT ) BILL, 2024

14433 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2024 Secondly, the Ministry of Public Service - after clearing Madi-Okollo District last financial year to recruit staff - I would like to acknowledge on the Floor that the Minister for Public Service gladly requested the entire Madi-Okollo District to come to his office and review the available wage to recruit staff. He gave clearance to Madi-Okollo for recruitment of staff. However, again the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development came up and said Madi-Okollo could not recruit staff. The third one is, when these issues came to the PS, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, there was a ban which we all accepted. It was for verification and validation of the Public Service we have in this country. However, we were assured that once the ban was lifted, recruitment of staff would then start. Last financial year when we were working on the budget for this financial year, a corrigendum was brought by the finance minister here, Mr Speaker. In that corrigendum, the wage bill for Madi-Okollo District was removed. I followed it up with the Budget Committee and said, the money which was removed was the money for recruitment of staff in Madi-Okollo District. However, that was not honoured by the Budget Committee and the ministry. What is the implication of this for Madi-Okollo District? Mr Speaker, let me just submit that Madi-Okollo District has 38 per cent of staff, the lowest in this country. Second –

Yes. My prayers are that: 1. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development reinstates the budget for Madi-Okollo for recruitment of staff because it is not in this financial year; they removed it. This can come through a supplementary because we need staff recruitment of teachers. 2. Because we have the highest burden of non-completion of primary school in my district – 90 per cent could not even finish Primary Seven as most of them failed, we are asking the Ministry of Education and Sports to construct for us technical schools that can absorb those who are unable to finish primary school. 3. The Ministry of Education and Sports, again, to fast track the construction of the two seed secondary schools that we have. At least those who survive P7 could be absorbed in these seed secondary schools which are Anyiribu, Ulepi, Ewanga and Rigbo Seed Secondary Schools. That is an offer for us. I submit.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The honourable colleague is asking for three things and one of them is a supplementary budget to enable Madi-Okollo District to recruit staff. Mr Speaker, from his submission, the issue of understaffing and the need for staff for Madi-Okollo District was foreseen during the budgeting period. Therefore, it is a matter which does not qualify for supplementary financing. Mr Speaker, the Minister of Public Service is here. We do not clear recruitment as the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. Recruitment in the Government requires clearance by Public Service. What we check for is the availability of funding. Mr Speaker, to the best of my knowledge, in our Budget speech, we were very explicit; recruitment this financial year can only be by replacement and for specialised areas. The

Mr Speaker, allow me to lay the evidence of Madi-Okollo –

Yes. We have the request submitted by Madi-Okollo District to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development as far as the Wage Bill is concerned for the last three consecutive years. Allow me just to lay for reference so that it helps in the supplementary. Thank you.

Honourable member, today, we are going to be discussing - if you followed the House yesterday, we presented a report on the status of schools in northern Uganda, including your area. Okay? Madi-Okollo is one of those. Can we, kindly, handle it when we reach the debate on that matter? It is the third item on the Order Paper. I will give you an opportunity.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to thank the committee for actually going to the regions of northern Uganda. I would also like to thank the Government for the efforts that they have put to follow the policy of a secondary school in every sub county. One of the secondary schools, which is mentioned here; Anyiribu Secondary School, is actually slated, under the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP), for a seed secondary school, which I did not see in the report. I think most of those recommendations will be covered when this Anyiribu Seed Secondary School is taken up by the Government. The Minister of Education and Sports can tell us when this will be underway – because three secondary schools in Madi-Okollo have been slated for this. The second point I would like to raise is about Pawor Seed Secondary School. I really want to thank the committee for shining a light on this school. Since 2018, when this school was constructed, we have complained, and written to the Ministry of Education and Sports, but nothing has come to fruition. This school has many cracks on the buildings and many people deem it unsafe to actually sit in the buildings of this school. There is a school nearby. One of the speakers today talked about how community schools are taken over by the Government and turned into seed secondary schools. We wonder when we were under Arua Local Government, why Arua Local Government decided to take a seed secondary school in a game reserve. Pawor Seed Secondary School is situated in the - (Member timed out.)

14388 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT Muni University has been requesting for funds from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Ministry of Education and Sports over the years to develop their Madi-Okollo Faculty of Agriculture. They have over 1,000 hectares of land. However, because of the inadequate funding, you find that most of our students go for theoretical teaching yet they have the land. That is something that we need to do for all the public universities. Mr Speaker, as a member of the committee, I am not going to debate the Committee on Education and Sports’ report. However, as you have given me an opportunity, I am just going to lay some documents about the poor infrastructure of the schools in Upper Madi County. I am laying a letter, which was signed by Ms Nawe Molly Kamukama, a directive to the Ministry of Education and Sports to construct classrooms in Katiyi and Eteleva Primary Schools. I beg to lay. In July 2020, a letter signed by Dr Kenneth Omona requesting for construction of schools in Upper Madi is still – (Member timed out.)

We went with the Committee of Local Government and Public Service. In Terego, we visited Obivu Community Primary School and we found that the whole school was operating from a grass-thatched mud-and-wattle church. The classrooms were identified through groups in the corners: P.7 was a group in a corner; P.1 was a group in a corner; P.3 – the whole school was operating from a single grass-thatched church. This was very bad. Mr Speaker, we were not surprised to find that Terego and Madi-Okollo were some of the worst-performing districts in the last Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE). Among the last performing districts, Terego and Madi-Okollo are there. The MPs are here and they can attest.

Background - I think that one is highlighted. We can skip that. Okay, we can go to: 1.0 Findings, Observations, and Recommendations 1.1 West Nile Subregion. In the West Nile Subregion of Northern Uganda, the committee visited districts of Pakwach, Nebbi, Madi-Okollo, and Arua districts, and inspected the following institutions and schools. 1.1.1 Muni University in the Arua district Muni University is one of the public universities in Uganda, which was established by the Uganda Government by Statutory Instrument No. 31, 2013, in accordance with the University’s and other Tertiary Institutions Act. The university has an established governance structure comprising a fully-fledged council, Senate, and Committees to run its affairs. Mr Speaker, let us go to the findings because most people are eagerly waiting for the findings. But before findings, I think we should also look at the observations. In Arua or Muni University, there are two buildings that have stalled for so many years. One of them is the delayed completion of the Health Science Laboratory building and administration block. The committee observed that the contract for the completion of the construction of the Health Science Lab Building was signed between Muni University and Kisinga Construction Company Limited on the l3th March 2019. The ground-breaking ceremony and site handover were done on 25 March 2019, and the actual work started on 3 May 2019 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of the project was delayed and thus construction elapsed on 25 March 2022. However, the completion date was later revised by two years up to 24 March 2024 but this was not attained, and yet the work executed is only at 67 per cent. The Administration Block Annex: the committee observed that this construction project commenced on 11 April 2022 and is expected to be completed on 11 October 2024 and yet the work executed is just at 55.5 per cent. The committee observed that the capacity building centre facility has some structural problems requiring immediate attention like

Mr Speaker, Pawor is the opposite of Alwi in Madi-Okollo. It was condemned on inception. It only has 80 students and is in a game reserve, something that the ministry should look at. We also observed and concluded that the mother district, Arua, should look for a contractor who is elusive because the buildings are sinking. In Nebbi District - I am not going to give the narrative but briefly - Mamba has many buildings at a cost of Shs 2 or 3.3 billion. It is a massive infrastructure but the contractor is dragging his feet. We were told that he has more than three sites. He is very elusive and not up to time. They have kept on extending and something must be done. That is as far as Mamba in Nebbi District is concerned. The other one was -

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I stand to support the motion that the Government should prioritise resource allocation for livestock farming to the Northern Region. The “ cura” that His Excellency was talking about in the seven enterprises, which the Government has already done for us, livestock is one of them. Livestock farming is one of the biggest producers of revenue especially when it is done at zero grazing level. His Excellency has always said that he does the local animals because he has vast land. In northern Uganda, I can give the example of Madi-Okollo District, each household has access to about four acres and above but some households have access to over 100 acres. A lot of this land has lots of tall grass and bushes. This has attracted what people are calling the Balalo to our region. The Balalo have seen that their animals have thrived in this area. Therefore, we would really support it if the Government could help even the local people because the people have been saying, “Let the Balalo go” but that does not solve the issue. How about if the local people were empowered and taught to do what the cattle grazers are also doing? Madi-Okollo District is very good for goat rearing. A small pilot project has been done in the parish to which I belong, and I can tell you people have prospered. The goats multiply at a very fast rate. This is something that can be looked at because someone receives three indigenous goats and then maybe a male hybrid goat. Then the population can expand. If this could be rolled out into all the other areas, I believe we would see the social economic transformation that we are looking for.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Afridra Olema Ronald. I represent the people of Lower Madi from Madi-Okollo District. Madam Speaker, I would like to disagree with Hon. Avur on the issue of having the next parliamentary sitting in Kampala; it should be taken to Madi-Okollo.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Joanne Aniku Okia. I represent the people of Madi-Okollo District as their Woman MP. Thank you.

In 2021, when Upper Madi cumulatively lost 21 people, several of those school pupils, the Ministry of Works and Transport sent one of the senior engineers, Eng. Odong Richard from the Ministry of Works, went to the constituency and inspected eight bridges. Two weeks ago, we lost five school pupils, and the Ministry was informed. I personally wrote to the Ministry of Works, and I have talked to the Minister of Finance, whenever all these tragedies happen. To date, Madam Speaker, despite the comprehensive inspection of these bridges, none of the bridges is constructed. And yet, this river connects so many institutions, particularly health and education institutions. Madam Speaker, I started the struggle in 2016 but all this time, nothing has been done. Secondly, Madam Speaker, in 1996 when the Ugandan National Liberation Front II came in Madi-Okollo, particularly in Lali, the President and the UPDF generally found it difficult to eliminate these rebels. That is why they had to resort to air bombardment to make sure that the rebels were removed. And that was because of –

It is Madi-Okollo-Arua Road, 76 kilometres. The committee did not visit it.

14062 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT us road equipment as a new district. However, some of the components of road equipment are missing. The ministry should do something so that those components that are missing should be submitted to the district for easy road maintenance and improvement of the road connectivity in the district. Madam Speaker, year in and year out, after every five years, there is a critical road that whenever His Excellency the President of Uganda is campaigning in Obongi, speaks about. And that is Pakwach-Rhino Camp-Obongi-Wadlai up to Moyo District, proceeding to South Sudan. He calls it a security road but the road always features nowhere. I urge those who are drafting the manifesto of NRM, this year, to help us leaders of Obongi, Pakwach, Madi-Okollo and Moyo; not to indicate that road in the manifesto because it has over featured but the Government is not doing something about it. Thank you.

13923 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 14 AUGUST 2024 arrival of the high voltage power to the West Nile is good but the minister is silent on the electricity distribution challenges there. The last mile connection run by WENRECo in Madi-Okollo and Obongi districts. Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I have a few prayers. Number one, I pray that this august House finds that there are many substantive issues of energy governance to be addressed by the Executive, beyond the minister of energy. Some of the matters I have raised require the input of the Attorney-General as well as the ministers responsible for privatisation and finance. Lastly, I pray that the statement and that of the minister be referred to the relevant committee, that is, the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, to enable Parliament to debate and make recommendations on rural electrification with a background of energy planning and governance in our country. I beg to submit, Mr Speaker. (Applause)

Mr Speaker, I have been to Madi-Okollo, I have been to Nebbi and I have also been to Arua. I request the Member to help me: is Madi-Okollo on the road from Nebbi to Arua? If that is so, that road was contracted and the contractor is on-site? Yes. Is that the stretch that was relatively good before we contracted it?

Rt Hon. Prime Minister, I just drove on that road last evening. The stretch from Arua to Madi-Okollo and Nebbi does not have a contractor and the potholes are really life-threatening.

13456 PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET SPEECH FY 2024/2025 Water, sanitation and environment protection As a result of Government intervention, more Ugandans now have access to safe, clean water. Coverage in rural areas is now estimated at 67 per cent and 70 per cent in urban areas. Out of the 71,225 villages, 56,617 villages have been served with at least one safe water source. In the Financial Year 2024/2025, clean water coverage will increase to 70 per cent and 85 per cent in rural and urban areas respectively. In the rural areas, the target is to reduce the distance to the nearest source of clean and safe water for human and animal consumption to less than one kilometre while in urban areas to less than 500 metres. The following are among the priorities we have budgeted for the next financial year: v. Construction of 52 large solar-powered water supply systems in 19 districts that are currently at less than 50 per cent water coverage. These are - let me mention them; Agago, Yumbe, Amudat, Kaabong, Bulambuli, Buvuma, Buyende, Namayingo, Rakai, Nakaseke, Sembabule, Kibaale, Kasese, Kyegegwa, Mubende, Lyantonde, Kakumiro, Kassanda and Kisoro; vi. Construction of another 15 solar-powered water supply systems in the rural growth centres of Lwentulege, Bugwara, Kabamba, Kikoora, Mwitanzige, Lugala, Kitenga, Bukizibu/Bumwena, Igwaya, Kidera, Bugomolwa, Kitonge - Nakasero, Kikonge, Kasese and Lubaali. This will cover a population of over 272,000 persons; vii. Completion of the construction of 31 town water supply systems and sanitation facilities in Bulangira, Kanapa, Aligoi, Opengate Kawo, Karago, Nyakashaka, Buikwe, Bundibugyo, Kapchorwa, Kamuli, Namasale, Kaliro - Namungalwe, Butaleja–Busolwe, Budaka–Kadama- Tirinyi-Kibuku, Kyankwanzi, Butemba, Ngoma, Lunya, Palabek-Kal (Lamwo), Obongo, Lamwo, Rhino Camp, Arra/ Dufile, Amuru, Kole, Alangi, Zeu, Kakingol, Iriiri and Lorengacora; viii. Construction of 17 rural water supply systems in the refugee hosting districts of Adjumani, Lamwo, Madi-Okollo, Moyo, Terego and Yumbe; ix. Progress of the construction of 26 water supply systems at various stages in Manafwa (now at 80 per cent), Mukura (40 per cent), Kidera (40 per cent), Atutur (40 per cent), Kadungulu (10 per cent), Kaproron (10 per cent), Iyolwa (20 per cent), Bukumi (5 per cent), Rubaya (50 per cent), Bethlehem - Nabigasa, Phase 1 (50 per cent), Kabura - Mwizi Phase 1 (50 per cent), Mabira (50 per cent), Bukiro (50 per cent), Nyabisirira (50 per cent), Bugarama - Karweru (50 per cent), Rwere - Kateretere (50 per cent), Kagarama – Bushura - Kibuzigye (50 per cent), Nyanseke (80 per cent), Busaale (95 per cent), Kibuzi (100 per cent), Adilang, Puranga (Pader), Kasawo, Phase 1 (5 per cent), Kyebando - Kasimbi (5 per cent), Nabilatuk and Losilang; and x. Increasing the water for production storage capacity for commercial farmers from 52.6 million cubic metres to 76.8 million cubic metres. To support the restoration of our environment and reverse the effects of climate change, Government shall undertake the restoration of 42,450 hectares of degraded wetlands along the Awoja, Kandekye - Ruhorobero, Nchwera, Chambura, Kiruruma, Naigombwa, Kibimba, Tochi, Aswa, Sezibwa, Mayanja, Muzizi, Mpanga and Lumbuye water systems. In addition, Government shall demarcate a 720-kilometre boundary with concrete pillars along the following wetlands; Kibimba, Tochi, Sezibwa, Mayanja, Muzizi,Awoja, Mpologoma, Ishasha, Kandekye, Ruhorobero, Nchwera, Chambura, Kiruruma and Naigombwa. A total of 15 million seedlings of assorted tree species shall be procured and distributed to individual farmers in several districts as well as to refugee-

k 'I ii. #ri- - T ,? tu,*ur- r:l(- .: 26 =4 l.t ( \ l.---e-' )r Amount (OOO') Vote Descrlptlon 9,294,589 849 Kamuli District 5,106,892 850 Kamwenge District 6,153,676 Kanungu District 851 1,79o,475 452 Kapchorwa District 4,186,932 853 Kapelebyong District 2,540,91O 854 Karenga District 10,750,O50 855 Kasanda District 7,5t8,684 Kasese District 856 5,716,721 857 Katakwi District 7,805,t37 858 Kayunga District 7,725,674 Kazo District 859 7,254,6tO 860 Kibaale District 5,224,94t Kiboga District 861 4,t16,9Ll 862 Kibuku District 3,758,385 863 Kikuube District 3,866,206 864 Kiruhura District 4,506,327 865 Kiryandongo District 5,272,352 866 Kisoro District 2,t65,239 867 Kitagwenda District 3,085,928 Kitgum District 868 2,315,301 Koboko District ) eos 3,574,80L 470 Kole District 2,4t6,269 Kotido District 871 6,068,O43 872 Kumi District 2,956,24r 873 Kwania District 2,501,053 Kween District 874 5,O22,485 875 Kyankwanzi District 6,76L,447 Kyegegwa District a76 5,675,220 877 Kyenjojo District 3,579,392 Kyotera District 878 3,036,906 879 Lamwo District 3,674,946 Lira District TBBo 3,27t,477 881 Luuka District 6,O7a,216 Luwero District 842 6,840,262 883 Lwengo District 1,743,388 Lyantonde District 884 2,5t3,735 885 Madi-Okollo District i iF!": N\','" k

Honourable mem - bers, can I read the districts, which are includ - ed? Hon. Ssekikubo is that okay? With the amounts. Honourable members, listen. Read: Vote 804 – Alebtong District – Shs 848,733,704; Vote 805 – Amolatar District – Shs 220,815,010; Vote 807 – Amuria District – Shs 76,091,072; Vote 811 – Budaka District – Shs 569,774,320; Vote 812 – Bududa District – Shs 871,310,151; Vote 813 – Bugiri District – Shs 80,000,000; Vote 816 –Buikwe District – Shs 634,351,309; Vote 817: Bukedea District - Shs 557,998,824; Vote 818: Bukomansimbi District - Shs 138,976,150; Vote 819: Bukwo District - Shs 3,457,961,447; Vote 820: Bulambuli District – Shs 237,021,273; Vote 823: Bunyangabu District – Shs 371,453,937; Vote 825: Busia District - Shs 2,493,045,786; Vote 830: Buyende District - Shs 325,110,681; Vote 831: Dokolo District – Shs 1,200,052,179; Vote 832: Gomba District – Shs 132,794,807; Vote 834: Hoima District – Shs 663,105,613; Vote 835: Ibanda District - Shs 2,181,084,002; Vote 837: Isingiro District – Shs 3,142,687,738; Vote 838: Jinja District - Shs 2,158,144,238; Vote 840: Kabale District - Shs 122,770,149; Vote 841: Kabarole District – Shs 413,457,210; Vote 842: Kaberamaido District - Shs 1,189,601,445; Vote 846: Kalangala District – Shs 499,303,936; Vote 848: Kalungu District – Shs 1,919,206,727; Vote 851: Kanungu District - Shs 2,355,337,661; Vote 855, Kassanda District – Shs 1,076,055,328; Vote 856: Kasese District - Shs 1,428,572,362; Vote 858: Kayunga District - Shs 886,274,114; Vote 861: Kiboga District – Shs 877,544,449; Vote 862: Kibuku District – Shs 55,309,755; Vote 864: Kiruhura District - Shs 1,272,038,110; Vote 866: Kisoro District – Shs 1,147,709,409; Vote 867: Kitagwenda District – Shs 292,329,260; Vote 868: Kitgum District - Shs 260,346,061; Vote 869: Koboko District – Shs 1,346,133,500; Vote 870: Kole District - Shs 508,409,292; Vote 872: Kumi District - Shs 2,856,532,203; Vote 875: Kyankwanzi District - Shs 280,000,000; Vote 876: Kyegegwa District - Shs 2,218,090,875; Vote 877: Kyenjojo District - Shs 1,050,288,984; Vote 878: Kyotera District - Shs 1,273,322,749; Vote 879: Lamwo District - Shs 403,256,222; Vote 881: Luuka District - Shs 931,990,097; Vote 882: Luwero District - Shs 5,365,516,069; Vote 883: Lwengo District – Shs 1,967,438,860; Vote 884: Lyantonde District - Shs 253,488,082; Vote 885: Madi-Okollo District - Shs 676,404,553; Vote 887: Maracha District – Shs 416,761,385; Vote 889: Masindi District – Shs 84,336,637; Vote 890: Mayuge District – Shs 930,316,165; Vote 891: Mbale District – Shs 1,720,742,693; Vote 892: Mbarara District - Shs 455,148,176; Vote 893: Mitooma District - Shs 505,896,701; Vote 894: Mityana District - Shs 471,519,063; Vote 895: Moroto District – Shs 165,753,246; Vote 896: Moyo District - Shs 1,293,741,625; Vote 899: Mukono District – Shs 2,529,351,767; Vote 900: Nabilatuk District – Shs 1,252,915,918; Vote 901: Nakapiripirit District – Shs 30,000,000; Vote 902: Nakaseke District – Shs 933,060,184; [Mr Ekanya] THE SUPPLEMENTARY EXPENDITURE SCHEDULE NO.2

12543 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 11 APRIL 2024 Where there are internal capacity challenges, the National Planning Authority should undertake the studies. On budgeting for Anti-Money Laundering, and Combating Financing of Terrorism (AML/ CFT) We recommend that the Uganda Police Force implement the strategic deficiencies under its jurisdiction on pending action items from the National Risk Assessment of 2023. Traffic and Road Safety We note that this department implements an express penalty scheme, which forms the bulk of NTR. We, therefore, recommend an additional Shs 8.6 billion for the procurement of transport equipment and installation of an IOV inspection lane and certification centre and Shs 18 billion for the procurement of 10 mobile inspection stations for IOV. Police Accommodation and Ongoing Con - struction Projects There is continued construction of 240 staff houses in Jinja and Entebbe, which requires an additional Shs 69.986 billion. Construction of eight accommodation blocks at the headquarters in Nakasongola, Sheema, Busolwe, Mitooma, Kanungu, and Kakumiro has a funding gap of Uganda’s Shs 2.24 billion, among others. These projects need independent project designs with national coverage, standardisation and ease of project monitoring? Therefore, we recommend developing a comprehensive project to undertake countrywide interventions with the same standards to ease the monitoring of such infrastructure. Subcounty Policing Model This model is premised on concentrating limited resources at a subcounty for efficiency and effectiveness in providing policing services to the communities. This requires the following: (i) Deploying a minimum of 18 personnel; (ii) 2 motorcycles per police station; (iii) 1 motor vehicle; (iv) A counter phone and radio communication; (v) An office. If this model is to be phased, starting with high-risk crime levels, taking 30 subcounties that have been planned requires Shs 36.946 billion. However, only Shs 5.6 billion has been provided in the Financial Year 2024/2025 budget for only 9 subcounties. We, therefore, recommend that Uganda Police Force first pilot this model with the existing funds provided in the budget and expand it given the lessons learned in the piloted subcounties. On crime management We note that Uganda Police Force intends to expand the Canine units to 10 districts of Nebbi, Koboko, Budaka, Bukomansimbi, Butambala, Zombo, Adjumani, Madi-Okollo, Packwach and Kaberamaido during FY 2024/2025 with a provision of Shs 0.709 billion out of the required Shs 2.968 billion, leaving a gap of Shs 2.259 billion. We, therefore, recommend providing Shs 2.259 billion for the canine unit to take its services to the above districts and closer to communities in the Finacial Year 2024/2025 budget. In addition, the Uganda Police Force should sensitize the masses on the importance of not interfering with scenes of crime to deploy canine dogs effectively in the investigative mechanism. On stationery, Mr Speaker, we note that the shortage of stationery at police units is a source of perceived corruption, dissatisfaction, loss of confidence and ultimately poor police image. A provision of Shs 2.172 billion has been made for the Financial Year 2024/2025, yet the

Yes. Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me chance to speak, especially in reference to your communication as regards to the accident where our colleague, Hon. Katuntu’s brother, lost his life. All of us are quite aware of the way accidents happen in this country to the extent that - some of our colleagues - met their demise through it. The day before yesterday, in Arua District, a staff of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Solomon Abenika, who was riding his OPM motorbike, was knocked on the streets of Arua City and sustained three fractures in the limbs. As he was being prepared to be operated on, he breathed his last. Today, his body is in St. Philip’s and all that was due to reckless driving in Arua City. In Madi-Okollo yesterday, the chairperson for a SACCO group, George, again was knocked by a reckless driver. He also broke both his limbs and he is being prepared for an operation. You are aware that the police in their Easter message brought to the attention of this country that during Easter alone, Ugandans who lost their lives through accidents were more than 80 and there were more than 200 accidents. I am bringing this in reference to your communication because it is the proper time for us to review the traffic laws in this country. I do remember that Rwanda revised the speed limit within the city, bringing it down from 120 to 80 km per hour and that will reduce the accident rates in this country to 60. My appeal through you, Mr Speaker, is that this Parliament considers reviewing the speed limit for different vehicles on the streets of this city, leaving alone even the motorbikes that are rampantly killing us. If it pleases you and more so on the side of Government, it is time for us to review, move forward and then we see over time how that can impact on the accidents. Finally, this is related to the road infrastructure that we have in this country. My Madi-Okollo is a village road. We just received Shs 500 million for the Road Fund, which you presided over that every constituency should receive. However, accidents are still happening across the constituencies in the villages. People are dying. Maybe through you, the minister can expedite the process of releasing more Shs 500 million so that we are in line with reducing the road carnage throughout the country. Thank you.

Thank you, Chairperson. Honourable Chairperson, in your recommendations, you are saying we should add more funds to the committee and all that, then in the conclusion, you have provided a table with specific figures which you are complaining about. Yet, they are the ones you said we should provide without adding anything. Honourable chairperson, it might appear like a procedure, but that procedure is - because it is a contradiction. Here, you are complaining; you are saying we revise, but in the conclusion on the table of supply - Honourable colleagues, I think we should not focus so much on that table of supply because the Committee on Budget will handle that. Otherwise, we will need to adjust, if we adopt this one. I do not know if there is a standard form provided or one would say it is a practice. Otherwise, let it not mislead you from discussing what you are supposed to discuss and give recommendations that you are supposed to give. Honourable colleagues, we have two items that we are going to discuss at once. As you have seen, they are closely related. They feed into each other. Item 4(ii) feeds into item 5 (i). The debate starts now. Honourable minister, do you want to make any comments with regard to the field report or should we wait so you can sum up at the end? I will start with, Hon. Prof. Mushemeza, Hon. Silas, Hon. Okeyoh, Dr Opio, Member for Madi-Okollo, Member for UPC - honourable colleagues, I am going to give you a chance. Let us be quick so that we give others a chance. The shadow minister will come in, then we conclude with –

Thank you. Member for Madi-Okollo? Honourable colleague, you cannot conclude and then say “information”. A point of information is to help you in your own submission. Since you have already concluded, you cannot accept the information.

Okay. The political federation is something that we desire. However, we have met – I do not know whether to call it resistance, but – lethargy because ever since the programme started for consultations, only Uganda, Kenya and Burundi have carried out national consultations. The United Republic of Tanzania has not consulted and neither has Rwanda. They have made appointments and cancelled them. South Sudan is quiet and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is completely quiet. Therefore, it is something that we are pushing and I would like to request that when you meet members from those countries, please, tell them to ask their Heads of State to ensure that consultations on the political federation take place as soon as possible. On immigration, I have been embarrassed myself. There was a time I drove from Arusha to Nairobi. Of course, I had my blue passport. The Tanzania side said they had no problem, but on the Kenyan side, they asked me where I was going and I said, “To Nairobi.” I was asked why I was going to Nairobi and I said I was going for a meeting. Then they asked, “With whom?” I answered, “With my counterpart.” Then they asked, “How long will you be there?” I said: “You man, I am the Minister for East African Community Affairs, why are you asking me how long I am going to be in Nairobi?” (Laughter) So, although we are at the top level, we still have a lot of work to do to inculcate it in the staff and the other cadres. It is an area where we need to do some work. On public participation at the games, I think we shall have to market the games a bit more and inform the population so that they are able to attend and be part of what we are doing. On the issue of Kiswahili, Mr Speaker, I am very disappointed with this Parliament. I have been here on three occasions and I have informed you that we developed the training materials for Parliament over five years ago. They are here and include the Rules of Procedure and even the prayers; everything is here. Last week, I was supposed to officiate at the forum – I do not know who the chairperson of the forum is. MP for Madi-Okollo? They invited me to attend the forum and then they cancelled the meeting. So, I do not know. However, the materials are all here and it is up to you. I am happy that the Cabinet and the Judiciary are taking lessons. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretariat is training 300 people who will graduate in July and it is open to all, whether you are NRM, DP, FDC or UPC. There is training every Wednesday and Saturday at the NRM headquarters and it is free. On education, Hon. Ogwang has partially answered. I would like to say that we do not have shortage of Kiswahili teachers. There are over 2,000 Kiswahili teachers in this country. Hon. Peace Mutuuzo is one of them. Yes. So, we do not have a shortage of Kiswahili teachers; all we need is to deploy them. (Interjection) Gender? No, this one is new. (Laughter) On the National Kiswahili Council, we are supposed to have in place the National Kiswahili Council – I do not know whether the law is here – to help us in propagating Kiswahili. However, we plan that in a short time, we should have five examinable subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, SST and Kiswahili at the Primary Level so that we have generations that speak Kiswahili from the beginning. Hon. Afidra and Hon. Osoru, concerning the borders in Arua, I am going to Elegu on the 9 th of this month. However, I have been to Mpondwe, Malaba, Busia and Katuna. I am proposing the opening of two border posts in Mulwanda and Buteba to decongest Busia, but I will make sure that I visit all these. I have taken note of Lia, which you say is a very active border, but has not been gazetted. Hon. Kibaaju, thank you for the compliments. Again, I am saying the materials are here in this building. If you want more, my officers are here.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am here to present the report of the Committee on Equal Opportunities on the state of refugees and refugee hosting communities in Uganda. I beg to lay. Allow me to lay the minutes of the meeting of the committee with various stakeholders from the refugees and refugee hosting communities of Uganda. Mr Speaker, with your guidance of yesterday, I would like to go through, very briefly. This report focuses on the situation of refugees in camps distributed throughout the country that the committee visited. In the methodology, while preparing the report, various districts hosting refugees were visited. We held meetings with the leadership of the district local governments of Arua, Koboko, Yumbe, Adjumani, Lamwo, Kiryandongo, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge, and Isingiro. We also visited the host communities. Allow me take you to page 8 where we have the overview of the status of refugees. The settlement camps in Adjumani, Palabek in Lamwo, Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in Yumbe, Imvepi Refugee Settlement in Terego, Kampala settlement, Kiryandongo settlement in Kiryandongo, Kyaka II settlement in Kyangwali, Koboko, Nakivale settlement in Isingiro, Palorinya in Obongi, Rhino settlement in Madi-Okollo and Ramwanja in Kamwenge were visited. Page 18 has the achievements of interventions by Government and the different actors who are working to support refugees and refugee hosting communities. They range from integration of refugees to different services like education, health, food security and livelihoods. I believe you have the report and will be able to read it. Allow me to take you to page 24 where we have challenges, observations and recommendations. One is about the compromised healthcare quality and the pressure on education and the schooling system. Mr Speaker, the committee observed that the above challenges were aggravated by secondary factors. The committee came up with the following recommendations: (i) The Government of Uganda and its partners such as UNHCR should put in more resources for infrastructure like construction of classrooms, latrine stances and recruitment of more teachers to be able to cope with pressure on the existing education facilities and human resource. (ii) The Ministry of Education and Sports should develop an in-service refresher short course aimed at specifically equipping teachers of schools in refugee settlements to respond to the unique needs of learners. Another challenge is water, sanitation and hygiene. The committee observed that poor waste management, unmanaged pressure on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, increased dependence on donors for service delivery such as water supply and poor adolescent hygiene, especially for girls risks undermining gains made in refugee management in Uganda. The recommendations under that - 1. The committee recommends that Government needs to engage implementing partners to have continuous engagement with refugees and host communities on water user fee to enhance sustainable WASH management in the long run.

11770 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Richard Odongo to carry out a comprehensive inspection of all the bridges in Upper Madi. This is because cumulatively in 2021, we lost about 56 people in various spots on that river. Even earlier than that, I brought it to the attention of the President. Mr Speaker, you guided that before we bring some of these issues, we should exhaust it with the line ministries. I did it with the office of the Minister of Works and Transport. I even approached the Permanent Secretary. After all of them could not help, I brought it to the attention of the President. The President has given a number of directives because we had a number of meetings. On 6 August 2021, the President, in a letter signed by Dr Kenneth Omona, directed the – of course, it was addressed to the Minister of Works and Transport on the state of roads and bridges, and this never worked. In 2020, the same directive from State House, and even 2019, leave alone the ones of 2016 - This issue has been on this Floor, and I have exhausted all options. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, when do you expect to save the lives of these children? This is the only health centre in Okollo Subcounty where mothers have to go. When we were in Kyankwanzi, I met Hon. Musa Ecweru over the same. I met the Minister of Finance (Hon. Matia Kasaija) to see that we really get a solution to this. I beg to lay a number of documents for which this thing has stolen – all this – I, first of all, want to lay a copy of the inspection report of selected bridges in Upper Madi County by Eng. Richard Odongo dated 21 January 2022. I also wish to lay a presidential directive in a letter dated 6 August 2021 addressed to the Minister of Works and Transport. I beg to lay. I beg to lay another presidential directive in a letter addressed to, among others, the Minister of Works and Transport, dated 8 July 2020, on submission of key issues in Upper Madi County. One of the issues was the Ora 3 Bridge. I also beg to lay a letter dated 8 th of November on the state of roads and bridges in Upper Madi County. This was signed by Molly Kamukama, the then Principal Private Secretary to the President. Lastly, I beg to lay a letter dated 6 August 2021. This was signed by Dr Kenneth Omona, on the state of roads and bridges in Upper Madi County, Madi-Okollo District.

Okay, thank you, Mr Speaker. (Laughter) Vote 309: Gulu University The committee recommends that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development commits a total of Shs 5.6 billion for salary harmonisation; Shs 2 billion for degazettement of Gulu Central Forest Reserve and Shs 3.36 billion to the Karamoja University for the preparation of architectural and engineering designs and production of Bills of Quantities for the proposed Constituent College of Gulu in Karamoja. Vote 306: Muni University The committee recommends that Shs 2.7 billion be provided for the renovation and expansion of Madi-Okollo farm. Vote 310: Lira University The committee recommends that Shs 9 billion be provided to complete the main administration block. Vote 313: Mountains of the Moon University The committee provides Shs 5 billion for the construction of the Faculty of Science and Technology. Vote 004: Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs Land Acquisition The committee recommends that UPDF be provided with Shs 157.3 billion to compensate for all claims brought against it. Vote145: Uganda Prisons Services (UPS) The committee recommends that an additional Shs 5 billion for the implementation of Phase II of the Prisons Information Management System be provided for. Relocation of Prison’s Headquarters The committee recommends Shs 3 billion for rent during the Financial Year 2024/2025 and Shs 40 billion over the medium term for UPS to procure new premises for its headquarters. Prisoners feeding The committee recommends that the provision of Shs 79.973 billion budget be provided to pay for the outstanding arrears for prisoners feeding during the Financial Year 2023/2024. Land Surveying and Boundary Opening The committee recommends a provision of Shs 2 billion in Financial Years 2023/2024

Madam Speaker, I beg to designate the following Members to the standing Committee on Climate Change: 1. Hon. Lawrence Biyika Songa – Chairperson; and 2. Hon. Jacinta Atuto - Deputy Chairperson. The following are the members: 1. Hon. Enos Asiimwe - Kabula County; 2. Hon. Kabahenda Rwabuhoro – Kyegegwa; 3. Hon. Anthony Esenu Alden - Kapelebyong County; 4. Hon. James Mamawi - Adjumani East County; 5. Hon. Judith Achan – Nwoya; 6. Hon. Benjamin Kamukama - Ruhaama East County; 7. Hon. Christine Nakwang Tubo – Kaabong; 8. Hon. Nathan Nabeta-Igeme - Jinja South Division East; 9. Hon. Grace Kesande B. – Rubirizi; 10. Hon. John Bosco Ngoya – Bokora County; 11. Hon. Betty Engola Awor – Apac; 12. Hon. Patience Nkunda Kinshaba – Kanungu; 13. Hon. Zumura Maneno – Obongi; 14. Hon. John Faith Magolo - Bungokho County North; 15. Hon. Molly Musiime Asiimwe – Rwampara; 16. Hon. Joanne Aniku Okia – Madi-Okollo; 17. Hon. Hellen Wandera Auma – Busia; 18. Hon. Prossy Mbabazi Akampulira - Rubanda; 19. Hon. Norah Bigirwa - Buliisa; 20. Hon. James Nsaba-Buturo – Bufumbira County East; 21. Hon. Jenifer Muheesi Abaho - Woman Rep. Kazo; 22. Hon. Flora Natumanya - Kikuube; and 23. Hon. Phiona Nyamutoro – Youth Rep. Female. Madam Speaker, I beg to designate.

11099 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2023 Ministry of Internal Affairs. The moneylending entities that indulge in the holding of borrowers’ national identity cards will also, henceforth, be dealt with as the law demands. Hon. Isaac Etuka Isaac, MP Upper Madi He raised the matter concerning the delayed construction of Offaka, Anyiribu, Ewanga and Rigbo secondary schools in Madi-Okollo District under the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project. Prayer: i. Can the Prime Minister update the House on the matter? Madam Speaker, my response is that the Government of Uganda, in partnership with the World Bank, is implementing the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP) in the sector of education and sports. This project will fund the construction of 116 new seed schools in the subcounties without any public school and the expansion of 61 existing schools in the refugee-hosting districts. The policy requires that districts select which subcounties should take priority in benefiting from the project and Madi-Okollo District Local Government fronted Ewanga, Rigbo and Anyiribu subcounties as the most suitable for the new construction phase and Offaka – (Laughter)- for the expansion phase. That is it. (Laughter) For the construction to take place, the site needs to have fulfilled all the criteria required as stipulated by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in the Budget Call Circular of February 2022. These are: a land title in the name of the school; land size measuring five acres; and land-use should be restricted to institutions or schools. The ministry, on 15 August 2023, received three land titles from the proposed sites in Madi- Okollo, namely; Ewanga, Rigbo and Anyiribu, where new construction of the schools is going to take place. The fourth site in Offaka, which is to benefit under the expansion phase, has not yet presented the title to the ministry. Madam Speaker, upon receipt of the title, the ministry undertakes a series of surveys, including the following: 1. Topographic (to ascertain how structures will be placed); 2. Geotechnical (to assess the soil characteristics to determine the structures to be built); 3. Cadastral (to confirm that the land title matches the land on the ground); and 4. Hydro-geological (to assess availability of underground water for borehole drilling). These surveys inform the preparation of site- specific bidding documents. The advert for the inviting of bids for the construction under Uganda’s Secondary Education Expansion Project is expected to run by 15 December 2023. Madam Speaker, it is adherence to this due process and the need for adequate preparation that has led to the delayed construction in Madi-Okollo. Hon. Faith Nakut, District Woman Representative, Napak District She raised the matter concerning the arresting and jailing of people by the Ministry of Works and Transport in Napak District who were found in possession of items allegedly belonging to Uganda Railway Corporation and the extortion of the victims by Uganda police. Her prayer is that I update the House. Madam Speaker, my response is that on 17 August 2023, there was a joint operation conducted by both railway police and UPDF. During the operation, nine suspects were apprehended, namely;

11100 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT i. Ibra Kalista ii. Charles Bala iii. Denis Akoro iv. Desani Sonko v. Abudu Wandawa Odeke vi. Francis Odongo vii. John Ojalet viii. Daniel Dowan ix. Ismail Walusimbi These suspects were found in possession of six cut pieces of rails. A case file of being in possession of stolen rail materials has been opened up vide URC Soroti SD: 19/17/08/23 and subsequently CRB: 13/2023, which was later on submitted to the Resident State Attorney (RSA) for his legal opinion. Exhibited railway materials were found in their possession. The case file was withdrawn from RSA’s office before it could be acted upon by the office of the regional CIID East Kyoga, on grounds that the OC Railway, Soroti neither had the jurisdiction to investigate cases, nor submit them to the Resident State Attorney. The Regional CIID, however, had not taken over the file, but instead handed it over to the OC Railway without divulging the concerns that led to its withdrawal from the RSA. The matter has been put to the relevant docket heads to sort without allowing the culprits to go scot-free on the mere excuse of procedural flaws in the case management. Madam Speaker, regarding the concern of extortion by the police, investigations are still ongoing so that the necessary disciplinary action can be taken against implicated officers once culpability is established. Hon. Etuka Isaac, Member of Parliament, Upper Madi County He raised a matter concerning the delayed construction of a technical institute in Upper Madi County. His prayer is, can I update this House on the matter? My response is that it is indeed true that Madi-Okollo is among the districts without a technical institute. This is a challenge which we acknowledge and remain committed to addressing. However, it is important for Members to note the state of disrepair, which many of our institutes are currently in. This is as a result of lack of maintenance over time. The ministry would, therefore, like to focus resources on rehabilitation of these institutes and fulfilment of the presidential pledges on the same. Madam Speaker, we are also encouraging Members from districts without institutes to make use of the existing ones. This will help us to curb the prevalent challenge of low student enrolment, in order to make the continued operation of these institutes viable. In future, we shall work to ensure that each district has a technical institute and a skills development centre is operational in every constituency. Hon. Yusuf Nsibambi, Chief Opposition Whip, FDC and a Member of Parliament for Mawokota South stated that on 27 July 2023, Parliament resolved that the addition of Shs 1 billion to 135 districts, 10 cities and 31 municipalities be used for road maintenance, as opposed to road rehabilitation. However, we have received information alleging that Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) who constitute part of the District Roads Committees are raising great resistance regarding the use of this additional maintenance grant. It is further alleged that the money is sitting idle on accounts, yet roads in districts, cities and municipalities are impassable and in dire state. This is his question is, why has it taken the Government too long to implement the resolution of Parliament to this effect, so that the road works can go on smoothly in these local governments, cities and municipal councils? My response is that the parliamentary resolution of 27 July 2023 on the allocation of Shs 1 billion to district, cities and municipalities for maintenance of roads is in line with a Cabinet [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

10673 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2023 Mr Speaker, the works are 80 per cent complete in Kassanda North County though majorly pending transformer installation that were scheduled to be commissioned by 15 June 2023. However, there were delays caused by the following, and I would like Members to note of them: 1. Rampant vandalism of the completed works – People stole wires; 2. Wayleave issues along Bbinikira T-off; 3. Disruption of the supply chain conductors, cables and related accessories and transformers due to escalated prices; and 4. Cash flow challenges of the contractor. Therefore, the ministry has undertaken the following measures to ensure completion of the civil works: 1. Multi-sector vandalism committee was set up to curb vandalism, which has enabled robust coordination with security agencies; and 2. Procurement of the contractor to complete the works is under way. Mr Speaker, it is planned that the works will be completed by June 2024. The Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, is committed to expediting the completion of the electrification project for the social economic transformation of the people of Kassanda. The third question was raised by Hon. Etuka Isaac Joakino, Member of Parliament, Upper Madi County, Madi-Okollo District. He gave a long preamble, which I am going to read. It reads, “ Rt Hon. Prime Minister, I, and the Ma’di Okollo District Local Government had several back-and-forth engagements with the Minister of Water and Environment to provide urgent water solutions to the water- stressed areas in upper Ma’di County, to no avail. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, in the villages listed below, the occupants leave their beds between 2.00-4.00 a.m. to go and search for dirty water in the water collection caves where they compete for water with dangerous reptiles like snakes and pythons. Annually, we lose between five to 10 young women, mothers, and school going children in Upper Ma’di County to snake bites in search of dirty water. In June 2023, a 13-year-old son to Alioni Vincent, a one Abiyo of Eyii Primary School, was bitten by a snake while he went to collect water to wash his uniform and died instantly. May his soul rest in eternal peace. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, you are aware that in some regions, some people are advocating for water for animals and Government is investing heavily to provide water for irrigation and livestock, which is very good for the economic development of this country, but at the very painful expense of denying clean water sources to the human beings in Upper Ma’di and other parts of the country that are still crying and striving to survive on dirty water. The National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy XXI, states that ‘the State shall take all practical measures to promote a good water management system at all levels.’ Objective XII(ii) on balanced and equitable development states that ‘the State shall take necessary measures to bring about balanced development of different areas of Uganda and between the rural and urban areas.’ In light of the water crisis in Upper Ma’di County, this remains a leap in constitutional provision”. His question is: what are the Government plans in providing the supply of water to water- stressed areas in Okollo Subcounty, Upper Ma’di County, Madi-Okollo District. Mr Speaker, my response is that, the Ministry of Water and Environment, through the Integrated Water Management and Development Project (IWMDP) has planned to implement Nyagak Water Supply and Sanitation System with financing from the World Bank, as you are aware.

10674 STATEMENT BY THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION The procurement process for the contractor is in advanced stages, the contract is expected to be signed by December 2023 and works shall commence in January 2024. Mr Speaker, Nyagak Water Supply and Sanitation System (WSS) is designed to serve five sub-counties in Madi-Okollo District including Okollo, Anyiribu, Offaka, Ogoko, Pawor as well as lnde Town Council. Those are 2l parishes in the above sub-counties and 57 villages. The system is targeting a current population of 42,900 people in the five sub-counties as of 2022 and a projected population of 80,655 people by 2042 - you know we are still around. Particularly in Okollo Subcounty, the Nyagak Water Supply and Sanitation System will serve four parishes of Ajibu, Okollo, Onyomu, Baito, and l6 villages in these four parishes. In the parish of Onyomu kati, the following villages will be served by the water supply system: Pamvara, Baiyia, Madeli, Ajuimuni, Adribu, Endebu, Ajibu and Onyomu kati; and in the parish of Ajibu the two villages of Ayio and Cinya, which have been without water sources, will also be served. Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Water and Environment, under the Directorate of Water Development, has undertaken and continues to plan various activities across the country with the objective to increase access to safe and clean water supply in the rural and urban areas while ensuring availability of at least one source per village to promote improved sanitation with the aim of providing a water source in every village, as directed by His Excellency, the President. To-date, the rural water coverage in the country is at 68 per cent and the number of villages with at least one safe water source, is at 70 per cent. In particular, the safe water coverage in Madi-Okollo District is at 67 per cent and 71 per cent of the villages in Madi-Okollo, have at least one safe water source. The Ministry of Water and Environment allocated a total of Shs 3 billion to Madi-Okollo District for Water and Sanitation Services, for the period 2019/2020 to 2023/2024. From this allocation, Shs 2.95 billion was for water supply and Shs 69 million for sanitation and hygiene promotion using the District Water and Sanitation Development Conditional Grant to the local governments. Next question, Mr Speaker came from the Hon. Kalule Flavia Nabagabe, District Woman Representative, Kassanda District. She stated as follows: “Rt Hon. Prime Minister, Kassanda Health Centre IV is sicker than the patients that are there. We do not have any ambulance and have a general ward that suffocates both men, women and children, with very tiny cubicles. We do not have enough blood and have low- staffing levels.” Her Prayers are: i. Provide a bigger solar system for the health centre because currently midwives are using torches to deliver babies; ii. Can we also be provided with funds to build a general ward that separates men, women and children? and iii. Can the Government provide an ambulance to Kassanda Health Centre lV? Mr Speaker, my response is as that; The Government of Uganda received funding from the World Bank (Credit with a grant) to extend the grid and distribution lines and also power social infrastructure. Part of the funds were allocated to electrify health facilities (social infrastructure). Kassanda Health Centre lV is one of the beneficiary facilities to receive robust solar systems to power the facility. This will include: 1. 12.96 kWp Centralised PV System for the medical buildings; 2. Compound Lighting; and 3. Powering staff houses. [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

10676 STATEMENT BY THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION situation because he seems to have gone for loans to do the supplies. ii. The Government thought of constructing some roads in Bukwo District such as the 11.6 km in the Financial Year 2021/2022, to allow farmers to access markets for their produce. This contract has stalled because the contractor has not been paid. Our farmers are making big losses because most of these short-term crops are perishable and need to reach the market as soon as they are harvested.” His question is: what plan does the Government have to ensure that they meet their obligation of paying contractors their money so that our people get the intended service since the project is coming to an end? Mr Speaker, my response is that the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), through the ACDP accredited agro- input dealers to supply subsidized agricultural inputs such as seeds/planting materials, fertilizers, agro-chemicals, post-harvest materials and tractor-hire services. MS Bold Energy is one of the companies that were accredited. It signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MAAIF to supply post- harvest materials only. However, during the first and second planting seasons of 2021, a number of companies were found to have been involved in suspicious transactions (supplying inputs not accredited for, redeeming inputs not supplied to farmers among others), and the ministry took a decision to suspend payments pending verification. The ministry carried out both physical verification of the farmers within the district and system verification of all the dealers’ transactions on 8 September 2023. The MAAIF communicated to MS Bold Energy the results from the verification exercise and the verified amount to be paid to the dealer. On 15 September 2023, the company concurred with MAAIF and requested it to pay only the amount that had been verified. Payment for the verified and agreed amount has since been effected to MS Bold Energy. So, I request the honourable member to get in touch with this company if he still has interest. On the matter concerning the rehabilitation of farm access roads in Bukwo District, I want to say that Bukwo District Local Government prioritised rehabilitative works on 11 kilometres of farm access roads in Senedet and Kortek subcounties. Works were jointly inspected, measured and certified at the end of March 2023 to generate Interim Payment Certificate (IPC) No.1. In July 2023, MS Crescent General Company Ltd (the contractor) received advance payment and IPC1. The contractor has recently notified MAAIF and Bukwo District Local Government of substantial completion of the works. A joint inspection and verification of the works is scheduled for in this month. It is upon this joint technical inspection that the works will be declared complete or not with a snag list developed for omissions and defects that the contractor will rectify during the defects liability period. The contractor will be paid as soon as the works completion report is approved by the MAAIF and Bukwo District Local Government joint inspection team. The sixth question was from Hon. Etuka Isaac Joakino, the Member of Parliament, Upper Madi County. Mr Speaker, his question reads: “ Rt Hon. Prime Minister, as you may already be aware, the Government under the ACDP allocated funds for the Rehabilitation of road chokes in Madi-Okollo District. However, up to now, we see no progress on the ground. Can the Rt Hon. Prime Minister update the House on the Government’s plan to rehabilitate the road chokes in Madi-Okollo?” Mr Speaker, my response is that the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, under the Agriculture Cluster Development [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

10677 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2023 Project, allocated funds for the Rehabilitation of road chokes in Madi-Okollo District and the procurement process commenced in 2021 . However, at the time of contract award, the best bid price was above the estimated cost and thus the accounting officer could not proceed with the contract signing as per Section 7, part II of the PPDA Contracts Regulations, 2014. Mr Speaker, a market survey was undertaken in September 2021, which confirmed that, indeed, the quoted price was higher than the prevailing market price by 13 per cent. Therefore, this procurement qualified for a re-tender and given that the scope of the works had changed and required a re-assessment. Another process was initiated in August 2022 and an award of contract was made to the best evaluated bidder in March 2023. Unfortunately, after signing the contract, the best evaluated bidder declined to commence works. The ministry explored the option of awarding the second best-evaluated bidder and approval was obtained on 14 September 2023. The draft contract has been submitted to the Solicitor- General for clearance. Mr Speaker, I wish to assure this august House that this choke will be completed since the Government has requested the World Bank to extend the ACDP implementation time by six months, from 30 October 2023. The seventh question came from the Hon. Catherine Lamwaka, Woman Representative Omoro District. Mr Speaker, the honourable member says that on 23 and 26 June, unknown people broke into Palrenga Health Centre II in – Tochi County, and Tegot Health Centre II in- Omoro County in Omoro District, respectively, and took the following medical items; (i) The Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kits, (Malaria Test Strips), 135 boxes, - meant for 2,400 adult patients from Palenga Health Centre II; and. (ii) 43 boxes of Coartem drugs meant for 1,290 adult patients. Over the last two weeks, similar cases happened in Kitgum District, where two health centre IIs were broken into. Padre Health Centre II was broken into and a microscope and anti-malarial drugs were taken. In Amuru District, two health centre IIs were also broken into and unspecified drugs were stolen. In the last four weeks, in Kaladima Health Centre II in Amuru District; solar panels, drugs, computers and TV screens were stolen. In addition, at Otwee Health Centre II in Amuru District; a TV screen, and a computer were vandalised in an attempted of theft. In the same period, at Atiak Health Centre IV, and in the same district, the fence of the health facility was destroyed in an attempt to break in. In the month of April, there were break-ins at the following facilities in Omoro District: (i) Abwoch Health Centre II in Ongako Subcounty and Koro Abili Health Centre II in Koro Subcounty, on 24 April 2023; (ii) Patuda Health Centre II in Abuga Subcounty on 3 April 2023; (iii) Lela-Obaro Health Centre II in Bobi Subcounty on 4 April this year, where 57 boxes of Coartem - adult dose and 37 boxes of children, 86 boxes of RDT for malaria test, 250 doses of I.V Artesunate (60mg) and two solar batteries, among other items. This matter of theft of drugs in the month of April was raised in this House, for the attention of the Minister of Internal Affairs, and the Minister of Health. It is worrying that the cases are becoming more instead. Secondly, after the supply of drugs in February, there was a delay up to June, when the National

10390 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME Government policy is that every subcounty should have a health centre III and the ministry’s strategic plan is to upgrade all existing health centres II to health centres III. Under UgIFT, we have already upgraded 340 health centres II at the subcounty levels to health centres III. In Madi-Okollo District, Ulepi Health Centre II is being upgraded to Health Centre III under the same programme. However, the UgIFT project could not upgrade all the facilities and over 100 subcounties still remain without health centres III. Government or the Ministry of Health will progressively upgrade these remaining facilities and also construct health centres III in the new subcounties. Lastly, Hon. Florence Natumanya, Woman Representative, Kikuube says that: “Most schools have introduced a practice of setting up restaurants within school premises. This has created classes among students, with children of the rich eating in the restaurants and those of the poor eating from the dining halls. Parents are under pressure from their children for lots of money to support their special diet in the school restaurants.” The prayer is: “Can you inform this House why schools abandoned the tradition of all students having a uniform diet provided by the school administration?” My response, Mr Speaker, is that Government appreciates the concern raised by the honourable Member. The Ministry of Education and Sports follows rules set out in the basic requirements and minimum standards when regulating issues of food consumption in schools. These rules stipulate that food should be handled according to the relevant laws, safety and security guidelines, to protect learners. The practice of opening restaurants in schools is not common, and the ministry will endeavour to investigate this matter and ensure that it does not disrupt the learning environment in our schools. We call upon all honourable Members to share more details to aid our prompt handling of this matter. I beg to submit. (Applause)

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity. I also thank the committee for the report. I would also like to thank the Government for identifying such a lucrative enterprise in coffee. When you look at maize, it produces maybe Shs 500,000 per acre in a year, but coffee can produce Shs 2 million, if it is done in a traditional way and about Shs 17 million if it is done with modern agronomical practices. Having said that, the minister himself said that central Uganda, western Uganda and eastern have been studied, but no study or training has been done in northern Uganda. Looking at PDM as a means of helping our people to come into wealth creation, coffee is one of the best enterprises. Madi-Okollo has a lot of land, but when I looked, I could not tell people to start with coffee because the soils had not been tested and trainings had not been done. Therefore, I would implore the Government to take special interest in northern Uganda because we have vast land. We can produce the 20 million bags that the Government is looking for, but there needs to be testing of the soils. The Members of Parliament have said that they have done it on an individual basis, but can we have a strategy by the Government for northern Uganda, especially areas that have a lot of land like Madi-Okollo, to help the farmers also enter wealth creation? Thank you.

9590 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT [Ms Nabukenya] gazetted for applications. Selection happens in August. So, if this Parliament resolves that this scheme should continue and that this money be allocated, the applications can go on. However, Madam Speaker, I also support that we need to clean the entity. There is a lot lacking and we also need to amend the law because although the law provides for regional balance, it never happens. That law is a creation of this Parliament; it must be brought back and we rethink it; all Ugandans should benefit. I would go for the district quota system. Madam Speaker, I would also like to inform this Parliament that in the 2021 secondary school academic year, the districts of Nakapiripirit, Napak and Madi-Okollo did not get any student. (Member timed out.)

Honourable member, that is not a prayer. Honourable colleagues, I do not know why we have these issues. Parliamentary resolutions were very clear on the boundaries of districts when they were being created. I remember we had a very big war on boundaries between Madi-Okollo and Terego and then Moyo and Obongi. I am told the one of Madi-Okollo and Terego are not yet resolved. Rt Hon. Prime Minister?

Mr Speaker, an inter- ministerial committee, headed by myself and involving the Minister of Local Government, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, the Attorney-General and the Minister of Internal Affairs, has had three consecutive meetings on the boundaries of a number of districts. It is not only about Obongi and Moyo or Madi-Okollo and Terego. Mr Speaker, we shall handle this matter until it is concluded and report back to this House.

Honourable member, that is not a prayer. Honourable colleagues, I do not know why we have these issues. Parliamentary resolutions were very clear on the boundaries of districts when they were being created. I remember we had a very big war on boundaries between Madi-Okollo and Terego and then Moyo and Obongi. I am told the one of Madi-Okollo and Terego are not yet resolved. Rt Hon. Prime Minister?

Mr Speaker, an inter- ministerial committee, headed by myself and involving the Minister of Local Government, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, the Attorney-General and the Minister of Internal Affairs, has had three consecutive meetings on the boundaries of a number of districts. It is not only about Obongi and Moyo or Madi-Okollo and Terego. Mr Speaker, we shall handle this matter until it is concluded and report back to this House.

8757 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 18 MAY 2023 161) Vote 876: Kyegegwa District – Shs 23,846,624,000 162) Vote 877: Kyenjojo District – Shs 35,581,507,000 163) Vote 878: Kyotera District – Shs 35,036,531,000 164) Vote 879: Lamwo District – Shs 18,485,759,000 165) Vote 880: Lira District – Shs 27,100,374,000 166) Vote 881: Luuka District – Shs 25,440,932,000 167) Vote 882: Luweero District – Shs 63,300,117,000 168) Vote 883: Lwengo District – Shs 27,153,735,000 169) Vote 884: Lyantonde District – Shs 18,276,836,000 170) Vote 885: Madi-Okollo District – Shs 17,665,819,000 171) Vote 886: Manafwa District – Shs 25,992,671,000 172) Vote 887: Maracha District – Shs 25,235,124,000 173) Vote 888: Masaka District – Shs 13,315,598,000 174) Vote 889: Masindi District – Shs 23,520,737,000 175) Vote 890: Mayuge District – Shs 42,544,940,000 176) Vote 891: Mbale District – Shs 36,346,216,000 177) Vote 892: Mbarara District – Shs 23,774,583,000 178) Vote 893: Mitooma District – Shs 27,230,403,000 179) Vote 894: Mityana District – Shs 31,132,617,000 180) Vote 895: Moroto District – Shs 13,533,113,000 181) Vote 896: Moyo District – Shs 20,493,308,000 182) Vote 897: Mpigi District – Shs 30,334,080,000 183) Vote 898: Mubende District – Shs 25,717,019,000 184) Vote 899: Mukono District – Shs 49,808,239,000 185) Vote 900: Nabilatuk District – Shs 8,965,015,000 186) Vote 857: Katakwi District - Shs 25,335,675,000 187) Vote 858: Kayunga District - Shs 37,361,049,000 188) Vote 859: Kazo District – Shs 18,099,602,000 189) Vote 860: Kibaale District - Shs 17,514,216,000 190) Vote 861: Kiboga District – Shs 25,621,222,000 191) Vote 862: Kibuku District – Shs 21,510,868,000 192) Vote 863: Kikuube District – Shs 22,027,669,000 193) Vote 864: Kiruhura District – Shs 18,214,354,000 194) Vote 865: Kiryandongo District - Shs 28,181,672,000

8758 BUDGETARY PROPOSALS & ESTIMATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024 195) Vote 866: Kisoro District - Shs 41,251,167,000 196) Vote 867: Kitagwenda District – Shs 19,274,549,000 197) Vote 868: Kitgum District - Shs 28,277,064,000 198) Vote 869: Koboko District - Shs 19,175,066,000 199) Vote 870: Kole District – Shs 24,145,853,000 200) Vote 871: Kotido District – Shs 11,301,208,000 201) Vote 872: Kumi District - Shs 25,388,394,000 202) Vote 873: Kwania District – Shs 22,753,848,000 203) Vote 874: Kween District – Shs 19,391,073,000 204) Vote 875: Kyankwanzi District – Shs 24,244,929,000 205) Vote 876: Kyegegwa District – Shs 23,846,624,000 206) Vote 877: Kyenjojo District – Shs 35,581,507,000 207) Vote 878: Kyotera District – Shs 35,036,531,000 208) Vote 879: Lamwo District – Shs 18,485,759,000 209) Vote 880: Lira District – Shs 27,100,374,000 210) Vote 881: Luuka District – Shs 25,440,932,000 211) Vote 882: Luweero District – Shs 63,300,117,000 212) Vote 883: Lwengo District – Shs 27,153,735,000 213) Vote 884: Lyantonde District – Shs 18,276,836,000 214) Vote 885: Madi-Okollo District – Shs 17,665,819,000 215) Vote 886: Manafwa District – Shs 25,992,671,000 216) Vote 887: Maracha District – Shs 25,235,124,000 217) Vote 888: Masaka District – Shs 13,315,598,000 218) Vote 889: Masindi District – Shs 23,520,737,000 219) Vote 890: Mayuge District – Shs 42,544,940,000 220) Vote 891: Mbale District – Shs 36,346,216,000 221) Vote 892: Mbarara District – Shs 23,774,583,000 222) Vote 893: Mitooma District – Shs 27,230,403,000 223) Vote 894: Mityana District – Shs 31,132,617,000 224) Vote 895: Moroto District – Shs 13,533,113,000 225) Vote 896: Moyo District – Shs 20,493,308,000 226) Vote 897: Mpigi District – Shs 30,334,080,000 227) Vote 898: Mubende District – Shs 25,717,019,000 228) Vote 899: Mukono District – Shs 49,808,239,000

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The clarification I would like to get from the Rt Hon. Prime Minister is: I represent the people of Lower Madi County and Madi-Okollo District. In our wage bill for the recruitment of health workers and the entire staff, we had, as I speak, about Shs 1.8 billion unspent. We came to the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to Treasury (PS/ST) as a district, through the Public Service Commission, and we worked on the figures for recruitment this very time. That figure was reduced to Shs 1.48 billion. From the advice given by the PS/ST, when the Public Service Commission had allowed Madi- Okollo District to do the recruitment, the PS/ ST said, “No, for now, no recruitment of public officers shall be done, neither will it happen in the coming financial year.” For the health sector in Madi-Okollo District, the number of staffing is below 35 per cent; at least Kaberamaido has 38 per cent and Kakumiro is at 68 per cent. The issue of staffing cuts across this country. Madam Speaker, through your office, I appeal that Government removes that ban on recruiting public servants next financial year. If not, services to this country and the people we represent are going to be highly affected - from the health sector to education and everywhere. Or if Parliament does not say; “We need recruitment of public servants in our districts,” it is going to be a task for us. I beg to submit.

Honourable members, when we talk about the national health centres coverage, we look at the coverage which would indeed be higher. We could say the national average is at 70 per cent for the whole country. However, when you make individual analysis you will find out that Kampala is at 80 per cent, Madi-Okollo is at 10 per cent and Hon. Edakasi’s place is at 15 per cent. That is where the problem is. When you aggregate it, it becomes a national average, which goes high. Therefore, we need to look at each district and the whole country in totality for us to be able to appreciate what is happening. Let us look at the cost-benefit analysis. On the issue of banning recruitment vis-à- vis people’s lives, whom are we keeping that money for? We need to have these medical workers in place and move on.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to draw the attention of the House to the grant-aided schools. I thank the committee for putting that in the budget. The primary school that appeared on social media, where there was one teacher in a class of about 500 pupils, is in my constituency. We really need to aid these primary schools so that we get more classroom blocks for them. It is more appealing when we continue to see retooling in the budgets that have been read. If you put all these figures together into the educational sector, I think we will be able to get more school blocks for these institutions. Secondly, there are schools on the border of Terego and Madi-Okollo; Ocea Primary School, Odobu Primary School and Ariwa Primary School. Their UPE funds go to Madi-Okollo and then the salaries come to Terego. This is the third quarter running and this has been happening for a full year. It is total confusion; we do not know where these schools belong. Therefore, it will be wise, as the ministry is here today tabling the budget, for us to know where these schools lie; where the fund is going. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Thank you. I now open up the debate and I start with Hon. Naome Kibaaju, Hon. Tom, Member for Madi-Okollo, Hon. Osoru, and Hon. Pius. Chairperson of the Committee on Budget, here, I will not give you chance because they are coming to you. Members, it is two minutes each because we want to break for lunch.

Thank you. Member for Madi-Okollo?

8153 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 19 APRIL 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. boreholes would benefit the community better, as they have a longer lifespan. On the issue of rural electrification, the Government is now using concrete poles, but in some very swampy areas, they have continued to use wooden poles. I hope that that has been catered for – that some of these wooden poles would be replaced with concrete poles, especially in areas where we have seasonal rivers, which last maybe eight or nine months – like in Madi-Okollo. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for having given me this opportunity. I thank the honourable minister, for giving us the report. Above all, I thank Hon. Sarah Opendi, for having brought this problem before us. One of the MPs who comes from one of the districts in greater Nebbi, that is Packwach District - by God’s grace on recruitment day, I was there. For the greater Nebbi, the centre for recruitment was at Nebbi. However, I can say that the recruitment exercise left a lot to be desired. If the recruitment exercise was being done on a quota basis, there would be no reason for somebody to travel all the way from Arua or Madi-Okollo to Nebbi. And when you looked at their size, you would notice that these weren’t people from greater Nebbi. Out of the 57 slots that were for Nebbi, and you heard in the report, only 11 were taken. And if I hadn’t been there, I believe Nebbi would have got only two or three. What was surprising is that even the district authorities were not allowed to move closer to the recruitment officers. I had to introduce myself as an MP to be allowed to see justice prevail in the district. The situation was really pathetic, yet, Government’s agenda was to ensure people from every district had the chance to join UPDF - (Member timed out.)

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for your protection. I was trying to make references to my submission. Thank you very much for the protection. We also request the inclusion of Laropi Bridge and Laropi-Moyo-Afoji Road Project in the Financial Year 2023/2024 Sector Budget Framework Paper. 3. Thirdly, we wanted to know about the progress with the environment and social impact assessment and plan for resettlement and compensation of the Project-Affected Persons. We wanted to know about the expected time for commencement as well as to when this project will end. Then the contingency plans to address unforeseen circumstances. Lastly, Madam Speaker, we request Government to operationalise the ferry services between Obongi in Adjumani District at Senja landing site. Secondly, to operationalise the ferry services in Madi-Okollo and Amuria District. I thank you very much for having given me the time.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. First, I would like to thank the committee for the report presented. I have three observations: Obongi is the only district in West Nile without power. To the chairperson, you used a scientific approach of sampling. We have three scenarios in West Nile, ladies and gentlemen. There are districts completely without power, there are districts with lines and poles that have not been connected with power and there are districts with unreliable power. The recommendations cover the unreliable power. We have not heard about those poles standing without lines on them. We have not even heard about the poles and lines without power. What have you recommended on that? Finally, for Madi-Okollo and Obongi districts that have no power completely, that should be considered a matter of urgency. I beg to submit. Thank you.

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

Mr Speaker, Hon. Ronald Olema, Member of Parliament, Lower Madi Okollo County, Madi Okollo District raised an issue. He gave a long narrative. He wishes to put forward the issue of poor status of Pawor Seed Secondary School, which was constructed by the Ministry of Education and Sports at a cost of Shs 1.4 billion in 2018, and that this construction was supervised by engineers from the Ministry of Education and Sports, and Arua District Local Government, from 2018 to 2019. He further said that two different contractors, Gibo Company Ltd and Dolphins Consulting Engineers & Contractors Ltd were awarded the seed secondary school contract worth Shs 700 million each. The school, which is on the verge of collapsing due to poor and careless interior and shoddy works, is located nine kilometres away from the nearest trading centre. He indicated that on 8 September 2021, he wrote to the Ministry of Education and Sports about the poor status of the school, but to-date, the school matter has not been handed over to Madi-Okollo District Local Government by either Arua District or the Ministry of Education and Sports. He further said that during his monitoring visit to the site, together with the RDC, the district chairperson, the district councillors and the LC3 chairpersons of Madi-Okollo District, they noted that a headteacher, with a few teachers, were posted to this school and they had admitted some students who are being exposed to a death trap due to shoddy or appalling structures. Noticeable was the fact that all toilet structures had collapsed beyond repair, including four classroom blocks, the administration block and the computer room, which stand condemned for exposing students and teachers. According to him, there was no value-for-money. No assessment was done at the site, and the school could be closed by all standards. His prayer is: Can the Ministry of Education and Sports undertake an immediate assessment and major repairs done in the school before term three?

5941 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2022 Mr Speaker, my response is that the Ministry of Education and Sports has noted this anomaly and has organised a meeting between the project implementation team from Arua District and the technical team from Madi- Okollo District. The Ministry of Works and Transport has constituted a technical team too, to undertake an immediate assessment. The outcome of the above two engagements will inform the next course of action. He had an additional question: Can the Ministry of Education and Sports, together with Arua District Local Government, either consider the school condemned or handover, once major repairs are done? Mr Speaker, my response to the honourable member is that the handover will be informed by the joint structural and technical assessment report, and the outcomes of the engagement of the two district local governments; that is Arua and Madi-Okollo. He had a third additional question: Can the Ministry of Education and Sports consider additional funding for the establishment of a boarding section, since the students commute from eight kilometres away; and also provide a clean water source, that is a borehole with solar power? My response, Mr Speaker, is that all seed secondary schools are purely day and no boarding facilities are provided. Regarding the provision of a clean water source - that is a borehole - the local governments and Ministry of Water and Environment have been required to prioritise seed secondary schools in their plans for water provision. For solar power, once the operational issues are addressed, the school will be prioritised under the Electricity for Rural Transmission Project, which is within the Ministry of Education and Sports and the energy ministry. He had a fourth question: Can Government ensure that the persons involved in shoddy works, putting Government’s name to shame, be investigated and apprehended? Mr Speaker, my response is that Government of Uganda does not condone shoddy works and believes in value-for-money. Therefore, we are currently undertaking a technical assessment and the recommendations therein shall be implemented to the letter; and the culprits, if any, will be brought to book. The second Member is Hon. Christine Apolot, Kumi District Woman MP. Her prayer is that the Prime Minister informs the House on the Government undertaking to establish regional cancer centres.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am in possession of a copy of a document entitled, “List of shortlisted applicants for the position of probation police constables, general duties and drivers.” Mr Speaker, my concern on this list is the variance in the number of applicants per district. There are districts, for example, Obongi with two applicants shortlisted; Maracha with four; Madi-Okollo with three; your own district Mitooma with only three; Gulu City with 33 applicants shortlisted; and Kiboga has only two.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. There have been poor relations between the NFA and the local communities in Uganda, as you have heard from other colleagues here. This relationship has further gone down the drain because of the way in which the local communities are handled. In my district of Madi-Okollo, there is a forest range called Laura Forest Reserve, but nobody knows how the NFA took charge of this forest. Charcoal burning or collecting firewood is done in an unclear manner. Some people are allowed to collect charcoal, others are not. Therefore, it has led to a lot of discomfort amongst the people. Recently, many people were driven out of the community, and so, there is a very poor relationship, as you have heard even from other colleagues - we need to go on the ground and see – (Member timed out.)