Amuria District

Mr Speaker, you know that in my sector, most times, I am privileged to address the Head of State. I want to sincerely apologise to you. Mr Speaker, on my own behalf, allow me to congratulate you upon becoming the Speaker of the 12 th Parliament. Congratulations! In line with the presentation of the minister, allow me first to confirm and agree that this statement was a consultative process between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Sports. However, I have one area where the record should be corrected. In Katakwi, where I come from, and in the constituency I represent, the alleged death of a child is not true, for the record. Secondly, one driver of a school bus of Amuria High School indeed died when they were transporting our children for a school excursion to Entebbe Airport. That school is called St Paul’s Comprehensive Secondary School in Ngariam County, Katakwi. I want to thank the health team from Iganga and Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for attending to our children, some of whom, up to now, are still receiving treatment, but none has died. That is for the record. I thank you so much.

I would like to thank the Rt Hon. Prime Minister for the clarifications that she has given to the House. Mr Speaker, I am here to supplement on the clarification, which the Prime Minister has just given to the House. Firstly, the teaching and learning of sciences has caused the medical doctors to more than double or triple in number in our education institutions, as a fundamental policy issued by the Government. When I say the Government, it includes the members of the Opposition who supported that policy in the committees. Therefore, we are talking about the positive impact on the deliberate channelling of resources to the human resource development of our country . However, I would like to make a short response to this House, which I request the House to support; that we, as the Government, go, discuss and review the proposal that is now across the media and the country, and the issue that the Leader of the Opposition has raised on stopping the facilitation of interns. It can be reviewed. The policies and laws that we make are not cast in stone. We are here to solve the problems of the people. Therefore, my supplementary clarification to what the Rt Hon. Prime Minister has said is, allow us, as Government, to return to the drawing board, discuss the issue, and at an appropriate time, the Minister of Health will come here with a clear statement, which we shall discuss with facts. Secondly and lastly, Hon. Margaret Etilu, the Woman Member of Parliament for Amuria, is my daughter. She is a sister to some of you and a muzukulu to some of you, but she is my daughter. We all know that she is being detained. The clarification I would like to give, in light of what the Prime Minister has said, is that she has met some of her family members who were permitted to interact with her. She is safe, healthy, and will be joining us soon. We have been speaking to the law enforcement officers in the police, on phone and some of them we have met physically. We did not want to involve cameras. The concern that the Leader of the Opposition has on Hon. Margaret Etilu is the same concern that we all have about her. However, from the messages that we have received from law enforcement officers, the assurance is that she will be joining us anytime

1 Wednesday, 13 May 2026 and subsequently forwarded to the Clerk to Parliament, a list of persons duly elected as Members of the 12th Parliament; AWARE that under Article 81(4) and (5) of the Constitution, every person elected to Parliament shall take and subscribe to the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of Parliament specified in the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, and shall not, except for purposes of taking the oath, sit or vote in Parliament before taking and subscribing to the Oath; NOTING that Section 2 of the Oaths Act, Cap. 19 of the Laws of Uganda, mandates the Speaker of Parliament or the Clerk to Parliament to tender the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of a Member of Parliament to a person elected to Parliament; NOW, THEREFORE, by the powers conferred upon me by law, I will proceed to administer the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Member of Parliament to each Member-elect .” IN THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA Official Report of the Proceedings of Parliament FIRST SESSION - FIRST MEETING Parliament met at 8.00 a.m. at Parliament House, Kampala. (The Clerk to Parliament, Mr Adolf Mwesige Kasaija, presiding.) The Uganda National Anthem The East African Community Anthem PRAYERS PROCLAMATION CLERK TO PARLIAMENT: “ WHEREAS the Electoral Commission organised and conducted the elections of Members of Parliament specified under Article 78(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda; AND WHEREAS the Electoral Commission, under General Notice No. 171 of 2026, published, in the Uganda Gazette, the results of the 2026 parliamentary elections ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS The oaths were administered to: Name Constituency District Political Party/ Independent 1. Asiimwe Enos K. Kabula County Lyantonde NRM 2. Ali Moses Adjumani West County Adjumani NRM 3. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar Orungo County Amuria Independent 4. Alinaitwe Sylvia Tumuheirwe District Woman Representative Rukiga NRM 5. Ababiku Jesca District Woman Representative Adjumani NRM

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

Seconded? (Members rose_) It is seconded by Hon. Okwalinga, Namilyango, Hon. Ecweru, Hon. Balaam, Hon. Fox Odoi, Hon. Kabanda, Hon. Acen, Hon. Silas, Hon. Charity, Hon. Nekesa, Hon. Rwakajara, Hon. Alanyo, Hon. Aber, Hon. Akello, Hon. Esther, Hon. Sanon, Hon. Apolot, Hon. Abeja, Member from Ibanda, Hon. Omara, Hon. Acuti, Hon. Mariam, Hon. Eric, Hon. Gabriel, Member for Toroma, Member for Amuria, Hon. Phyllis, Hon. Nyakato, my brother from Bugisu – by the whole of this side and three quarters of the other side. It is also supported by the Vice President, the Rt Hon. Prime Minister, the Government Chief Whip, Hon. Yusuf Nsibambi, the yellow boy and then “ Mama wa abana” , the yellow girl. Hon. Businge, all the elders’ representatives and the representatives of people with disabilities and Hon. Nabakoba - all support the motion. Justify your motion.

Honourable members, can everybody get out? Hon. Zaake, go. All of you, go out. I am the only one supposed to remain here. Register yourselves from out. I will call all of you back after you have registered. I want all Members out. I will call you to come back. It is only ex-officio members who can stay in. Hon. Rose, can I see you out? I do not want the process to be challenged. Hon. Baba, go to the lounge there. Hon. Nambooze, first get out. We are going to call you one by one. Honourable members from the Opposition who have registered can pass through the rear door; it is the one where I have one of my staff. Read the name as the person enters. Where you see Aisha, that is where the rear door is. Members of the Opposition enter through the rear door. Those on the Government side who have registered, start coming from the rear door - Hon. Amero, go back to where you sit - honourable members, can we settle now? As we wait for the numbers, in the Very Important Persons’ (VIP) Gallery this evening, we have: 1. Hon. Kahima Moses Mugabe from Ruhaama East. Welcome back. He used to be with us in the 10 th Parliament. Karibuni sana ; 2. Hon. Ilukol Emmanuel from Bokora, Napak; 3. Hon. Achia Lokiru from Jie County; and 4. Hon. Etiro Margaret from Amuria. You are most welcome. Honourable members, can I receive my numbers from the clerks? The question was on suspension of Rule 214 (14) and (15), and the Leader of the Opposition raised an issue. He wants to exercise his duty and mandate by having a division and lobby. I hereby announce the results. I congratulate the Opposition. You got 54 votes. The NRM got 286 votes. (Applause) Therefore, the 286 against 54 have it. The “Ayes” have it. What I had said that the “Ayes have it” was correct. I heard it very well. Thank you. Hon. Obua?

18939 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 24 APRIL 2026 Madam Speaker, you have been singled out as a champion of the sickle cell disease. The other day, you were meeting activists, and they designated you as a champion of the sickle cell disease. It would really be very unfortunate that we, sickle cell activists and as this Parliament, do not make some commitment along those lines. Madam Speaker, the committee is here, and the minister is also here. When they were in the committee, I remember the chairperson of the committee did propose monies to go to these health facilities through NMS. By the way, colleagues, your health facilities are no longer admitting people suffering from sickle cell disease. Why? They cannot admit them because there are no drugs. Once they are admitted, they have to be on drugs the rest of their lives, so they are saying, you better remain where you are. The percentages in your respective places, especially the ladies, I want you to take very keen interest. These irresponsible men are abandoning marriages. They are leaving women with these children. Madam Speaker, in Amuria, your neighbour there, a man picked up his child, because he was frustrated, and took him to a swamp and killed him – (Interjections) - Yes, in Amuria. He killed the child because he was overwhelmed. The community went and looked for this man and they killed him. Now, the police are looking for the entire community for mob justice. I thought since this Parliament made a resolution, we would really have some focus on that, Madam Speaker, and maybe the minister could make a comment on that.

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

I would like to thank Hon. Ssemujju because he and many colleagues came to visit me. He came empty-handed – (Laughter) - but I appreciate that he was concerned. However, he even wrote a story in the Observer, which misquoted what he claims I had said, but that is for another day. I would like to thank him and the other colleagues. I remember Hon. Amuria, Hon. Nabukenya and Hon. David Bahati stood surety for me in court. There was indeed support in Parliament during that time because we were fighting for the welfare of a colleague who had died in circumstances that were not clear. I have always said that if it happened again, I would still do the same thing I did then, to fight for the rights of somebody, especially someone who cannot speak for himself or herself in those circumstances. I have no regrets for what I did on behalf of Parliament then, as a Parliamentary Commissioner. So, you should never use it to blackmail me or to think that I will feel shy because of the role that I played as a Commissioner in this House. I would also like to put it on the record that the charges were not about stealing body parts. (Laughter) No – (Interjection) - that will be for another day. (Laughter) Mr Speaker, my plea to the honourable members and all of us as leaders - and that is the point I have been making in the media - is that we are done with elections - the presidential, parliamentary, LC V and municipal council elections, and we are now waiting for the subcounty and town council elections to complete this process. For whoever is aggrieved with the results, there is the channel of the courts to petition, so that if you adduce evidence, the courts can listen to you. However, inciting the public to go into riots and violence is not helpful for both of us in the Government or the Opposition, because we want a stable Uganda. Therefore, if you think you were rigged or treated unfairly, there is the channel of the courts, but not the uncivilised way of inciting Ugandans. The security agencies have a responsibility to ensure that you and I are safe in this country because my being a candidate, whether presidential or parliamentary, is not a license to threaten and harm your security, as a Ugandan. Therefore, whatever actions you see the security agencies taking are in line with their duty –(Interruption)

Is Schedule No.2 seconded?? (Members rose_) It is seconded by Hon. Charity, Hon. Alanyo, Hon. Ssentayi, Hon. Elwelu, Hon. Daudi Kabanda, Hon. Rwakajara, Hon. Atyang, Hon. David, Hon. Daudi, Member for Ntoroko, Hon. Bright, Hon. Margaret, Hon. Wilson, Hon. Nathan Byanyima, the Elders, Hon. Agaba, Member for Amuria, Member for Nebbi, Hon. Herbert, Member for Kapelebyong, and the whole side. Justify your motion.

17753 Wednesday, 3 September 2025 Alebtong, Amuria, Abim, Bukedea, and most parts of Soroti. The transport infrastructure and other livelihoods have been severely affected. I am told the people in Bulambuli do not have food. Their little bridge that connects Abim and Obalanga in Kapelebyong has been washed away, while the Moroto Bridge remains at risk. Gardens have been submerged. I was also told by Hon. Amero that her little coffee has been swept away, so, I do not know what she is going to use for her retirement. I urge the Minister of Disaster Preparedness and Refugees to evaluate the situation and take appropriate action to see how we can remedy what is happening. Honourable members, we may be aware that the prevailing electoral roadmap by the Electoral Commission indicates that the parliamentary nominations are going to be on 15 th and 16 th October - that is one thing a Member of Parliament would know. We need to be ready for it. Make sure you have all that is required for you to be nominated. Look at the law. Do not reach there, and they tell you that you do not have a clearing certificate. Please do that. To the committee chairpersons and Members who have work before them, can you have all the work completed before we go for nominations? This is because we are going to be sitting from now until that time. We will not have a break because we need to dispose of all the business that is before committees. I wish all of you well. I know it is not an easy time, IN THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA Official Report of the Proceedings of Parliament FIFTH SESSION - 9TH SITTING - FIRST MEETING Parliament met at 2.00 p.m. in Parliament House, Kampala. PRAYERS (The Speaker, Ms Anita Among, in the Chair.) The House was called to order. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would also like to thank the minister and the ministry, for that matter, for maintaining the Kotido-Moroto murram road under your courtesy. However, I would like to inform and remind the minister that there is a road from Kotido, via Abim, Amuria, Kotido, Abim and Otuke, which is in a very deplorable state and yet, we are now receiving heavy rains. This is a road that is mainly used by buses from Kotido to Kampala, Soroti and Lira, but they get stuck

Vot Dcnljtloa tmillUOxOOO| 7L7 Kumi Municipal Council 10,187,986 7L8 Lttffi^ Municipal Council 9.351.388 7L9 Makindve.Ssabambo MuniciDat Council 15,#o,7L6 720 Masindi Municipaf Council 12,665.581 721 Mityana Mtrnicipal Council 12.658.962 722 Moroto Municipal Council 6,850,672 723 Mubende Municipd Council 12957.3L7 724 Mukono Municipal Council 24.'LO.782 725 Nansana MuniciDal Council 27.496.367 726 Nebbi Municipal Council 6.115.006 727 Nieru Municipal Council 15.34L.297 728 Ntunsamo Municipal Council 6.592.735 729 Rukuruiri Municipal Council 12,562.835 730 Sheema Municipal Council 16.140.486 731 Tororo Municipal Council 11.941.028 801 Abim District 24,678,573 802 Adjumani District 38.784.017 803 Asago District 33.692.572 804 Alebtong District 25,987.41O 805 Amolatar District 23.785.271 806 Amudat Distriet 13.077.618 807 Amuria Distric't 27,488,129 808 Amuru District 22.202.541 809 Apac District 26.403.359 810 Arua District 19,164,690 811 Budaka District 30.600.919 8L2 Bududa District 34.758.340 813 BuEiri District 38,222,8L5 814 Bugreri District 23,784,357 District 1 D \$ F ,r =

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank the committee for a good report. One of the major things that we are way behind in is the road reserves. It is one of the major challenges. We allow the citizens to come and construct very close to the road. By the time we want to construct the road, you have to compensate these people very highly. Honourable minister, even in Amuria, this is one of the things you should consider. We should put road reserves first. In addition, what plans do we have for the cyclists, boda boda riders or even the sportsmen and anybody who wants to jog? I think we need a special road place where the cycling would be. These are a few things, which I do not see in our report. Cycling is increasing in this country, which is one of the major businesses, yet we do not have a road reserve for these people. I think we are going to lose millions of lives. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am privileged because the Minister is a user of the roads in Soroti District, so he will know all those that I am talking about. I appreciate the allocation to the low-cost ceiling roads and to the low-volume roads. I have seen the report make mention of Soroti and honourable minister, please take note of Arapai- Katine-Tubur Road, Atilir-Acuna, Asuret-Aukot Road. I am giving you this because you are a consumer of that service. Also, honourable minister, you promised to take some of our roads. We did a tour in Soroti, and my voters saw you. They were very hyped, but now, I am really stranded with no answers. Some of them go and to Amuria, please save me because I am in bad shape. They know that I took the minister there, but nothing has been done. Honourable minister, save me and also save yourself. Thank you very much.

17005 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 15 APRIL 2025 3) Oxygen plants Page 18, the committee recommends that additional Shs 8.6 billion be provided to the Ministry of Health to complete and commission the remaining oxygen plants and additional Shs 11.85 billion be provided to procure transformers that will stabilise the power supply for the oxygen plants and newly acquired medical equipment. 4) Medical equipment The Ministry of Health reported that it had acquired new imaging equipment, like CT scans, MRI, and ultrasound machines, for regional referral hospitals. This equipment requires constant maintenance that can cost Shs 7.7 billion annually. The committee recommends that additional Shs 7.5 billion be provided for the maintenance of that equipment. 5) Upgrade of health centres We can go to the recommendations on page 19. i) We need Shs 60 billion to complete the upgrade of health centres that had already been started. ii) We need an addition of Shs 7.6 billion for equipment that will be required to functionalise the upgraded health facilities. 6) Inadequate funding for the renovation and equipping of health facilities. In the second-to-last paragraph, the Ministry of Health reported that in 2024/2025, it had planned for the partial rehabilitation of 13 general hospitals. These include Kambuga, Masindi, Apac, Koboko, Kotido, Kamwenge, Kitgum, Katakwi, Amuria, Kasana Luweero, Kapchorwa, Itojo, and Muko. The total budget was Shs 39 billion, but the cumulative release from quarter 1 to quarter 3 was only Shs 12.7 billion, which is only 32 per cent. Recommendations on page 20 (i) The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development should provide additional funds amounting to Shs 46 billion to complete rehabilitation, expansion, and equipping of Masindi, Kambuga, and Itojo General Hospitals, which are currently very old and dilapidated. (ii) The Ministry of Finance should provide Shs 20 billion, which is required to commence the rehabilitation of the foreign general hospitals, Apac, Koboko, Kotido, Kamwenge, Kitgum, Katakwi, Amuria, Kasana Luweero, Kapchorwa, in a phased manner. The Ministry of Finance should prioritise the release of the transitional development grant to address the issues of delayed rehabilitation completion. Hard-to-reach areas, such as Mayuge, Namayingo, Kalangala, Buvuma, and the rest, should be given affirmative action regarding health service delivery. 7) Status of ambulances There are 158 constituencies that have not received ambulances. The honourable members are complaining. Also, we have 14 boat ambulances, but very expensive to maintain in terms of fuel and servicing. The recommendations i) The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development provides additional Shs 54 billion to procure 158 ambulances for the remaining constituencies, including mine. (Laughter) ii) Additional funds amounting to Shs 17 billion, that is, fuel – Shs 12.8 billion and Shs 5.6 billion for servicing, be provided for the maintenance and functionalisation of the current fleet of ambulances under the National Ambulance Call and Dispatch System.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the chairperson and the committee for the good report. My issue goes to the town councils and other urban town councils, which were mentioned in a statement made by the minister at Kololo. My town council, Mukura Town Council in Ngora District, was among those that the minister said that this financial year, the work to extend piped water would be complete. However, since the beginning of this financial year, nothing has been done. I want to believe that it is the same thing happening to other town councils, and since town councils accommodate a lot of human population, I implore the chairperson and the Minister of Water and Environment, those town councils should be given priority so that some of those unfinished projects can also be completed. Secondly, I would like to borrow from a colleague who proposed that according to the current proposal, a village is supposed to have a borehole, but I was shocked that in Ngora District, when the LC V said that in every financial year, it is only two boreholes are allocated to Ngora District. He went ahead to say that in the ministry, Ngora District is said to have been covered 90 per cent, meaning that almost every village has a borehole. A colleague has just mentioned that she is always burdened to repair and even drill boreholes, and that is what is happening in those districts where boreholes are very few. It is even worse in water-stressed areas like Ngora District, Soroti, Katakwi, Amuria, Agago and others- (Member timed out.)

17085 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 15 APRIL 2025 Two, Mr Speaker, on the issues of incomplete projects, the committee chairman knows that in 2018-2019 – water for production – the ministry came and drilled holes in Kasilo County, Soroti County and in Amuria. The one of Serere, specifically in Bugondo Subcounty, has never been evacuated. How can we not have that money to complete that project, seven years down the road? I have raised this with the ministry many times and it has not happened. Can we get to know why it has happened? Honourable minister for energy, the project under your ministry which we started - I think it gives clouds to the Government when you come and commission them. If they are completed and you do not commission them, what does that mean? May I now invite you to Kasilo County to commission the project that you set up there? Of course, there are some irregularities. Please, that is how a Government can be felt. There is the issue of afforestation. The National Forest Authority (NFA) has land in Bugondo Hills in Bugondo Subcounty. It is a forested place with baboons and is the only natural forest that we have in Kasilo. However, people have encroached it. Your staff are there, and they are not helping the situation. People are cutting down trees, and if it is not followed up, it will be a very big problem in the next one or two years. It will just be a desert. Please, I request you to ask the NFA people to up their game and have that issue sorted. Finally, on the rural electrification extension, when we passed that law here, we thought it would be passed to every subcounty - (Member timed out.)

Last month, the two ships were lowered. Unfortunately, because Government owes contractors a lot of money, Terrain Services that was constructing the dock has withdrawn because they have not been paid their balance of Shs 2.9 billion. They cannot complete the work yet His Excellency the President is supposed to go and commission these ferries in November, on his tour to the Eastern side. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, can you use your powers to direct the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to release this money such that it is not an embarrassment to Government, such that the contractor goes back on site and completes this project properly? Finally, again I want to thank the Government for starting the students’ loan scheme under the Higher Education Student Financing Board. This is a list of the students who have been provided for, for this loan scheme. The unfortunate part is - when we adopted the report of the Committee on Public Accounts (Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises - COSASE) we realised there was unfairness in the distribution. This thing was supposed to be on a quarterly basis. However, it is surprising that there are districts that have been given 65 slots and others one. We do not know where this unfairness is coming from. I can see in: i) Karenga, only one person; ii) Kapelebyong, four; iii) Lira, they are 25; iv) Mbarara, 36; v) Ntungamo is 75; vi) Wakiso, 75; vii) Amudat, three; viii) Amuria, six; ix) Buliisa, three; x) Bushenyi, 39; xi) Busia, 58; xii) Buvuma, three; xiii) Serere, eight, and xiv) Hoima, 21. Last time we said, let us be the last. I have a list for all these districts. This is very unfair because this was intended to harmonise and bring equity. When you look at where the Executive Director comes from, there are 58. Why? That was the same problem in our COSASE report. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, before they report, call these people to order and let this thing be equitably distributed on a quarterly basis. The population census has just been released today. You will get to know the population. Even where the honourable minister comes from, they are very few. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, we beg you. There is even a student from Kasilo who got 16 in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics (PCM). He is admitted to Mbarara University. He applied for engineering and he was left out. We want to request you to take action. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Katakwi, especially Toroma, where I come from, is an immediate neighbour to Karamoja. First, I would like to thank the Commander- in-Chief of the Uganda armed forces for deploying Gen. Don Nabasa. At least the situation is improving, however, there are still some challenges. There is a security road that begins from the side of Abim, Kapelebyong, Amuria, Katakwi up to the Bugisu region. How I wish that road could be put in place and also water provided in the areas where there are soldiers because getting water in those areas is very difficult. That could improve the situation. The armed forces who are trying to sort out this problem do not even have motorbikes to arrest the situation. If they can be availed, especially in the barracks, it would be very easy. Lastly, Gen. Elwelu is also here. The solar- powered cameras that can do visual sight, even at night, can help soldiers conducting operations to net the captives. Thank you, I submit.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to present the addendum as per the Karamoja region; the discussions related to the infrastructure report of yesterday. Karamoja region identified key roads that need to be included in the report as follows: i) Moroto-Kotido Kaabong-Karenga Road; ii) Soroti–Amuria–Abim–Kotido Road; iii) Nakapiripirit–Amudat–Alakas Road that is joining to Kenya; iv) Lokitanyala-Loroo-Amudat-Karita Road; v) Napak–Kapelebyong Road, opening the region to Teso; vi) Rehabilitation of Moroto-Soroti Road; vii) Moroto-Nakiloro-Nakabaat Road, opening the region to Kenya; viii) Kotido-Loyoro–Kaabong Road; ix) Kaabong–Timu–Loitanit Road, again opening the region to Kenya; x) K a a b o n g – T i m u – L o k a l a p a t a – Nawountos; xi) Kalapata–Pire; xii) Karenga–Bira, opening the region to South Sudan; xiii) Abim-Napak via Turtuko is an internal road, but very important; and xiv) Kotido-Abim-Otuke-Alebtong-Lira. The region also considered the security and trade roads as very important, namely: i) Kotido–Agago; ii) Kotido–Karenga; iii) Kotido–Nakitongo, that is opening the eastern part of Kenya; iv) Morunyang-Majimoto, again the eastern part of Kenya; v) Nabilatuk-Katakwi which is the Magoro Road; vi) Kaabong–Karenga; vii) Kaabong–Kitgum via Lolelia; viii) Lopelpel-Lokwakipi-Narengnya, that is a ring road around the mountain; ix) Namalu–Nabilatuk–Lokapel; x) Lotome–Korisae Nabwal-Magoro, that is the Teso side; xi) Amudat–Komerimeri; xii) Lokwanamoru–Amuria; xiii) Alerek-Okemer Road; xiv) Alerek–Kacheri–Karenga; and xv) Iriir-Nabwal–Natirae; The key bridges that we propose to be included are: i) Lotome Bridge, that is between Napak and Nabilatuk; ii) Lolachat Bridge, that is between Nabilatuk and Moroto; iii) Lions Bridge, that is between Abim and Napak, which has been claiming many lives; iv) Nakonyen Bridge, between Moroto and Amudat; v) Okemer Bridge, between Abim and Kotido; vi) Nakirianget Bridge, between Mbale and Nakapiripirit; vii) Lodoket angisigiria, that is between Kaabong and Karenga; viii) Koberyo Bridge, that is between Kaabong and Karenga again; ix) Nataa bridges, that is between Nabilatuk and Moroto; x) Komatheniko Bridge, between Moroto and Kotido;

s/N Hospltal Name Dlstrict 1 Abim General Hospital Abim 2 Adjumani General Hospital Adiumani 3 Amuria General Hospital Amuria 4 Apac General Hospital Apac 5 Bududa General Hospital Bududa 6 Bugiri General Hospital Bugiri 7 Kawolo General Hospital Buikure 8 Buliisa General Hospital Buliisa 9 Bundiburyo General Hospital Bundibugro 10. Masafu General Hospital Busia 11. Busolwe General Hospital Butaleja L2. Gombe General Hospital Butambala 13. Iganga General Hospital Iganga t4. Buwenge General Hospital Jinja Kaabong General Hospital Kaabong 6 15. Kaberamaido General Hospital Kaberamaido Kagadi General Hospital Kagadi Kamuli General Hospital Kamuli L9. Rukunyu General Hospital Kamwenge 20. Kambuga General Hospital Kanungu 2L. Kapchorwa General Hospital Kapchorwa 22. Bwera General Hospital Kasese 23. Katakuri General Hospital Katakuri 24. Kiboga General Hospital Kiboga 25. Kiryandongo General Hospital Kiryandongo 26. Kisoro General Hospital Kisoro 27. Kitgum General Hospital Kitgum 28. Koboko General Hospital Koboko 29. Kotido General Hospital Kotido 30. Atutur General Hospital Kumi 31. Kyegegura General Hospital Kyegegwa Annex la: List of Publtc General Hospitals in U nda 19 lz ,/ta.

13610 TRIBUTE TO THE L A TE H ON. S I MON P E TER A L E P E R The late Hon. Aleper was a very resourceful person and leader who was very vibrant and assertive. Whenever he took on an issue, he would never give up on it. He was very principled and results-oriented. That is why the little you hear has been done for the Karamoja was his work. The late championed the promises by the Government to tarmac some of the roads in Karamoja, for example, the road from Lira via Alebtong, Otuke, Abim to Kotido although it is not yet done, it was on his agenda. He also championed the issue of the road from Soroti to Amuria, Kapelebyong via Otuke, Abim, and Kotido. Although it is not accomplished, he talked for it. Mr Speaker, from 2010 to 2015, I was the NRM CEC Member for Karamoja. In 2015, when I sought to get a second term, that was when my brother came up and two others. At the intervention of our party Chairperson and for purposes of harmony - we are a marginalized region, and at times we do not want to struggle, we all had to step down and elected him unopposed. This is the person. We knew he was capable and he did not shame us. He could consult even when he was a CEC member whenever there were issues and posted on all the WhatsApp groups. Some of us were too shy to contribute on WhatsApp groups. However, considering that I was his elder sister, he would come to my inbox and ask - He did not even call me honourable, not even my name but he would say “ Maama, what is your view on this” and we would share with him. This is the gentleman we have lost today. As other colleagues have said, to the family, these things happen. We want you to be together and united as a family and see how to champion the legacy he has left. We have seen some families when such an occurrence happens, they go into disarray but we pray that you will be together and the rest of us will be there. We are aware that most of the children are in school and like other Members have said the Government and NRM Party need to do something for the children of the late Hon. “Rock’ Aleper. With those few remarks, colleagues we want to thank you for the love, and Mr Speaker, we want to thank you. I want to thank the President, for honouring our brother, and may his soul rest in eternal peace.

You are debating in anticipation. Honourable members, as I said, I am going to read the President’s letter. The letter is addressed to the Right Honourable Speaker, Parliament of Uganda, Kampala. It is dated 22 June 2024. The Reference is: “Budget Reallocation by Parliament.” The letter reads: “The recent case of the Members of Parliament that were arrested for some alleged offences has again highlighted the mistake of Members of Parliament interfering with the constitutional mandate of the President of budgeting for the Country by reallocating monies budgeted for the core sectors of the economy. In the last four financial years, the Members of Parliament have reallocated a total of Shs 3.71 trillion. This is real sabotage. When we reconstructed the Kampala-Masaka Road, we used Shs 440 billion. Therefore, diverting Shs 3.71 trillion in four years is equivalent to aborting nine big roads of the Kampala-Masaka type, or a much larger number of smaller roads. You know very well the important roads that we have been struggling with. You have seen how much the Tirinyi-Pallisa- Kumi Road has helped the people of the area by avoiding the need to pass through Mbale City when they are travelling to Soroti. You have seen how the Musita-Mayuge- Namayingo-Busia Road has helped the people of that area. You have seen how the Mukono- Katosi-Nkokonjeru-Nyenga Road has helped the people of that area. Yet, for the Tirinyi- Palisa-Kumi Road, we used Shs 443.42 billion only. How much happier would Ugandans be, if we had tarmacked the Kumi-Ngora-Serere- Bugondo Road; the Soroti-Amuria-Acan Pii- Patongo-Abim Road; the Kanoni-Mityana Road; the Myanzi-Kassanda-BukuyaKiboga Road; the Ssembabule-Lyantonde-Rakai Road; the Luwero-Butalaangwa-Ngoma–Masindi Road; the Bwizibweera-Nsiika-Nyakabirizi Road; the Nakivaale-Rakai Road; the Fort Portal-Kijura Road, etc.? I have written on this issue - see my letter dated 28th April 2020. The Attorney-General has guided on the matter. The courts have guided, yet the practice goes on. There are three mistakes involved here and these are: (i) Indiscipline in budgeting; (ii) Sabotaging national priorities; (iii) And now the suspicion of massive corruption. I am, therefore, writing to request that this practice stops. As per Article 91(3)(c) of the Constitution of 1995, I decline to assent to the Appropriation Bill, 2024 and return it to Parliament, and request that no reshuffling of the Budget should ever happen again without the input of the Executive. Apart from the legality and constitutionality of the issues involved, there is common sense. Sprinkling money by MPs to get cheap popularity in constituencies will make us lose to focus on core items. How can patriots be part of this mistake? Signed by the President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.”

13454 PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET SPEECH FY 2024/2025 of Excellence for Cardiovascular Care at the Uganda Heart Institute located in Naguru and fast-tracking the completion of the East African Centre of Excellence for Oncology in Kampala and associated regional centres in Gulu, Mbarara, Arua and Mbale . (Applause) Iyii, engalo ezo nga si z’amaanyi; they do not encourage me. (Laughter); ii) Under the Uganda Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers (UGIFT) Programme, 371 health centres II were planned for construction and upgrade to health centres III status. So far, 261 health centres II have been upgraded to health centres III and are fully operational. I hope the Minister of Health can certify this. An additional 110 are ongoing at different stages. Meanwhile, 11 hospitals were rehabilitated in Busolwe, Kapchorwa, Kambuga, Buwenge, Koboko, Amuria, Kotido, Kaberamaido, Kawolo and Kitgum Districts; iii) Three regional blood banks in Arua, Soroti and Hoima have been completed; iv) The Government distributed a total of 25 million long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito bed nets countrywide for the prevention of malaria; and v) The Government also provided 116 new ambulances to 100 constituencies, another 10 ambulances for the regional referral hospitals and six for the Command Centre at Naguru, among others. Madam Speaker, to further enhance the health of Ugandans, a total of Shs 2.946 trillion has been provided for the next Financial Year 2024/2025. The following interventions will be prioritised; i) Promotion and implementation of interventions for the disease prevention and health education initiatives against communicable, non-communicable and neglected tropical diseases and injuries. ii) Provision of essential medicines where an additional Shs 100 billion has been provided; iii) Improvement of the welfare of the health workers including medical interns and doctors designated as senior house officers. I have provided more wage allocations to facilitate the recruitment of staff for the upgraded health centres III; iv) Construction and rehabilitation of more health infrastructure and provision of medical equipment to improve quality of care and provision of specialised healthcare. These include, among others, the Uganda Cancer Institute and Regional Cancer Centres, the Uganda Heart Institute, Intensive Care Units and an imaging centre for referral hospitals; v) Digitisation of the national health system to facilitate service delivery and tracking of medical supplies and health workers’ performance; vi) Construction, rehabilitation and equipping of dilapidated hospitals across the country including the Kampala Metropolitan Area; vii) Strengthening of the network of medical reference laboratories including the establishment of the East African Community Regional Centre of Excellence for Virology at the Uganda Virus Research Institute and the National Public Health Institute in Uganda; and viii) Establishment of a pharmaceutical industrial park and strengthening the National Drug Authority Regulatory Framework. Education The Government considers education as a key opportunity equaliser for all Ugandans, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required for productive employment as well as enabling them to live longer, happier and affluent lives. For this reason, the following

I used to think that there was no smuggling border in our area in Amuria. The way Hon. Susan Amero has smuggled this in. (Laughter) That is on the wetlands. Yes?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. First of all, I would like to thank the committee for the report. However, I challenge the Minister of Health that in Kapelebyong, literally every health facility needs to be refurbished. Some of them need to be condemned because they are collapsing, they have broken walls and leaking roofs. The one ambulance we have is busy every day, transporting mothers either to Soroti or Amuria. Four subcounties in Kapelebyong do not have a health facility. We need them included in your budget. I thank you.

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

11407 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA MONDAY, 22 JANUARY 2024 Madam Speaker, we have spoken about Mama Atat – There is a question I ask ourselves. If we go to the Cancer Institute, people are sleeping down. We have the manpower, what don’t we have? Why should we congest all these hospitals in one place where there is no land for expansion? Is it possible for this House to stand up so that we have these hospitals put in different regions so that our people can access treatment? We are talking about medical check-ups; do we all go for medical check-ups? We are here and seated on a time bomb because what we are eating is not very healthy. Are we fair to ourselves? With the nature of the work that we are doing, we need to attend to ourselves very carefully. Mama was able to be flown to India, what about the local woman in Amuria? Why don’t we as a House stand up in recognition of Mama lying before us here and push for the structures, the services that we need to be taken closer to the people so that our people can be able benefit? I thank you, Madam Speaker, for allowing me to raise this.

Madam Speaker, I beg to present names of honourable colleagues who have been designated to the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government). 1. Hon. Everlyn Chemutai - Bukwo; 2. Hon. Silas Aogon - Kumi Municipality; 3. Hon. Peter Ocen - Kole South County; 4. Hon. Baroda Kayanga - Kamuli Municipality; 5. Hon. Susan Amero - Amuria; and 6. Hon. Julius Tusiime - Rwampara East County.

A small plane moving around the areas of Teso, yellow in colour, dropping mark stones while doing an aerial survey. Our people would like to know because they do not understand - They drop these mark stones very deep - We want to know what the Government is doing, because even we, the leaders, are not aware of this and we cannot explain anything to defend the Government down there. Can I know from the Prime Minister so that when I meet the people of Amuria, I can tell them what the Government is doing in this place?

Most obliged. First of all, I would to take exception to a certain kind of character, which is not me, but my particular contribution as Teso Subregion, we did make a presentation. What is very fundamental is that there are cross-cutting issues. Yes, I cannot lie to you that we picked each and every district, but we used the districts that we presented as the classical cases that would be used to demonstrate a similar experience because the implementation of PDM in Teso was the same like in most of these districts. We highlighted very exceptional issues, which were distinct to certain areas, which we submitted. The biggest challenge we faced as a region is that at the further north of Teso, in the districts of Amuria, Katakwi and Kapelebyong, the implementation of PDM was hampered by the fact that we did not have a financial institution such as a bank within the vicinity of the people. People had to trek to the neighbouring district, which is Soroti, in order to access some of this, which we highlighted, Madam Speaker. Teso was fully, adequately and effectively represented in the report presented by the Chairperson.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I join the rest of the Members in thanking the President, for the precise exposition of the State-of-the-Nation Address. I most sincerely thank the President for noting that he is working with people who are not doing the right things and who are giving him wrong figures and wrong advice. I thank him very much although even after noting that, we have not seen him take steps to discipline these human beings who have been giving wrong figures to him – because he came up with very good figures that show that our country is going ahead, yet the technocrats who are occupying some offices under his leadership, are giving him wrong figures and nothing has been done by the leadership. Mr Speaker, I also thank the President, above all, for that tarmac that we have seen on the road from Soroti to Karamoja - I am proud because it passes through my place. It has helped us. We have been hearing about the Government, but we had never seen a tarmac road. We would see it after getting out of those areas of Amuria and Karamoja. While the issue of education is a good point that the President noted, I was disappointed to hear that the students’ loan scheme was scrapped, yet we took a lot of time in this House to work on the law. We spent a lot of money doing benchmarking and we were assured that due diligence was done on this project. We thought it was going to help our poor children because they do not - (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank Hon. Sarah for bringing this petition to this House. It is true, what she has said is happening everywhere in our hospitals. It makes me wonder why they increased salaries of medical workers, yet they are still extorting money from the poor people. I am saying this for the third time in this House. I visited one of the health centres in Amuria and found that about 20 women had been operated on. It is a business between the midwives and the doctors. First of all, even when it is not necessary to be operated on, the nurses will advise you that you cannot deliver, they cannot give you an opportunity. What I know about the caesarian section is that it would be done when all options have failed and that is when you would be taken to the theatre, but now, it is a fashion. Mr Speaker, I have been through C-section and life can never be the same when you are cut. There is a difference and there are things that you cannot continue doing freely because of those injuries and those injuries can lead to other complications. This must stop and we must come out. I also heard about the audit that Hon. Sarah is talking about, it must be carried out everywhere. There are very many things that are going on in our health centres that do not come out –(Member timed out.)

I think the disclaimer is for everybody - all the Members of Parliament. There is nothing personal against any of the Members of Parliament. If anything is going to Amuria, it is not for Hon. Amero but for the locals.

How do you know that you have a vehicle, land or other assets? You need to have an asset register that is updated regularly. When you dispose of an asset, it must be reflected in the asset register. So, some of the things are a problem. There is also the issue of poor local revenue collection. You will find that collections are too little in most of these local governments, yet at the same time, that is the money supposed to be used for most of these projects. However, at the same time, these people collect Non- Tax Revenue (NTR) but the finance ministry takes it. When the local governments ask for money, they are not given. We really have a problem on this with the finance ministry because it takes long to release funds. You find that garbage in Soroti is too much but you cannot even provide them with just one truck to collect the garbage, yet they have collected funds, given to you but you cannot send back the money. The local governments need to improve on capacity building of their members; people working with them. The Parish Development Model has been taken there but it is like a white elephant. The money is not being utilised; it is just given out. I think our people are making accountability. Payroll management and the accounting officers that we have are still a problem. If we have accounting officers that are not performing, why don’t we sack them? Even as Members of Parliament, when we do not perform, we are removed, not so? However, we have accounting officers who are not performing. They transfer them from Amuria to Bukedea, Masaka and Kikoni. You are simply recycling them and taking the vice from one district to the other. How shall we improve? So, there is that problem. We want these accounting officers to be removed. I remember an accounting officer who was very good. Now, because he was good, he is now a Member of Parliament. We cannot afford to have accounting officers who are not performing and you keep recycling them. At the end of the day, the vice goes through the whole country. Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, we need action on accounting officers. It will be a big surprise from the finance ministry that we have fired these accounting officers. Clerk, can we have that report uploaded for Members to be able to read? Debate is open but let us start with Mbarara, the worst performing district.

Thank you, honourable member, for giving way. The information I would like to give is that during our campaigns, I had an impromptu visit to our hospital in Amuria. I found over 20 women who had undergone a caesarean section. These doctors no longer give women an opportunity to push; they want to conduct the C-section because there is some money they charge as professional fees. Mr Speaker, this is not good because once a mother is cut, life can never be the same. This is what is happening and we want to urge the minister to do some bit of inspection in these hospitals and find out the truth. Another woman died because she was not able to raise the money that was required by the doctor. Please, let us do something about it. Thank you very much, honourable member, for giving way.

8103 THE E LEVENTH P ARLIAMENT OF U GANDA TUESDAY , 18 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. very good report on this very important sector in this country. My first issue is on food security. I would like to thank the committee for the relocation to NAADS. The budget for NAADS was constrained but if you look at what they were doing, we were really very happy. How I wish we give more money to NAADS so that the issue of food security - the beans, maize and others - is sorted once and for all. I would like to mention something about affirmative action. The chairperson talked about North-eastern Uganda but I was eagerly waiting to hear Lango sub-region as far as Maruzi Ranch is concerned. As the colleague from Amuria mentioned, every sub-region must at least get something. I would like to also mention something about conservation of indigenous genes. Mr Speaker, we are facing a number of problems because of improved genes. For example, you can only plant a crop once, it won’t yield the second time is planted. This leaves farmers stranded. The committee recommended that NARO should interest itself and have a deliberate effort to conserve the indigenous genes. However, I think the committee should look for money to allocate to these very important indigenous genes and crops so that our farmers are not left out.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have listened to the minister talking about where the accounting officer has not accounted for the funds. The clarification I would like to seek is that last year, in this House, there were some accounting officers who were named for causing financial loss and were supposed to have been dropped or demoted. One of them is the accounting officer in Amuria. The next thing we saw was a transfer, which was also stopped, again, by the local government people who work with him. Why should we bury our heads in the sand when we know that the whole problem is originating from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development? You release the monies late when contracts have been given out – the money comes in on the 28 th when you are closing the system on the 29 th . What do you expect these local government accounting officers to do? I think we need to come out clearly on this. You do not have to apportion blame and think that these accounting officers are the only ones on the wrong. The finance ministry has a problem, which needs to be addressed.

7951 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 12 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. the list of people that should be suspended is created, the law would require that there should be a process for them to be heard. This means that at some point, either they are put off the list or they are maintained. While that process is on-going, Parliament is doing its appropriation work. It would be weird for Parliament to say that it will not be appropriate for Amuria, for example, because the accounting officer is on the list. I request, considering those circumstances – (Interruption)

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I have a question for the Prime Minister. In 2017, Government grant- aided Akora Seed Secondary School - it is at the centre of my constituency. However, to date, the parents struggled and erected two structures to accommodate Senior One and Senior Two students. They are now up to Senior Four, but still, the students are studying in a very funny place. Now that the rains have come, they do not have proper classrooms in which to conduct lessons. I want to know, from the Prime Minister, the plans Government has to ensure that Akora Subcounty, which houses Akora Seed Secondary School, also benefits from the funding that Government is pushing towards the improvement of secondary education in this country. Finally, Madam Speaker, heavy rains destroyed crops - I have two subcounties that are in the floodplains - that is Abia and Aloyi. Last week, two parishes of Alebtong and Amuria were destroyed completely. And I whispered to the minister in charge of disaster preparedness. She told me all activities have stalled; they are only looking at delivering food supplies for now. What is it that Government can do to also support these farmers whose crops have all been destroyed? I thank you.

Honourable minister, the question would be: where did the grant go? Did it come or not? If it came, where did you divert it to? Did you take it to Amuria? (Laughter)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I raise a matter of national importance on the phasing out of Kotido Primary Teachers’ College. Following the on-going restructuring of teacher training institutions across the country by the Ministry of Education and Sports, Kotido Primary Teachers’ College in Karamoja Subregion has been phased out. This college was opened in 1985 as a Grade III Teacher Training College on serious demand of north Karamoja after realising that Moroto Core PTC could not meet the high training needs of teachers in Karamoja subregion. It is unfortunate that even with the long struggle to attain this college, its noticeable benefits and development to the community, it has been phased out. The phasing out of this college has left the community that gave its land pondering whether to take it back because they had offered it for education of their children to be teachers. A number of stakeholders’ consultative meetings have been held in the district with the Ministry of Education and all have resolved that Kotido PTC be retained and be upgraded to a core PTC, on grounds that it has a larger catchment area coupled with long distances, which cover districts of north Karamoja, Kitgum, Agago, Pader, Otuke, Amuria, Soroti and Kapelebyong. Kotido PTC is the nearest PTC for access of students from the above catchment areas. For instance, the distance from Karenga to Moroto Core PTC, the only college in Karamoja, is 280 kilometres. One can be able to see that the available institution that trains teachers is far apart and connecting them is very difficult, coupled with insecurity. Kotido PTC has a land area of 48 acres with many structures and facilities to support teaching and learning, hence it has room for expansion. There is evidence that there is increased access, retention and completion rates of learners from primary one to -

The districts to be connected are: Buikwe, Bukomansimbi, Butambala, Buvuma, Gomba, Kalangala, Kalungu, Kampala, Kassanda, Kayunga, Kiboga, Kyankwanzi, Kyotera, Luwero, Lwengo, Lyantonde, Masaka, Mityana, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakaseke, Nakasongola, Rakai, Ssembabule, Wakiso, Bugweri, Kitagwenda –(Interjections) - that is central. I am going region by region. In eastern Uganda, we have Amuria, Budaka, Bududa, Bugiri, Bukedea, Bukwo, Bulambuli, Busia, Namayingo, Butaleja, Butebo, Buyende, Iganga, Jinja, Kaberamaido, Kaliro, Kamuli, Kapchorwa, Katakwi, Kibuku, Kumi, Kween, Luuka, Manafwa, Mayuge, Mbale, Namisindwa, Namutumba, Ngora, Pallisa, Serere, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Kalaki and Kapelebyong.