Arua District

469 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 21 JULY 2026 Arua, then we shall have another person from West Nile and Hon. Ann Amelia Kyambadde.

401 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 JULY 2026 The President authorised us to open up four centres. We have so far opened one in Arua. Arua is the area that oversees West Nile. We have also opened one in Kasenyi across Ntoroko, Lake Albert. We have also deployed experts in Bunia and Rwampara, which is in the centre of Ituri. We have sent over 50 specialist health workers in Uganda to support our counterparts in Congo. We also agreed on joint surveillance, joint monitoring, and sharing information. We have established a laboratory in Arua and Bwera in Kasese. Some of the samples from Congo are brought to our laboratories, one at the Uganda Virus Research Institute and another in Wandegeya. We have joint collaborative activities. Although we now register zero cases in Uganda, the collaborative interventions continue and we shall work with Congo until we register the last case.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to assure Hon. Nambeshe that what I am speaking is extracted from the statement. I am not reading something different from the statement; I am just summarising and paraphrasing. Lastly, for the communities along the DRC- Uganda border, we intensified the campaign and lots of interventions, which included closing markets and disallowing big assemblies of people. For instance, I have received a petition from the bar owners in Arua and West Nile regarding the disruption of their businesses. Given the progress that we have registered, we shall keep our borders with DRC closed, but the national task force, chaired by Her Excellency, the Vice President, will sit and then determine how to flexibly allow the situation to return to normal. Two, which is also very important, is that what bothers Ugandans today are the travel restrictions and bans imposed by some countries, disallowing their citizens from travelling to Uganda but also making it difficult for people in Uganda to travel to their countries. Like I said - [Hon. Tebandeke rose_] this is my last point, just hold on then I allow you after. This Ebola disease was first identified in 1976; that means today, it is 50 years old. We have had up to around 40 outbreaks in Africa: In Congo, Uganda, South Sudan and West Africa. But the reported cases of Ebola that have been exported outside Africa are fewer than 30 in 50 years. Actually, to be exact, they are 29, including the recent case in France. That means that Ebola, given its transmission dynamics, does not easily get exported outside and even those 29 cases were mainly doctors and health workers who have been in training –

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am glad that the Minister of Health has been able to come here and brief us. Much as Members fear the issue of someone who has gone to a country where this problem exists coming back to Parliament, it is necessary for us to be briefed so that we can also brief others to remain safe. As the chairman of the West Nile Parliamentary Caucus, therefore, I would like to thank three categories of people. Number one is the government of Uganda. (Applause) This is for the reason that the Government of Uganda took action, first, within Uganda and also took the initiative to put a treatment centre in DRC, particularly in Aru Territory, the sister city to Arua. We, the people of West Nile, are trans-border people. Even if we do not have Ebola and do not die here in Uganda, but Ebola remains in DRC, we are bound to go for burial in Congo because the Lugbara, Kakwa, Alur, Madi, Gimara and Reli tribes are in both Uganda and DRC. All these people are connected. We are socially interlinked strongly. If there is a funeral, relatives will want to come for the burial. That activity of Uganda going there, first, stopped the disease in Congo. That is a good thing. Secondly – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. West Nile region is one of the greatest regions that is known for sports. We have Sadiq Waswa, who was one of the greatest goalkeepers of this nation, Dorcus Inzikuru, and the current goalkeeper of Uganda. The gentleman who played for Australia comes from West Nile. Arua municipality then came into the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) programme with one of the enterprises within the city. It was around 2019 when we were raising Arua Hill Stadium and the COVID-19 pandemic hit it. For better regional development, I think that if the Minister of Finance, Planning and

431 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 JULY 2026 Economic Development, together with the Minister of Education and Sports, engage in the issue of bringing Arua Hill – (Member timed out.)

My prayer is that the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and Ministry of Education and Sports come to Arua -

Through the Rt Hon. Prime Minister to come to Arua and raise the programme that Arua City had for the development of Arua Hill Stadium that was inspected by CAF, so that we can benefit from regional development.

Hon. Mwiru, you can understand. The second-to-last issue concerned the honourable member from Gomba, who said that the President has been threatening to fight corruption. I have a different view. The President is not threatening, but is actually taking action, and the writing is on the wall. We are happy and glad to be having a President who says what he means and means what he says. He is walking the talk, and we should be proud of our President. (Applause) Hon. Molly asked an important question and said, “As sector commanders, what are you doing to fulfil the intention of the President in the State of the Nation Address?” In our sector of industry, we are focusing on creating value for the things that we are producing, especially agro-industrialisation and also import substitution. We would like to manufacture everything we import into the country. For example, honourable colleagues, you may need to know that almost 40 per cent of the honey taken in European countries is made in laboratories, yet here in Kabale, Buganda and Arua, we have a lot of honey. For example, our focus now is on processing honey so that we can export it to these countries – (Applause) - so that they get out of this honey made in laboratories and start enjoying the natural honey that comes from Africa. Lt Gen. Kavuma, I cannot agree with you anymore. We have made good progress over time. We used to import sugar, but now we have excess sugar and also industrial sugar. The sugar that is used to produce soda and others is processed here from Kinyara. We used to import carbon dioxide which is used in soda. We now have factories that manufacture it. We are currently importing close to $1 billion of steel and steel products, but we have now almost set up factories that have reduced this import substantially. So, we are producing steel here. Companies like Roofings and Tembo are setting up in Tororo and Kigezi Subregion to take advantage of the iron ore stocks that we have in our country, which is approximately 312 million tonnes. We want to utilise this to produce steel and steel products. Mr Speaker, the statement of the President was very important and I am glad that Members of Parliament are appreciating it. Let us join hands with the President to industrialise our country,

Mr Speaker, as you are aware, our rules provide that we have written responses and those that are instant. I will begin with those that are written. Question number one came from Hon. Tom Aliti Candia, Maracha East County, who said that some districts are surrounded by refugee- hosting districts such as Koboko, Yumbe, and Terego, and, as a result, refugees access public and private services in these non-refugee- hosting districts such as Maracha, Moyo, and Arua. On top of that, the non-refugee- host districts have a number of unregistered refugees settled in their districts. His prayer, Mr Speaker, is that the Government change the policy and support refugee- impacted districts in major projects that benefit refugee-hosting districts. They also need to benefit from projects such as the Development Response to Displacement Impacts Project (DRDIP), which supports social protection and socio-economic transformation. Mr Speaker, this is my response: Development projects under the refugee hosting windows are designed for all districts, cities and urban councils, transit areas and communities that host refugees, but these keep changing depending on our open-door policy. Refugees are free because you know that refugees are free to move. Where assessments confirm refugee settlement in new areas or districts, such areas are included in the refugee programmes and both refugee-hosting and transit districts provide integrated services such as health, education, water, livelihoods to benefit both refugees and host communities. Mr Speaker, transit districts do not permanently host refugees but provide passage and so funds are therefore allocated for health, education, water and other services. Maracha District qualifies as a transit district and is eligible for support. Government shall undertake an assessment of the current number of refugees in Maracha and take appropriate action. Question number two came from Hon. Dennis Namara, where he says, Rt Hon. Prime Minister, the people of Muhorro Town Council, particularly residents of Kyamajaka LCI, have been gravely affected by repeated chimpanzee attacks resulting in loss of lives. While the Government initiated compensation processes, tenants have raised concerns of being cheated and unfairly treated. 1. His prayer is that the Government provide assurances that the compensation process for affected tenants is conducted transparently, with full disclosure of survey and valuation reports and equitable treatment of all claimants? 2. And could the Government further clarify what measures it is taking to resolve disputes among tenants who feel undervalued and ensure accountability in the compensation exercise? Mr Speaker and Members, my response is that the compensation process for tenants on land in Muhoro, Kagadi District was conducted with the involvement of all relevant Government institutions to ensure transparency. Officials from the Department of Surveys and Mapping under the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development carried out a detailed survey. The Chief Government Valuer conducted valuations of all land and property interests. Those who accepted, signed agreements and were duly compensated.

148 THE BUDGET SPEECH, 2026 Energy development Mr Speaker, reliable and affordable energy is essential for industrialisation and socioeconomic transformation. The Government continues to invest heavily in electricity generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure. In the Financial Year 2025/2026, the Government achieved the following in energy development: a) Continued development of hydro, solar and other energy projects alongside preparatory work for future nuclear investments. Installed generation capacity now stands at 2,098 megawatts. The Government’s medium- to long-term target is 52,482 megawatts to support industrialisation, urbanisation and economic growth. b) Completed and continued construction of multiple lines, including the Kole-Gulu- Nebbi-Arua line 132 KV, the Kampala Metropolitan transmission line 132 KV, including two associated mobile substations, Mbarara, Kabarole 132 KV, Karuma-Tororo 400 KV, Tororo resource 400 KV, Mutundwe-Entebbe 132 KV and Lira-Gulu-Agago 132 KV. Good progress has also been made on substations serving industrial parks in Mbarara, Kapeeka, and the Kabalega Petrochemical Industrial Park. c) The share of households in rural areas connected to grid electricity has nearly doubled in the three years from 6.8 per cent in the Financial Year 2021/2022 to 11.4 per cent in the Financial Year 2024/2025. d) Through the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company, Government commenced construction of four small mini-hydro power sites expected to generate 5 megawatts of electricity. These sites will be completed in March 2027 and will provide reliable power to very hard- to-reach and remote areas. Further, under the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project, 419,592 off-grid solar connections have been made countrywide. Financial Year 2026/2027 Priorities for the Energy Sector Mr Speaker, the Government has allocated Shs 2.07 trillion to energy development and the priority interventions include: i) Expansion of generation capacity by commencing the 380-megawatt Kiba hydro-electricity plant, a floating solar plant at Isimba, and 500 megawatts of utility scale solar in the Elgon and Acholi subregions; ii) Preparatory work for nuclear energy generation at Buyende; iii) Expansion of transmission and associated substation infrastructure; iv) Rural electrification; and v) Industrial power connections. Investing in People Mr Speaker, economic transformation is ultimately about people. A healthy, educated, skilled and productive population is indispensable for sustained growth and shared prosperity. That is why the Government continues to allocate a large share of the discretionary budget to human capital development, i.e. health, education, water and sanitation, and social protection. During Financial Year 2025/2026, the following milestones were achieved: Health Under health, Mr Speaker, the Government sustained its policy of progressively increasing investment in essential medicines and health supplies. Accordingly, funding through the National Medical Stores was increased by Shs 145.33 billion to Shs 862.93 billion in Financial Year 2025/2026. The Government will continue to increase domestic financing for essential health commodities with the aim of substantially

149 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 11 JUNE 2026 reducing reliance on donor support. This will guarantee uninterrupted access to essential medicines like anti-retroviral medicines, anti-malarial drugs, vaccines, immunisation supplies, laboratory commodities and anti- tuberculosis medicines. The Government continued to modernise healthcare infrastructure and equipment. During the year, 17 regional referral hospitals and 25 general hospitals were equipped with Neonatal Intensive Care Units. In addition, 14 regional referral hospitals received CT scan machines. Construction and upgrading of 31 health facilities across Karamoja is ongoing. The Government also completed high-capacity medical waste incinerators in Fort Portal, Gulu, Mbarara, KCCA and Lira. Busolwe, Gombe and Kawolo hospitals were also rehabilitated. Mr Speaker, the Government continued to promote preventive healthcare through immunisation, disease prevention and nutrition programmes. Immunisation coverage for children under one year reached 94 per cent, while first-dose measles-rubella coverage reached 93 per cent. Government also conducted nationwide campaigns against malaria, HIV/AIDS, Ebola, cholera and yellow fever, and promoted nutrition education for children, pregnant women, the elderly and other vulnerable groups. Government also continued to expand specialised healthcare services in oncology, cardiology and other fields, reducing the need for treatment abroad. The Uganda Heart Institute conducted 634 cardiac interventions, including open-heart, closed-heart, vascular and catheterisation procedures. In April 2026, the Uganda Cancer Institute successfully performed the country’s first bone marrow transplant. Specialised healthcare services will be further strengthened by ongoing investments. The 250-bed capacity Cardiac Hospital in Naguru, Kampala is 44 per cent complete and expected to be completed by June 2027. The International Specialised Hospital of Uganda at Lubowa is 75 per cent complete and will be completed in December 2027. (Applause) Mr Speaker, I wish to repeat this one: The International Specialised Hospital of Uganda at Lubowa is 75 per cent complete and will be completed in December 2027. (Applause) The first phase of the Nuclear Medicine (PET) Centre for cancer treatment is 95 per cent complete with radiotherapy and advanced molecular imaging services. Phase II of the PET centre is 10 per cent complete. Regional cancer centres in Mbarara, Arua and Mbale are under construction, while the Gulu centre is fully operational. Other achievements in the health sector include: a) Expansion of the National e-Health Digital Infrastructure to support telemedicine, health information management, medicine tracking and monitoring of health worker performance; and b) Strengthening the National Ambulance and Emergency Care System through the deployment of additional ambulances. 2026/2027 Priorities for Health The Government has allocated Shs 5.23 trillion for the health sector in Financial Year 2026/2027. The funding will focus on: i) Maternal and child health; ii) Nutrition improvement; iii) Expanded immunisation; iv) Prevention and treatment of non- communicable diseases; v) Provision of essential medicines; vi) Strengthening specialised healthcare services; vii) Improving emergency response systems; and viii) Exploring feasible pathways towards universal health coverage.

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

9 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 14 MAY 2026 56. Kirungi Annet Pamela Woman Representative Kabarole NRM 57. Kyogabiirwe Jackie Muganda Woman Representative Kyegegwa NRM 58. Lanyero Christine Awany Woman Representative Nwoya NRM 59. Logose Sarah Annet Woman Representative Butaleja NRM 60. Lokii John Baptist (Dr) Matheniko County Moroto NRM 61. Lokoru Albert Tepeth County Moroto Independent 62. Lokoru Stephenson Yoyo Chekwii East County Nakapiripirit NRM 63. Longoli Simon Peter Chekwii County (Kadam) Nakapiripirit NRM 64. Lubega George Willy Bugangaizi South County Kakumiro NRM 65. Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira Nyendo-Mukungwe County Masaka City NUP 66. Lugoloobi Amos Ntenjeru County North Kayunga NRM 67. Kiwanuka Sulaiman Nakifuma County Mukono NUP 68. Kuteesa Mary Kamuli Mwenge County South Kyenjojo NRM 69. Kyeyune Ivan Nakasongola County Nakasongola NUP 70. Lakisa Mercy Faith Woman Representative Alebtong NRM 71. Lenia Charity Kevin Vurra County Arua NRM 72. Mutebi Benard Mugoya Bulamogi County Kaliro Independent 73. Katooko Sylivia Damba Woman Representative Kibuku NRM 74. Kayogera Yona Busiki North County Namutumba Independent 75. Kiti Peter T’oo County Bukwo NRM 76. Lolem Micah Akasile Upe County Amudat NRM 77. Locap Peterkhen Bokora East County Napak NRM 78. Linda Irene City Woman Representative Fort Portal City NRM 79. Lokubal Emma Woman Representative Nabilatuk NRM 80. Katusiime Adrine Woman Representative Sheema NRM 81. Loluk Fidelis Logwee Napore West County Karenga Independent 82. Komakech Christopher Aruu County Pader NRM 83. Muzaid Khemis Arua Central Division Arua City FDC 84. Lamwaka Catherine Woman Representative Omoro NRM 85. Kiwanuka Abdallah Mukono County North Mukono NUP 86. Kyeyune Haruna Kasolo Kyotera County Kyotera NRM (The House was suspended at 11.42 a.m.) (On resumption at 1.00 p.m., the Deputy Clerk, Parliamentary Affairs presiding.) 87. Lokwang Hillary Ik County Kaabong NRM 88. Lowila CD Oketayot Woman Representative Pader NRM 89. Lugoloobi Willy Bageyente Bujumba County Kalangala NRM 90. Lugwar Benson Agogo North County Agago Independent 91. Lukyamuzi David Kalwanga Busujju County Mityana NUP 92. Kiwanuka Keefa Kiboga East County Kiboga NRM 93. Maala Zahrah Luyirika Makindye Division West Kampala NUP 94. Makumbi Henry Kamya Mityana County South Mityana NRM 95. Mariam Seif Woman Representative Iganga NRM 96. Mafabi Asha Nabulo Woman Representative Sironko NRM 97. Mamawi James Adjumani East County Adjumani Independent 98. Masaba Karim Industrial Division Mbale City Independent 99. Matembu Chriss Wataka Bubulo County West Manafwa Independent 100. Matovu Emmanuel Magoola Busiro County East Wakiso Independent 101. Mawanda Micheal Maranga Igara County East Bushenyi NRM

18875 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 5 MAY 2026 Vote 015 - Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Shs 37.90 billion for capitalisation of Uganda Development Corporation as an additional investment in Atiak Sugar Factory. The second category is self-financing and budget-neutral supplementary requests over and above the 3 per cent legal limit, which require prior approval by Cabinet and Parliament. Of a total of Shs 586.16 billion for Supplementary Expenditure Schedule No.5, which is above the 3 per cent legal limit. A total of Shs 123.03 billion is self-financed and thus budget-neutral. The self-financing/budget- neutral supplementary includes the following: Reallocation of Shs 40.21 billion to cater for additional wages for recruitment of health workers under 19 referral hospitals. Honourable colleagues, there is a need to allocate the wage of Shs 40.21 billion currently budgeted for under the Ministry of Health to 19 referral hospitals. This is required to cater for the recruitment and absorption of critical health workers who were previously supporting these hospitals before the suspension of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding for essential health services. The beneficiary referral hospitals are the following; i. Butabika Hospital, Arua Hospital, Fort Portal Hospital, Gulu Hospital, Hoima Hospital, Jinja Hospital, Kabale Hospital, Masaka Hospital, Mbale Hospital, Soroti Hospital, Lira Hospital, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mubende Regional Referral Hospital, Moroto Regional Referral Hospital, Naguru National Referral Hospital, Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital, Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital, Kayunga Referral Hospital, and Yumbe Referral Hospital; ii. Shs 9.92 billion for various local governments, which are also detailed in Annex I; iii. Shs 1.44 billion as unspent balances under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer Programme (UgIFT), which were returned to the Uganda Consolidated Fund at the end of the Financial Year 2024/2025. This funding is required to enable the local governments to meet their outstanding contractual obligations under the programme for this year; iv. Shs 2.22 billion for the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) project as unspent balances that were returned to the Uganda Consolidated Fund at the end of the Financial Year 2024/2025. This funding is required to enable the local governments to meet their contractual obligations and avoid - (Interruption)

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I came from West Nile two days ago. When I went to fuel at Total, petrol was at Shs 9,900 in Arua City, just opposite the Arua Regional Referral Hospital. The following night, it was sold at Shs 11,000 in Arua, and the prices kept on escalating. During the day, they bring it down to Shs 6,000 or Shs 7,000. In the evening and early morning - I drove at 4.00 a.m. What are you going to do for these people upcountry in Adjumani, Moyo and Obongi? Prices have kept rising day in, day out. How are we supposed to handle this? If we have oil reserves, what are you doing for the people upcountry, especially West Nile, and particularly the districts I have mentioned? Thank you.

In this country, we have a law; the Consumer Protection Act. The fuel that is in the country - even if there has been an increase due to the exchange rate differences, we should not be expecting big price variations between the fuel here in Kampala and in a place like Arua. The assurance we need from the Government is the measures they are taking to clamp down on people who are hoarding fuel and those who are escalating the prices unrealistically. We had a press conference - I saw that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development gave very good information that fuel is available. They have orders but the people who are involved in selling fuel at an exorbitant price are exploiting Ugandans. Madam Speaker, this is where we need to see the efforts that are being implemented to ensure that they crack down and protect consumers.

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.

18675 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 iv) The Government should provide an additional Shs 0.24 billion to meet the target; v) The Government should provide an additional Shs 11.838 billion over the medium-term to construct and equip the TB isolation wards in 16 regions, except Arua, which has been provided with Shs 1.625 billion in Financial Year 2026/2027; and vi) The Uganda Prisons Service should collaborate with the relevant public institutions like the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to improve the productivity of the cotton farms. Budget estimates excluding areas It is also annexed. The overall performance is there. Then we recommend that Uganda Prisons Service should submit to Parliament project completion reports covering the financial outputs, expenditures, lessons learned, and sustainability arrangements for the revitalisation of the prisons industries project after its closure. The prisoners’ accommodation We note that the prisoner population is growing at 7 per cent per annum. We therefore recommend: i) That provision of Shs 2.983 billion be made for an additional 17 prisoner low- cost wards during the Financial Year 2026/2027; ii) Develop a project to construct mini-max prisons and low-cost prisons across the country; and iii) An additional provision of Shs 9.22 billion over the medium-term to implement the parole strategy. Production of prisoners to court We recommend an additional provision of Shs 7 billion for the production of prisoners to court in an effort to improve access to justice. Here, we noted that the rate at which courts are increasing is not matching; so, prisoners are located far away from courts. Consequently, you have to transport prisoners from far areas to court for justice. Therefore, we recommend that the amount be slightly cheaper than building a prison where court is located. Staff accommodation We recommend the development of a comprehensive project under the Ministry of Internal Affairs to provide accommodation facilities for the Uganda Prisons Service. Relocation of prisons headquarters Madam Speaker, this has been our topic for some time. This has remained outstanding throughout the current Fiscal Year 2025/2026. Plans for relocation must be finalised in the upcoming fiscal year – (Interjection) – Okay – to move from the existing premises on Parliament Avenue to create office space for honourable members of Parliament. Uganda Prisons Service requires Shs 91.5 billion to construct its headquarters over two years. The first year requires Shs 43 billion for the construction of its headquarters for the 2026/2027 budget. However, a provision of Shs 10.50 billion has been made available, leaving a gap of Shs 33 billion. We, therefore, recommend that the Government provides Uganda Prisons Service with Shs 43.56 billion over the medium-term to construct its headquarters in Luzira. The rest of the report, as it is uploaded – On gender compliance, they were scored at 75 per cent.

Madam Speaker, there are two main issues. First, the majority of people being forced off the streets are those with stalls in our markets. The Markets and Agricultural Trade Improvement Programme (MATIP) built very large markets in Mbarara, Arua, and Fort Portal, among others, but people decided to move out and start selling

There is no proper disposal and sanitation; people do everything they want. The nice Fort Portal, which would get trophies every year, cannot get them anymore and so, let us agree, ladies and gentlemen, that we need to sensitise our people and get the sanity Uganda deserves. We spent a lot of money building these markets and there is proof. If you go, you will find empty spaces. I visited Tororo and Arua. Visit your own markets and find out. People have left the markets and are selling on the streets. However, they should have been given enough warning, loud and clear. Even the method used by the staff that is demolishing is quite embarrassing. They are forceful, arrogant, spoiled, and prone to throwing things. That is a methodology but the fact is that the laws must be adhered to. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Madam Speaker, before I say a word, from the bottom of my heart, I want to pass to you my condolences. We got mixed up when we learnt about the death of your dear mother-in-law because there was a previous one. When I tried to ask my brother, Hon. Ojara Mapenduzi, he did not give me a better answer, but later I learned that you lost your mother-in-law. Now, the information to my dear sister is that when I am in Kampala, I live in your constituency. When you talk about Katabi, I live in the Entebbe area. Yes, the markets are not built. However, if you go to Katabi, there is a designated area. If you come to the Nkumba area, there is a market, Abayita Ababiri, although it is not built. If you come to Kawuku, there is a designated area. Honestly, at times, you fail to drive. If you knock down somebody, you would have already killed. You would have poured people’s goods down. For once, in this House, let us create sanity. If you want to enter Arua Regional Referral Hospital, up to where you are supposed to park your car or put your feet, you cannot pass. If we are going to say we should give them ample time, I find it ironic because you find clerks talking to people to go to the market, but they do not want to go. What means shall we use? Minimum force is necessary in every difficult situation. I am here to say that we need to fill the markets. We need to sell in the market. Madam Speaker, I also want to talk about the Parish Development Model (PDM) – the parish chiefs. One, I beg that we include Terego on the list of districts that need more money. Terego is the last created district and our parishes are at the level of those that existed during colonial times. I have parishes which have up to 19, 20 and 23 villages. My parishes are bigger than most of the subcounties in this country. For physical planning, we give money every time. I beg that we do this in a phased, comprehensive manner, not in a substandard one. This is when we put into context that Uganda is expanding every other day. I beg that this be taken into consideration.

18418 THE NATIONAL DRUG AND HEALTH PRODUCTS AUTHORITY BILL, 2025 standards and it is okay. The problem that we are facing is that people get certification from the UNBS, then when they reach the factory site, they go and do other things. An example is when 28 people died in Arua. We had given this factory a certificate, but in the backyard, they started producing something else. We are cracking down on these people who are producing fake things on the market. I appeal to all Ugandans to be alert, and in order for us to strengthen the enforcement, we have formed a committee that involves the district level, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), and internal security to help us fight the issue of counterfeit and fake products on the market. Therefore, Madam Speaker, we are working on it on both the policy level and implementation in terms of enforcement.

Honourable minister, you are saying that UNBS verifies and tests, and you have given a very good example of Arua. What happened? This is because as UNBS, you are supposed to continue doing surveillance and ensure that there is compliance with what you tested. There is also a problem with UNBS.

Madam Speaker, on the issue of Arua, I have given that example because we tested and gave certification to this person producing that liquor. However, when they reached the courtyard, they started producing something else. What was coming out of that factory was both the one that is certified and another product. It is an issue of enforcement, which we are doing. We all need to be alert, including citizens, that something which has no UNBS on the -

18349 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 12 MARCH 2026 iv. Vote 116 – National Medical Stores; v. Vote 127 - Uganda Virus Research Institute; vi. Vote 134 – Health Service Commission; vii. Vote 151 – Uganda Blood Transfusion Services; viii. Vote 401 – Mulago Hospital Complex; ix. Vote 402 – Butabika Hospital; x. Vote 403 – Arua Regional Referral Hospital; xi. Vote 404 – Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital; xii. Vote 405 – Gulu Regional Referral Hospital; xiii. Vote 406 – Hoima Regional Referral Hospital; xiv. Vote 407 – Jinja Regional Referral Hospital; xv. Vote 408 – Kabale Regional Referral Hospital; xvi. Vote 409 – Masaka Regional Referral Hospital; xvii. Vote 410 – Mbale Regional Referral Hospital; xviii. Vote 411 – Soroti Regional Referral Hospital; xix. Vote 412 – Lira Regional Referral Hospital; xx. Vote 413 – Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital; xxi. Vote 414 – Mubende Regional Referral Hospital; xxii. Vote 415 – Moroto Regional Referral Hospital; xxiii. Vote 416 – China-Uganda Friendship Referral Hospital, Naguru; xxiv. Vote 417 – Kiruddu Regional Referral Hospital; xxv. Vote 418 – Kawempe Regional Referral Hospital; xxvi. Vote 419 – Entebbe regional far hospital; xxvii. Vote 420 – Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital; xxviii. Vote 421 – Kayunga Regional Referral Hospital; and xxix. Vote 422 – Yumbe Regional Referral Hospital. I beg to lay.

17968 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT Remember, we were coming out of COVID-19, Ebola, and the chronic strikes. So, I think that we deserve a clap as the Government and Parliament. There has also been tremendous investment in infrastructure in the health sector and in the LOP’s constituency, and we have yet to be one of the best heart hospitals in Africa. I think the Rt Hon. Prime Minister did the ground-breaking in February. It was a loan from the Saudi Fund, and once it is completed, we shall stop referring our heart patients to Turkey and India. Those are some of the things. I think three weeks ago, there was a loan request for a cancer centre in Arua. The one in Mbale will soon be coming aboard. It was in the same loan request by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and then Mbarara and so forth. Madam Speaker, the issue is appropriation. Once given the right funds, I think the Minister and the Ministry of Health would be on the right track. As I conclude, the 10 th Parliament was able to borrow money, and over 200 health Centres III were built. It is for that same reason that we were able to reduce maternal mortality. I would like to implore the House to avail the necessary funds so that we can revamp all these health centres IV that we are talking about, all the ambulances that we need, and all the general hospitals that we need. I thank you, Madam Speaker.

17940 TRIBUTE TO THE UGANDA NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM Transformation.” The national event highlights West Nile region’s tourism potential and aims to drive socio-economic transformation through sustainable community-driven tourism initiatives. The celebrations will align with the global theme of tourism and sustainable transformation. The event underscores Uganda’s commitment to using tourism as a tool of social and economic development. This theme also reminds us that tourism is more than leisure and travel. It is a driver of long-term change, creating livelihoods, safeguarding cultural heritage, protecting biodiversity and promoting inclusive growth, hence ensuring that tourism benefits both present and future generations while aligning with global development goals. Countries all over the world, and Uganda in particular, are increasingly prioritising tourism as a key part of the national development agenda. I thank the Government and this Parliament for the support they have given to this sector through your leadership. As a driver of economic growth and inclusive development, the tourism sector contributes about 5.7 per cent to GDP and employs around 7.2 per cent directly of the total employment as per statistics of 2024 in this country. It is, therefore, fitting that this year’s national World Tourism Day celebrations will take place in Arua in the West Nile Region. Arua is a gateway to both domestic and cross-border tourism with its rich cultural heritage, diverse ethnic groups and untapped tourism potential. By bringing the celebrations to Arua, we want to showcase the tourism opportunities of the West Nile region and integrate the region more strongly into the national tourism development agenda. Madam Speaker, as we count down to 27 th September, the ministry, together with its agencies and partners, has lined up a series of activities across the country. They are there, and the Members can go through them. On the 2 nd , there was a launch, and on the 11 th of September, there will be a tourism fraternity which will be held, the Youth Tourism Conference and Quiz at Arua Core PTC. On Thursday, 18 th September, there will be a thematic conference in Kampala, a rhino naming ceremony on the 22 nd of September, and on Wednesday 24 th to Thursday, 25 th of September, West Nile students will engage in a competition on cultural dances, poetry and tourism fraternity will participate in sports and cycling and various other activities at Arua Public School. Then from the 25 th to the 27 th , there will be an open day with free park access to all national parks for East African citizens. I encourage Members of Parliament, please, you can mobilise a couple of your voters to access for these two days at no cost. On Friday, 26 September 2025, Arua City will host a regional tourism forum at La Confidential Hotel in Arua City, and we have invited all Members of Parliament both in writing and I want to still re-echo the same. Please mobilise people; come and we interact, share ideas and see how we grow this region in this conference on the 26 th . On Saturday, 27 September 2025, the main event of World Tourism Day will be held at Arua City Golf Course. Then, we will have an Explore West Nile campaign from the 28 th to the 29 th of September. We will have a couple of influencers, celebrities and various Ugandans shine a light to showcase what this area has to offer. In conclusion, this year’s focus on West Nile with Arua City as a host is a demonstration of our commitment to inclusive and regionally balanced tourism development across the West Nile. The promise of tourism is tangible. The region is blessed with unique cultural traditions, vibrant festivals, diverse cuisines and landscapes of extraordinary beauty. I still wish to invite all Members of Parliament and staff to join us as we celebrate World Tourism Day. [Mr Mugarra] MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

First of all, in the public gallery, we have children and teachers from St Kizito Ediofe Orphans Primary School, Arua District. They are represented by Hon. Osoru Mourine and Hon. Lematia John. You are most welcome, all the way from Arua. Thank you so much for coming. Hon. Avur, the chairman, is going to present this report. What we did was to upload it to the system. We will debate and approve it. We will make sure that we have the report because tomorrow, we will have another report. Let us go through this report and debate it. Yes?

17908 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT General reviewed 71 human rights awards, court awards, ex-gratia and compensation ordered by courts and reported that awards worth Shs 1.98 billion remained unpaid for the period ranging from two years to over 10 years. We have these pending and the committee recommends that the accounting officer should budget for the awards, and the Government should provide the requisite funds. The accounting officer, together with the Uganda Human Rights Commission, should establish the details of the beneficiaries for quick settlement to avoid the accumulation of interest. Madam Speaker, whenever we delay payment of these arrears, interest is paid on these arrears. So far, the Government is going to pay Shs 159 billion as interest on these arrears that have not been paid on time. Madam Speaker, the other report is the report of the Committee on Public Accounts (Central Government) on national regional referral hospitals and other specialised hospitals. Honourable colleagues, I am going to summarise. We are looking at the details of the following hospitals in summary. We are looking at the following: Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital, Mbale, Naguru, Jinja, Mubende, Fort Portal, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Kabale, Lira, Gulu, Moroto, Hoima, Arua, Butabika, Mulago, Kawempe, Kiruddu, Soroti, and the Mulago Women’s Specialised Hospital. Implementation and budget performance Madam Speaker, for all the regional referral hospitals we observed - I will begin with the implementation of the approved budget. Regional referral hospitals are expected to collect Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) to support the Government budget. Honourable colleagues, the total NTR was supposed to be Shs 20.406 billion, and there was an over performance of Shs 21.924 billion. However, this should be noted. From the table, the Government projected to collect the above, but Shs 21.924 billion was collected, meaning there was an over-performance. Honourable colleagues, as a committee, we noted that all accounting officers who did not meet their budgeted Non-Taxable Revenue (NTR) targets, or failed to realise their NTR contravened instructions 4.102 of the Treasury operations. The committee noted that less/non-transfer of NTR to the treasury deprives the Government of revenue and also noted that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development failed to provide revenue targets to some of these entities. That is why there was an over-performance and also an underestimation of NTR by these entities. Therefore: (i) The accounting officer should ensure that NTR targets are set based on strong assumptions and benchmarks to enable realistic NTR. (ii) The accounting officers should institute mechanisms to ensure that a billed NTR is fully collected. (iii) The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should always make prompt responses to requests of NTR revisions by entities. (iv) The accounting officers should incorporate all NTR sources during the budgeting process. Performance of the Government of Uganda warrants Madam Speaker, a total of Shs 475.44 billion was budgeted to be released to these referral hospitals and national specialised regional hospitals. However, a total of Shs 470.65 billion was released. From the above table, the Government

Thank you. He will come back with a report to give information on where Mr Sam Mugumya is. Next item? (Hon. Ssemujju rose_) No, you cannot just ambush him about Mr Sam Mugumya. Does he know him? I know Mr Sam Mugumya. Honourable minister, take note of that issue and let us know. Next item. PROPOSAL TO BORROW UP TO EURO 9.4 MILLION FROM UNICREDIT BANK AUSTRIA FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF MBALE ONCOLOGY CENTRE AND $36.5 MILLION FROM THE ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ARUA ONCOLOGY CENTRE AND RADIOTHERAPY EQUIPMENT FOR THE MBALE ONCOLOGY CENTRE

Madam Speaker, I beg to lay the proposal to borrow up to Euro 9.4 million from UNICREDIT Bank, Austria for the construction and equipping of Mbale Oncology Centre and $36.5 million from the Islamic Development Bank for the construction of Arua Oncology Centre and radiotherapy equipment for the Mbale Oncology Centre.

Thank you. That is the same issue I am trying to raise. On issues to do with the provision of services, many times I thought we should make an assessment and ensure that the first things come first. Here, we are raising issues of infrastructure that is not in place and personnel who are not there. I was talking to my District Health Officer, and he highlighted the challenges of human resources. For example, in the district, we needed four anaesthetic officers, but we only have one. We needed two radiographers, but there were none on the ground. We need 45 clinical officers, but there are only 25. We need 190 enrolled nurses, but we only have 90. The challenge is enormous. When we look at establishing activities on the ground, the first things must be put first. One, the infrastructure should have been put to avoid this kind of wastage and redundancy. Two, personnel should have been trained. Madam Speaker, it may not only be health. If you assess most of these Government activities, you will find a number of redundant equipment, whether for the agricultural sector or other sectors. If you go to Arua, you will find agro-processing equipment. Therefore, before we rush for this equipment, whatever is needed should be put in place to avoid wastage and redundancy. However, for those areas which require our support as a Parliament in terms of finance, we should urge the Minister of Finance to help us such that we put all these in place. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. If I can move to the issue of the oxygen plants, 24 high-capacity oxygen plants were procured. However, the oxygen plants for Lira, Mbale, Mbarara, and Hoima were procured by the Global Fund, not the Government of Uganda, and they came in after, not at the same time as the government ones. To date, 15 oxygen plants have been installed and are working. Nine are not. This is because each installation requires a transformer, which the Ministry of Energy was not able to provide. Parliament provided for some, and for the others, we are still waiting for the money. The Chairperson of the Committee on Health has pushed for this several times, but it is true that it consumes a lot of power. We have been pushing that the hospitals be put on the industrial line if we are to maintain them. We have yet to have a breakthrough with this request. The issue of the intensive care unit beds. Madam Speaker, you will recall that this funding was provided at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, we needed intensive care unit beds and oxygen as urgently as possible for the patients. Therefore, they were procured with the intention of having to install them in existing buildings. Some were installed, some were impossible. To date, Parliament has provided funding to construct ICUs at Jinja, Masaka, Mbale, Arua, Hoima, and Kabale. The rest, not yet. We have been requesting, and it is there in our budget. When you go through it, you will

17685 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 6 AUGUST 2025 Honourable members, you will also recall that you heard His Excellency the President publicly communicate about the matter of the roads. Some of the things that he mentioned are: 1) The dangers of excessive reliance on external financing for all the development projects, citing abrupt and disruptive donor decisions that may impede the realisation of planned projects; 2) The need for self-reliance in financing development projects; He categorised the projects into three: i) The well-done new roads, such as the Kampala-Entebbe Expressway, Kampala- Gulu Highway, the oil roads in Bunyoro, and excellent roads in municipalities such as Hoima, Gulu, Masaka, to mention but a few; ii) The very important roads that were initially good but have now deteriorated, such as Mityana-Mubende-Kyenjojo, Mukono-Jinja, Ibanda-Mbarara, and Mbarara-Ishaka highways. He attributes the deterioration to under-budgeting. iii) The local government roads used to be good, but have deteriorated because of the misuse of the Shs 1.3 billion allocated for maintenance. The President has directed the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to allocate Shs 3.2 trillion required for these roads alone. The President further undertook to have the following roads worked on: i) Mityana-Mubende-Kyenjojo; ii) Ibanda-Mbarara; iii) Ishaka-Mbarara; iv) Mukono-Lugazi-Jinja; v) Mpondwe; vi) Nebbi-Arua; and vii) Ntungamo-Rukungiri. His Excellency the President also indicated that the next manifesto will indicate other planned roads. In light of this, I will request the Minister of Works and Transport to explain to the Members, and then we will open the debate based on the President’s guidance.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am happy that the President has communicated on this matter because we met with him and the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development on the issue of these roads. He appreciated that while we may not get all the money in one financial year, he directed that those critical roads be maintained in very usable conditions. The President said we have already started on the Mityana-Mubende Road, so we must finish it. Also, the section between Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo is terrible. As we wait for the funding from the Ministry of Finance, we are moving our unit, which has been working on Jinja Road, to Kyegegwa-Kyenjojo Road to fully rehabilitate that section. We are also already committed to China Railway 18 th Bureau Group, which will work on the Nebbi-Arua Road. They have already started forward maintenance, so they will start rehabilitating the road. A contractor is already working on the Kikorongo-Mpondwe Road. They are doing forward maintenance now, but after that, they will do the full rehabilitation with funds coming in from the Ministry of Finance. We have the Ntungamo-Kagamba-Rukungiri Road. We want to save it before it deteriorates further because it has reached the stage where we can save it with a resurface, just like what we did with the northern bypass, so that road will also be done. As regards Ishaka-Mbarara and Mbarara- Ibanda Roads, we already have a company identified to work on them. It is called Shandong

17690 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT He then categorises the roads, and he says the very well-done new roads, and he talks about them. Then he talks about the very important roads that were initially good but have now deteriorated, such as Mityana-Mubende- Kyenjonjo, Mukono-Jinja, Ibanda-Mbarara and Mbarara-Ishaka. He attributes those deteriorations to under-budgeting. That is why I was saying that you give a lower lifespan because of the low amount of money, rather than giving a higher lifespan by giving enough money for those roads to be worked on. However, they said this money should be given to complete the most important roads, which are mentioned. The roads are there, which the minister has talked about. The President further undertook to have the following roads worked on: Mityana- Mubende-Kyenjonjo. I know you are very interested in the Mubende Road. Ibanda- Mbarara, Ishaka-Mbarara, Mukono-Lugazi- Jinja, Kikorogo-Mpondwe, Nebbi-Arua, and Ntungamo-Rukungiri; there are a number of them and that is why I was referring you to the NDP IV. I am happy there is only one person here, Hon. Masaba. Hon. Masaba, next is you, because you are going to talk with authority. Yes.

Madam Speaker, our scope covered 10 areas, which I am going to go through in summary form. We looked at the legal and regulatory framework of these cities. On 28 April 2020, the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Raphael Magyezi, tabled a Motion seeking Parliament’s approval of the proposal to create new cities, which Parliament approved on 28 April 2020. The new cities were to be operationalised in clusters beginning 1 July 2020 to July 2023 with Jinja, Mbarara, Gulu, Mbale, Arua, Fort Portal and Masaka, taking effect with the new Financial Year 2020/2021. Madam Speaker, I beg to go to the observations and recommendations. 1. The Legal and the Regulatory Framework The committee observed that despite the fact that the Attorney-General provided his opinion, the minister failed to present regulations to address contradictions between cities and districts. The regulations are intended to streamline the operation of the Local Government Act Section 175(1). Section 175(1) requires the minister to make regulations for effecting the provision of the Act. 2. Whereas the creation of the new cities does not violate any provision of the Constitution of Uganda, their management and administration need to be harmonised. The committee recommends that the Government should introduce an appropriate Bill to govern cities in their uniqueness in operation, structure, and service delivery. Alternatively, the Government should amend the Local Government Act to incorporate administrative and governance legal frameworks for cities. The Ministry of Local Government should come up with regulations on the governance of cities and table them before Parliament within three months from the time this report is adopted. The physical development plans of these cities Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Local Government classifies gazetted cities, municipalities, and town councils as urban areas. The Local Government Act Cap. 243 empowers the ministry to declare an area urban if it satisfies the following criteria; a. Has a minimum of 25,000 people for a town council, 100,000 people for municipality, and 500,000 people for a city. b. Has a master plan for land use. c. Has available water sources and can meet the cost of providing services. d. Preparation of urban physical plans. Madam Speaker, again, allow me to go to the observations. The committee observed that whereas the cities have approved physical plans, developments are not guided by those plans. The ministry has not yet provided funding for new cities to develop physical development plans. For those that have plans, funding was provided by development partners. The majority of the residents in these new cities live in unplanned areas and, as a result, experience development problems that put more strain on the already existing infrastructure. According to the Building Control Act Section 28(3), the chairperson for the planning and development committee of the district council shall be the chairperson of the district building committee. Subsection (5) provides that the chairperson of the urban planning and development committee of the urban council

No, they are ten cities. They are: Arua, Gulu, Soroti, Mbale, Jinja, Masaka, Mbarara, Fort Portal, Hoima and Lira. Those are operational, out of the 15. Now, five cities are the ones which are not operational.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to salute the committee for the work well done. I am from Terego, but occasionally, I come to Arua City, which is one of the new cities. The areas he alluded to, especially garbage collection, are crucial for the new cities. So, it is imperative upon the nation to specifically allocate money to the new cities for their operationalisation because the influx of the population is at a very high rate. We used to run up to Kampala, but now the number of buses that travel to Kampala every other day has reduced because we have a city called Arua. We share Arua with the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. They are lucky to have a city in Uganda, and in Arua. There is also the issue of water challenges. Whatever the National Water and Sewerage Corporation had planned is so small now for the cities. There is a need to plan for water, especially by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation. Thank you so much.

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

Thank You, Madam Speaker. I also request the minister to be cognisant of the six districts that did not receive all the equipment. We have heavy rains in West Nile and our roads have gone “to the dogs.” Additionally, the road from Karuma to Arua is taking a decade. The people of West Nile are demanding for a definite timeline when you can will finish it because many are perishing on that road and the Terego Road, which used to be called Wadri Road shifted to -

17514 BUDGET SPEECH For example, we completed, equipped, and commissioned three regional blood banks in Hoima, Arua, and Soroti, operationalised 16 high-capacity oxygen plants across key regional referral hospitals, continued infrastructure development and equipping of the two specialised centres for cancer and cardiovascular care; infrastructure development of Lubowa Specialised Hospital is now at 68 per cent progress, and training of the specialists is ongoing; constructed new maternity wards and the staff houses in the health centres II that are being upgraded to health centres III, distributed 20 digital X-ray machines to general hospitals, and installed CT scans in 14 out of 16 regional referral hospitals; 3. The government implemented interventions for preventive healthcare for disease prevention and promotion of healthy lifestyles. For example, the Government trained and deployed community health extension workers across the country to deliver essential health education on hygiene and sanitation, nutrition and disease prevention, and to support routine immunisation effort; undertook residual spraying in 13 districts which protected the lives of 2.7 million people and 560,000 households against malaria, and introduced the malaria vaccine into the extended programme on immunisation, targeting children under five years of age; 4. Improved digitisation of healthcare services by extending connectivity of the electronic medical code system in four national referral hospitals and 16 regional referral hospitals. This has improved patient records management, drug dispensing, and monitoring the attendance of health workers; and 5. Strengthened the national ambulance and emergency care system by providing additional ambulances to improve the national emergency response and referral system. Madam Speaker, to further improve the health of Ugandans, a total of Shs 5.87 trillion has been provided in the next Financial Year 2025/2026. The priority intervention will include: 1. Functionalising health centres IV; 2. Strengthening primary health care and community health services; 3. Scale up of national e-health infrastructure; 4. Promotion of nutrition and education and reproductive health; 5. Continued deployment of community health extension workers; 6. Strengthening the national ambulance and emergency referral system; and 7. Construction of specialised health facilities for cancer and cardiovascular care. Education Madam Speaker, the following milestones have been achieved in the education sector: (i) Provided access to universal primary education for 9.2 million learners and 905,116 learners under Universal Secondary Education -

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank you for raising in the House the plight of staff that got affected by the rationalisation exercise. While I was travelling yesterday from the constituency, I had an opportunity to interact with the staff of Obongi-Sinyanya Ferry. These are staff, some of whom have been put on as skeletal staff to continue the operation of the ferry services. Their salaries have not been paid for long. There are staff who have been laid off, expecting their severance package, as well as their terminal benefits. These have not been paid. Further still, just across the ferry, there is a very bad spot that threatens to cut off the ferry service. Call-off orders have been put to the Ministry of Works and Transport, and six months down the road, no work has started. Vehicles travelling from Arua to Juba via Obongi incurred losses, damages to their vehicles, rotting of goods because of inaction by the Ministry of Works and Transport, caused by the inaction of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to make resources available. This beats the spirit and the intentions of RAPEX. We urge the Government, as you have already stated, to take action to address the plight of the workers who are languishing. I submit.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for that guidance. As we speak, apparently we have lost most of this public land due to a lot of fraudulent processes that have been done to dispose of them. Development happens on land, not in the air. Therefore, for purposes of this particular request by KCCA that has been brought to the attention of the Parliament, I ask honourable colleagues that we support and authorise them to go ahead and dispose them off because due diligence has been done by the committee, and the purpose for which it is going to be disposed of is very clear to us. In the cities of Mbarara, Kampala, Lira, Soroti, Gulu and Arua, most public land has been fraudulently disposed of. We should put our feet on the ground and form a committee so that we are able to go through them. If we do not do that and this process of disposing of public land in a fraudulent way continues, the Government will lose a lot of public land. Madam Speaker, it is also true that we cannot leave this public land in the cities redundant for long, yet we can authorise investment on it. You cannot talk about development when there is no land. As long as there is due diligence and

17330 MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET, 2025/2026 c) Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Acholibur Road – Shs 166.25 billion; d) Kisoro-Nkuringo-Rubugiri-Muko Road - Shs 1,260.98 billion; that is a long road; e) Moyo-Yuumbe-Koboko Road – Shs 125.08 billion; f) The rehabilitation of Mityana-Mubende Road (100 kilometres) - Shs 21 billion; g) Proposed upgrading of Kyenjojo (Kiruhura) Bwizi-Rwamwanja-Kahunge (68 kilometres), Mpara-Bwizi (37 kilometres) – Shs 109.14 billion; h) The upgrading of Iganga-Bulopa-Kamuli Road (57.2 kilometres) Shs 42.55 billion. Colleagues, the list of the high impact projects is in the report; i) There is also Rehabilitation of District, Urban and Community Access Roads (DUCAR), which will continue under the Ministry of Works and Transport. So, DUCAR roads - Shs 91.78 billion; j) The road fund management has also been given Shs 91.78 billion. On tourism, colleagues, following the ATEINI strategy, tourism has been boosted. Tourism Development a) Shs 11.16 billion for the Mount Rwenzori tourism infrastructure. This includes improving the existing trails and establishing shorter ones, improving the existing bridges, taking into consideration the issue of the flash floods, providing eco-friendly accommodation facilities, improving the safety of tourists by establishing rest points along the trails, among others; b) Shs 21.52 billion for the development of the museums and heritage sites for cultural tourism; and c) Shs 10.15 billion for the development of the source of the Nile tourism infrastructure that includes construction of the modern piers, docking places for boats and other amenities. Human Capital Development On health, a few highlights are here. Some of the highlights include: i) Shs 1,012.19 billion for the Global Fund for Tuberculosis, AIDS and Malaria; ii) Shs 194.2 billion for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI) vaccines and health sector development; iii) Shs 57.89 billion towards Uganda COVID-19 response and emergency preparedness; iv) Shs 65.65 billion for the construction and equipping of the Uganda Heart Institute; v) Shs 42.14 billion towards infrastructure development at Uganda Cancer Institute; vi) Shs 116.94 billion towards rehabilitation and construction of general hospitals. This is a new resource to all the general hospitals in the country. A sum of Shs 116.94 billion has been allocated for construction and rehabilitation; and vii) Shs 30.75 billion for the establishment of regional oncology and diagnostic centres in Arua, Mbale and Mbarara; viii) Shs 623.51 billion for essential medicines and health supplies for all health centres, general hospitals, regional referral hospitals and national referral hospitals. Colleagues, it is worth noting that the Ministry for Finance has restored Shs 100 billion of the fund that was removed from National Medical Stores last year. It has been restored into the budget and this is really a great development; we thank the ministry for that. Education a) Shs 244.94 billion towards the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project Phase 2; b) Shs 12.87 billion towards the development of the Primary Schools Project; c) Shs 54.44 billion towards funding the Vocational Projects Phase 2; and d) Shs 7 billion towards the Uganda National Examination Board infrastructure project.

Hurnsn Capttel Dcvelopnent Hedth Servlcer: i. UGX 1,Ol2.l9bn - Global F\rnd for TB, AIDS and Malaria; ii. UGX 194.26a - GAVI Vaccines and Health Sector Dwelopment iii. UGX 57.t9ba - tourards Uganda Covid 19 Response and Emergency Preparedness; iv. UGX 65.55bn for constnrction and equipping of the Uganda Heart Instihrte (UHD v. UGX 42.l4bt towards infrastnrcture dwelopment at Uganda Cancer Instihrte (UCI); vi. UGX 116.94b4 towards rehabilitation and constmction of General Hospitals; vii. UGX 30.75blr for establishment of Regional Oncologr and Diagnostic Centers in Arua, Mbale and Mbarara viii. UGX 623.51b4 for essential medicines and health supplies for all Health Centers, General Hospitals, Regional Referral Hospitals and National Referral Hospitals; Education: a) Ushs /f,,.$$a towards Uganda Secondary Eclucation Brpansion Project phase II b) Ushs l.Z.t7bn towards Dwelopment of Primary Schools Project. c) UShr gQ,.$la towards funded Vocational Project Phase II d) UShs 7.OOba towatdr Uganda National Exarrrination Board Infrastructure Project II Dldtel Transformetloa UGX 197.Otbn has been allocated to the Government Network (GovNet) project towards orpanding the digital infrastnrcttrre outreach, strengthening infrastruchrre among others. digital services in priority Energr, OII aad Gas lrevelopmeat: a) UGX 686.35ba towards midstream petroleum #L Some of the planned include, Supervision of in Uganda, 'f\S s EACOP ffi .-\fiJE). of the 31 N

Votc ' . '- _-':i'- UculnUo rmrt(UGXOOOI RGfGrrl Horpltdt 403 Arua Hoqrital 11,525,914 404 Fort Fortal Hospital 12.943.6L9 405 Gulu Hospital L4.57L.970 406 Hoima Hospital 13,313,426 407 Jinja Hospital 18.335.966 408 Kabale Hospital 12.100.368 409 Masaka Hospital 13,452,7L2 410 Mbale Hospital 16,738.569 4Lt Soroti Hospital 9.9t2.492 412 Lira Hospital L5.522.676 413 Mbarara Recional Hospital 18,645,268 4t4 Mubende Rcsional Referral Hospital L2.292.t33 415 Monoto Resional Rcferrd Hospital 11.150.847 4L6 Nacuru Referral Hospital L4,902,927 417 Kinrddu Refenal Hospital 27.401.331 418 I(awern c Rcferral Hospital 26.564.466 4t9 Entebbe Reeional Referral Hoepital 17.281,838 420 Mulaso Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital 30.925.771 42L Karrunga Referraf Hospital 14.772.948 422 H Yumbe Referral ffudoar Abroad 1 501 Ugqnda Mission at the United Nations, New York 18.306.699 502 Uganda High CotDrlission in the United Kinedom L5.640.947 503 Uganda High Comrnisaion in Canada . Ottawa 10.323.859 504 Uganda High Cornrnission in India. New Delhi 8,877,777 505 Qgrnrniggign i11 1 506 in Tanzania , Dar es gnlaarn \ 12.790.806 507 Ugand**IiEh Qsrnrnisgiqn in Niqeria. Abuia /'a^, \ 6,699,770 ( ,$ t 2,A # -ffuT a8e

Votc eoAf,iltoa rmil|Uq*omT t46 Rrblic Service Counission (PSCI 2,541,500 t47 Local Crovemmcnt Finance Corraission(LGFCl 1,500,000 148 Judicial Service Corrmission(JSCI 2,496,31O 150 Nationd Envinonment Manasemcnt Authoritv NEMAI 8,130,148 151 Uganda Blood Ttansfirsion Service (LrBTSl 4,L26,676 153 Rrblic Procurement & Disposal of Assets IPPDA) 1.295.400 154 Uganda National Bureau of Standards fi.INBSl 35,550,000 156 Ustnda I:nd Cornrnission rurc| 26,920,OOO 157 NAgeqd Forestnr AuthoritvNFAl 2t.287.691 158 I4tE41tel Security Organization (ISO) 10,241,000 159 External Security Organization (ESOI 702.O72 163 qp4dajgtir€Eents Benefits Rcgulatory Authoritv 720,OOO L64 Natiorml Council for Highcr Eclucation 100.000 166 National Council of Sports 45t.226903 167 Science, Technologtr and Innovation 40.998.100 168 Usanda Freezones a4d Drport Pnomotion Authority 2.357.698 169 Uganda Vocational end Technical Assess"rent Board r0.330.876 301 Makerere U4iircrsity 33.9L9.237 302 Mbarara UnfuersiB 34.740.706 303 Makerere UniversiBBusiness Sctrool 1.881.595 304 Kyanbogo Unftrcrsity 3.989.831 305 Busitema Unfuersjty LL.404.826 306 Muni Unftrcrsity 3,768.286 307 IGbale UniversitV 2.056.269 308 Soroti Unftrcrsitll 10.987.980 309 Gulu Unftmsity 2L.836.718 310 Lira Unfuersity 4.412.239 311 law Derrclopment Centne. 4.357.193 3L2 Uganda Mana8ement Instihrte 313 Mountains of the It@oqUnfurcrsity 5.151.599 401 Mulago National Rsferral Hospital 23.3t5.487 402 ffi Butabika R.fcErl 403 Arua 4,790,096 404 Fort Portal Hospitel A ) 114,518 405 ) Gnlu Hospitat -^ /-K ',lJ w_ 108,000 52 lPa \s & ^*dE'. It

Madam Speaker, this honourable House yesterday instructed me to come up with a statement on our national roads and the accidents that have continued to claim lives. I beg to proceed as follows; This is the statement on the state of our national roads, the increasing number of accidents across the country and the available funding for them in the Financial Year 2025/2026 budget. Madam Speaker, as I give this report, I am aware of the stage at which we are in our budget process- I hope it is uploaded. Madam Speaker, let me start by addressing the tragic accidents that have occurred on the road network this month, including the bus accident on Kisoga-Nyenga Road, the bus collision along the Pakwach–Arua Road, and the accident at the Busabala flyover. I extend heartfelt condolences to the families affected by these unfortunate events. The Government has commenced investigations into the accidents and will provide a comprehensive report. As these matters are still under investigation, I will refrain from delving into the specific details at this time. However, I would like to assure honourable members that every effort is being made to identify the causes properly, the acts of the accidents and to prevent this loss of lives on our roads in the future. On the state of the national roads in the country, there is indeed a cause for concern. As of the Financial Year 2024/2025, 1,880 kilometres of paved roads require periodic maintenance, while 615 kilometres have already deteriorated to the level of requiring full rehabilitation. This backlog is a result of consistent underfunding for maintenance activities over the years. The National Roads Development Programme faces a severe funding deficit in the Financial Year 2025/2026. The current budgetary allocations are far below the resources required for the timely completion of critical road development, rehabilitation and maintenance projects. The consequences of this deficit will affect Government programmes. This statement gives an overview of the status of funding, including the potential impact of not allocating the necessary resources. Let me start with the status of funding for National Roads. In the Financial Year 2025/2026, the total budget allocated to national roads is Shs 682 billion against a total requirement of Shs 3.15 trillion, resulting in a funding gap of Shs 2.472 trillion. Annex 1, that I have provided here, shows the detailed breakdown of the required funds. Shs 3.15 trillion is required to cover. Domestic arrears of Shs 1 trillion, which continue to accrue interest daily. Land acquisition for both ongoing and new road development projects, including projects that are externally financed. Urgent maintenance, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and upgrading of key road links across the country. Bridge and ferry development projects, including emergency works on bridges affected by adverse weather in the last two years. Honourable members, there has been a reduction in budgetary allocation to the development and maintenance of roads over the last three years as compared to the funding envelope required to implement the roads programme in the National Development Plan III (NDPIII). Allocations have sharply fallen from 90 per cent of the expected allocation of Financial Year 2022/2023 to only 20 per cent in the Financial Year 2025/2026. A summary of the allocation per financial year is shown in what I have described as Annex 2 here. This reduction in budgetary allocation is the main cause of increasing domestic arrears. Unless there is an urgent intervention that I beg Parliament to gather with us, the domestic arrears could further escalate and the next financial years will have adverse impacts. My ministry has prepared a work plan in line with the planned transport infrastructure interventions required in NDPIV and the spill-

17249 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA W EDNESDAY, 14 MAY 2025 cost, compared to waiting until the road requires full rehabilitation later on down the road. If no periodic maintenance activities are done on the national road network in the Financial Year 2025/2026, projections indicate that, in addition, 500 kilometres of paved roads, currently in fair condition, will degrade to the point of requiring full rehabilitation. This loss in asset value, Madam Speaker, has been estimated at around Shs 1.007 trillion over that financial year, that is, 2025/2026. My prayer, Madam Speaker, is that, together, the challenges I have described require urgent intervention to mitigate the adverse effects of the current funding shortfalls. I propose the following strategy to help mitigate this, and we have shared this with the different committees: 1. Provide additional resources to enable contractors on the ongoing projects such as Mityana-Mubende, Kampala-Jinja, Karuma- Pakwach, Najjanankumbi-Busabala, Kira- Matugga, Tororo-Busia, to complete them on schedule; 2. Providing funds for land acquisition and counterpart funding for ongoing externally financed projects to ensure the external resources are not left lying idle. For example, Rwekunye-Apac, Lira-Puranga, Muyembe-Nakapiripirit, Kiruhura-Kamwenge, Namagumba-Budadiri, just to mention but a few; 3. Provide funds for key maintenance projects such as in Mbarara-Ishaka, Nebbi-Arua, Mubende-Kyenjojo, et cetera, and emergency bridge repairs; 4. Provide funds for payment of outstanding arrears to reduce the accumulation of interest and maintain the service providers’ confidence in the Government’s commitment to pay for works done; 5. Prioritisation of funding for maintenance and ensuring funds are released in a predictable manner to enable proper planning for maintenance activities. Assurances Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Works and Transport commits to conducting road safety inspections at all work zones to ensure that adequate warnings in the form of signage and other safety devices are installed. The ministry will also continue to conduct inspections of black spots across the road network to install mitigation measures to ensure that the safety of our road users is guaranteed. Madam Speaker, I would like to assure you and all the honourable members that the Ministry of Works and Transport is committed to utilising the allocated resources in the most effective manner possible for reliable and safe works, transportation infrastructure and services. I beg to submit.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have read through the report, and as Members of Parliament from West Nile, we have always been presenting the challenges of the road between Nebbi and Arua here. Whenever we talk about this road, what the ministry does is to pick some soil and drop it in the pits. Within a week, it is done. During the dry season, the sand is picked up by the wind and during the rainy season, the soil is washed away by water. This is in addition to the challenges we have had with water cutting off the Pakwach Bridge. I have not seen, in the budget, how to handle these challenges that we have been facing as the people of West Nile. I would like to know what the ministry will do now that we are going into the next financial year with no allocation to rehabilitate the Nebbi-Arua Road. Mr Speaker, we are happy that we pushed for an allocation of Shs 1 billion for roads in local governments. However, this running financial year, the ministry came up with a new guideline, removing the five per cent, which was allocated for administration and oversight. This year, the local governments have been challenged on how to oversee and maintain the roads. I would like to request the ministry to take note that two years down the road, the roads that we were rehabilitating with the Shs 1 billion are getting damaged. They can review the guideline for the use of Shs 1 billion. We can allocate some money for Road Fund to maintain the roads that we have done within the Shs 1 billion. Thank you.

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.

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity. I would like to thank the committee for the report. I am glad that Hon. Musa Ecweru, the minister, is here. He promised to come to West Nile; he has never come one year later. I hope you will give us a report on your plan for the Nebbi-Arua Road. I almost died on that road yesterday morning as I was coming here. It has life-threatening potholes. Give us a report of what your plan is. Secondly, Mr Speaker, the committee reported that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has budgeted Shs 10 billion for the maintenance of upcountry aerodromes. The available money is Shs 1.8 billion, yet they need about Shs 8.2 billion to do it. Last financial year, CAA budgeted Shs 20 billion to work on the Arua Aerodrome runway. The ministry stopped them. They took their company called East of Eden to do a feasibility study. One year and three months later, there is not even one page of a feasibility study. The money that was budgeted was later diverted to Jinja. The ministry needs to tell us what their plan is. Are they doing it deliberately? That airport is the second busiest domestic airline airport after Entebbe. What is your plan? Are you frustrating us? What do you want us to do? Do you want us to walk to Kampala so that you feel these guys are really strong? Honourable minister, the country should improve all the transport systems so that we can grow. If you go to Tanzania, the domestic routes are operating very well because all the airports in the regions are working very well – (Member timed out.)

17139 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 16 APRIL 2025 Two, this Shs 1 billion for road maintenance in the districts is a gift to some technical officers in the districts and cities because Arua City and other cities in the country have no road equipment, I have not seen the committee come up strongly with a budget for road equipment for the 10 cities in this country. It would be prudent for them to have that factored in. Lastly, the ongoing construction works in the country; I have two points to mention to the committee. As I was driving from Arua to Kampala, between Olwiyo and Karuma – the minister communicated that after the rehabilitation of Karuma Bridge, Ayago and Karuma were opened. Honourable minister, you did not provide road safety signs on the road. One side of the Ayago Bridge has no guards. There are just a few poles – (Member timed out.)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. My observation is that the committee only captured Shs 44 billion for the compensation of the Tororo-Gulu Meter Gauge Railway Project, without indicating the compensation for the few landlords in Arua City that vacated their land for the construction of Arua Airfield. I pray that the committee also captures that, such that the few landlords who were not catered for, are catered for. Secondly, Arua-Biliefe Road - I am raising this again - and the Arua-Lia-Odramacaku Road are generating a lot of revenue for this country. We have border markets there. However, the roads are not in a good state, and I do not know how long they are going to take to work on them. The electorates keep asking us, and we are heading towards the campaign period. I pray that the ministry can provide an answer, or help us to work on those roads. Those are my two observations.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank the chairperson for a substantive report. The chair raised an issue on exploration, where they need Shs 10 billion to do a feasibility study on the occurrence of uranium. I think this is a very good opportunity for our country. We have relied on hydropower for a long time and time has come for us to look at a diverse energy source. Therefore, I support that we give them the Shs 10 billion to do the feasibility study and we move to implement the uranium project in Soroti University. Also, I understand that it goes beyond Busoga. It is in Buhweju, Arua according to the mineral occurrence report in Uganda. Therefore, we need to extend because it is a very good opportunity for us to empower and also have a diverse energy source. On the issue of the CUP 100-umbrella, whenever you provide water to the community or to Ugandans, you will be broadening the resource base for this country. There might be issues with this 100-umbrella problem because usually, when you put a system in place, you must review it constantly. We have a bigger population coming up, and when you supply, you need to improve the system constantly but also resource the Ministry of Water. They do not receive enough money and MPs usually come here complaining about town councils with no running tap water. If it is there, it is not functioning. We need to give them this Shs 35.85 billion, then they can come back and account. We need to see water everywhere in Uganda. If we do not do this, then we cannot question them. I support looking for the funds and resource them. The Chairperson said that we should give them money to do afforestation. I think that money should be invested in supplying water to the people because people have built in wetlands, and by the time you remove them, roughly Shs 20-something billion can be used to provide water to the communities. Thank you and thank the chairperson for the report.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Arua-Biliafe and Lia-Odramacaku road has flooded, despite being a national road with culverts installed. It has been flooding because of the recent heavy rains that we received in Arua City. Mr Speaker, the face of regional cities should look like cities. If you go to Arua City, to this day, some of our roads still flood, and the city has no road equipment units. In the previous financial year and this one that is yet to end, Parliament passed money for the road equipment units but Arua City has not received any. The Government keeps sending money; Shs 1 billion for maintenance. Arua City, having no road equipment unit, ends up hiring from the nearby districts at a very expensive rate. We end up even exchanging bitter words sometimes. It is very hard for us to absorb that money as the people of Arua City. Therefore, I request that the minister for works should give us an answer. What happened when we passed the money? The other time you said you procured 80 per cent and the balance was 20 per cent. We gave you money again, but this time you only gave 14 districts. What happened to Arua City? Is it not a regional city? Can you give attention to Arua City, because we do not have road units and our roads have looked terrible for the last five years? We are here struggling – (Member timed out.)

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.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Allow me to thank the chairperson of this committee and its members for having considered the cities and municipalities that do not have road equipment units. Arua City will at least smile. Finally, this is what we have been battling with. Secondly, my concern is about local revenue collection by all local governments in this country. We all know that there are complaints everywhere. If you are to move to the councils, they always complain about sending local revenue to the Consolidated Fund and yet sometimes, they will have a big issue and would want to use their money within the local governments but unfortunately, the Public Finance Management Act does not permit them to use money at source. I request the honourable minister to bring this Act so that we can amend it because it is what we have been battling with. A city like Arua collects a lot of revenue and sends it to the Consolidated Fund but it is very hard for us to get this money back. We are struggling yet we are sending a lot of money to the Consolidated Fund so why don’t we amend the Public Finance Management Act in order to cater for that? That is my observation and I want to tell the chairperson that your committee is doing very well, especially on issues of the city and the road equipment. I think I will sleep well today because of that.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I join colleagues in thanking the committee for the wonderful report. I would like to add my voice to what my Woman MP raised over the equipment for the cities. From the time these cities were created, I think we are now in the fourth year. I want to talk about Arua City, which was a combination of Arua Municipality and Ayivu County, which had seven sub-counties, making nine subcounties that are all depending on the road equipment that was being used by Arua Municipality, which had two divisions. This tells you that the city actually has no road equipment. This also makes technical officers take advantage; to inflate figures by saying that they are hiring road equipment. Since the two financial years when we received Shs 1 billion – in 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, which is about to end – roads in Arua City have never been worked upon. Figures are cooked up on paper for accountability that, “we worked on these roads”. Last year, in November, we sat for a roads committee meeting. The engineer and the town clerk said that in October, they worked on the roads in Ayivu and central divisions, which I represent. When I called my councillors and other local council leaders, they said that in October, there was no grader that went on ground and the roads remained the same. This means that these monies are just being swindled and they end up in the pockets of these people. Therefore, budgeting for road equipment for these cities is very paramount and I want to thank the committee for that. Secondly, the committee went ahead to plan for garbage trucks for municipal and town councils, leaving out the cities. I will also add my voice that the committee should incorporate garbage equipment for the cities so that the cities can be kept clean. Finally, Mr Speaker, I want to talk about support to former leaders. Support in the area of burials and the rest are good, but when it comes to buying of vehicles, for example, I might have served as a Speaker, after that I served as a Prime Minister, after that I served in another big portfolio, and I will be considered for benefit in all those. I think we need to amend our laws to cater for one position when the person is still alive because it will be a waste of resources for this country. Yet we have other needs in other sectors. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. We had already discussed most of the things here and we updated the House. For example, on garbage, I wonder why the Member brought it up yet when he hosted me in Arua, I found two brand new garbage trucks. Is he around? He should explain why he is lying to the House. Two, Hon. Florence Asiimwe talks of reviewing the decentralisation framework. We are on it, Mr Speaker. We have presented it twice to the Cabinet and we are taking on the corrections that we were meant to do then we shall bring it to Parliament. On huge parishes, Mr Speaker, we have explained that the gist of the problem is the high numbers. We have failed to get numbers from the Uganda National Bureau of Statistic (UBOS) but we are now practically doing it

16867 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 9 APRIL 2025 as the Ministry of Local Government, going down using our Commissioner in Charge of Local Council Development to establish our own numbers. We shall base on those to advise the ministry for finance to increase the funding. Subdividing the parishes will not help because the numbers are the reason why we need more money. Hon. Asiimwe talks of a cash bonanza. I wish to express my anger over such a comment from a Member of Parliament. When we see these people eating money, we should take action there and then. If you see them in bonanzas and giving you fake documents, we should work very hard to ensure we curb thieving of government funds in our constituencies. Mr Speaker, we have been advising that the mother district, out of which the city was curved, should lend the machines to the city. Most cities are doing that, as we work out their own road equipment, having supplied 15 new sets of road equipment to the newly created districts. Local revenue collection. During our visit – I am the one who covered northern Uganda. I was in Kole, Arua, and others - Yes, there are delays but I want to confirm that the money will come. However, when the money comes, the problem is the district. The Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) - I went to Kole and found a very big scandal. The money was coming back but it was not being given out. Check on your CAOs. The money may come late and the ministry for finance has an explanation, but giving out money should be supervised by all of us. On the roads that hon. Patrick Bingi brought up, we have decided to supervise the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Program (USMID) funded roads. However, the nature of the roads is not ordinary. They install culverts and they make pavers. The quality and the amount of murram put is not just a matter of mere scattering. Hon. Bingi, you should go, look at the bills of quantities, and then come and bravely say 120 is too much because the quality of the work is bad. If it is bad, we shall reprimand them and make them repeat it. For Hon. Kwizera, the Speaker has answered you ably. I do not need to go through that again. I am touched by Hon. Hellen Auma’s comments. How do they recruit? Why recruit people outside Busia? We should avoid tribalism. We recruit considering qualification, suitability of the work, and expressing that physically in the interviews. These days, they do written and oral interviews. You are free to work in Kabarole, and my people are free to work in Busia, if they meet the qualification demands. For only two teachers, I do not think it is true. For local government, the district service commissions are open and the CAO’s duty is to give information and submit the vacant positions. The Minister of Public Service will allude to that but I know our CAOs submit. Where they do not submit, bring arguments and then we will hold them responsible. Regarding reduction of our budget, we are complaining to Mr Musasizi. Honestly, when you reduce the money, you reduce the services and it means our people will not get the required services. For Hon. Amos Okot of Agago, we are compiling the list and the Speaker gave me time to present. My turn is coming next Tuesday. I will provide the list, Mr Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the honourable minister. Colleagues, what the minister needs to do for us - UDB has branches countrywide. However, the resources that the Government is allocating to UDB are limited, small and cannot serve this country. What we need to do is ensure you capitalise UDB with adequate funding so that it can serve the people of Tororo, Arua and so forth. But as of now, the resources in UDB are so limited that the investment that we need cannot be addressed.

Is it seconded? (Members rose_) It is still seconded by Hon. Oboth, Hon. Persis, minister for internal affairs, Hon. Okumu, Hon. Alanyo, Hon. Ibanda, Hon. Apolot, Hon. Ochwa, Member for Sheema, Member for Apac, Hon. Maximus, Member for Arua, Hon. Orone, Hon. Joan, Hon. Mariam, Member for Kumi Municipality, Hon. Susan, Hon. Apea, Hon. Nekesa and Member for Nabilatuk. Honourable members, I am still putting the question. (Hon. Ssemujju rose_) Was there no motion, Attorney-General?

Thank you, Hon. Linda. Is the motion seconded? Okay, it is seconded by honourable - let me start with the men, Hon. Odur, Hon. Nambeshe, Hon. Ssewungu, Hon. Jonathan, Dr Baryomunsi, honourable for Tourism, Hon. Wilfred, Hon. Nyeko, Hon. Allan, Hon. Mwijukye, Hon. Allan Ssewanyana, Dr Abed, Hon. Okello, Hon. Gerald, Hon. Emmanuel, Hon. Okot, Hon. Margaret, Hon. Connie, Hon. Apea, Hon. Paska, the honourable member for workers, the honourable member for Dokolo, Hon. Santa, Hon. Akello, Hon. Lawrence from Zombo and the honourable member for Alebtong. It is also seconded by , Hon. Lillian, Hon. Patrick, Hon. Baba, Hon. Ochwa, the honourable member for Lyantonde, the whole of Arua, “Matchbox”, and Hon. Atima, honourable minister Ssenga , Hon. Victoria, Hon. Mamawi, Hon. Wokorach, Hon. David, Hon. Jane, Hon. Patience, Hon. Akumu, Hon. Mpindi, Hon. Jessica, Hon. Jennifer, Hon. Catherine, Hon. Noelina, my uncle from Bugisu, Hon. Ethel, Hon. Rita, Hon. Okot Ogong, Hon. Gen. Elwelu, Hon. Kamukama and the whole House. Do you want to speak to your motion?

16670 THE ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS BILL, 2024 Tuesday, 11 March 2025 Consideration of the reports on ministerial policy statements will be done from 8 to 17 April 2025. This is to put to notice the committee chairpersons and Members that they should work hard to beat the deadlines. Please adhere to the timelines as stated in the Rules of Procedure. Honourable colleagues, I will amend the Order Paper to allow the minister for finance to table the Supplementary Schedule No. 3 when we get to the item of laying of papers. I received sad news from our colleague, Hon. Jackson Atima, of the demise of the late Hon. Haruna Adam Emaga, the first Member of Parliament in the National Resistance Council from Arua Municipality in the West Nile Subregion. That was in 1989. He died on 10 March 2025 in Arua Regional Referral Hospital and burial is today in Lima Village, Koboko District. I kindly request that we observe a moment of silence in his honour. (The House rose and observed a moment of silence.)

16707 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 11 MARCH 2025 them in the store. You would rather give them to a school where there is power. I do not know how it happened that UCC could have given computers to a school but then did not provide solar power. So, I will follow up with that school, which was reported in Arua. But if you have any other school in your constituency, alert us so that we immediately work with either the Minister of Energy to extend power there, if she can or in the intervening period, we support that school with solar energy, in order for the computers to work. The other area that UCC has been supporting is building towers – emilongoti , as we call them in vernacular. The masts are largely built by the private sector and there are two major companies, American Tower Corporation (ATC) and another called Ubuntu. They are the ones, who largely build these towers on a commercial arrangement. However, the reason there is this fund at the UCC is that there are areas, which do not make business sense for some of these private sector actors. The Government then comes in because there are people who need a service. The licensing conditions for all these actors is that once they are given a licence, they must cover up to 90 per cent of the area within five years. For instance, if you are given a licence to build the towers like ATC, then within five years, you must extend to 90 per cent of the coverage area. The Government Then does the 10 per cent.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. My concern was unprofessionalism and several technical issues associated with Misk Airline operating between Entebbe and Arua Airports. Last Monday, the 24 th of February, this aircraft had a very bad landing in Arua. Passengers were terrified; one passenger fainted and on their return, people were wondering whether they were going to land well in Entebbe. On the 3 rd of March, this week, passengers who booked to fly to Arua were informed that there was no flight because the aircraft was undergoing service, leaving the passengers stranded and without refunding their money. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, can that you direct the Ministry of Works and Transport to explain the circumstances under which this airline was brought to Uganda to operate between Arua and Entebbe. Two, can these passengers who were left stranded be refunded through the Civil Aviation Authority? Thank you.

Mr Speaker, once the road under construction is handed over to the contractor, it is the responsibility of the contractor to maintain that road as we wait for an upgrade. So, I will cause a meeting involving the Ministry of Works and Transport together with the contractor. I will also make sure that I go to the site in Arua so that we can have this worked on.

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.

Mr Speaker, I want to give the evidence of Jean Longo, a Community Development Officer (CDO) in Arua; Apai Babiku (blind), a Town Agent in Koboko; Amina Namukasa (blind), a CDO in Masaka; Stephen Kiyimba (blind), a rehabilitation officer in Wakiso; and Margret Nazziwa (blind), a CDO in Wakiso. Mr Speaker, these people, despite the Act that is there, are not being assisted. My prayer is that the Minister of Public Service tells us why this Act is not being enforced. I thank you.

16533 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2025 they occupy, the asset inventory for the PAPs on public land in Nakawa East Constituency was updated and new valuation reports were compiled. The review of these reports is being finalised for submission to the Chief Government Valuer by the end of this month. After approval by the Chief Government Valuer, the values will be disclosed to the affected persons. The second question came from Hon. Lawrence Songa, MP for Ora County, Zombo. The 120-kilometre Nebbi-Goli-Paidha-Padea- Zombo-Zeu-Warr-Vurra-Lia-Adramacaku Economic, Revenue Generating and Border Security Road appeared in NDP II, NDP III and the NRM manifesto. Why is it still appearing to be at the feasibility stage in the NDP IV, yet the final detailed engineering design for tarmacking was completed in March 2018? Madam Speaker, the feasibility studies and detailed designs for the upgrading of the Goli- Paidha-Zombo-Zeu-Warr-Vurra (l00km) and Arua-Lia (15km) was completed in March 2018. The Ministry of Works and Transport is in touch with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to ensure commencement of the procurement of the civil works contractor. Civil works are expected to commence in the Financial Year 2025/2026. His second prayer was: What is the progress of seeking funding from BADEA, African Development Bank and others for prioritising the tarmacking of this road in NDPIV? My response, is that BADEA carried out an appraisal for the upgrading of Nebbi-Goli (16km) during the period 26 February to 4 March 2024 and are currently in discussions with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for the financing of this road. His prayer number three was: why is the construction of bridges, including Adoka, Umol, Aniza, Ora, Nyagak and Ayuda, moving slowly? My response is that for the bridges; Adoka (Odrua), Omolo (Umol), Aniza, Ora, Nyagak and Ayuda along Nebbi-Paidha-Padea-Zombo- Zeu-Warr-Vurra-Lia, only Odrua Bridge is under construction with the bridge structure complete and the construction of access roads ongoing. Umol, Aniza, Ora, Nyagak and Ayuda are in fair condition, although they are single lane. They will be upgraded during the upgrading of Vurra-Goli-Nebbi Road. The contractor is already on site. His prayer number four was: Can Dei- Panyimur-Pakwach-Wadelai-Rhino Camp- Obongi-Laropi-Dufile economic, tourism and security road be included and fast-tracked as an oil road, since it is in the oil belt? My response is that oil roads are those meant to facilitate the exploitation and transportation of oil. The Ministry of Works and Transport will engage the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to assess and advise whether the stated are oil roads. Feasibility studies and detailed designs will be carried out in the medium-term, as resources may permit. Question number three came from Hon. Shartsi Kutesa Musherure, the MP, Mawogola County. Her first prayer was: With the successful launch of Electricity Access Scale-Up Project, could the Prime Minister explain why there has been a delay in the project’s implementation? My response is that the Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP) was designed to increase consumer connections in the country by targeting over one million new connections. Connections commenced in March 2024 and over 100,000 new consumers have so far been connected. The connections are limited to no- pole and one-pole service, on a first come, first served basis. The connections programme is, therefore, ongoing. Her prayer number two was: furthermore, could there be clarification as to whether the project prioritises grid extension or service connections for the beneficiaries, and what timelines are in place for its roll-out?

16534 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME My response is that over the last 10 years, the Government concentrated on grid extensions across the country with minimum service connections. The Electricity Access Scale- UP Project was, therefore, designed to make service connection for optimal utilisation of the existing network. The project covers no-pole connections, one-pole connections, transformer injections in a radius of about three kilometres from the existing network. The third prayer from the honourable member was: on what basis were the beneficiaries selected? Given that the project obtained financing of more than $600 million, the Government must justify why people of Mawogola North remain underserved. My response is that based on the above project design, Ssembabule is a beneficiary of the Electricity Access Scale-up Project. The Government is also developing the Grid Expansion and Support to Parish Development Project to address issues of un-electrified administrative offices, public institutions and value addition centres, of which Ssembabule is a beneficiary. Surveys have started from West Nile and will soon roll out to other parts of the country. The next question was from Hon. Rose Obigah, the Woman Representative, Terego District. She requested for an update on the illegal mining activities in Onivu Village, Okavu Parish, Odupi Subcounty, Terego District. My response is that on 20 January 2025, a joint team visited the site where the illegal mining activities were reported. Upon investigation, it was established that the illegal mining activities were being conducted by Li Kuang Mining Co. Ltd, a company holding Exploration Licence EL00383, with jurisdiction of operation in Yumbe and Obongi districts. The company was found to be operating outside its licensed area, specifically in Terego District, in violation of the terms of its licence. As a result, all mining activities at the site were immediately suspended, and operations were halted to prevent further environmental degradation and oil spills in the area. To further address this matter, the ministry, through the inspector of miners for the West Nile region, undertook a detailed inspection visit to the area on Tuesday, 4 February 2025. It was confirmed that the operations were not within the jurisdiction of the company licensed. The operations were illegal, being undertaken under an exploration licence. Li Kuang Mining Company Limited was directed to remove all its machinery and equipment from the site, and vacate the site entirely. The company was advised to restore environmental damages caused by its activities. Madam Speaker, artisanal miners were encouraged to form associations to register and acquire artisanal mining licences. Madam Speaker, a Show Cause Notice will be issued to the company for potential cancellation of its licence (EL00383) due to non-compliance. Hon. George Bhoka Didi,MP, Obongi County:the Obongi-Sinyanya ferry operations have been on halt since the 10 th of February this year, due to a bad landing site and mechanical problems. Efforts have been made to contact the Minister of Works and Transport regional and national offices, to provide urgent repairs to the Obongi ferry, but repairs have not been done up to now. The breakdown of this ferry affects pupils who cross from Sinyanya on a daily basis to attend classes in Obongi, patients who access health services in Obongi Health Centre IV, and the business fraternity that transports goods from Arua and Adjumani, to Juba in South Sudan. His question is that: what steps have been taken by the Ministry of Works and Transport to expeditiously restore the Obongi ferry operations? My response is that between August and early December 2024, the water levels, as you all know, at the Obongi-Sinyanya ferry crossing,

Thank you very much, honourable member for giving way. Madam Chairperson, all criminals are measured under the same yardstick. Whether you are black, blue, DP, or NRM, all those in prison are people who have committed crimes and are all measured under the same yardstick. Even if the committee is chaired by a Member from the Government side, there is no difference. When you go to Luzira right now or to any prison, whether in Arua, you will find that there are more NRM members than the Opposition. Therefore, we can have this chaired by the Government side. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise on a matter of very urgent national importance regarding the absence of radiologists at our regional hospitals. Last week, I had a patient who was referred to do a CT scan. He went to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. It was conducted, and they asked him to provide a phone number on a smartphone so that they could give him the video. Unfortunately, he had no smartphone. Therefore, the video had to be sent to another person who had a smartphone. Eventually, it was sent to me. They told him to go back after four days and get the results. At first I did not understand why it takes about four days until I asked a friend, an OB actually, who works in Mulago Hospital. That is when he explained to me that the policy has now changed: all the results are analysed centrally from Mulago yet there are very few radiologists working on those issues. Indeed, it took four days for the results to come. However, I was lucky that I had somebody who could interpret the results immediately and I got the results of my patient immediately. How about the other Ugandans who are unable to get people to help them interpret the results quickly? This is, to me, a very big problem, because emergency issues are not handled immediately. My plea to the Minister of Health is that this issue must be urgently handled since we are now in the budgeting process. Can we have radiologists employed and deployed? I am reliably informed that it is not only in Gulu. Even Soroti, Mbale, and Arua Regional Referral Hospitals have nothing. This is a crisis and many Ugandans are actually suffering silently. Madam Speaker, Ugandans need an urgent answer. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The committee reported that we continue to pay commitment fees on loans that we borrow. From the time we joined this Parliament, especially us the first-timers, this has been reported, and the question that has been asked i: “Why do we borrow when we are not ready to utilise the money?” Instead, we are continuing to spend on some monies that we have borrowed. I think the Minister will explain to us why this is happening and why it is continuing to happen. I am from one of the remnant districts, that is Arua District. Until now, my headquarters staff are sitting at the city centre. Last year, the Government allocated a small amount of money to the remnant districts. We started putting some foundation and latrines to see that we could move. However, this financial year – the logic was that they are giving some small money and they will continue adding some money every financial year but this time around, there is no allocation for the remnant districts. The people of Arua District cannot continue to move far to the city to access services. Therefore, let the ministry take priority on this so that money is allocated for the remnant districts to help them move to their location. I think there is a correlation between the fact that the commercial banks are not giving enough money to the private sector; and the private sector is affected by the domestic arrears. I think there is a correlation there. That means internally, we are killing our private sector. It is reported here that the amounts that the commercial banks give to our business people are reducing. It is because our local business persons are affected by the domestic arrears that they are not getting. If we cannot balance that, then we are going to kill the local businesses that we have in this country. I urge the ministry to have coordinated budgeting. We have stalled projects. These universities – let me give an example of universities – have projects that started 10 years ago, probably they are on the first floor or second floor, but we go ahead to allocate new structures to other institutions without finishing or completing the ongoing ones as if we do not have a record of where we started and where we are going. If we cannot fast-track and have coordinated planning, we are just deceiving ourselves. For 10 years, a structure is there and you are allocating money to start new structures? Also roads, Mr Speaker, we have been crying here as West-Nilers on our road. The road between Pakwach and Nebbi was supposed to be constructed within two years. It is almost four years. Now Nebbi-Arua; we are here crying over it when that stretch is not yet even completed yet we are jumping to allocate for other roads when these are not completed. Let us have coordinated planning and, I think that way, we shall have quality delivery and have the trust of the people in us who are appropriating. Thank you.

But you do not have time. You can only give what you have; your time was already up. – No, honourable member, the clarification I was making was simple. These clubs do not even make money. In fact, golf clubs all over the world do not make money, but they protect the area through green spaces. Go to Fort Portal, Arua, they are the only ones – Mbarara, Kampala or Entebbe. I played golf with the Speaker of Singapore, and he said, “I really cannot believe it; I am next to a zoo, and I am in a very green area”. The oldest club in East Africa – Tororo. But in the end, if you do not support their maintenance, they will be stolen like the one of Gulu. They did not see any value; so they shared it. They built houses even in Lira. You are going to lose them. Now, they are being protected using the little money that comes from members. If you tax it, then you are taxing the land, and it will be gone. That is it. These clubs will be nowhere. In fact, you do not budget for them. They are just held in trust and protected by the public. Hon.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I join colleagues in thanking the Committee on Budget. The issues of schools; improvement and expansion of all traditional schools in Terego District. We have schools that are in dire need of improvement. These are; Ombatini, Aria, Otumbari and others. I think, the Governments should consider the expansion of these schools. In the health sector, Mr Speaker; there are sickle cell patients in this country. You can only get treatment of sickle cell when you go to Mulago. In Arua Regional Referral Hospital, the patients are fed on morphine to deal with the pain. It is really painful. It is important that

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity. I rise on a matter of national importance. Business-owners in Arua, Koboko, Yumbe and Moyo have expressed their frustration over the continuous robbery of their goods in a village called Enzeva, in Arua District along the Kampala-Nebbi Road. Usually, the buses and lorries carrying people and goods along this highway are waylaid by robbers wielding guns, arrows, pangas, and so on. They normally take advantage of the darkness, the steep climb, and the potholed section of the road at Enzeva. As the vehicles slow down, they are waylaid, and all the goods are taken. Our prayers, Mr Speaker: May I request the police to have routine security patrols? Secondly, may the police also set up a station at that black spot? Thirdly, the minister of works is here; may that section of the road be worked on so that the vehicles move smoothly. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, I have this issue - I will never sleep over this issue if I do not get good answers from this House and the Government. The state of the road from Nebbi to Arua is so perturbing. Yesterday, I raised it. It had no good answer from the person who represented the Government. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, the road section from Nebbi to Arua City, that is Kamu Kamu in Kuluva, Ochoko, Arivu, Bondo and Uleppi, is in a very sorry state. It needs urgent intervention from the Government. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, my question is, can you direct the Ministry of Works and Transport to undertake immediate spot-filling to avert motorists, travellers, and business communities from accidents and theft of cargo as the Government looks for a long- term solution? Secondly, Rt Hon. Prime Minister, can you direct the Ministry of Internal Affairs to support Uganda police with the new patrol vehicles and increase the personnel to patrol that – (Member timed out.)

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is directed to provide a patrol car on that road section and the Ministry of Works and Transport is also directed to undertake physical maintenance on that part of the road; that is Nebbi-Arua.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I join in thanking the minister for the report and confirming that it is important we celebrate the 39 years of NRM in power. In West Nile, by 1986, Arua Town had been reduced into ruins. Similarly, Koboko Town had been totally destroyed. We could not access Kampala. For us to come to Kampala, it took a week or two. When we are marking 39 years of peace and stability, West Nile stands with Uganda to celebrate. (Applause) Two, the education policies the NRM Government has brought; granting access to education universally for primary, secondary, and the public university policies that have created 11 public universities in this country. We now have 49 universities in Uganda that anybody can access. We can say education policies have been improved by the NRM Government, and it is proper to celebrate 39 years. In the health sector, we have health centres II and III. We also have health centres IV which has been elevated from health centres III and many Ugandans access services from them. For us as West Nile, we have Yumbe Regional Referral Hospital in addition to Arua Regional Referral Hospital; for this, we can say “Thank you.” Let us celebrate. STATEMENT

15673 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 22 JANUARY 2025 We also have improvements in the road infrastructure, although we are not satisfied. There were governments here – For instance, the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) Government was in power twice; it did not tarmac the road from Karuma-Arua to Koboko. It was later tarmacked by the NRM government. The same UPC Government that was in power twice did not connect West Nile to the national grid. We were connected to national grid just the other day. Therefore, when we are celebrating 39 years in power, we have a right to celebrate. However, we have the following concerns; I disagree with the minister on the issue of a smooth ride from Kampala to Koboko because between Olwiyo and Pakwach, the road is depleted; Nebbi and Arua, the road is depleted. These roads were done 200-

Okay. The industrial courts, LDC interventions that contribute to justice service delivery, court-related forensic analysis interventions, LC courts, DPP interventions that contribute to justice service delivery are more directly related to the administration of justice programme. Therefore, the committee recommends that all the interventions currently under the governance and security programme that relate to the enhancement of equitable access to justice for social economic development and the strengthening of justice service delivery systems should be transferred to the administration of justice programme. It is an issue of alignment of the 18 programmes, as highlighted above. Regionally balanced development The committee observes that although commendable progress has been registered in reducing poverty, regional disparities have, however, remained and increased vulnerabilities across regions. The chairman had mentioned it, so, I will not read it. The committee recommends that the Government prioritises the development and implementation of regional development plans, including comprehensive regional physical plans, to ensure balanced economic growth, equitable service delivery, and equitable resource distribution. I would have asked for an investment map, but the committee did not allow. Promotion of games and sports The committee observes that the National Development Plan (NDP) IV provides for several interventions for promoting games and sports but does not provide interventions relating to physical exercises for health reasons, amateur sports for mass participation and professional sports for commercial benefit. In addition, the committee observes that the NDP IV high-impact projects focuses only on the establishment of four regional sports stadia and 14 district sports grounds in the traditional sub-regions of Uganda. These do include international and national stadia. Further, the committee observes that the desired high-level programme results by the year 2029- 2030 provide insufficient information in regard to niche sports rankings. This hinders the effective monitoring of the high-level program results. Therefore, the committee recommends two interventions. a. That the NDP IV is amended to incorporate interventions for physical exercises for health reasons, amateur sports for mass participation and professional sports for commercial benefit. b. NDP IV high-impact projects should be amended to include three international stadia, Namboole, Hoima, and Akii- Bua, 10 KCCA artificial surface grounds (Rubaga, Kawempe, Makindye, Nakawa and Central Divisions) and 15 national stadia (Arua, Moroto, Soroti, Mbale, Tororo, Iganga, Jinja, Lugazi, Luwero, Masaka, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, Kasese and Fort Portal. Railway master plan The committee observed that the NDP IV mentions that in order to lower the cost of doing business, the focus will be on improving the transport infrastructure. However, the NDP IV is silent on the need to develop a railway

15572 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION master plan that would guide investment in the development of railway projects across the country. Without this master plan, the interventions will be haphazardly done. Therefore, the committee recommends that the Government prioritises the development of the railway master plan that clearly highlights the railway connectivity across the country. Where will it start and where will it end? Taking what? And picking what? Animal and crop traceability The committee observes that the NDP IV is silent on the comprehensive strategy for traceability for animals and crops. Currently, traceability of animals and crops is being undertaken at a piecemeal level. When international markets demand it, then we set up. The lack of a comprehensive strategy and implementation framework for traceability for animals and crops constrains the marketability of Uganda’s products internationally. The committee recommends that the Government prioritises a comprehensive strategy for all crops, livestock, and fish not just for picking one and leaving the other- (Interjection)- Yes, we should. Finally, I am finishing the last one. The NDP IV projects listed a long list of projects. The committee observed that the proposed NDP IV listed projects including the high- impact projects which are not regionally balanced. They exclude key projects required to upgrade Health Centres II, key tourism and other strategic road infrastructure upgrades, some projects listed are duplicated. You will find that the agricultural project is registered twice, projects in the completion stages have a full cost in the plan and therefore, inflate the total cost of the plan; some are at 80 per cent but they have included a full cost. Some bridges that are completed and operational are still in the plan like the Issa Bridge, Nyara Bridge connecting Arua to Otrevu, and the Kangole Bridge connecting Katakwi to Moroto. We are using the bridge but I do not know what it is doing in the plan. Other strategic impact projects that will solve Uganda’s needs are omitted in the plan. So, the committee recommends that comprehensive amendments to the NDP IV high-impact project list and the NDP IV project list is undertaken to remove project duplication, update the actual status of projects, and incorporate the high- impact projects that are listed in that annex. Two, that the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should submit to Parliament an amended NDP IV project list within one month from the date of approval of this plan -(Interjection) - is one month too much? The House will decide that but there is cleaning that must be done in the plan so that we know what we are focusing on for the next five years. Madam Speaker, the joint Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the Committee on Budget made those observations and begged that the House approve the NDP IV with the recommendations highlighted above. I beg to submit.

The procedural issue I am raising is, would it not be procedurally right for the Prime Minister to instruct the minister to come up with a comprehensive plan and strategy for the challenge of the different roads and bridges across the country that have been washed away? In reference to my constituency, Madi-Okolo, three UNRA roads have completely been cut off. From Pakwach to Arua, you cannot cross. From Arua to Madi- Okolo, you cannot cross. The information I can share is that the Ministry of Works and Transport said they cannot repair these roads until the rains are done, but people need to move. Emergencies need to be responded to. Would it be procedurally right for the Prime Minister to come up with a comprehensive measure to respond to all these challenges as far as the road sector in this country is concerned and we have it once and for all?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am going to read the executive summary. The report is quite big. Because of time, I will deal majorly with the executive summary. This is the report of the Committee on Public Accounts, on audited reports of 37 district local governments, 3 cities, 6 divisions and 10 municipal councils for the financial year ended June 2023. Madam Speaker, in accordance with Article 163(5)(a) of the Constitution and Rule 182(5) of our Rules of Procedure, the Committee on Public Accounts (Local Government) considered the report of the Auditor-General for the Financial Year 2022/2023 and wishes to report its finding to this House. Madam Speaker, the report covers the key issues in the report which will be categorised into two sections, namely; key issues in local government and key audit matters, both general and cross-cutting queries in the local government. This report, which covers 56 local governments under Kampala, Gulu, and Arua has been compiled based on the findings of the Auditor-General and observations of the committee mainly to show the state of the local governments and to aid policymakers in improving the performance of the local governments as highlighted below. Madam Speaker, we are looking at the key audit issues in local governments, general and cross-cutting. We are starting with the budget performance. The committee has considered audit reports of 56 local governments for the Financial Year 2022/2023 that were appropriated public funds and this includes three cities, 37 district local governments, 10 municipal councils and six city divisions.

15092 THE NATIONAL COFFEE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024 Total appropriated budget to local governments for the Financial Year 2022/2023; Parliament appropriated a sum of Shs 5,220 billion to all local governments in the country, out of which Shs 4,750.2 billion, equivalent to 99 per cent of the approved budget, was warranted to the local governments for service delivery. The shortfall in revenue was Shs 469.8 billion. During the year, based on warrants for the 56 entities, Madam Speaker, that forms Kampala, Gulu, and Arua audit regions, they had an approved budget allocation of Shs 2,131.453 billion, equivalent to 41 per cent of the budget allocated to all local governments during the fiscal years under review. During the financial year, a sum of Shs 1,940.37 billion was released to the 56 entities for the implementation of various Government programmes - of the approved Shs 2,131.45 billion. Thus the entity had a revenue receipt shortfall of Shs 191 billion, which is equivalent to nine per cent unrealised funds. Further, of the availed resources amounting to Shs 1,940 billion, only Shs 1,493 billion was utilised, leading to a balance of Shs 446.8 billion thus translating into absorption of 77 per cent of the availed resources. 5.1.2 Local Government Absorption Capacity The 56 local government reports considered were warranted or released a sum of Shs 1,940.37 billion equivalent to 41 per cent of the total warrants to all the local government budgeted during the Financial Year 2022/2023. Out of the resources warranted to the 56 local governments, Shs 1,493 billion was expended -

Thank you. Representing 77 per cent of the budget released. To that effect, Shs 446 billion remained unutilised and hence was returned to the Consolidated Fund as a result of the failure to absorb the resources. Madam Speaker, the absorption of funds by the local government was affected by a number of factors, including late release of funds, delays in procurement, delayed accessing of civil servants onto the payroll, change in design of construction works, among the cases cited. Notably, the local governments with the least absorptive capacities or those that returned huge sum of funds were Kitgum Municipal Council at 43 per cent, returning Shs 15 billion; Oyam District Local Government performed at 57 per cent thus returning Shs 25 billion; Pakwach District Local Government performed at 58 per cent returning Shs 14.5 billion; Agago District Local Government absorbed 60 per cent of the funds, returning Shs 17.6 billion; Lira District Local Government absorbed 54 per cent of the funds released to it returning Shs 17.6 billion and Arua City absorbed 74 per cent released to it, returning Shs 17.6 billion. Madam Speaker, on the other hand, the local governments that absorbed to near target were Gulu District Local Government (DLG) posting 100 per cent utilisation of all funds released to it, Arua DLG 94 per cent, Mityana DLG absorbed 96 per cent of the funds released to it and Mityana Municipal Council performed at 89 per cent, Moyo DLG at 87 per cent, and Yumbe DLG at 87 per cent. Those are among the best performing local governments. Madam Speaker, as I stated earlier, these are just samples we picked. The main reports are in this book. The Members will pick interest and look at their district one by one; how they performed in the Financial Year 2022/2023. Committee observation The committee observed that: i. Local governments were unable to carry out the planned activities because they did not get all the funds from the approved budget; ii. The unspent balance was attributed to a number of factors including failure to recruit, delayed deployment of teachers [Mr Olanya] STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity. I thank the minister for the report, and the ministry for helping National Medical Stores (NMS) to come up with the schedule for delivering drugs. This has sorted issues of drug shortage in the facilities. Honourable minister, I would like to draw your attention to the area of artificial shortage. As the honourable colleague noticed, you did not come up with a solution for how you will address this artificial shortage. Theft of drugs and essential items in health facilities has been the order of the day. Arua Regional Referral Hospital has been associated with such theft, we got equipment, and an ambulance stolen from the hospital. When security investigations were still ongoing - Honourable minister, your ministry decided to transfer those personnel who were involved to another location, transferring the same problem from one facility to another instead of prosecuting these people and bringing them to book. Number two, the concern I would like to put before the minister, is we have government spending money -

14688 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT Madam Speaker, the woman MP, Arua, wanted to give further information and I will stop there. Thank you.

Mr Speaker, sir, my last point. One of the authorities, apart from the Civil Procedure Act, I referred you to, Section 6, is the judgment by a very esteemed honourable Justice of the High Court; Justice Stephen Mubiru. In a case he decided in Arua - I think it was Elizabeth Ozia or something like that v. Shaban somebody. I will get a copy. It is extensive in discussing that doctrine. It cited authorities at the level of the Court of Appeal, at the level of the Supreme Court; well elaborated. I think we need to find a way of vacating that ruling and that decision so that this Parliament is seen seriously. In fact, I pity the senior lawyers who are here, if we allow it to remain, including the deputy head of the Bar and the learned Attorney-General who are here, seniors like Hon. Sseggona - that this Parliament can sit and accept - and even you, Mr Speaker, from Makerere Law School. I must emphasise that it should not be allowed to stand. I 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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let me start with the Non-Tax Revenue. When you look at the target given to these regional hospitals, you notice it is Shs 34 billion. However, the collection, which was made is Shs 28 billion. The total budget for this regional referral hospital is about Shs 1 trillion. Couldn’t the Government even make this money available? It is about Shs 1 trillion for all the regional referral hospitals. We are making our people suffer just because of pay. Some cannot afford and so, they get into problems. Can’t that be collected? Even those who have met the Non-Tax Revenue targets have done it because they charge almost everything. When you go to the hospital, you find people being charged for everything. Two, there is no uniform fees structure in the hospitals, which has also been brought out in the report. Can the Minister of Health tell us why we do not have a uniform fees structure in all these hospitals? You are leaving it to the accounting officers to determine the rate at which they charge the patients. When you come to the issue of delayed deliveries of drugs, this is like sentencing our people to death. Look at the case of Mubende. For six months, no drug was delivered. Look at the people who are living on ARVs, who cannot afford them, how do they survive? Can the committee tell us what reasons were given for failure to deliver drugs on time? I do not buy the argument given by a colleague that possibly the problem is with the delays in the release of funds. Funds are released for drugs for all these regional hospitals at the same time. Why should others receive drugs and others not? That must be addressed, Mr Speaker. There are cases like Arua. It took 46 days before the drugs were delivered. Mbale, 69 days. How would the people who cannot afford drugs survive? Look at Fort Portal; three months. How? Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, please help our people and find out what the problem is. I do not think this was due to a delay in the release of the funds. Otherwise, why should others get on time? There must be a problem with the National Medical Stores. As I conclude, there is the issue of a ban on the recruitment of personnel. Let the ban possibly apply to other areas but not areas that concern life. Surely, the Ministry of Public Service should make exceptions to some cases like the health sector because it is about life. If you are not healthy, you cannot do anything. You cannot vote or mobilise for your party. Why can’t they consider them? Mr Speaker, I want to appeal to the Government and especially the Ministry of Public Service to ensure the ban on recruitment of the staff of the health sector is lifted. Also, you have seen - Dr Ayume gave us an example of the equipment that we acquired. They are going to run obsolete because we do not have the technicians. Why would we put a lot of money into acquiring all this equipment without staff to run them? Hon. Musasizi, you are a minister for finance in charge of planning. Please plan such that we can have this equipment run. Otherwise, it is going to be a very big problem and at the same time a vote of no confidence on the leadership of this country. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I join honourable colleagues to congratulate this committee and thank you for this opportunity. In Arua District, we have a lot of problems in our health sector especially poor service delivery at the health centres with no legal supervision. If you go on the ground, you will know that people are suffering at the health centres. In Arua District, Vurra Constituency specifically does not have a Health Centre IV. We have Health Centres II and III - Pondo Health Centre III, Logiri Health Centre III, Lazebu Health Centre III, Nyadri Health Centre III, and Ayaayah Health Centre III. The distance from Vurra to Arua City, where the Referral Hospital is, is very long yet we do not have means of transport. We have only one ambulance, which is at Arua City. From Vurra to Arua City; people are suffering. In case of an emergency, getting transport becomes a problem. Our people are suffering because Vurra borders Zombo. From Zombo border to Arua Referral Hospital is very far. On the ground, there is a problem of stealing drugs by the technical staff. The Government will send the drug but after two to three days, the drugs will be over. This means there are some technical people, who are always on the ground stealing Government drugs. We are near the DRC border, and the number of people who get the services from Uganda is big. People are always lining up to get the services.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank my honourable colleague who presented a very elaborate report. First of all, Mr Speaker, Arua Referral Hospital does not only serve the people of West Nile. Knowing that we are located at the borderline, we also do serve people across the borders; the people of DRC, including South Sudan, who get treatment from Arua Referral Hospital. However, Mr Speaker, if it may interest the Ministry of Health, in most of the referral hospitals, take interest in labour suits. The labour suits that were constructed there have become very small. Women are giving birth on the floor because of the population. The situation at the referral hospital located in Arua City is worse because we have an influx of refugees. We cannot say that the referral is only meant for the people of Uganda, yet the refugees are also part of us. Therefore, honourable minister, you need to plan to expand some of those labour suits, not only in Arua Referral Hospital but in all referral hospitals. Secondly, in most of the hospital wards, we have insufficient numbers of beds. The caretakers of the patients are sleeping on the floor and the hospital verandas. What are we doing, as a country? It is very embarrassing, and because of that, somebody who is taking care of the sick one may also end up falling sick. Therefore, I request the Government to fully functionalise the lower-level facilities. Some of these referrals could be handled at those lower facilities. If you fully functionalize them with equipment, medical supplies, and staffing, we will be good to go. Lastly is the issue of faulty medical equipment. How do you buy equipment of that value, put it in one place, but you make it redundant? This happened in one of the places called Oli Health Centre IV in Arua City. We know very well Arua Referral Hospital is congested, and Oli Health Centre IV was meant to decongest Arua Referral Hospital, but some of the facilities that are in Oli Health Centre IV are not working, yet we are supposed to operate from there. Are we serious? Therefore, I would like to tell the Ministry of Health that health is an asset and so, we should not joke about with it. May you wake up, pull up your socks, and help Ugandans before anything happens to them. Thank you. ( Laughter )

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on a matter of national importance, urging the Government for a speedy intervention in a calamity that is about to befall the education sector, especially in the Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools. Mr Speaker, you are aware that UPE caters for 85 per cent of the local population in Uganda, and there is a move to parallelise the whole process. How? We are having teachers, more especially in primary schools, who are registering for early retirement. It is affecting service delivery in most of the schools. As I speak now, in a school of seven classrooms, apparently, there are four teachers catering for all the classes. We are facing a challenge, not only in Butaleja, but countrywide. As a member of the forum for children, we moved to many districts – Butaleja, Jinja, Arua, Koboko and Kalangala – and they are all facing the same issues. How does this come about? The teachers, at one point, are forced to seek for contributions from the parents and we are all aware that the President came out very clearly on this matter, that there should not be any parent making any contribution towards UPE schools. We are all aware that the budget for primary schools is very small for any school to function. We are faced with a challenge on the ground, between the offices of the Resident District Commissioners (RDC) and the headteachers in school. As I speak now, in Butaleja, we have headteachers who have been arrested. All this is affecting the services, as I have said. It is leading to an unconducive environment for the schools. My prayers are; 1. Who is going to teach the children of the poor if the rate of early retirement is not deterred? 2. Secondly, is the –

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.)

14416 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT delays of between 19 and 61 days. Mubende Hospital had delays of over six months. Arua Hospital had delays of nine to 46 days. Mbale Hospital, 15 to 69 days of delay. This is nearly committing people to death – when you do this. When you read the detailed report, you notice that it is a little emotional, as you go around it. The accounting officers explained that the issues had been raised before the Parliamentary Committee on Health and they had hoped for redress. However, this persisted, which is affecting service delivery. The committee observed that National Medical Stores failed at its duty to make prompt deliveries, which led to drug stock-outs and disruptions in treatment schedules. You can imagine people with HIV, who have specific schedules to receive these medicines. When you delay, you worsen their situation. Further, long lead time affected the effective delivery of health care services as it creates shortages. Therefore, the committee recommends that National Medical Store be reprimanded for the delayed delivery of drugs to hospitals. Three months is a lot of time. Utilisation and maintenance of medical equipment Idle medical equipment Paragraph 5.2.2 of the National Medical Equipment Policy, 2009, on the operation of medical equipment, states that all health workers are responsible for ensuring that equipment is used well and maintained properly However, the auditor noted that some medical equipment in some hospitals had remained unutilised, yet they were in proper working conditions. The delays of this equipment and where they are located are found in Table 6 of the main report. I invite you, honourable colleagues, to go to Table 6. You will see which equipment in our hospitals are equipped. They are there but non-functional. The committee observed that hospitals lacked specialised personnel to operate some of the machines, thereby rendering them idle. For instance, Fort Portal had no orthopaedic surgeon or a trained surgeon to operate the C-arm and endoscopy machines respectively, while Mulago National Women’s Specialised Hospital had no renal physician and renal nurses to operate the dialysis machine even after its installation. This was coupled with poor planning for hospitals to acquire machines without personnel to operate them. Idle machines deny the community proper health service delivery and expose the machinery to wear and tear over time. The committee noted that the hospitals’ budget for the maintenance of medicinal equipment is inadequate to address all the challenges as they fall due. There was laxity by accounting officers to address their concerns at least through seeking supplementary funding, as provided for. The committee further observed that the Ministry of Health failed in its duty to supply and install oxygen plants and Intensive Care Units, thereby rendering the equipment non- functional. Redundancy of equipment denies services to patients and contributes to the obsoleteness of the equipment. The committee recommends that the Government should provide adequate funds for installation and maintenance. Honourable colleagues, it is painful that all the machines and ICU beds that were procured for all the referral hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic are non-functional and many of them are lying idle. You will read the full report. For Mulago National Referral Hospital, has a capacity of 28 beds are functional, but those that are installed cannot be hung because of the ceiling are 48. Honourable colleagues, I invite you to read the full report. You have spent so much money to procure this equipment but they are rotting away.

Mr Speaker, I beg to proceed. We have the minutes and I think I will tender them in. The report of the Sectoral Committee on Education and Sports on the State of Selected Public Universities, Tertiary Institutions, Seed Schools, and Public Sports Facilities in Northern Uganda. Introduction The Committee on Education and Sports was among the committees selected by the Rt Hon. Speaker to undertake an oversight visit to the Northern Region to assess projects under their jurisdiction. The Northern Region is composed of sub regions of Acholi, Karamoja, Lango and West Nile. The Government of Uganda attaches great importance to education and sports, as it plays a vital role in ensuring attainment of both social and economic transformation as envisaged in the Uganda Vision 2040, NDP III, and the NRM Manifesto. There are notable changes in the sector with the Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education in addition to higher learning institutions under BTVET and universities all considerably supported by Government and supplemented by other non- state actors countrywide. The committee therefore visited some selected primary schools, secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and public universities in the districts of Arua, Pakwach, Nebbi, and Madi- Okollo in West Nile sub region. Gulu District in Acholi sub region, Abim District in Karamoja sub region, and finally Lira, Dokolo, Otuke Districts in Lango sub region. 2.0 Objectives of the Field visit. The main objective of the visit was to ascertain the existence and status of development projects in selected Traditional and Seed schools, Tertiary Institutions, and Public Universities in the Northern region. 2.1 The specific objectives include: i. To ascertain the status of implementation and progress of the UgIFT projects in selected schools.

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 -

What we discovered was that, generally, there is lack of enough human resource in these regions and you get districts returning money. Pakwach returned Shs 1.5 billion, Arua returned Shs 800 million and Nebbi returned Shs 900 million – for recruitment. The committee, in its wisdom, proposes that this money has no right to come back to the source. Let the Ministry of Education and Sports and even the Education Service Commission be facilitated to go and do recruitment on site because there is money and so that the people there are recruited. On the issue of banning recruitment - I think that was done. So conclusively, Mr Speaker, the field visits revealed critical challenges in educational infrastructure and resource management in the Northern region. There is a general problem of contractors under Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) projects taking on more than three seed schools, which are more than they can handle. This constrains them in performing effectively under the project. The committee noted that across the districts, money allocated for the wage bill was returned to the Consolidated Fund because of the ban on recruitment.

14267 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2024 Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) delegate for Arua District, during Lawrence Mulindwa’s regime, Sgt Rebecca would come with her peers to West Nile. Since I was the chairperson for athletics in Arua, I would always receive them, take them around and they would participate in what we called “Mayank Race”. Mayank comprises districts from West Nile. She would come and we would train them and, at times, we would also pay a visit to Kapchorwa. That is how we always interacted. Honourable minister, this is for your attention. As I speak, I have a daughter called Margaret Ejoria Aza. She has qualified to go to one of the European countries next month - her accolades are here. I hope she is going to be protected. (Applause) She is called Margaret Ejoria Aza. She is going to one of those European countries - like father, like son - (Laughter) - like father, like daughter. (Laughter) Thank you. I also have a son who is a goalkeeper, anyway. Lastly, I would like to bring this to the attention of the House. Number one, we should develop our athletics potential by using our land, not taking our runners to go and train in Tanzania, Kenya or South Sudan. We have undulating hills and lowlands where they can train from. Number two, as said by the minister, we should avoid gender-based violence in all areas of life. Mr Speaker, here was the idea of constructing 18 stadia in the country. How far has that programme gone, honourable minister? I understand Celecelea Stadium in Moyo District is one of them. Also, Barifa Stadium, in the name of Dorcus Inzikuru, is supposed to be constructed. Otherwise, I would like to congratulate and thank the Uganda Cranes, who are doing us proud. Let us pray for them and encourage them so that they qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. However, it is important to note that as I talk, there is bickering, confusion and quarrelling in the netball fraternity. What is happening there? Minister, help in that regard. Otherwise, to all of us, let us take to sports so that we become healthy, and avoid non- communicable diseases – cardiovascular diseases and diseases that affect us such as diabetes, stroke, cardiac arrest, hypertension, high blood pressure and so forth. Thank you.

When she came in, from my little experience of being a minister of state in her position, I thought we needed to dedicate somebody to do the direct supervision of the construction of the Military Referral Hospital. I delegated that assignment to her fully through the TMC. She made her last report last week; a report full of wisdom and way forward, as if she was going to die. She wrote what she wanted to be done. We never saw this coming. I looked forward to discussing her report with her and then with the TMC. We segmented the ministry in a way that, for ease of supervision and shared responsibilities, I assigned her to monitor and supervise all Engineering Brigade Construction Projects from Masaka to Kisoro and Hon. Huda from Luwero to Arua. Of course, omugabi teyesera - I also took this other side of the East. (Laughter ) We were working as a team. This Government has lost a committed and selfless minister. In the six months or so, there was no single scandal that we could attach to her name. (Applause) Either defrauding fuel or doing what - in the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, it is obvious the consequences would be very dire. The person we are paying tribute to, if we gave her an opportunity to be here, would have loved to hear that she knew God in a personal way. (Applause)

Much obliged, Mr Speaker. As guided, pursuant to rules 159(c) and 189(e) of the Rules of Procedure, the Sectoral Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry, between the 13 th and 15 August 2024, conducted a field activity to appraise the state of the following tourism sites and to consider related matters: The first is Kabalega and Mwanga Monumental Site in Dokolo District. The others are Barlonyo Massacre Site in Lira District; Mary Mother of the Church Shrine in Iceme, Oyam District; Aboke Massacre Site in Oyam District; Sir Samuel Baker`s Fort, Patiko, Gulu District; and Amuru Hot Springs in Amuru District. The committee also acknowledges and prioritises, for subsequent oversights, the heritage sites in Gulu-Gulu Hills in Amuro; Napak Fossil Site in Napak; Emin Pasha Fort Site in Wadelai in Pakwach; Karamoja Museum in Moroto; Dufile Heritage Site in Moyo; Tien Olum footprints site in Ibuja-Kokoro in Lango; Palabek in Lamwo; Lototoro in Lamwo; Agoro Hills in Acholi; Abiyam Memorial Site in Lango; Nziri Tomb in West Nile; Winam Old Palace in West Nile; and Arua Museum in West Nile. Those are 19 sites in total. The terms of references, I already indicated. To save time, I will go straight to the methodology. But okay, I will also not go through it, but it is important to mention that the committee conducted a desk review on a comparative analysis of investment sites in three East African community countries. One, the committee noted that for the management and administration of museums and monuments in Uganda, we are guided by the Museums and Monuments Act of 2023. Mr Speaker, Uganda also has a tourism policy of 2015, which prioritises four areas, national parks, cultural heritage sites, Lake Victoria, mountains, and community-based tourism. The focus of this report is on cultural heritage sites. We also compared the tourist visits to museums and monuments in East Africa. We noted that in

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I had requested permission to lay on the Table a copy of the minutes of the committee and a copy of the report. I beg to lay, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, this report is rather bulky, and in the interest of time, I request that you permit me to take the House through an executive summary that I have prepared. As I said, this report looks at the functionality of the district service commission and city service commission and also on personnel management in selected local governments across northern, eastern, and western regions. Mr Speaker, we already know the mandates of our committee, and in line with these mandates, the committee conducted an oversight visit to selected cities and districts of northern Uganda such as Arua, Maracha, Terego, Yumbe, Zombo, and Moyo in West Nile; Gulu District, Gulu City, Nwoya, Kitgum, and Pader in Acholi; Moroto Municipality, Moroto District, Amudat, Nabilatuk, Karenga, Kaabong, Kotido Municipality, and Kotido District in Karamoja; Lira City, Lira District, Amolatar District Local Government, Kole, and Otuke in Lango, to assess the functionality of the District and City Service Commission and to analyse the personnel management issues within local governments. Mr Speaker, the committee has made a comprehensive report with a detailed version of its findings, observations and recommendations, giving examples and scenarios from local government to bring out the issues affecting the functionality of these commissions and the staff. Without prejudice to the comprehensive report, this Executive Summary highlights the key issues as follows: Committee findings, observations, and recommendations. On the functionality of District Service Commission, Mr Speaker, 1. We looked at gaps in the commissions. The committee found out that 98.6 per cent of the District and City Service Commissions were functional by end of the Financial Year 2022/2023, and most commissions were fully constituted. However, there are some districts that are non-functional with insufficient number of commissions. For example, Amudat District had only one District Service Commission member, which severely affected the recruitment processes, leading to delays and increasing the risk of corruption. The committee recommends that the Ministry of Local Government, together with the Public Service Commission, should ensure that all commissions are fully constituted for efficient service delivery in local governments. 2. Delays in Public Service Commission approval processes The report highlights delays by the Public Service Commission in approving Service Commission nominees, often without providing reasons for rejection. This lack of transparency and delayed approvals impede the recruitment process and affect service delivery. In Moyo, delays in submitting approved names to the Service Commission were noted, attributed to negligence. The committee also noted poor grievance handling by the Public Service Commission, which has been slow in responding to appeals, leading to prolonged disputes and inefficiencies. The committee therefore recommends the following;

14225 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2024 On the status of diagnostic services, there were concerns in relation to functionality of different machines, such as the x-ray machines and the ultrasound machines. In Gulu Regional Referral Hospital, we found that they were non-functional and in Kitgum, one of the ultrasound machines was also not functional. Very key to note was that the facility does not have a sickle cell electrophoresis testing machine for confirmatory testing. As a result, patients have to have their samples sent to National Public Health Laboratory in Kampala, which takes two weeks and that leaves a long turnaround time for treatment. Our recommendation, therefore, is that there should be arrangements to ensure that they are equipped with these machines. On West Nile sub-region, I will go directly into some of the key specific findings. The distribution of health facilities, still the guidelines indicate that for every 500,000, there should at least be a general hospital. They have a population of 4,283,000 and, therefore, there is still a gap in general hospitals. There is also still a gap in health centre IIIs that are required. On the status of infrastructure and utilities in the region, again there were similar observations of old and dilapidated infrastructure but notably was Arua Regional Referral Hospital, which had a seven-storied, 21-unit staff housing project that has been under construction since 2018 and 2019. This has stalled and it is at 85 per cent it has not been completed due to challenges of funding. We also noted that Arua Regional Referral Hospital does not have a mortuary and utilises the one at Nebbi General Hospital. Our recommendations are again in increasing and provision of budgets to expedite the process of completion of stalled and on-going projects. As regards the diagnostics and medical equipment, notably, was in Nebbi General Hospital where the X-ray machine, which only requires Shs 1.2 million to repair, has been down for the last one year. The reason was that the hospital indicated that the health guidelines require that the maintenance should be done by a service provider from the Ministry of Health. That has led to a delay in operationalising or repair of the old x-ray machine at Nebbi General Hospital; together with a number of other x-ray machines and orthopaedic equipment that was not available at Arua Regional Referral Hospital, or not fully functional. Human resource is a general challenge at 40 per cent and the same recommendations apply. As regards to availability, supply and utilisation of medicine and supplies, we noted the same observations of stock-outs. The recommendations are for National Medical Stores to ensure that they commit to the timelines. To address the issues of theft of medicine, which was strongly highlighted, the ministry should expedite the digitalisation of medicine supplies and utilisation in order to mitigate theft and diversion. Notably, West Nile Region has a strong and large refugee population and therefore, there is need for strong surveillance systems, including screening of travellers for symptoms of communicable diseases and other related illness. I will now go to the third subregion, which is Lango Subregion. In the overview, again, malaria is noted as one of the key causes of mortality and morbidity. In addition, there has been a big burden of epilepsy. There is also still a burden of nodding disease syndrome, majorly in the areas that border Acholi, such as Lira, Oyam and Kole districts. They also have a big burden of sickle cell disease, with challenges of accessing sickle cell testing and medication.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Good job to the chairperson and his team - the committee - for that report. I would like to draw my attention to the issue of the ICU. Mr Speaker, you have seen how far Northern Uganda is from the Central, where most of the functional Intensive Care Units are. If you look at Moroto, Lira, Gulu and Arua regional referral hospitals, these are very far places and we all know what an ICU does. What we have in place are not ICUs. The equipment is there, but we have high- dependency units. A few months ago, we lost a patient in Karamoja, and in my opinion, as a doctor, we should not have lost that lady. We had to transport her all the way from Moroto, Soroti, Mbale, and Jinja, regional hospitals, without functional ICUs until Mulago. She was still alive by God’s grace, but she eventually passed on. Therefore, these are the things we need to be addressing ourselves to. The other one is dialysis. The health committee two years ago set up dialysis in Mbarara, Mbale and Lira, and the plan was to eventually roll out, but I think because of funding this financial year, it was captured as an unfunded priority. As a matter of urgency, we need to have dialysis at regional level hospitals. Adjumani General Hospital, like the woman MP said, is operating in a very dilapidated structure, and it needs urgent attention, at least the maternity unit. Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I am happy that the Committee on Public Service will address the issues of recruitment, but some of these health centres IV, like Pajule, have medical officers who have not been formalised into service, and they want to leave. When you ask the district local government, there is local government politics involved. Honourable members, we need to also discern the fact that part of the health system, the biggest bulk, is in the local government. Therefore, recruitment is a function of the District Service Commission. The contractor of the seven-story building in Gulu is being taken to court because of Shs 3 billion that has not been paid out by the Government. As a matter of urgency, can we please find this money for both Arua Regional Hospital and Gulu Regional Referral Hospitals, for their staff complexes. Thank you.

Thank you. The second one is Pakwach. Madam Speaker, Pakwach has a challenge that we have also identified. When we were doing the Tangi Road from Masindi, the engineering tampered with the topography of that place and for that reason, each time it rains, there is flooding around the bridge that is compounded by the floating island. As we speak, the teams that are doing drenching have already arrived in Pakwach. They arrived two days ago but started work seriously yesterday. I do not want honourable colleagues to think that this work was started because the issues were raised here. It was already something that we had intended to do and it is being done to make sure that the floating island is removed so that the bridge does not give way. That will happen with the rest of the region. The last one is Nebbi-Arua. While we are working on a permanent rehabilitation, we have also directed the company to do forward maintenance. I would like to assure my honourable colleagues that we will do some forward maintenance so that Nebbi- Arua becomes motorable. Right now, we acknowledge that it is bad, but I want to assure this Parliament that a comprehensive report will be presented to it so that we can capture all that has been stated, including issues of

Please take your seats. Your Excellency, as Parliament of Uganda, we are immensely privileged to benefit from your presence in today’s special sitting in the northern region and specifically in Gulu. This sitting is covering the issues, challenges and opportunities that are from West Nile, Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja. Your Excellency, the sitting of Parliament in Gulu, northern region, in Uganda is a historic milestone in the legislative history of Uganda. As it is the first of its kind, it is the first sitting we are having at regional levels. Your Excellency, the 11 th Parliament appreciates your immense support for decisions to take Parliament to the people in regional settings. I remember we came and discussed this with you. I came with the Deputy Speaker and you okayed it. You welcomed the idea and it is really a very good idea. We thank you so much for that. Embracing of regional sitting is in pursuit of the legislative vision of, “A transformed, independent, and people-centred Parliament.” Contrary to what the critics are raising, that the regional sittings of Parliament are costing us a lot, that is not true. The Parliament sitting is legally and procedurally grounded in Article 95(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 and Rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament which empowers the Speaker to convene Parliament at such a place and time through a proclamation. The regional sitting will exhaustively deliberate upon the most urgent matters that are intricate to the growth and development of a particular host area. For this case, it is the northern area. Indeed, during yesterday’s sitting, the House applauded your leadership in pacification, unification and development in northern region. Twenty years back, this region was not what it is today. You brought security to this region. A round of applause for His Excellency. (Applause) Your Excellency, the northern region has witnessed remarkable transformation as witnessed in the urban infrastructural growth, especially under the Uganda Support to Municipalities Infrastructural Development (USMID), the establishment of the public universities in Gulu, Lira and Arua, the health sector infrastructural growth and the progressive growth of the private sector.

14107 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 We also recognise and appreciate the decision to elevate three municipalities into cities. These are notably; Gulu, Lira, and Arua cities plus Moroto which is not yet operationalised, but it was passed. This elevation status has created immense opportunities for the region, which, if properly harnessed, will bolster the development of this area. Your Excellency, we also recognise that northern Uganda is not a homogeneous society. The different subregions within northern Uganda have peculiar realities which impact on their growth and development. However, there are cross cutting realities notably; the post war recovery, the high level of poverty and ever growing youth population a fair number of which are unemployed, a large track of arable land, averse national resources, the high influx of refugees, environmental degradation, limited transport infrastructure, heavy reliance on subsistence agriculture, limited value addition to agricultural output, retrogressive cultural practices such as cattle rustling, and the subjection of women and girl child, the enormous water resources, lack of health facilities and lack of enough schools. For instance, if you look at Gulu, Gulu City does not have a Senior five, A-level school. While we have a number of issues that affect each and every area that is; West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja. Then delayed compensation of war victims and lack of compensation for the land that was taken over during the insurgency. Your Excellency, the sitting specifically took cognisance of the need for mindset change as a major catalyst for increased production and social-economic transformation in the northern region. In addition, the House recognised the need to embrace viable cash crops, livestock agriculture, agricultural mechanisation and value addition, and sustainable organic farming, among others. The Sitting recognised the importance of reliable transport and communication infrastructure as an enabler of growth and development. To this end, Members raised the need for the rehabilitation and development of strategic national roads infrastructure in the different regions notably; Moroto-Kotido- Kaabong-Karenga Road, Koboko-Yumbe- Moyo Road, Kitgum-Kidepo Road, Nebbi- Goli-Paidha-Zombo-Warr-Vurra Road. They are very many of them plus bridges and we shall hand it over to you. Including our famous Karuma Bridge that is about to give way. Your Excellency, at the end of this Sitting, I will submit to you a memorandum detailing the specifics of the areas of concern that this House has passed, that the committees found on ground and need to be worked on in the northern region. Members noted the need to work to ensure the success of the prevailing government development initiatives such as Emyooga . The 4-acre model may not be vital in this area because we have all the land. What we need is to do mechanisation, provide some funds in societies, create market for these products, identify the cash crops to be grown in this area to have a participatory approach to what is being done in this area and have a micro- credit scheme by adapting such programmes to local realities in order to achieve meaningful outcomes in the region. Your Excellency, at the end of the Sitting, we will transmit these resolutions for your relevant action as the Chief Finance Minister of this country. All these relate to finances. Our work is to find out what is lacking but at the end of the day, it all comes back to the Chief Finance Minister who is none other than your good self. As the leadership of the Legislature, we intend to have the regional sittings as a salient aspect of our legislative culture and vision of taking Parliament to the people. We, being a people- centred Parliament, we believe in evidence- based legislation and this can ably be done by our committees who go to the ground and find out what is happening there and report back to Parliament. Your Excellency, I now take the singular honour to invite you to address the House and

Madam Speaker, thank you very much. I support the motion urging the Government to increase the allocation of resources to the Northern. Madam Speaker, before Arua became a city, there were Friesian cows, which were brought and dumped there. Knowing how expensive it is to manage Friesian cows are - they just call, “to whom it may concern” to pick them. Once you pick them - first of all, our people do not have any knowledge of raising Friesian cows. We do have extension workers, but these people do not do anything on the ground when

14142 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT it comes to that. That means all those Friesian cows that were taken to Arua died. We can now imagine how much it has cost the Government. As we request the Government to increase funding to the northern region, they should also think about those that are down there; the extension workers. Going forward before they venture into bringing any cow, in whatever form, let them first train and change our people’s mindset because they are still attached to the traditional ways of doing things. For instance, if you go to Arua City today and see the way we keep our animals; goats and cows, it is just for marriage purposes, which is not good. So, Madam Speaker, some of those things should be taken into consideration as we request for more funding be sent or given to the northern region. Thank you.

I have been informed of the current update. There are four confirmed cases of mpox in the country. Out of the four cases, two are from Congo and they were admitted in Bwera General Hospital; they improved and were discharged. The two other cases came from Kampala. They were detected, confirmed, and right now, they are admitted in Entebbe Hospital at the isolation unit. Madam Speaker, as I sat down, I immediately got a message from the Director General confirming that the case in Amuru District that was raised by Hon. Lucy Akello has been confirmed positive. So, we have got a total of three active cases of mpox and all of them are admitted. For the one in Amuru District - of course, each district has an isolation facility - they will be isolated, given supportive care, given conservative care, until they improve then they will be discharged, like those in Bwera General Hospital. Like I said, the ministry has developed a case definition already. There are probable suspected cases and confirmed cases. Therefore, let us continue to be vigilant so that we detect these cases early, refer them to the appropriate surveillance system within the district in order for them to do the needful, and take care of them. Madam Speaker, permit me, lastly, before I sit down to say this. There was an issue raised by the Member of Parliament for Amuru, Hon. Olanya, on the interns. I thought I should say something since he said that no interns from northern Uganda were deployed. I wish to inform this House, like the Minister of Health has already informed us, that indeed it is true, in the country this year round, there were a total of 2,860 interns. They included: the medical doctor interns; the nurses and the pharmacists. The medical doctors have both the dentists and the other line. The ministry so far deployed 1,590 medical interns. The remaining, from the stock that were not deployed, is a total of 1,270. The criteria that has been set is very clear. All medical schools, which are quite many, have trained doctors, nurses and pharmacists. The priority for those that were deployed was given to those that completed in 2022, including medical doctors from Gulu Medical School, interns from Arua and nurses from Lira University. I want to allay the anxiety that all those interns from northern Uganda, especially from Arua, Muni, Gulu and Lira University, who completed before last year, were equally deployed. It is true, Madam Speaker, when these doctors, nurses, pharmacists complete their training, they need to translate the theory into practical. The longer they stay, the more they are de-

Madam Speaker, I beg to lay the minutes of the meetings of the Committee on Government Assurances and Implementation. From 1987 to 2005, the northern and eastern regions of the country were ravaged by several wars and insurgencies, which led to loss of lives, livestock and properties. In 2003, Cabinet placed a moratorium on ex- gratia payment for compensation claims by persons affected by wars and insurgencies. Consequently, claimants and beneficiaries from Acholi, Lango and Teso Sub-Regions filed numerous lawsuits against the Government in the high courts of Gulu, Lira, Soroti, Arua and Mbale. In 2008, His Excellency the President directed the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to amicably settle court cases and verify all claimants irrespective of whether they took Government to court or not. In 2016, the inter-ministerial committee conducted a verification exercise of war debit claimants/ beneficiaries in Acholi, Lango and Teso sub-regions. In 2020 the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs initiated a validation exercise in the three sub-regions of Acholi, Lango and Teso. In 2021, the verification exercise was devolved to the district structures. On 29 July 2021, the Rt Hon. Prime Minister confirmed to the Parliament that Government was in the process of verifying livestock compensation claims for the areas of Acholi, Lango and Teso sub-regions including Karamoja, West Nile, Sebei, Bukedi and Busoga sub-regions that were affected by the insurgency. On 3 August 2021, the Attorney-General also assured Parliament that he would give a report, in a fortnight, on where the Government was going and in what direction it was taking so that Parliament could know what Government was thinking. On 18 August 2021, the Deputy Attorney- General reaffirmed before the Parliament that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs was conducting verification of livestock compensation claims in the areas, which were affected by the insurgency. He also informed the Parliament that other sub-regions affected by the insurgencies were to be incorporated in the next phase. These included Karamoja, West Nile, Sebei, Bukedi and Busoga sub-regions. He also informed the Parliament that all livestock claims and compensations would be settled within the Financial Year 2021/2022. He informed the Parliament that livestock compensation rates would be harmonised across respective sub-regions. He informed the Parliament that a report with the final assessment was to be submitted to the Cabinet and Parliament for consideration. Madam Speaker, allow me to go to the committee findings, observations and recommendations. We looked at the registration and verification of the claimants/beneficiaries. In 2020, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs initiated a validation exercise in the three sub-regions of Acholi, Lango and Teso and displayed the lists of the claimants at the district headquarters and subcounties. The verification exercise intended to confirm the genuine claimants/ beneficiaries. The following were the numbers of claimants/ beneficiaries recorded: Acholi Subregion – 16,946 verified claimants Lango Region – 42,024 Teso Subregion – 33,664 Giving a total of 92,634 claimants. The committee found out that the registration and verification exercise was marred by

Thank you, Madam Speaker. You are most welcome to Northern Region. My name is Mourine Osoru. I represent the women of United States of Arua. You are most welcome, Members. Madam Speaker, I thank you in a special way for thinking about the people of Northern Uganda and bringing Parliament closer to us. Thank you.

14050 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT In Gulu City, 162 lights had been replaced using local revenue from property tax. However, vandalism of the solar batteries was reported as a major challenge experienced by the USMID project during phase I. Gulu City alone had 15 criminals arrested and are being prosecuted The USMID project has no component for land acquisition and, so, the local government depends on the goodwill of the people. Where the people refuse, the carriageway is reduced since there is no provision for land compensation in the project. Further, the committee was informed that, often, road construction works involve relocation of utilities. However, during the process of implementation, the utility companies demand that local governments replace them with upgraded and more expensive installations. The committee recommends as follows; 1. Local governments should continue sensitising the population of the individual benefits of paved roads to increase on the goodwill of project-affected persons. 2. Utility companies that are upgrading their utilities should work hand in hand with the relevant stakeholders. 3. Concerned government ministries, departments and authorities should work together and come up with clear guidelines and engage with one another so as to address disagreements between local government entities and utility companies. Madam Speaker, allow me to take this opportunity to thank Gulu City for the good management of the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) Project. I thank Gulu City, because in other parts of the country where we went for oversight, there is a delay. For example, in Mbarara, Ntungamo and Kabale, there was a serious delay. We can say that Gulu City is a benchmarking point for successfully implementing the USMID Project. Madam Speaker, allow me to touch briefly on the regional mechanical workshop, then I will conclude. I will invite Members to go through the report because of time constraints. Gulu Regional Mechanical Workshop was established in 2001, as a regional workshop servicing 12 districts at the time, in the subregions of Acholi, Lango, Karamoja and West Nile. The beneficiary districts have since increased to 38. The workshop’s primary responsibility is major repairs on equipment since the districts have a percentage of road maintenance budget to cater for the minor repairs. The committee was informed that the workshop does not have sound supervision vehicles, making it difficult to supervise equipment. Like I noted earlier on, Madam Speaker, the committee recommends that at least each subregion should have its own mechanical maintenance workshop. Madam Speaker, the committee also interested itself in the rail lines. The rehabilitation of the Meter-Gauge Railway from Malaba- Soroti- Lira is ongoing. What is concerning is the pace at which the project is being undertaken. We visited the logistic hub in Gulu. We thank the Government for this beautiful facility, but this logistic hub can only function when it is well fed by a properly rehabilitated rail line. Madam Speaker, we visited Gulu Airport and we interfaced with officers from the Civil Aviation Authority. The committee recommended that this particular airport facility should be upgraded to an international airport. We also got information from Arua Airfield, which is being upgraded under a public-private partnership. Madam Speaker, the committee recommends that the Government expedite completion of Arua International Airport by fully compensating projects affected persons in addition to providing the necessary funds. Other aerodromes that the committee interested itself in are the Kitgum Airfield; the Kidepo Airfield which is being upgraded to an international standard; and also Pakuba. [Mr Awany] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

14053 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2024 and the members for the very comprehensive report. However, I note with concern that the report seems to have focused more on the mid-north than West Nile and Karamoja. Within West Nile, we have the greater Nebbi, with the infrastructural challenges, greater Arua -

Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. I thank the committee, particularly on the recommendation of a review at Tangi Bridge that has been causing the flooding of that stretch. Two weeks ago, we had a meeting with UNRA and they told us that they were doing an addendum design for that work, but that design does not have the money. It is important that the minister takes note that to resolve the floods at Pakwach, we need additional money to implement that design. Two; the Nebbi - Arua Road, 76 KMs. Madam Speaker, God forbid, you will lose a member on that road very soon. The potholes on that road are now gullies.

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

Thirdly, West Nile hosts the second busiest airport; Arua Airport. I expected the committee to have visited it and reported exactly what was happening there. That airport has been in plan but no action has been taken. There is no communication on the plan – (Interruption)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. West Nile is in the south western part of Uganda. Recently, I visited Arua city, and indeed, as the honourable member has put it, we had to travel 75 kilometres in almost six hours; that road is deplorable. I would like to support the honourable member from Arua that if priorities are supposed to be given, they should give them to Arua so that the road is repaired. I also want to -

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In addition to what has been submitted, mine is the issue of value for money. Some of these roads, like Karuma-Pakwach were completed in 2007. You heard that the lifespan was 15 years but as somebody who comes from the region, by 2016, the road had become un-motorable. My humble request to the Government, in particular, Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), and the Minister of Works and Transport, is that we get value for money on most of these roads, at least a bare minimum of 20 years. We are going to accrue loans, our children will come, and we are taking more loans to repair the roads. Two, on the road that has been mentioned, that is Nebbi-Arua, I would like to add my voice to it that it is non-motorable and hopefully, as a matter of urgency, forward maintenance on that particular road should start as soon as yesterday. Finally – (Interruption)

Thank you, my fellow colleague on that matter, for giving way. Madam Speaker, the road of Nebbi-Arua commences all the way from Pakwach to Nebbi. You are very well aware that they are still working on it. However, the problem of unpaid certificates causing problems which have been captured by the Committee on Physical Infrastructure is the same. That road from Pakwach to Nebbi was supposed to have been finished last year but the same issue of delayed payments is causing the problem. If there are delays right now, from Pakwach to Nebbi, the same delay continues further from Nebbi to Arua. I hope that the ministry pays up the certificate so that we do not have delays on the construction of those roads which are already proceeding.

It is a national road but towards the end, Zika Forest has taken about 24 kilometres of it. However, the main part is not considered anywhere. Then there is a Katrini-Nadi road, which connects to Koboko-Arua Road, which should also be taken up. Madam Speaker, I would like to talk about what Dr Ayume has just presented. We borrow money to fund roads in this country. However, the locals do not know the value of these loans. I will request that Government puts funds together or we borrow money to do about 10 kilometres of roads in all the town councils for in at least every district; instead of every Member coming here to complain about roads. Like in Terego, people there can only put their feet on tarmac when they come for treatment in Arua City, which is totally wrong. And yet these are taxpayers who do not know the value of the loans we borrow, if this House can adopt and resolve-

Madam Speaker, we have a road that connects Obongi and Moyo Districts, that is Obongi-Moyo Road, which is being maintained by UNRA. Right now, if a miracle happens here that Parliament is taken to Obongi, all these vehicles are going to get stuck on that road. As I speak, the road is flooded for the last two weeks but UNRA is not paying any attention. Secondly, on Obongi-Yumbe-Terego-Arua Road, which is also a national road, the side of Obongi is also flooded. Therefore, I urge the ministry and UNRA team to rush to Obongi and take care of the roads that are under their docket. Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the Ministry of Works and Transport for giving

Madam Speaker, the challenge is: how can the presidential pledges translate into action beyond National Development Plan III that we are implementing on ground? Some of these pledges were made in the past term - the 10 th Parliament. I would like to draw attention to the Pakwach- Ochoko-Arua Road. This is the shortest route. It can benefit from the oil and the tourism road that the Government has been talking about, so that when tourists go to Ajai Game Reserve and extend to Adjumani, they can equally be connected and they enjoy those privileges.

14064 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT have started. This would have provided us an opportunity to have the shortest route to Arua. Secondly, this is a strategic road in terms of agricultural input that comes from that side. If you see the magnitude of the goods that come from there, it is really a lot. In addition, I would also like to highlight a strategic road - part of the great north road, which starts right here from Lacor up to Elegu. Madam Speaker, much as this road is tarmacked, it is now a death trap for so many people. The road is quickly getting destroyed and causing accidents on a daily basis. I have not heard this in the report of the committee and I do not know what plan is in place by the Ministry of Works and Transport in regard to this road. I want to get this – Finally, I would like to re-echo about the aerodromes that have been highlighted both in Arua and Gulu. These are all very strategic areas. When I was the vice-chairperson of the Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) committee, we visited Arua and I must say we were very impressed by the traffic that comes – actually, it is a very busy aerodrome and needs a lot of support. So, I still emphasise that money should be put in these two areas to really help the people of northern Uganda. Thank you, Madam Speaker. You have set history in northern Uganda.

13812 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME [Mr Barugahare] Affairs) needs to work on together with the Parliament so that these matters are addressed as soon as possible so that these children’s homes get cars. I am inspecting the homes - I was in Mbale two days ago, Fort Portal the other day, and Masindi on Friday, I intend to go to Gulu next week and Arua a week after and then Kampiringisa. So let Parliament and Cabinet work together to have this budget for the juvenile and rehabilitation centres increased so that – (Interjections) - I will give you an example of Fort Portal remand home. It has a block with asbestos and these are condemned materials. So, why don’t we remove the asbestos and put iron sheets? We need to work jointly as Parliament and Cabinet to have this addressed. Hon. Nakato of Buyende raised the issue of having only Nakabango where 16 youths were selected from every district. So far the Government has started with 18 skilling centres country-wide in every sub-region but out of those 18, they allocate every district – like in the central region -Buganda, you have one in Kayunga but the capacity to hold so many is not there. That was a Presidential Initiative; the budget has not been expanded for the same. Hon. Okot Boniface thanked the President and the Government for celebrating International Youth Day on the right day. I want to thank the President as well for having allowed this to happen. Hon. Namugga raised the issue of the Shs 43 billion that was meant to be revolved as per the Auditor-General’s report and it has not been revolved. This will be investigated and we shall report back to Parliament.

Thank you so much. Hon. Kakembo talked about the new cities. That new cities were created and approved by the Tenth Parliament. There is need to operationalise these cities to enable us prepare for the forthcoming general elections and demarcation of constituencies. He asked, when will we operationalise Entebbe City? My response, Mr Speaker, is that the Government in April 2020, created 15 cities in Uganda to be operationalised in a phased manner. The 10 cities of Arua, Mbarara, Gulu, Jinja, Fort Portal, Mbale, Masaka, Hoima, Lira, and Soroti, took effect on 1 July 2020. These were to be followed by the five cities of; Entebbe, Moroto, Nakasongola, Kabale and Wakiso, meant to be operationalised as follows: On 1 July 2022, it was supposed to be Entebbe City. 1 July 2023, it was supposed to be Moroto, Nakasongola, Kabale, and Wakiso cities. However, in August 2020, the law (The Local Governments Act Cap 138) was amended, and midterm operationalisation of administrative units and local governments abolished. The newly created administrative units and local governments can only take effect six months before the general elections, and this amendment affected the next phase of the five cities. The Ministry of Local Government is currently carrying out the technical studies and consultations with stakeholders in the five cities, to prepare them for the operationalisation of 1 July 2025, subject to the guidance by Cabinet. Question number 6 is still from Hon. Ojok, Member of Parliament, Omoro County. His prayer is; what is the status of Government intervention in realisation of transitional justice law, to address the question of war reparations in Acholi Subregion? My response is that on 17 June 2019, Cabinet under Minute 239 (CT-2019), (Cabinet Memorandum CT (2018)38), approved the National Transitional Justice Policy as follows: a) Noted the key aspects of the National Transitional Justice Policy. b) Approved the National Transitional Justice Policy. c) Approved the wide dissemination and publication of the National Transitional Justice Policy. d) Approved the fast-tracking of the legislation on the National Transitional Justice Policy. e) Directed the ministers of Internal Affairs and Justice and Constitutional Affairs, to provide a transitional period between the implementation of the National Transitional Justice Policy, and the enactment of the relevant laws on the transitional justice to give the Government ample time to identify the most sustainable source of funding for the undertaking. The National Transitional Justice Policy is an overreaching framework of the Government of Uganda designed to address peace, justice, accountability and reconciliation needs of post conflict Uganda. Mr Speaker, it is therefore, seeking to engage with all parts of the country that have been affected by civil strife, conflict, and not only the Acholi Subregion. Since the approval of the policy, it has been disseminated and efforts are being undertaken to present principles for a proposed Transitional Justice Law. It should be noted that the principles for the policy were withdrawn from the Cabinet in February 2023, to enable the responsible ministries to harmonise certain issues, including administrative arrangements for the law.

When will operationalization of Entebbe City take effect? RESPONSE: Rt. Hon. Speaker and Honorable colleagues, Government in April 2O2O Created 15 Cities in Uganda to be operationalized in a phased manner. The 10 Cities of Arua, Mbarara, Gulu, Jinja, Fortportal, Mbale, Masaka, Hoima, Lira and Soroti took effect on l"t July 2O2O. These were to be followed by 5 Cities of Entebbe, Moroto, Nakasongola, Kabale and Wakiso meant to be to be operationalized as follows: l"t July 2O22-Entebbe City l"t July 2023- Moroto, Nakasongola, Kabale, Wakiso lities. However August 2O2O, the Law (The Local Governments Act Cap 138) was amended and midterm operationalisation of Administrative Units and Local Governments abolished. The Newly created Administrative Units and Local Governments can only take effect six months before the General elections. This amendment alfected the next phase of 5 Cities. The Ministry of Local Government is currently carrying out the Technical Studies and consultations with stakeholders in the 5 Cities to prepare them for operationalization on l"t July 2025, subject to the guidance by Cabinet. 11

Annex lb: List of Specidized National & Regional Referral Hos itals # Name Level Local Gorft 1 Arua Hospital Regional Referral RRH Arua City 2 Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital RRH Fort Portal City 3 Gulu Hospital Regional Referral RRH Gulu City 4 Hoima Hospital Regional Referral RRH Hoima City 5 Jinja Regional Hospital Referral RRH Jinja City 6 Kabale Hospital Regional Referral RRH Kabale District 7 Kawempe National Referral Hospital NRH Kampala 8 National Referral Mulago Hospital NRH Kampala 9 D Mulago SWN Hospital Specializ ed Hospital Kampala 10 Uganda Cancer Institute Specializ ed Hospital Kampala 11 Uganda Heart Institute Specializ ed Hospital Kampala t2 Kiruddu National Referral Hospital NRH Kampala 13 Butabika National Referral Hospital NRH Kampala l4 China Uganda Friendship (Naguru) Hospital NRH Kampala 2l

lhtnc Ol Dl.trlctr Kakumu'o Krbaale Kagadl Kassanda Mubende hrryandongo Horma lilkuub€ Meslndr Rukrga 168,701,150 Arua 207,900,000 TOTAL l9,8a6,OO?,S49 E .ra s Clurt r Cutluhtlec DlrbEt|cnctrt (uoxl 440,615,386 350,962,7s0 366,240,538 24O,707 342 178,500,000 478,215,000 377,772,464 10 349,4t6,766 345,575,083 574,201,OO0 Bushenln Ntungaeo 91 r,645,600 329,597,S00 lt 261,568,000 s65,750,O00 595,002,833 326,923,833 135,505,O0l Ismgrro Kabale Rubanda Nebbr Pakwach Yumbe 120,801,O0O Maracha L2 N

13653 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 1 AUGUST 2024 involved the local community, leaders, and the district security committee to restore the integrity of the Central Forest Reserves. Recently, NFA management, working with Hon. Michael Kakembo, Member of Parliament, Entebbe Municipality, encountered an illegal land title in Kitubulu Forest Reserve, measuring 47 hectares, that is 116 acres, and that title has been submitted for cancellation. Prayer two from the honourable member was for me to clarify the Government’s involvement or oversight regarding the activities conducted in Kitubulu Central Forest Reserve, such as the harvesting of trees without re-afforestation efforts and the construction of cottages and lodges by private developers. My response is that the forest reserves are managed under the National Forest and Tree Planting Act, 2003, and Uganda Forest Policy, 2001. Policy Statement 7 states that the Uganda Forest Biodiversity will be conserved and managed in support of local and national socio-economic development and international obligations. Strategy No.5 focuses on promoting the development of biodiversity-related tourism to generate income for local and national benefits. As you are aware, tourism is one of the biggest sources of revenue for the country as we move towards the middle-income status. The Government has therefore, per the laws, licensed tourism activities within Kitubulu Central Forest Reserve as a low impact activity. This is a good practice not only in the forest reserves but also in national parks and this is a common practice internationally. The construction of cottages in the forest reserve is, therefore, done lawfully and informed by environment and social impact assessment. Prayer three was to know whether there were any investigations. My response is that some of the cases mentioned about Kitubulu Forest Reserve have already been escalated to courts of law including: a) Entebbe College School vs NFA; b) Namayise Alice and Others vs Entebbe College School and NFA; and c) Hudson Mukasa vs NFA and Commissioner, Land Registration. The case against NFA by Hudson Mukasa has since been judged in favour of the Government. Prayer four was, “In accordance with the National Forest and Tree Planting Act, 2003 - my response - since I already talked about this - is that the National Forest and Tree Planting Act, 2003, sections 7 and 8 prescribe the procedure for declaring a central forest reserve, as well as the amendment of the order declaring the central forest reserves. Section 8(5) states that the amendment of an order declaring a central forest reserve shall be approved by Parliament, signified by its resolution. The mandate to degazette or gazette lies with Parliament and not any other Arm of the Government. This measure was put in place to ensure the double protection of the forest reserves as national assets. Dr Charles Ayume (NRM, Koboko Municipality, Koboko), asked: “As the country prepares for the Pamoja-Africa Cup of Nations bid (AFCON), some stadiums have already been selected and budgeted for. However, there is a private investor in West Nile, Arua City, who is developing a stadium. He took out a lease from the city authorities and it is a 20,000-seater capacity stadium probably at 40 per cent - and this is the last question - can the Government reach out to this private developer as is the norm when we are hosting international events, to see if they can infuse him with some support and see if this stadium can be completed through maybe buying shares or equity? This is because Arua is only 400 kilometres from where the action will take place.”

13654 THE OPPOSITION RESPONSE TO THE ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION My response is that the Ministry of Education and Sports, through the National Council of Sports, has planned incentives for private investors in the development of sports facilities. This is among the unfunded priorities as submitted in the Budget Framework Paper of 2024/2025. When this funding becomes available, we shall be happy to engage investors like the owner of the stadium in Arua to see how best we can work together. I beg to submit. (Applause)

Mr Speaker, first of all, it is illegal for any moneylender to confiscate the National ID of any citizen and I condemn it in the strongest terms. Two, the moneylending Act is very clear: moneylending is supposed to be regulated by Bank of Uganda and the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. I will get in touch with the Member so that we can help our local people in Arua – (Interjections)- it is in the whole country? Then, I will issue a statement. (Applause)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, the Government is undertaking the rehabilitation of Alwi-Nyaravur-Nebbi Road. The work is taking shape and it is very impressive. However, the Nebbi-Madi Okollo-Arua stretch, 93 kilometres, has developed life-threatening potholes and gullies. My questions are; 1. What is the Government’s plan for this road? 2. Wouldn’t it be right for you to take time and inspect this road so that you appreciate what we are talking about? The gullies are life-threatening?

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.

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

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

Madam Chair - person, I love you for that, because when my Attorney-General mentioned 2021, he was try - ing to mean that it was in the Financial Year 2020/2021 and he was changing the law. At - torney-General, I never said every year, I said every time - and every time can be two years or whatever. Madam Chairperson, I would like to propose. I agree with my brother, Hon. Karim, because Jet A-1 is used by jets. I think he meant 747-8F - these local ones, which go to Kisoro or Arua. If you do not also increase, it means that those who use planes will not pay taxes on fuel yet they are also travelling. That was his argument, which I wanted to make clear. However, international flights are at nil because if we tried to put it on international flights, we would be making it dangerous. I would like to propose that –

13390 THE EXCISE DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024 feed at the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre in Kajjansi; establish and/or upgrade seed storage, threshing and drying facilities to ensure sustainable supply of quality seed under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries - Shs 134 billion. Transport infrastructure development The Government plans as follows: 1. Start construction of the SGR and continue implementing preparatory activities for SGR; that is update of feasibility studies for the western and eastern routes, and undertaking environment, social, economic impact assessments; acquisition of right of way for SGR (206 acres) of land are already acquired in seven districts. That is Tororo to Mayuge, among others – Shs 2.221 trillion; 2. Maintenance of 13 aerodromes; that is Arua, Gulu, Pakuba, Masindi, Lira, Kidepo, Moroto, Soroti, Tororo, Jinja, Mbarara, Kasese and Kisoro – Shs 3 billion; 3. Construction and upgrade of national roads and bridges – Shs 1.27 trillion. Some of these include – (Interjections) - colleagues, this is on roads. The Government plans to spend Shs 1.27 trillion and I will mention some of the roads: a) Hoima-Wanseko Road – Shs 141.1 billion; b) Kampala Flyover – Shs 69.8 billion; c) Construction of 66 selected bridges – Shs 54.2 billion; d) Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Acholibur Road – Shs 238 billion; e) Kisoro-Mgahinga National Park Headquarters Road – Shs 83.26 billion; f) Moyo-Yumbe-Koboko Road – Shs 180.6 billion; g) Upgrading of Kyenjojo-Kiruhura-Bwizi- Rwamwanja-Kahunge, Mpara-Bwizi – Shs 50 billion; and 4. Upgrading of Jinja-Mbulamuti-Kamuli- Bukungu Road from gravel to paved standard – Shs 34.5 billion. Continuation of the rehabilitation of over 450 kilometres of national roads. Some of those roads include: a) Kampala-Jinja Highway – Shs 20 billion; b) Busunju-Kiboga-Hoima – Shs 25.05 billion; c) Mityana-Mubende Road and Mityana Town Roads inclusive – Shs 42.38 billion; d) Alwii-Nebbi road and upgrading of Pakwach and Nebbi Town Council roads in total – Shs 17 billion; e) Rehabilitation of Karuma-Pakwach Road – Shs 20.05 billion; and f) Reconstruction of Matugga-Semuto- Kapeeka Road – Shs 61.12 billion; 5. Rehabilitation of district, urban and community access roads will continue under the Ministry of Works and Transport. There is Shs 142.3 billion; and 6. Shs 1 billion to each district, city and municipality for road grading, murram and compacting. In total, Shs 176 billion has been allocated for this purpose; Colleagues, in the last financial year, they are roads that the Ministry of Works signed contracts for and work has started. Those ones are worth Shs 33 billion, but they are not yet completed and not even paid. There are those where contracts have been signed but work has not commenced. They are worth Shs 33 billion. There is a whole list in the annex. There are also roads where the contracts have been procured but have not been signed, worth about Shs 13 billion. In the last cash release, the Government gave this particular vote Shs 19 billion, whereas the total requirement is Shs 79 billion. So, the budget at base is Shs 26 billion. We must recommend Shs 34 billion to cover those roads. The list of those roads covers the whole country. 7. The following ferries development/ construction will be undertaken. The total for this ferry is Shs 11.8 billion. That is: a) Substantial completion of two Bukungu- Kagwara-Kaberamaido (BKK) ferries and their landing sites; SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT [Mr Achia]

ry.n'v &e o[l- ,tn \ "si ;NN .s t i t: i. t. I 8 (: t Amouat (OOO'f Vote Descrlptlon 63,620,755 160 Uganda Coffee Development Authority(ucDA) 4,831,755 161 Uganda Free Zones Authority Uganda Microfinance Regulatory AuthoriW to,466,294 162 163 Uganda Retirements Benefits Regulatory Authority 15,381,657 t64 National Council for Higher Education t5,891,289 31,529,180 165 Uganda Business and Technical Examination Board National Council of Sports t78,684,L72 t66 t67 Science, TechnolF5/ and Innovation 3r7,742,939 301 Makerere UniversiW 340,375,803 302 Mbarara University 56,499,64t t2t,453,L76 303 Makerere University Business School ) so+ Kyambogo UniversiW 131,616,555 305 Busitema UniversiW 5t,495,729 31,269,650 306 Muni University 307 Kabale University 58,701,033 308 Soroti University 28,662,468 309 Gulu University 63,844,236 Lira University 34,420,tO4 310 311 Law Development Centre. 25,425,r45 35,504,266 3t2 Uganda Management Institute Mountains of the Moon UniversiW 38,842,2L9 313 i 401 Mulago National Referral Hospital 92,708,Ot9 402 ) Butabika Hospital 17,515,837 13,679,781,851 Sub total -Central Votes ( Errcl. Referrals and Missionsl Referral Hospitals Arua Hospital ro,592,846 403 404 Fort Portal Hospital tt,654,O7t Y. .--:\ - A It ,i'r f.Fft i. "l ',I\.

ait r [.' ,, .K .m- lir 2 I { ,&- .2 4l=# . '.t t. li ,',) .\ ,Lt Amount (OOO'I Descrlption Vote 2,006,435 313 Mountains of the Moon Universi 12,339,276 Mulago National Referral Hospital 401 2,262,036 402 Butabika Hospital 14,973,335,870 Sub total -Central Votes ( Drcl. Referrals and Mlsslonsf Referral Hospltals 108,000 Arua Hospital 403 109,81 1 404 Fort Portal Hospital 108,0o0 405 Gulu Hospital 108,000 Hoima Hospital 406 tt6,276 407 Jinja Hospital 108,000 Kabale Hospital 408 108,000 409 Masaka Hospital 5,109,39s 4LO Mbale Hospital 108,000 Soroti Hospital 4tl 108,000 4t2 Lira Hospital I 108,000 Mbarara Regional Hospital 4t3 L42,LO2 4t4 Mubende Regional Referral Hospital 108,000 415 Moroto Regional Referral Hospital 216,OOO \ 416 Naguru Referral Hospital l,377,OOO \+rz Kiruddu Referral Hospital 810,000 Kawempe Referral Hospital 418 810,000 4t9 Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital 2,O4t,200 420 Mulago Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital 11,7o3,784 Sub total -Referral Hospltds Mlssions Abroad Uganda Mission at the United Nations, New York 501 2,90t,9r8 502 Uganda High Commission in the United Kingdom 9,700,000 503 Uganda High Commission in Canada , Ottawa Uganda High Commission in India, New Delhi 504 I , li , '.'; I i l, --l-l t ./' \1,. \: Ii \ ,,- H 4:-

'Bi -fu* {4+-. ll Y \**--= -X +.- #, w i i- t,'l'-- i 1' 23 #-- =--(.\, K Amount (OOO'I Descrlptlon Vote 10 790 oo0 Uganda EmbassY in United Ara b Emirates Abudhabi s28 490 o00 Uganda Embassy in Burun di, Bu umbura 529 t4 043 680 Uganda Consulate in China, Guan u 530 Uganda Embassy in TurkeY, Ankara 531 2 771 r64 Uganda EmbassY in Somalia, Mo shu 532 Uganda Embassy in MalaYsia, Kuala Lum 533 4 390 000 534 Uganda Consulate in KenYa, Mombasa Uganda EmbassY in Algeria, 535 390 000 da Embas 1n U tar Doha 536 537 U da Mission in Havana Cuba 1a U Mission in Luanda An 538 63 389 068 Sub total -Misslons Abroad l.ocal Governmclta 4 257 839 601 Arua ci 6 334 764 Fort-Portal ci 602 6 o22 534 Gulu ci 603 4 472 429 Hoima ci 604 7 884 358 Jin acl 60s 4 615 413 Lira ci 606 10 038 947 Masaka ci 607 6 140 296 608 Mbale ci t4 436 983 Mbarara ci 609 2 971 183 Soroti ci 610 5 371 776 A Munici al Council 701 673 734 702 Munici Council B 847 966 703 Bushenyi- Ishaka MuniciPal Council 2 360 688 Council Busia Munici 704 11 360 922 705 Council Entebbe Munici 1 o47 7tr Ibanda Munici al Council 706 \: . !.1 f;- l\ lr I r

I put the question that a total Shs 1,102,336,197 be provided for Gulu University for under Vote 309 as a supplementary current expenditure, for the Financial Year 2023/2024. (Question put and agreed to.) Vote 403: Arua Regional Referral Hospital

I put the question that a total sum of Shs 319,149, O72 be provided for Arua Regional Referral Hospital under Vote 403 as a supplementary recurrent expenditure for Financial Year 2023/2024. (Question put and agreed to.) Vote 411: Soroti Regional Referral Hospital

13104 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT The total requirement for the requisite road equipment units for this purpose is $70 million, which we hope can be funded through debt financing using the same scheme under which we got the 1,115 units in 2017. My ministry is in the process of procuring road construction equipment for the new districts, as I have said, but we need another Shs 29 billion for the vibro rollers, tippers and water bowsers. These were not included in the tranche which you gave us last time. We shall continue engaging through both the Budget Committee, Committee on Physical Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to avail Shs 29 billion so that we can complete the purchase. Zonal equipment centres Madam Speaker, the zonal equipment centres are currently housed within the premises of the regional mechanical workshops. The ministry had planned to create nine zonal centres in Moroto, Mbale, Jinja, Gulu, Arua, Luweero, Hoima, Mbarara, and Kabale at an estimated cost of Shs 45 billion. We shall continue engaging the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development on this endeavour. The zonal equipment centres operate shared road equipment such as bulldozers, excavators, backhoe loaders, self-loaders and low beds. While the shared equipment is insufficient to cater for the requirements of the entire country, its availability has been greatly reduced due to insufficient maintenance funding. That is a requirement for additional money. Mechanical Engineering Training and Advisory Centre (METRAC) Madam Speaker, since 2017 when the ministry acquired the new equipment, the ministry has implemented several regional training sessions for district operators. While this training format was not sustainable, it was the only option given the circumstances. In 20l8, the Government of Japan, through the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), gave a grant of $2.3 million to the Government of Uganda for the construction of the Mechanical Engineering Training and Advisory Centre in Luwero. Phase I of the project, comprising a gatehouse, classroom block, maintenance block, and administration block, have been completed and the project has been handed over. It is just a few kilometres from Luweero town. Here, we shall train and retrain operators so that we have - because the machine performance will be as good as the man behind the operation. If we have a bad operator – and, in most cases, what we have seen is that people have drivers, not operators. In this centre, we are going to train operators and we are working with the Ministry of Education and Sports so that they can also be tested under the Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) and given certificates of equivalent so that they can be able to be employed outside. Madam Speaker, phase 2 of METRAC requires Shs 9.8 billion, which began this financial year. So far, the Government has availed Shs 1 billion for the construction of a few of the amenities. Mt Elgon Labour-Based Training Centre Madam Speaker, Mt Elgon Labour-based Training Centre (MELTC) is a national training centre under the Ministry of Works and Transport for applying labour-based technology (LBT) in the rehabilitation and maintenance of national, district, urban and community access roads. The training centre is located 20km from Mbale City, along the Mbale-Budadiri Road and adjacent to Uganda Technical College, Elgon. Madam Speaker, MELTC provides training and capacity building in developing, maintaining, and utilising critical road infrastructure assets in the District, Urban, and Community Access Road (DUCAR). Its contribution to the DUCAR network includes:

Is the motion seconded? Okay, it is seconded by Hon. Acon, Hon. Linda, Hon. Alanyo, Hon. Naboth, Hon. Felix, Hon. Derrick, Hon. Frank, Hon. Kivumbi, Hon. Christine, Hon. Xavier, Hon. Jenipher, Hon. Nathan, Hon. Ojok, Hon. Cissy Namujju, Hon. Wilson, Hon. Yona, Hon. Emmanuel, honourable member of the Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. “ Ssabakurisito ” and the Members of Parliament from Hoima, Sheema, Karamoja, Moroto, Arua, Kakumiro, Nakawa and Masaka. Would you like to speak to your Bill – Hon. Alanyo, I was told your uniform is made out of cotton.

12760 THE KARAMOJA DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (REPEAL) BILL, 2024 an elitist and centralised sport that is mainly played in urbanised communities. It is also my prayer that the Ministry of Education and Sports as well as the National Council of Sports and the Uganda Rugby Union, promotes rugby and makes it a sport played in West Nile, Karamoja, Kigezi, Rwenzori and across the country. We have also talked about investment in the infrastructure hub and software for promoting sports. As we congratulate the Uganda Rugby Union and the Government, it is my prayer that Government invests in sports facilities across the country including West Nile, where we have a stadium that has been developed through local initiatives. Not so far ago, there was a statement made on the Floor of Parliament, for the ministry of Education and National Council of Sports to consider supporting the initiative taken by engineer Joel Aita and his group to promote the facility in Arua, so that Arua and West Nile will be able to host such events. I beg to move.

Hon . Mourine Osoru - MS MOURINE OSORU (NRM, Woman Representative, Arua) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I stand in support of the motion.

12602 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORTS (i) An additional Shs 8 billion be provided to increase the medicines and sundries by the Uganda Cancer Institute. This will also cater for the new sites like the one in Gulu. (ii) Shs 10.87 billion be provided for functionalising the regional centres in Gulu and a satellite one in Mbarara, to bring cancer services closer to the people. Mbarara is already doing cancer services as an outpatient service. (iii) The Government of Uganda should explore a possibility of acquiring a loan or grant for the construction and operationalisation of the Arua and Mbale cancer regional referral centres. In the manifesto, it said four; Gulu has taken off, so we need money for these three. (vi) Shs 62 billion be provided for clearing the outstanding obligation on establishment of a nuclear medicine facility/PET centre. Madam Speaker, we do not offer PET scanning services in the country, and many people who can afford them have to go to Aga Khan or Kenyatta Hospital. This money can be paid back in 10 years because it will not be free. Most likely Shs 500,000 to Shs 1 million. Vote 116 - National Medical Stores (NMS) I would like to draw your attention to page 34. Table 14 shows the funding gap of NMS in billions of shillings. That is self-explanatory. The committee recommends that: (i) An additional Shs 262.19 billion be allocated to the National Medical Stores to enable the entity boost supplies of essential medicines and health supplies in a phased manner, beginning with Shs 87 billion this financial year. (ii) The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should front load operational funds to National Medical Stores to facilitate timely delivery of essential medicines and health supplies in advance to avoid delays. Madam Speaker, the paradox is that we have drugs in the warehouse of National Medical Stores in Kajjansi. The issue is money for operations and I think the House needs to make a pronouncement on that. (iii) The committee reiterates its earlier recommendation that an additional Shs 4 billion be provided to NMS for the procurement of kits of glucometers, BP machines and thermometers for the 3,000 health facilities across the country that belongs to the government. It is very common to go to Health Centres IIIs and IVs, and there is no BP machine. You cannot even measure your blood glucose. (iv) Shs 25 billion be provided for procurement of rapid diagnostic kits for malaria, HIV and other diseases. (v) The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the Ministry of Health should clear the Shs 52.2 billion domestic arrears for service fees for handling donated supplies, COVID-19 vaccines and related supplies. Therefore, costs for handling donated supplies should be factored in the funding negotiations and arguments. Madam Speaker, NMS also makes some money through warehousing and surcharge services. That is the amount of money the Government owes them. (vi) Funds should be provided to National Medical Stores for retrieval and destruction of expired COVID-19 vaccines and related supplies. (vii) Shs 20 billion be provided for procuring of PPE supplies for the country. (viii) Health facilities should enforce strict controls governing stock management practices. Health facilities should provide accountability for essential medicines. This will safeguard theft, irrational prescription and poor stock practices.

12603 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 12 APRIL 2024 Vote 151: Uganda Blood Transfusion Services The committee recommends that Shs 2.6 billion be provided to Uganda Blood Transfusion Services for purchase of eight centrifuge machines and Shs 600 million for assorted blood collection and IT equipment to equip the regional blood banks in Arua, Gulu, Fort Portal, Mbale, Masaka, and Mbarara. Three regional blood banks are more than 90 per cent complete. That is Soroti, Arua and Hoima. They were built with funds from the Uganda COVID-19 Response and Emergency Preparedness Project (UCREPP), meaning there will be a need for money for wage and operationalisation. The committee recommends that Shs 12.276 billion required by Uganda Blood Transfusion Services to recruit 164 staff be provided. This will raise the staffing levels to 41 per cent and solve the challenge of heavy reliance on voluntary services. Vote 418: Kawempe National Refinery Hospital Kawempe National Referral Hospital, the issues are self-explanatory, but the major challenge is: 1. Inadequate staffing levels This hospital delivers 60 to 100 mothers daily and 27 Caesarean sections with a staffing of 37.4 per cent. The committee recommends that Shs 6.1 billion be provided for the recruitment of additional staff to enable Kawempe National Refinery Hospital to reach the 68 per cent staffing level. 2. Overhaul and remodelling of the hospital plumbing system This is an issue the committee has noted in the hospitals of Kawempe, Kiruddu, Naguru and Entebbe. These hospitals are as old as 10 years but the plumbing has given way. We need to take an interest in value for money because plumbing giving way after 10 years is very unacceptable. Vote 417: Kiruddu National Referral Hospital 1) Inadequate wage for recruitment of health workers which is the same as Kawempe. 2) Inadequate funding for the burns and surgery unit. The committee recommends that Shs 2 billion be provided to mitigate the shortfall because patients under plastic surgery and burns require a lot of specialised attention and treatment. 3) Purchase of land The committee reiterates its recommendation that Shs 5 billion be provided to Kiruddu National Referral Hospital for the purchase of 5 acres of land to enable expansion services, namely wards for burns and plastic surgery, ophthalmology, general dialysis and ward expansion. To underscore that point, Naguru, Kiruddu and Kawempe were health centre IV on a one-acre piece of land. The Government built upwards of seven stories. There is a need for land for the expansion of these hospitals. Vote 401: Mulago National Referral Hospital 1) Staffing in Mulago National Referral Hospital can be underscored by the intensive care unit. The hospital was expanded and increased to 44 ICU beds, but 21 are working. In the adult ICU of the 27 beds, only 14 are working. The committee recommends that an additional Shs 529 million be provided to Mulago National Referral Hospital for priority recruitment of 10 ICU critical staff. That is the annual cost. 7) Incomplete renovation of Lower Mulago Hospital The committee recommends that Shs 15.5 billion be provided to Mulago National Referral Hospital to complete civil, electrical, plumbing and IT works to ensure full functionalising of the hospital.

Madam Speaker, I would now like to move to regional referral hospitals – that is on page 51. Observations and recommendations Understaffing Table 17 is self-explanatory. Bullet (2) is on unspent wage of regional referral hospitals, as of Mid-Term Financial Year 2023/2024. On page 53, there is a table showing unspent wage. The committee had a challenge, that much as they have now been cleared to recruit, by the time workers are deployed, it will be June. So, of that Shs 17.23 billion in table 18, around 80 per cent is going to go to the Consolidated Fund. The committee was thinking: can this money be re-voted? I am not a custodian of the Public Finance Management Act, but I will let the House guide on whether the money that has not been spent on wage can be re-voted to other areas of the health sector that need a one-off expenditure. On page 53, there is the upgrade of Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital. The committee recommends that Shs 8.1 billion and non-wage recurrent of Shs 6 billion be provided to enable the complete transfer of Entebbe Hospital to a regional referral hospital. Madam Speaker, remember that Entebbe was a district hospital for Wakiso, but it is now a regional referral hospital. So, we need that money to enable it to operate fully. Madam Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to page 54 on dilapidated infrastructure in regional referral hospitals. The committee recommends that: 1. The Ministry of Health should assess all regional referral hospitals and quantify the amount required for rehabilitation; 2. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development reinstates Shs 20.3 billion withdrawn from regional referral hospitals for development. This money was cut last year and hospitals such as Soroti Regional Referral Hospital are in a very dilapidated state; 3. The assessment be done in regional referral hospitals about the status of mortuaries in Financial Year 2024/2025. For Financial Year 2024/2025, Moroto and Arua regional referral hospitals should be prioritised for the construction of modern mortuaries, due to the very dilapidated state of the existing ones. Therefore, Shs 1.5 billion should be provided for the two mortuaries; 4. Shs 11.8 billion be provided to the Ministry of Health to enable it carry out the much- needed expansion and rehabilitation of Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, phase one. For those of you who have been there, it is in a very dilapidated state and remember, they separated conjoined twins. So, there is a lot of work being done there; and 5. The Government should look into the possibility of acquiring a grant or loan for the rehabilitation of dilapidated hospitals.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is a pity that we are still grappling with this challenge in this country. We went to Terego District and, as a surprise, we found that 2,320 girls had been impregnated in a space of seven months. This is just one district – (Interjections)- yes, Terego District. Therefore, the rate of teenage pregnancies is extremely alarming. I was there with the honourable Woman Member of Parliament for Arua. Madam Speaker, this is a challenge that is in all our districts. It is very unfortunate because the Government has provided Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education programmes, which we actually thought would keep the girls in school. Therefore, it cannot be a responsibility of Women Members of Parliament only to end these teenage pregnancies. It is for all, especially the male Members of Parliament because it is the men that impregnate the girls. (Interjections) So, let it be an effort by all of us. Let it be all of us. (Interjections) This is what I am saying: let it be a task for all of us, not only the Women Members of Parliament, to end the teenage pregnancies in this country.

Yes, and this will definitely affect the River Nile as well and for some of us from districts neighbouring water bodies, this will cause health issues like waterborne diseases. In districts like Pakwach, we have the challenge of Bilharzia. In the Health budget, I expected to hear more of blood banks being taken to such districts that are affected by bilharzia because we are losing many people and many are sick; vomiting blood every other day and we have to take them to Arua and Gulu. Madam Speaker, if this is not addressed, coupled with the issue of other diseases, we are going to lose young productive Ugandans. We need blood banks in places like Pakwach District.

No, they do not fumigate. I want to bring this to the attention of the Minister of Health to take note of that such that they can also appropriate for fumigation. Secondly, the labour suites that we have in most of the referral hospitals are now very small. They need expansion. We have moved to those labour suites and we have realised that most mothers give birth on the mats, which is very unacceptable. Lastly, Arua Regional Referral Hospital does not only serve the – (Member timed out.)

Madam Speaker, thank you for allowing this. The former LOP raises an important issue, which points to the procurement plans of the various votes, which this House needs to pay attention to. Unfortunately, this was not brought to the fore yet is likely going to affect how we move. My clarification is on stalled projects that the ministry initiated in regional hospitals. For example, in Arua Regional Referral Hospital, in 2018, you initiated the construction of about 21 staff houses, which now require Shs 4 billion to finish. The honourable MP for Gulu also raised a similar issue. This has not been ably catered for. Secondly, the second Indicative Planning Figures, which the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development sent to the various votes show that money for utilities like water and power – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am wondering why all of us are crying about communication networks, yet in the licence for all the network companies like MTN and the rest, they have a duty to provide networks to every subcounty. The UCC has relegated its duty to somebody else. The network companies are supposed to reach out to every subcounty. In their licences, there is a component of rural communication so that each and every part of Uganda has communication. If we continue crying about network – When I go home, I see “Welcome to Tanzania” because I am near Tanzania. The other network in Arua is from South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya. Honourable minister, look into that matter so that this country can settle with the networks we have. Thank you.

12686 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORTS Inspectorate of Government (IG) (i) Digitisation and digital transformation of the Inspectorate of Government. The committee recommends that an additional Shs 1.7 billion be provided to kick start the digital transformation of the institution. (ii) Insufficient wage allocation. The committee recommends that an additional Shs 0.27 billion be provided to restore the IG’s budget to the current operating level. (iii) Completion of the IG head office building project The committee recommends an additional Shs 27.718 billion be provided to the development budget of the IG to complete the construction of the head office by June 2025. (iv) Replacement of the old and damaged fleet of vehicles The committee recommends that an additional: (a) Shs 1.260 billion be provided to replace the six damaged vehicles during the bomb blast which occurred on 16 November 2021 (b) Shs 2.940 billion be provided to procure 14 double cabin vehicles. (v) Additional wage recruitment of critical staff The committee recommends an additional Shs 4,804,756,400 be provided to cater for recruitment of critical staff and additional operational costs. Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (i) This talks about completion of the first phase of the JLOS House. The committee recommends that Shs 30 billion be provided during Financial Year 2024/2025 to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to cater for the completion of the first phase of the JLOS House as this will go a long way to save the Government from spending Shs 30 billion on rent annually. (ii) Recruitment of state attorneys The committee recommends that Shs 11.407 billion be provided during the Financial Year 2024/2025 to cater for the recruitment of state attorneys to increase the capacity of the ministry in handling numerous cases before them. (iii) Payment of outstanding court awards and court award arrears The committee recommends that the Government prioritises payments of court awards and court arrears to reduce the principal amounts that attract interest by providing Shs 232.875 billion to cater for settlement of the outstanding areas. (iv) Cattle compensation to war-debt claimants The Government had agreed to compensate the war date claimants in Teso, Acholi and Lango subregions for loss of livestock and other properties during the insurgency in the north. The committee recommends that the entire outstanding bill of Shs 463.211 billion be settled across three financial years of 2024/2025, 2025/2026 and 2026/2027. (v) Representation of Government in the East African Court of Justice and community meetings The committee recommends that the ministry’s travel abroad budget line be unfrozen and a provision of Shs 1 billion to facilitate Government’s representation in the East African Court of Justice and East African Community meetings be made. (vi) Operationalisation of 13 regional offices The ministry currently operates regional offices in Gulu, Moroto, Arua, Mbale, Fort Portal, Soroti, and Mbarara against the Judiciary’s 23 high court circuits.

(4) Branded promotional materials produced and distributed to stakeholders (UGX 0.435 billion) (5) Cluster support provided through marketing promotions and advertisement at special National events i.e. World Tourism Day, World wildlife D"y, International Museum d"y, Mart5rrs D"y, etc.(UGX o.l4g billion) (6) International media houses engaged in production of positive media stories for improved destination image (ucx 1.2 biflion) (7) Destination Uganda represented at 4 expos in the African and European markets (UGX 0.932 biflion) (8) Uganda's position as a MICE destination strengthened through: Bids prepared in partnership with stakeholders; MICE advertising undertaken in international media; Incentive buyer inspection visits coordinated; Capacity building programmes undertaken for private sector associations and public bodies in business tourism promotion (UGx 0.758 billion) (9) Product Development and Investment Promotion undertaken: City tourism product profiled for Arua, Gulu and Mbale; Product signage established for Uganda Mart5rr's Trait and cultural sites across the country; Tourism Business Service Directories developed (UGX 0.631 i h & billion) L* CnYv'fl- 30

(9) Concluded round one of the various trade protocols under AfCFTA and COMESA including RoO, Trade in goods, Trade in services, Investments. (10) Published and printed 650 Copies of the draft Competition Bill and submitted them to Parliament (11) Finalized the draft Consumer Protection Bill in engagements with the First Parliamentary Counsel. (12) Finalized proposals for introduction of Tobacco Cess and access of competition merger fees competition commission NTR from coMESA in Consultation with MoFpED and MoJCA. (13) A draft Trade Licensing Rates and Grades for the new Cities were developed in consultation with key stakeholders. (14) Finalization of the development of the Grain Trade policy Implementation strategr and the National MSMEs Implementation stratery (15) Mobilized 180 MSME in Mbale, Gulu, Arua, Hoima, Mbarara and Kampala to participate in the stakeholder consultations for the formulation of branding and packaging strategr. (161 522 MSMES Mobitized, vetted, registered and participated in the 22na EAC Exhibition in Uganda to show case their innovations and discuss business with their counterparts from other countries from 8th to 18th December 2022. (l7l 245 MSMEs trained on making Business Plans, Financial Literacy, Resource Mobilization, Business Negotiations and Record the following Districts. A{V! *a. ,C l; t M' ,i'['r

Isingiro, Kagadi, Nakaseseke, Nakasongola, Arua, obongi, Kitgum, Lamwo, Kamuli, Iganga, Agago, pader, Amum, and adjumani. (18) 1,800 MSMEs mobilized and sensitized on the importance of formatizing and registration of businesses. Amuru and Adjumani. ( 19) 1 ,550 MSMEs mobilized and sensitized on the importance of product certification, audits, good manufacturing practices and good hygiene practices for enterprises in Agago and pader. (20) Final draft guidelines for development, management and operation of Industrial Parks developed. (21) Draft regulations for scrap metal trade developed. (22) Draft amendment to Licensing Act Regulations devetoped. (23) Development of guidelines for the Eco-certification of industries tabled. (24) Production and trade in the pineappte sub-sector profile Table 12: MTIC Proposed Budget allocation FY 2o24l25 and Variances between Approved and proposed (UGX, Billion| Source.. Semi- A nnual Budge Performance v {, Budget Category FY 20/23124 Budget App Budget Spent by End Dec FY 2024l25 Budget Estimates Variance Between Approved and Proposed Wage 3.248 1.403 2.894 -0.354 Non-lllage 155.589 86.625 LOL.2r9 -54.37 GoU Dev't 1O.826 5.065 I 1.16 0.334 Arrears 0.335 0 0 -0.335 Total Budget 169.998 93.093 t15.273 -54.725 W -{*- fr 45 Report FY 2023/24 & ( eTrl

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 (\-.

12390 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION [The Speaker] colonel was a father to Hon. Lillian Obiale, Arua District Woman MP, and the burial is slated for 13 April 2024 in Arua. We condole with the family and for those who are willing to go to Arua, we will provide transport to the burial. Honourable members, please support our colleague who has lost a parent, and may the soul of Nelson rest in eternal peace. Honourable members, you will allow me to amend the Order Paper to include the re- designation of Members and the first reading of some RAPEX Bills. We had some, but we added other Bills, so I am amending the Order Paper to that effect. Thank you so much for coming. Yes, Hon. Meddie? Hon. Patrick, congratulations, you won in PAC.

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.

Hon. Mushemeza, Hon. Ameede, Hon. Kayondo, Hon. Ababiku, the Member for Arua and Hon. Melsa. I will give you a chance, honourable colleagues, but let us be quick because we seem – I do not know if there is anyone with a contrary view to what is in the report.

Exactly, places like Gulu, Soroti, Arua and nearby places; we need to invest and prepare those places. Therefore, it would be procedurally correct for the ministry to pull resources -

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.

11889 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2024 per day, and 6,000 cubic meters per day to 9,000 cubic meters per day, respectively. The project also entails laying of 85 kilometres of pipe network, construction of a 2,000 cubic meter capacity reservoir, and the rehabilitation and expansion of the sewage system. The scope of work under the neighbouring towns is being implemented under the Ministry of Water and Environment. 3. Adjumani Water Supply and Sanitation Project This project targets Adjumani Town Council, Pakele, Zaipi and Ciforo, among others and involves the construction of water intake structure of capacity 12,000 cubic meters per day, water supply plant of capacity of 4,000 cubic meters per day, laying of 51.8 kilometre of water distribution network and installation of the water storage capacity of 1,150 cubic metres and construction of sanitation facilities. iv. Source protection measures in Arua, Gulu, Mbale and Bushenyi areas Works under package two of the Gulu project are currently at 61 per cent and the project is expected to be completed by the end of October 2024. Contracts for Adjumani and Mbale were signed on 21 December 2023, and the contractor is currently mobilising to commence works; this is expected in March 2024. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and Gulu City are jointly implementing the integrated program to improve living conditions in Gulu through grant financing from KFW. This program is being implemented in two phases. The works under phase 1 were completed in 2020 and the system is operational now. The scope of works included the following: 1. Rehabilitation and expansion of Oyitino Dam, raw water intake and Gulu water treatment plant run raw water intake and good water treatment plant from 4,000 cubic metres per day to 10,000 cubic metres per day. This also included development of ground water capacity of 2,000 cubic metres per day; 2. The rehabilitation and expansion of the sewage system; 3. The construction of a faecal sludge treatment facility at Pece–Cubu; 4. The construction of 20 water-borne toilet facilities in public places; and 5. The construction of 30,000 cubic metres per day water intake in the River Nile at Karuma. The scope of work under phase 2 includes the following: 1. Construction of a Water Treatment plant of capacity 10,000 cubic metre per day at Karuma; 2. Construction of 5,000 cubic metre capacity reservoir at Customs Corner in Gulu City; 3. Installation of reservoirs in the six small towns along Gulu Highway, namely Karuma, Kamdini, Minakulu, Bobi, Koro- Abili and Palenga; and 4. The construction of a sludge storage facility at Pece-Cubu. Works under Phase 2 are at 43 per cent progress, and the project is expected to be completed by July, 2024. Ongoing projects scope includes only towns that are en-route to Gulu along the highway (Karuma, Kamdini, Minakulu, Bobi, Kolo- Abili, Palenga). Apparently Oyam North is not en-route and will only benefit from other National Water and Sewerage Cooperation (NWSC) budgetary arrangements that are gazetted by the Ministry of Water and Environment. The Hon. Gorreth Namugga, Member of Parliament, Mawogola South Ssembabule District, said: According to 3 rd National

11891 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2024 Question No.5 From Hon. Agnes Kirabo, Youth Representative, Central Region. That Mulago National Referral Hospital has started a kidney transplant. However, free services have been given to a few people. The rest of the patients have to pay over Shs 46 million, which is too expensive for an ordinary Ugandan. Prayer What is the Government’s plan to ensure this service is available for all? Response Mr Speaker, in December 2023, Mulago National Referral Hospital conducted Uganda’s first kidney transplant successfully, by a team of medical experts from Uganda with counterparts from Yashoda Hospital in India. Mr Speaker, the Government has allowed at least five patients with End-Stage Renal Failure who are on dialysis to have kidney transplants at Mulago National Referral Hospital, free of charge before the fee for the lifesaving procedure is determined for all patients to start paying. The costing of this procedure can then be deduced more accurately rather than estimating from a single or maiden renal transplant. Mr Speaker, Shs 46 million for a kidney transplant is a media-generated figure and not a Government position. The Government has not yet set the cost and our plan through, the Mulago team, is to determine the price after more transplants have been made to get the right picture of the cost implication. The cost of running specialised services is extremely expensive and such services have Ugandans over $18,000 on average, excluding costs of ticket and maintenance abroad. This cost does not include post-operative follow- up treatment which is also very expensive, especially in the first months. All investigations to prepare the patient for transplant were done in Uganda, except for Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) typing where samples were sent to South Africa through Lancet Laboratories. This was more cost effective to do for now until we scale up organ transplant services. Mr Speaker, the success story of Mulago National Referral Hospital in correcting this health condition, will save Ugandans from travelling to India and other developed countries for kidney transplant. The Government of Uganda is committed to saving the lives of Ugandans through such innovations and lessons learned from Mulago. Therefore, after thorough assessment of all that entails the entire process of kidney transplant and full recovery of a patient, a reasonable figure shall be derived and Ugandans shall be informed accordingly. Question No.6 From Hon. Dr. Abed Bwanika, Member of Parliament, Kimaanya- Kabonera Division, Masaka City. He says that on 28 April 2020, the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda approved the creation of 15 news cities and 10 became operational on 1 July 2020, including Jinja, Arua, Gulu, Lira, Soroti, Hoima, Fort portal, Mbarara, Masaka and Mbale. Section 188 of the Local Government Act, instructs that at the creation of a new local government unit, the minister shall assure the equitable sharing of property between the original and new governments. It is now three years since the operationalisation of the 10 cities without clear guidance on asset sharing. The Ministry of Local Government continues to handle ad hoc by engaging case by case, which has caused a lot of confusion and not desirable. This has negatively affected service delivery in the affected local governments. Some district leadership continue to insist on compensation out of the transfer of assets despite that these are public properties held in trust.

11892 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT Prayers: 1. When is the Minister of Local Government concluding on the guidelines for asset sharing and laying the same on the Table in the Parliament of Uganda? 2. How much provision has the Government provided to support establishment of new headquarters for districts that were affected by the creation of new cities? Mr Speaker, my response is that funding to finance the settlement of 10 districts of Masaka, Mbarara, Hoima, Arua, Gulu, Lira, Mbale, Fort portal, Soroti and Jinja that gave birth to cities was requested for by the Ministry of Local Government during the budgeting period for the current Financial Year 2023/2024. However, funds were not allocated and this remained as an unfunded priority. The matter has been presented to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for consideration in the next Financial year 2024/2025 Budget Call Circular. Prayer 2: When are the subcounties that host new district headquarters going to be gazetted as town councils as part of the Local Governments Act? The Ministry of Local Governments has compiled the necessary data from the eight district local governments which have already determined their new locations. We are still waiting for submission from two district local governments. Town councils will be gazetted once the Ministry of Local Governments has received all the information from the two remaining local governments. Prayer 3 That since there are lacunas in the Local Governments Act about the governance of new cities, when is government coming up with a Bill on governance of new cities? My response is that the proposed Amendment Bill for Local Governments Act, Cap 243 has been prepared and will soon be submitted to Cabinet for consideration and approval, and then be brought here for approval. Mr Speaker, I beg to submit. (Applause)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question to the Prime Minister is about the erratic electricity supply in Kabale. You would be very lucky to be in a Kabale or Kabale Town, which I represent and have electricity supply for a whole day. Many people have talked about erratic electricity supply, one of the culprits being Arua in the West Nile region. Last week, to make matters worse, in a suburb called Bugonji where the Prime Minister is born, there was an upsurge of electricity which blew many electrical appliances including TVs, fridges, radios of people and they have not been compensated. The point I am trying to make is that the erratic electricity is in the whole country. It is not only in Kabale and West Nile. When we go to countries that surround us - I have been lucky to be in three countries so far – but we find the electricity is steady, cheaper and rarely goes off.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mid last year, when the Minister of State for Energy and Mineral Development was presenting a report on the status of electrification in West Nile, the Members of Parliament from Madi Subregion noted with concern the generalisation of West Nile to mean Nebbi and Arua. You directed that Members of Parliament from Madi Subregion in collaboration with the minister come to the ground to have an assessment of the status of energy in Madi Subregion, and present a report to this House. To date, no action has been taken. We need your guidance, Mr Speaker, on whether we are proceeding well or not. Thank you.

Okay. Can the Government streamline the process of managing the trade in fish to be rational so that people are not robbed? Two, can the Prime Minister, through the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, investigate and prosecute such officers for extortion and causing revenue loss to this Government? Number three, can those two officers be withdrawn immediately? Number four; can those trucks, which are under his custody, be released? Mr Speaker, this morning, over 700 traders in Arua Central Market walked to the office of the Resident City Commissioner of Arua. I tried to call your number to give you the scenario on ground. The situation was bad, but I promised them that if you gave me an opportunity, I would raise this matter and action would be taken. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I beg to submit.

Mr Speak - er, I am here to give a statement on the status of Nebbi-Goli-Paidha-Zombo-Zeu-Warr-Vurra- Lia-Odromacaku Road, which is 119 kilome - tres. This is a national road in West Nile. It con - nects the districts of Nebbi, Zombo and Arua. The road is an important international route used to access Uganda’s borders with eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is important for agriculture, trade and security purposes, providing access to the border areas near DRC.

11644 THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2023 Planned interventions on the road Mr Speaker, the feasibility study and detailed design for the upgrading of the road to bituminous standard was completed in 2017. The road was included on the list of roads prioritised for upgrading in the National Development Plan (NDP) III. However, due to the limited resources available in the medium- term expenditure framework, the initiation of the road upgrading works was not commenced. Mr Speaker, the Government has made efforts to secure financing for upgrading the road. The Nebbi-Goli (19km) section of the road was submitted to the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) for funding. The preparation appraisal missions for the project are expected to be completed in the Financial Year 2023/2024. If approved by the financier, the works will commence in the Financial Year 2024/2025. The planned upgrading of Goli-Paidha-Zombo- Warr-Vurra (100km) section of the road project was submitted to the African Development Bank for inclusion in the Indicative Operation Pipeline (IOP), which includes the projects to be considered for funding in the period from 2022 to 2026. The works on the project will commence depending on confirmation of financing. The road is currently being maintained by UNRA as a gravel road under the UNRA Arua station. The Goli-Paidha-Zombo section of the road is currently maintained under a framework contract for periodic maintenance. The Zombo–Vurra–Arua section of the road is currently maintained under Force Account. Mr Speaker, in conclusion, the Nebbi-Goli– Paidha-Zombo-Warr-Vurra road is an important link and was prioritised for upgrading in the Third National Development Plan (NDP III). However, due to limited resources, the proposed upgrading of the road was deferred for implementation under future plans. The feasibility study and the detailed engineering designs for the road upgrading were completed and efforts are being made to get financing for the proposed upgrading. In the meantime, Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) will ensure that the road is maintained in a motorable state to ensure continued connectivity in the region. Mr Speaker, on the same note, as you had earlier guided, I would like to make an additional response to the Mpondwe Bridge. This Mpondwe Bridge is after Bwera and we had a bridge which had been made using metallic culverts but these culverts were vandalised by our own who wanted scrap. We realised it later but we did emergency works last year and currently, we have come up with the designs of the concrete box culverts, which is 30 metres long with a high fill at a contract of Shs 1.7 billion. We have our contractor who was doing other projects in the region, that is, Armpass Technical Services Ltd, that is mobilising to start on the work and within a period of four months from now, that bridge will be finished. I beg to submit. Thank you.

11645 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 2024 I want to give this additional information so that these stakeholders the minister mentioned - like the African Development Bank, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) based in Khartoum, and the people from Nebbi, Zombo, and Arua district or Vurra need to have a meeting to fast-track to see that we get a loan for this very important road. This area is highly - we call it actually the “food basket” for West Nile. It has a lot of coffee, the Government is promoting tea in that area; we have a lot of fruits, matooke - all these things are supplying the greater north. Related to that, we have many of the forest reserves; talk about the plantation forests. We have Lendu, Okavurero, Awang and Ossi. These are very important investments of the Government. In addition to those, we have two dams on River Nyagak. Since the road is in poor shape and the area is agro-based, it is now difficult for many people to benefit from agriculture. As a result, agriculture is not helping them. They have gone to environmental degradation and it is affecting two dams, that is, Nyagak I and Nyagak III. In fact, this is why you see Nyagak I is producing only 1.7 megawatts of electricity because of degradation. We need the road so that people can move away from environmental degradation. On the revenue side, Shs 3 billion is the estimated market in the DR Congo. With these four borders plus the three more potential borders, if they are open, we can generate a lot of money from there. Accidents on these roads are very many. Breakdown of vehicles moving on these roads is too much yet the cost of maintenance is very high. On the issue of health and emergency, the whole area does not have any referral hospital, apart from the regional referral hospital in Arua. If the road is in bad shape, how are we going to rescue our people in case of an emergency? You may recall that in 2021, when Zombo was attacked two times by bandits from the DR Congo, one of the reasons was - they tried all other alternatives but there was no market for their produce; so they were tempted to go and join those people in the DR Congo. We quelled that one because we never wanted it. But even the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) could not maintain or contain the bandits because there were no roads to cross with those machines. There are no bridges. Therefore, we need that road. This road was pledged by the President in 2010. He repeated it throughout all the elections. We have reminded him in writing and also verbally. In conclusion, the market is available if we can develop this road. From Zeu, for example, to the border of the Central African Republic, is only 750 kilometres. Imagine the market we are going to tap into in that area. Therefore, my prayer remains that we must fast track the loan with the African Development Bank, and the loan with BADEA so that we can do this very important road. The money we shall generate there will help to do internal roads in Kiboga, Nakaseke, Luwero, and other parts of Uganda. This is a very important road for the security and development of Uganda. I thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. First, as a historical businessman, I would like to say that we have lost a lot of money in terms of the wear and tear of the vehicles. Our people have always fetched low prices of coffee because of inaccessibility to the area. Above all, we are near the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is endowed with numerous resources. So, we actually lose benefitting from resources from the Democratic Republic of Congo because the people now use Arua, which has now become a city. Secondly, I would like to – my colleagues did not mention about the bridges. In 2017-2018, Government embarked on the six bridges along this road. The Wariki Bridge was made complete with half a kilometre on both sides. When we came to this Parliament in 2021, Odrua Bridge was launched, but it was only cleared and it was not worked on. We have four other bridges which completely - money was released and when we investigated, they said money was misappropriated. We would like to ask the Government to be sympathetic to the Alur people. Many problems which my colleagues have enumerated have actually caused our people to be poor. The poor education – if I talk of matooke , the matooke from West Nile, from Zombo is slightly bigger than the matooke we get from Ankole. I have worked in Ankole and I have worked also in Zombo. We would like the road to be made so that we also begin supplying the matooke here in Kampala. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. The minister has just said that in the meantime, the road will be maintained. As we speak now, you know that there were no releases for the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) in the third quarter. Last week, I spoke with the regional manager of UNRA in Arua, regarding one of the roads in my constituency – the Keri-Lima-Kerua Road. That road has not been worked on for about three years. They started it last quarter, but they could not finish it because they do not MINISTERIAL STATEMENT [Ms Afoyochan]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I join the Members of Parliament from Zombo - actually, the President calls that road a security road. Relatedly, I will take you to the road of Katrini to Nyadri. This is a UNRA road just like the one of Koboko. This road was worked on by UNRA more than three years ago but right now it is impassable. I have moved to the UNRA office in Arua and the one of Kampala. They told me the design is ready, it is in the computer, but there is no road. This road passes my home.

Thank you. Let us have the honourable lady from Iganga, honourable lady from Rukungiri, honourable lady from Kibale, honourable lady from Kanungu, honourable lady from Arua, honourable lady from Terego, honourable lady from Kiboga and the honourable lady from Butambala. (Laughter) Let me start with the ladies – and the honourable lady from Napak. Please, in that order, let us do it quickly and then I go to the honourable men. (Laughter)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Allow me to join my colleagues to congratulate our beloved President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF. Mr Speaker, for sure our beloved President deserves being appreciated. The President has done a wonderful job, and so, we Ugandans need to appreciate and support him. Although we have our challenges, like corruption, which everybody must join hands together to fight because it is not an issue for one person; it is a general issue. If Ugandans united to fight the corruption, I am sure Uganda is going to be the best. Secondly, I am happy that our beloved Minister of Works and Transport is around. While I congratulate him too, I would like to ask him to at least improve our roads in West Nile because right when one drives to Arua, they will have challenges arriving there well. Honourable minister, I request you - people love our beloved President and Uganda but our challenge is only the roads. At least I request you, my brother, to try to help us; if you improve our roads, Uganda will be the best. Otherwise, congratulations to H.E, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and congratulations all my colleagues. Let us join our hands to support our Mzee in 2026. I beg to move.

Madam Speaker, I beg to designate the following honourable members to the Committee on Public Accounts (Local Governments) as members: 1. Hon. Mary Begumisa - Ssembabule; 2. Hon. Jacob Karubanga Ateenyi - Kibanda South County; 3. Hon Lilian Paparu Obiale - Arua; 4. Hon. Agnes Abwoli - Workers; 5. Hon. Jovanice Twinobusingye - Kiruhura; 6. Hon. Acan Joyce Okeny - PWD; 7. Hon. Kevin Oginga Kaala - Palisa; 8. Hon. David Lagen - Agago County; 9. Hon. Joel Leku - Terego West County; 10. Hon. Sowedi Kitanywa - Busongora County North; 11. Hon. Godfrey Onzima - Aringa North County; 12. Hon. Phyllis Chemutai - Kapchorwa; 13. Hon. Okullu Aabuka Jalon - Lamwo County; 14. Hon. Etuka Isaac Joakino - Upper Madi County; 15. Dr Emely Kugonza - Buyanja East County;

11334 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION [The Speaker] Roads like Karuma-Pakwach, Nebbi-Arua and Gulu-Atiak-Nimule, they are equally very important. When you bring a loan request for the construction of a road on this side, you should also bring one for the construction of a road on the other side for you to balance the equation. Let us balance the ‘boat’ so that we are able to have - yes, I am not saying that we are not going to work on the road, let us work on it because it is overdue but you need to balance; please, balance.

11169 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2023 Possibilities and opportunities have, therefore, been opened for everyone thanks to the Government’s big tent approach. In summary, the space that allows for the emergence of such diverse but special and expression can be anything but shrinking. Issues to do with the November 2020 riots and attendant loss of lives, injuries, destruction and related matters - Madam Speaker, this is yet one other additional response on this matter and all others incidental thereto. Contrary to what the Leader of the Opposition claims, an investigation was done immediately after the riots and a report to that effect was presented to the last Parliament by the then Minister of Internal Affairs. That, in addition to other subsequent numerous responses made about the subject matter, including in this Parliament, I needed to make that clarification from the onset to clear the air. That said, and by way of a recap, violent riots broke out and rocked various parts of the country in November 2020 before they were quelled by police and other security agencies. These riots covered Kampala and Wakiso, which were the epicenter of the riots, as well as Mukono, Masaka, Kyotera, Lwengo, Mpigi, Luwero, Wobulenzi, Mityana, Lugazi, Njeru, Jinja, Buwenge, Iganga, Namayingo, Namutumba, Luuka, Kamuli, Budaka, Busia, Mbale, Arua and Gulu, respectively. During these riots, extensive loss of property, (private and public) and damage to and loss of lives were registered. The destruction incidental to the riots, or directly arising from the various riotous acts, was immense. This included; deliberate acts of arson, or torching of buildings and vehicles, use of stones and other objects to hit innocent members of the public, motorists, security personnel and property, physical assault, manhandling and abuse of members of the public as well as law enforcement officers, staging of illegal roadblocks and demanding money with menaces from members of the public. There was also burning of tires to damage and block public roads and throwing petrol bombs into buildings and at security/law enforcement officers, among others. During this chaos, even ordinary sanctified places like court premises were not spared. Wobulenzi Court premises were set ablaze. Fifty six people lost their lives, including those by gunshot wounds and others whose deaths were through other causes incidental to the riots. The latter category includes those that lost their lives as a result of motor vehicle accidents, involving for example, vehicle registration number UAN 827N, whose driver lost control after being hit by a stone and knocked two people dead namely; Nalwada Kevin and Nsimbe Shafik. Forty six people out of the 56 victims were male adults and three were male juveniles. Forty eight of the victims were from Kampala metropolitan areas. This includes Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono. Two were from Jinja, two from Luwero, one from Rakai, one from Kinoni in Lwengo, one from Butambala and one from Mpigi, respectively. Madam Speaker, security operations are governed by the law to ensure and guide the participating forces on the employment of lethal force. This is ensured through a number of ways, including training, briefing before operations, and debriefing post-operations, as well as dissemination of rules of engagement, which have been distilled and reduced into pocketbooks for the tactical operators. The standard operating procedures on the use of force booklet is attached as Annex B to this statement. These are the aid memoirs to assist operators to make informed and rational judgment depending on the circumstances of each case and the prevailing situation, but mindful of the principles of necessity and proportionality in the use of force. These measures, Madam Speaker, were in place. The investigations done post the riots established the cause of death and injury without conclusive findings about the circumstances of each of the deaths and injuries; save for Auxiliary No.01700LDF Mustapha Ssali, who was charged and convicted for the killing of

Thank you, Rt Hon. Speaker. We welcome you to the world of twin Mothers. I am one of them. On behalf of Maracha District, congratulations. The 15 Parishes of Maracha District in greater Oluvu never received the first quarter, that is Shs 7 million. Three parishes in Yivu Subcounty never received the Shs 100 million. I would like to know what the Government is doing as far as these parishes that never benefited are concerned. Secondly, I agree with you on the issue of mobile banking because Maracha is one of those districts without a bank. Many of our beneficiaries spend nights in either Arua or Koboko in to access… (Member timed out.)

Mama, I will wait for further guidance; a proper one. Thank you. Madam Speaker, I rise on a matter of urgent national importance. We have been complaining about the high-handedness of the enforcement team of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) in enforcing tax collections in West Nile. As we speak, a 73-year-old lady, Ondoru Margaret, the body has been in Arua Regional Referral Hospital Mortuary since Tuesday. Chandiru Beatrice, 43 and Patrick Biliya, 27 years were injured as a result of being knocked down in the unfortunate incident as the enforcement team were subduing smugglers. Four days ago, on 11 November 2023, in Koboko, a 22-year-old boy was shot dead after the enforcement team asked him for Shs 600,000. He gave them Shs 400,000, but they wanted the motorcycle too and, in the scuffle, they shot him. Last year, in Arivu Subcounty, Arua District, a shopkeeper was shot by an enforcement officer.

Thank you, Hon. Feta. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, I got a report from Arua on this same matter. When I got this complaint, I asked my team to make a follow-up which revealed that there was an accident. I have a video to that effect, where a young man carrying two other people, knocked one of the pickups of URA and a lady died instantly; it was an accident. According to the report I got, URA took over the burial expenses. However, it was due to reckless riding by the boda boda. If you want, I can give you the video and you look at it. I would like to say that we cannot suspend enforcement of the collection of taxes because that is where we get our money from. We will continue collecting taxes. When a person dies, we shall bury them first and then continue collecting the taxes.

Madam Speaker, first of all, we extend our sincere condolences to the family who lost their loved ones in the accident that happened in Arua involving our URA vehicle. The Member raises a number of issues, including the shooting. It is true the shooting occurred between a smuggler and our URA enforcement team. When this happened, we instituted an investigation and the soldiers involved were arrested. We await the outcome of the investigations and we shall take action. As you have said, I would like to appeal to our colleagues from Arua that we, as the Government, cannot compromise on smuggling and we shall continue with our enforcement. What I would like to undertake is that since this matter has come to Parliament, I will find

10978 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR time to meet with the communities around Arua together with the URA team so that we do stakeholder management and ensure that we work together to collect the necessary taxes.

10911 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT O F U G ANDA WEDNESDAY, 15 N O V EMBER 2 023 patching only where they think visitors are going to pass. The biggest visitors in this country are us. (Applause) First start with us because all of us come from outside Kampala. We are visitors in this city. Patch up everywhere since we have given you money - not only for a road going to Munyonyo. We know that there are a lot of inconveniences that happen when a road is being worked on; there is a diversion and you cannot pass. We also currently have too much rain. I request KCCA to consider all Ugandans as visitors as we wait for the others who are coming. We want a beautiful city; we do not have to segregate. We do not work on our house only when we know that there are visitors coming. We gave out money and it is for the whole city. Honourable members, this morning - and I am saying this painfully. I should not have said it, especially when the chairperson of Lango Parliamentary Group is my very good friend. I saw a press conference where the Lango Parliamentary Group was addressing the nation. I have also seen T-shirts and a number of posts on social media saying “No Akii-Bua, no AFCON; no Akii-Bua, no vote.” I would like us to distinguish between presidential pledges and what was put in the AFCON bid. The bid had requirements that have to be fulfilled whereas a presidential pledge also has to be fulfilled. There is Akii-Bua and Buhinga, which must be fulfilled. Let us not jeopardise our bid for AFCON. This is an international bid; let us not localise it. (Applause) I also come from a different subregion; do you want us also on Sunday to say, “No Soroti/ Bukedea Stadium, no vote”? There was a decision by Parliament that – Dr Chris, do you remember the decision of Parliament on putting up stadia all over the country? You will give it to us. We are not going to tolerate this. Why didn’t you make that noise when we were bidding? Because we were on tension when we were bidding for AFCON. Please love your country. The fact is that Akii- Bua must get its stadium at whatever cost. Buhinga will get it. It was a presidential pledge. That is why I am not asking for it in Bukedea because it was not pledged there. I want us to desist from that and look at what is good for our country. That kind of cheap politics will not take us anywhere. Let us love this country. I will only need to hear from the minister on the position of the Cabinet on that issue. For you to have the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), you needed to have an airfield in your area; that is when they would use your stadium, and the only places that qualified were Hoima and Kampala. Therefore, for us who do not have – (Laughter) - honourable members, let us accept that we do not have them. It is not until they are put there that we can have it. Let us first host this one and not attach politics to it – no vote! Vote for who? I hope you have votes for yourself, first. Honourable members, let us desist from such because if these people of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) hear that, it is bad publicity for this country. I believe the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Cabinet and the Government are going to do the right thing, following what was in the bid and the presidential pledge. Let us differentiate between presidential pledges and what is in the bid. The checklist is in the bid – what was put there. That is why places like Nakivubo and Namboole are going to host matches. There is going to be a stadium put up in Arua, but not for AFCON. I would like to thank you very much and request that as you enter and later exit, please, clock in and out. Today is the second day – I started counting yesterday. I am checking the list every day, of people who attend the House.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am also a former Minister of State for Health and I just wanted to say that we need a comprehensive debate on health and healthcare in the country one day, because a lot needs to be done to ensure that we address these issues, which are being raised. I know the Minister of Health will come and give us detailed information, but there are efforts through the Ministry of Health to decentralise most of these services, including mental health, but I just wanted to provide information on cancer briefly. Cancer is on the rise and we need to invest more in public education. It is also true that the Cancer Institute in Mulago is congested, but the institute has established a home nearby where those who come from upcountry can have a rest as they get treatment, in an effort to decongest the Cancer Institute. Also, there are plans to build cancer institutes in the regional referral hospitals. I know for a fact that the Cancer Institute in Gulu has been completed. They are now doing a dry run for it to start functioning. Construction is also going on in Mbale Hospital for a fully-fledged Cancer Institute and also in the plans, I think, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has provided resources for a Cancer Institute in Mbarara and Arua Regional Referral Hospitals - (Member timed out.)

10818 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT (b) Storied Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Personalisation Centre: A three-storied personalisation building is to be constructed at the ministry headquarters. This is to ease office space accommodation and improve service delivery. That is not yet done. 3. Regional enrolment centres and missions abroad. (a) Regions with fully furnished and equipped enrolment centres in Mbale, Mbarara, and Gulu were done. The ones which are not done are Arua and Jinja. (b) Missions abroad with fully furnished and equipped enrolment centres in Washington D.C., London, Pretoria, Copenhagen, Ottawa, Abu-Dhabi, and Beijing, were done. (c) Images of polycarbonate and paper- based passports: Comparison between old passports (paper-based passports) and the new passports (polycarbonate passports). You can see from the diagram on the data page that this was done. (d) Security features: Laser tactile feature, MCD, holothread, Magic ID, MLI, Transparent Window, OVI. The status is the optically variable ink feature and all the details there. Mr Speaker, I beg to submit. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, honourable minister. This is an update and these are issues which the sectoral committee should follow up as we had said. Next item. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON THE ACTIONS TAKEN TO MITIGATE ACCIDENTS ON THE MPIGI-KANONI ROAD

10745 THE ELEVENTH P ARLIAMENT OF U G ANDA T U ESDAY , 24 OCTOBER 2023 Mr Speaker, you missed being in Mwiri because you would have gone beyond this. (Laughter) Mr Speaker, I thank you for supporting Hon. Kyemba to be here - Of course, there is someone asking, “Who are the Presidents, and ministers?” I will elaborate on them later. A leader like Hon. Kyemba is a rare species. If you read his biography, when he came back during the National Resistance Council, he became a councillor. When some Members of Parliament here walk, they even advertise on the roads that, “I am a Member of Parliament; I am honourable so-and-so.” However, what are you doing to make you honourable? Some of you need to copy people like Hon. Henry Kyemba. In fact, you need to come to Mwiri to study and know how leaders behave. My mother asked who the Mwiri boys are, but you just see them by face and how they talk. Mwiri boys are bright, intelligent, have integrity, are willing to help and have everything you need from any human being. Mama , when we saved your husband, it was Mwiri saving him because Mwiri’s motto says , “Kulwa Katonda N’Eggwanga Lyaffe” (“For God and our country.”) When the Prime Minister, who became the President of Uganda, Dr Milton Obote, was in Mwiri, he instead came and copied our motto and changed it from “our” to “my” country. In fact, Busoga College Mwiri should sue the Government of Uganda for having taken their motto without paying them. Why am I bringing that up? Mr Speaker, you can see such schools bring up people - where are they now? You have heard my mother, Hon. Cecilia Ogwal saying, “Mr Smart came from Lango in the village.” Nandala-Mafabi came from Busamaga in the village and they both went to Busoga College Mwiri, one of the top schools. Now, those top schools are no more. You have now created private schools that take children of those who have money and you are not educating leaders. You are now educating people to pass exams, businessmen, thieves, Enjaga people, mention it. That is why when you go to their offices, they do not know how to write in English and cannot even pronounce their names. The death of Hon. Henry Kyemba should open the eyes of the Government of Uganda; that it is time to go back and review the education system, starting with those original schools, which would pick bright children from village schools. Even if you were in a village in Arua and you were very bright, you would pass and go to Kisubi or Teso College Aloet. However, where are they now? They are now on zero grazing. That is why you are coming up here to say that we should teach people patriotism because they do not know a Mugisu - if they are in Arua, they only know themselves because of “zero grazing”. When you go to Busoga College Mwiri, you will find a notice board showing you prominent people who have passed through the school. There are those who passed very well and became heads of schools and prefects. When you go there, of course, you will see our names there –(Interjection)- yes, I can confirm you are one of them. (Laughter) I can confirm that Hon. Kyemba is well-known and when he came to the school, he would talk to the boys about how to behave. Recently, in one of the meetings we held – Hon. Katuntu, you missed this one. We had the late Kirunda Kivejinja, Prof. George Kirya who was the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University and Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, who is also our product. When they came that day, unfortunately, COVID-19 hit us. We sang and they said, “I wish Uganda could bring their people to learn what the people in Mwiri learn.” I would like to ask those in Government that when you are in those offices, please remember that you will leave them one day. But when you leave, what have you left there?

10655 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2023 In the group of 2021, over 50 are still languishing in Kitalya and Luzira prisons without trial. Twenty Eight of these have been produced in the Army court-martial, but their trial has never taken shape more than three years after arrest, including a one Olivia Lutaaya, a mother of three little children who was arrested immediately after giving birth on 8 May 2021. Mr Speaker, the questions of the day: i. Is the people’s Parliament dosing on duty, complacent or timid to demand the military to account for their actions and conduct in the court-martial where hundreds of Ugandans are casually produced as a show without consequence? ii. Is the UPDF subordinate to the laws of the land or the country was long captured by a subtle military junta without an official proclamation of the rule by decree? Torture in Detention Facilities: Mr Speaker, the growing culture by the State security apparatus to torture suspects while in detention, the case of Samuel Masereka, the Registrar of the NUP in Kasese District and the famous case of Kakwenza Rukirabashaija are classic examples of people who have ever been abducted by security personnel and subjected to despicable torturous treatment. Other similar incidents occurred in the recent past. For instance, when Hon. Kyagulanyi was arrested from Arua and tortured while in detention, Hon. Francis Zaake has on several occasions faced it rough to the extent of almost losing his sight, and many other incidents. We cannot say that these are isolated incidents. Mr Speaker, I sense danger in muzzling dissenting voices and delimiting space for holding accountable those in power. If this happened to them today and no statement or remedial action has been taken by the Government, how shall we all be spared if our turn comes? In the recent past, Mr Speaker, this august House has condemned such violations, but the same old habits have continued to manifest mainly through enforced disappearances, arbitrary illegal arrests and detention, torture in detention, detention without trial, unlawful detentions, extrajudicial killings, property grabbing, political persecution, assaulting journalists and other professionals in the course of duty, among others. Human Rights Violations in Fishing Communities Mr Speaker, in 2017, the President of Uganda directed that the UPDF be deployed at major lakes in Uganda, following the reported depletion of fish stocks due to over and illegal fishing. Following that deployment, the fishing communities have on numerous occasions, cried out on gross violation of their rights by the men and women in uniform. Reports of rape, defilement, destruction of properties, murders, unjustified arrests and illegal closure of many landing sites have been reported. Part of the response to these cries by Parliament was the enactment of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 20l3. The continued presence of the UPDF and their selective actions against citizens must arouse the curiosity of any serious House of Parliament. Entire communities have been displaced, rendered homeless and jobless. Many persons have been killed, maimed and dishonoured. Do the victims of these illegal actions have any representatives in Parliament? In the circumstances and absurd as described above, we have the following demands for the Government to meet without excuse: 1. Full accountability for the November 2020 murders in Kampala and beyond, including the actions taken on Police Patrol 999/17 and others listed above, whose occupants were well captured by different media houses and vigilant citizens, shooting live

10510 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Enactment of the Physical Planners Registration Act, 2022 was also done and we are now in the process of looking at the regulations. The Permanent Secretary requested the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the National Planning Authority to ensure that all infrastructure developments by MDAs with a special component comply with the fiscal planning. Mr Speaker, the ministry with the support from World Bank - that is Competitiveness and Enterprise Development Project (CEDP) - prepared the first National Fiscal Development Plan and Cabinet approved it in November last year. Regional plans have also been prepared for the Albertine Region and the Northern Uganda Economic Corridor. Districts of Wakiso, Moroto, Nwoya, Kikuube, Kabarole, Bududa, Bunyangabu, Nakaseke and Budaka have physical development plans. There are a number of physical development plans still under preparation, which include the Bwebajja Physical Development Plan, the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Physical Development Plan, and the Jinja/Kampala and Mpigi Infrastructure Corridor Plan. A number of urban councils have prepared physical development plans and it is noteworthy that many of these have attained high levels of implementation. They include Gulu, Arua Cities, Pader, Kagadi, Bulisa Town Councils, among others. The table below summarises the status of physical development plans in the country and the details of the specific local government are also attached as Annex 1. We have one National Physical Development Plan, two regional physical development plans, then out of the 135 districts, we have nine that have complied. Out of the 11 cities, we have three; out of the 31 municipalities, we have 17. Out of the 1,488 subcounties, we have 198; for town councils, we have 47 out of 585. Challenges While Government has made effort to support physical planning in the country, a lot still remains undone. The number of planned local governments above speak for themselves. Even where physical development plans have been prepared, their implementation still remains a challenge. A lot of the challenges are faced in the implementation of the Physical Planning Act can be attributed to the increasing land use pressures, occasioned by the country’s quest for economic development, high rate of population growth and inadequacies in physical planning. The latter is mostly attributed to inadequate funding levels and governance gaps. The following are the specific challenges that the country has to deal with in the implementation of the Physical Planning Act; 1. Most of the planning that should result in visible results is done at the local government level. Unfortunately, these local governments are grossly underfunded, resulting into low prioritisation exhibited through low budget allocations to develop, review and implement the physical development plans, especially at subcounty and district level. 2. Capacity gaps, human resource, equipment and training. Inadequate awareness creation on physical planning, hence low levels of appreciation of physical planning and development control. 4. Ineffective coordination at central and local government levels. 5. Weak enforcement mechanisms. 6. Failure to formulate ordinances; for cities and bylaws for municipalities and town

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I also thank the minister for his statement. I am also the chairperson of the District Roads Committee in my district of Apac. The main challenges as far as the regional workshop is concerned are: 1. The coverage is too wide to the extent that the scope of maintenance and repair works is very big. For example, Gulu Regional Workshop is serving West Nile, Lango, Acholi and Karamoja. How many districts are there, and how many machines and equipment can break down at a go and need repair? I request, through you, that the Ministry of Works and Transport create some maintenance branch; say in Lira and Arua to assist the western Nile districts and NIRA to assist the district in the Lango Subregion. 2. Through you, my colleagues have talked about the issue of funds. And I - (Member timed out.)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I join others in thanking the minister for the statement. While honourable colleagues from other districts are talking about the difficulties of taking their equipment to be serviced at the regional workshops, Arua City has no equipment to be taken to Gulu, the regional centre. Arua City was formed by joining Ayivu County, which is now Ayivu Division with the former Arua Municipality. Ayivu County formerly, under Arua District has lost all the equipment. It has three road equipment units. Since Arua City does not have any equipment, what do we taken to Gulu for repair in the regional workshop? I would like to ask the Minister of Works and Transport and the Minister of Local Government to think about these cities that were created; otherwise, the money allocated ends up lying idle. The Uganda Road Fund budget for the Financial Year 2021/2022 – which the city received – Shs 600 million – was not utilised because there was no equipment to do the work. In fact, we are still investing where the money went. Mr Speaker, we hired equipment to work on roads in the Financial Year 2022/2023. I would like to implore the ministries concerned to see to it that the cities which were created have equipment. Thank you. MR MOSES ALEPER (NRM, Chekwii (Kadam), Nakapiripirit): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to look at the study that the ministry carried out. When you start giving districts Shs 140-plus billion yet the workshops require Shs 100 billion – a see-saw. Is it this very money that caused the study to come to that figure? What I am saying is that while we are trying to improve things on one side, things go down on the other side. Most importantly, I would like to implore the Government on the effect when these workshops are not functional. The effect is that it will affect the productive sector in the country because the roads and the equipment are not worked on. This, therefore, undermines – the fact that we want to create economic growth and productivity in this country – That is what we definitely have to look out for. The Government must look into this matter seriously if we are to talk about economic growth, job creation, improving agricultural

10446 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME By 2031, we expect to produce at least 1,000 Megawatts of nuclear power; but the total capacity for nuclear potential of Uganda is 24,000 Megawatts. The electricity transmission network increased from 2,364 kilometres in 2018/2019 to the current 4,142 kilometres, against the NDP III target of 4,354. This network is expected to increase once the ongoing transmission projects are concluded across the country. For those who go to West Nile, from Karuma, you will see power lines that have passed Pakwach up to Arua and the substations in Nebbi and Arua are almost 95 per completed. That is the national grid and transmission network I am talking about. On the other side where we have Mirama- Kabale, that line is completed. In Kabale District, the land was given to us for –

How I wish that I get access to what I want, to be able to connect West Nile. First of all, my apologies for the many deadlines that I give. These are not deadlines that come from my head. When I visit, for example, Nyagak III – I have gone there four times. I am told that by June, the 6.5 Megawatts will be done and they require Shs 28 billion, and the President directs someone to provide the Shs 28 billion. I jump and say, “We are going to get the money” but I do not get that money up to now. What should I do? Otherwise, Mr Speaker, let me inform the people of West Nile that there is light at the end of the tunnel. When you see pylons going up to Arua, and you see Arua and Nebbi substations getting completed, and you see a line from Olwiyo taking power to West Nile, there is light at the end of the tunnel. We have come from far.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. There are districts which do not have registration officials. In Arua, we made a benchmark study where the district registrar of Arua is the one handling Arua City, Madi- Okollo and the neighbouring districts. Therefore, elderly people are inconvenienced when going to update and validate their particulars so as to benefit from these services. We appeal to the Government to review the ban that was slapped on recruitment because NIRA needs special attention. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I join the rest in thanking the committee. For some of us who drive very far, the fluctuating fuel prices have become a nightmare. Indeed, my car has got an engine knock twice from the funny petrol stations we have in this country. This is because when you take off, you can only put a hundred litres and they cannot take me up to Terego. So, you have to fuel on the way and you find the wrong fuel. What is happening to this country? Do we have the right people who take measures to see to it that you Ugandans have value for money? The prices of fuel keep increasing on the way, and by the time you reach Arua, you find a totally different price. If we had a train going up to Terego, even if it stopped in Pakwach, we would be grateful. What is happening? We do not have cable cars. When we go out of this country, we learn nothing, come back with nothing, and we still say that we are capable of running this country. Drastic steps must be taken by this Parliament, to have real value for money. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The day I saw you so jovial, joining your friends and dancing, I knew that there was something beautiful coming to this country. I congratulate you. I thank my big sister, Rt Hon. Rebecca Alitwala. From the time you became the Minister for East Africa Community Affairs, it has been well with this country. I congratulate the President of this country and I want to be on record and say that when my big brother, Hon. Magogo, was in Terego, he said that the stadium there is the biggest in the whole of Greater North. (Laughter) I am yet to get a message from him on how he zeroed down on Akii Bua Stadium and put Terego second, after indicating that this baby district had a superfluous stadium. I will be grateful to take information back to Terego that it will have one of the country’s training stadiums. Mr Speaker, the captain of the She Cranes is from Terego. You can imagine the good things that are there. (Laughter) I beg that there is serious training in Onduparaka and Arua Hill – you know how these boys thrive – so that they join the rest of Uganda. I do not want to forget about the bad roads we have in Lira; Lira and West Nile have the worst roads. I am on bended knee as I ask to have these roads worked on. (Laughter) Thank you.

In conclusion, Mr Speaker, I appeal that we invest in sports such that we continue being together and so that when a person from Arua is speaking, he will say, one Uganda, one people. If a person from Moroto is talking, he will say, one Uganda, one people so that we come together. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you, for the opportunity and also invite you to ask Hon. Kabanda from Kasambya to keep quiet. On behalf of the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government), permit me to present the reports after scrutinising the report of the Auditor-General in respect of the health sector and particularly the following institutions - there are quite a number, but as you guided me, I have prepared an executive summary and the reports have been uploaded onto the Members’ iPads. But before I proceed, permit me to lay, on the Table, the minutes as required by the rules in respect of all the proceedings of the committee. I humbly do so. Permit me also to lay, on the Table, as a matter of procedure and constitutional requirement, one of the annexures to the committee report. It is a report of the CID as tasked by the committee in respect to the existence of coffee shops established by the Office of the Prime Minister and a private partner, Inspire Africa Limited, in selected districts; which the committee established to be non-existent despite the expenditure of Shs 20 billion. I lay the report of the CID on the Table. With respect to the regional referral hospitals and other specialised health votes. I now proceed with the summary as guided. Article 163(4) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda mandates the Auditor- General to submit to Parliament an annual report on all accounts audited by him for the financial year immediately preceding. The Constitution further, under Article 163(5), requires Parliament to debate and consider the report and take appropriate action within six months after the submission of the report by the Auditor-General. The report of the Auditor-General on regional and national referral hospitals for the F iscal Y ear 2021/2022 was presented to the House on the 19th of February and referred to the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) for consideration. In accordance with Rule 174 of the Rules of Procedure of the House, the Committee considered these reports and proceeded to satisfy itself, among others, that – (a) the monies appropriated by Parliament and disbursed were legally available for, and applicable to, the service or purpose for which they have been applied and charged; (b) the expenditure conforms to the authority, which governs it; and (c) re-appropriation has been made in accordance with the provisions of the rules of a competent authority; and (d) the intended value of the expended monies was attained. Scope The report covers audit queries contained in the report of the Auditor-General for the period ended 30th June 2022, in respect of the national and regional referral hospitals, namely: 1) Mulago National Referral Hospital; 2) Mulago National Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital; 3) Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital; and 4) Kawempe, Kiruddu, and China-Uganda Friendship Hospitals. Others include; Entebbe Hospital, Mubende, Kabale, Jinja, Soroti, Lira, Gulu, Arua and Hoima Regional Referral Hospitals. In addition, the report further covers findings on other specialised health-related institutions and votes, as well as programs such as the Uganda Cancer Institute and the Uganda Virus Research Institute.

10238 STANDIN G C O M M I T T E E R E PORT During our interaction with the Ministry of Local Government, the committee was informed that the budget provision for ex- gratia and honoraria for local government leaders has fallen short over the last five years and that is from Financial Year 2018/2019 to FY 2022/2023 leading to an outstanding amount of Shs 9,074,258,232. These are the monies that should be paid and these leaders are struggling but they are not receiving that money. (ii) The committee also noted that in the current Financial Year 2023/2024, no provision or IPF was sent to the local governments on ex-gratia and honoraria, amounting to Uganda Shs 48.19 billion as required for the ex-gratia and on honoraria amounting to Shs 48.19 billion as required for the ex-gratia and honoraria. We have given a breakdown, you can look through page six where you will find we have 70,500 LCI and 10,585 LCII - they need this financial year Shs 9.7 billion for their payment and it is not catered for. You will look through and it gives you a total of Shs 48 billion we have provided the details in the table. The committee also looked at the arrears; we have given a breakdown on page seven and the breakdown we have provided covers only the cities and the districts that we visited, but when you look at the annex, you will find a detailed breakdown of how much money was not sent to which entity, giving the total of the Shs 9 billion I talked about. Madam Speaker, we made observations on page 8 that you will look through, and the observations, if I may just run through very quickly: (i) There were figures that were not correlating with the figures provided by the minutes of local government and what we found in the field. (ii) We also received a list of the arrears from the Ministry of Local Government that were submitted. The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development received this list and committed that they would include this in the 3 per cent supplementary since they had not included it in the budget which is a big mistake. (iii) The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development also acknowledged the omission of ex-gratia and honoraria in the budget for 2023- 2024. Recommendation (i) The Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and the affected local government entities should harmonise the arrears for ex-gratia and honoraria; and (ii) The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to expedite the verification process of the ex-gratia arrears and honoraria to ensure that the requisite funds are provided for in the supplementary budget in line with Section 25 of the Public Finance Management Act. Terms of reference two and three, I will just give a summary. Here, our intention as a committee was to establish the availability of land in the different districts from where the cities were created and also to look at their level of preparedness as far as the relocation is concerned. We went to Soroti District where we found they prepared a council resolution; it is important to inform Members that Soroti had gone a step ahead and started construction after they received Shs 1 billion from the Ministry of Finance and this financial year they expected to receive an additional Shs 800 million. However, the other nine districts of Gulu, Arua, Masaka, Mbarara, Hoima, Jinja, Mbale, and Kabarole: all these are the cities which were created apart from Soroti. All the others have [Mr Mapenduzi] SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT

10240 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT Lira, there is already a functional Lira city land board, but the district land board is still receiving applications and processing titles for lands in the city when it is actually not within their areas of jurisdiction. So we gave the example of Lira and Arua and the other entities. (ix) The Ministry of Public Service ban on recruitment as strained service delivery on the cities and the districts from where the cities were carved. (x) Cities and districts are constrained with office space since the two entities are sharing the same premises. For example, Arua City, for instance, recruited 406 staff but lacked space to accommodate them. So some of these staff are sitting under trees. (xi) Lack of adequate laws or guidelines for the operationalisation of the cities. Whereas a city is the equivalent of a district as outlined under Section 4 of the Local Government Act CAP 243 as amended, there are several gaps that affect the operation of the cities. For instance, a city division should be treated at the level of a municipality, but currently, in line with Local Government Act CAP 243, Section 4(b), they are still treated at the level of subcounties. (xii) Local Governments have continuously been faced with the issue of late releases and returns. This is important, Madam Speaker. Late releases and return of funds to the consolidated fund. For example, in the Financial Year 2022/2023, Arua City, Gulu City, Mbale City, Mbale District, and others received over Shs 3 billion far above what they had planned for by 19 of June. All this money went back within two weeks. To throw more light when we asked them, they said this was money they had not planned for. They had not budgeted for it, so they could not explain how the monies came. But these are monies considered returned back to Treasury; (xiii) New subcounties have continued depending on the mother subcounties in as far as road funds are concerned since 2021 without having their own allocation as required by law. (xiv) Continuous recentralisation of decentralised services such as decision concerning collection and remittance of local revenue and procurement. General committee recommendations The committee recommends the following: (1) In addition to the supplementary for ex-gratia and honoraria, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should provide funds in line with Section 25 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2015 to cater for the following as indicated below - these are areas we consider very important, as a committee. a. Vehicles for city mayors and district chairpersons. These are political heads of the districts and some of them have ended up grabbing vehicles for school inspections and for health centres, including ambulances, because they lack means of transport. The committee recommends that Shs 35.2 billion be provided so that they can have means of transport. b. Relocation of the 10 cities. In addition to what has been given to Soroti, all the other nine entities should also be given Shs 1 billion each as a start-up for putting structures. They would relocate in phases. c. The committee recommends that Shs 2 billion be provided to review the decentralisation policy because there are a lot of gaps. We need to make sure that we strengthen and deepen decentralisation and the best way is to have a review. The ministry requires the Shs 2 billion to undertake this process. [The Speaker] SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT

9703 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 19 JULY 2023 Gender, Labour and Social Development that is responsible for these children. We all have a stake in looking after them. It all comes to one thing - that we go back to parenting and valuing our families. If this is done, to assure you, we shall empty all these remand homes and all the streets, not only the streets of Kampala but all the streets in all the trading centres. Madam Speaker, I will address some of the issues that were mentioned in brief. On the issues of dilapidated structures and not having food, the budget we have does not allow us to do any developments. We are only given money for food and it is the same money that we use to transport these children to Court. In case a court session has not taken place, we bring them back. The whole financial year, we were given only Shs 640 million. That means that every quarter, we have to spend Shs 160 million to feed the children, transport them to Court and back. I would like to explain the number of remand homes that we have. Most of you are asking to know them. I do not think that is a solution. We have a Naguru Reception Centre for those – I am just giving information so that Members can know. We have Gulu, Arua and Mbale remand homes. Fort Portal, Masindi, Kabale remand homes and Kampiringisa National Rehabilitation Centre. (Interjections) I will give you the clarification. Just hold on. We have nine remand homes and one national rehabilitation centre. We have one, which is under construction in Moroto, not yet complete. My sister, Hon. Connie, raised the issue of Mbale being congested and having no food because of the budget constraints, which you all know. We are the ones who pass the budget. Mbale serves the whole region in Eastern Uganda. Originally, when they were building Mbale Remand Home, they hoped that it would serve around 60 inmates. However, right now, we have more than 200 children in these homes. After the completion of Moroto, the congestion will reduce. Madam Speaker, the issue of child marriages or teenage pregnancies is something we sometimes sugar-coat. This is defilement but where are these men who are doing this? Surprisingly, I do not know whether you expect the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to go and search for these men who are doing this. If the parents do not come out and the girls do not report – surprisingly, even those who go to report, there is a way the system just plays around it and the cases “die” along the way.

9704 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT moving around. Therefore, at times, it gets tough for us. We cannot leave out the issue of poverty. Poverty does not only affect Karamoja; it is everywhere. We have to find a way of addressing this issue because it makes our children go back to the streets; it makes them drop out of school. Madam Speaker, it is very true that we have 165 children’s homes in Uganda and most of them are privately-owned. At times, it gets tough for us, especially when mothers die while they are bringing to life babies or the children are abandoned. We end up requesting the probation officers to help us trace where to place these children. Most times, we take them to the children’s homes as we try to trace their families, especially those who were neglected. The budget of the probation officers is very little. I think in every quarter, they get less than Shs 200,000. We have at least two probation officers who are supposed to handle all issues in the district related to children. So, this little money that we give them is the same money that they use to trace the families of these neglected children to help us handle the family wrangles and conflicts in homes. We should also think about them as we are budgeting because we are the ones who do the appropriation. Madam Speaker, you talked about violence against children. I cannot leave this place without talking about it. Of course, the protection of children - as a ministry, we put in place a child helpline and we have 68 district action centres. That child helpline is used anywhere in Uganda. We have tried to mobilise Ugandans and sensitise them; for any child in school, we have told them that if they are in danger, they should call Sauti 116 and we shall support them - we have supported very many children. Even if a child calls from Karamoja, we are able to trace where they are and help them. Whether the child calls from Kabale, Arua or Gulu, we always come in to support them because we have a network. Lastly, on the issue of inter-country adoption, yes, we have not yet ratified the convention, but there were reasons for that. First, as a country, we realised – [Hon. Bakkabulindi: “Order”]

9489 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 6 JULY 2023 – today, you have the chairperson of the Uganda Land Commission, by name of so and the next day, you have another one. On another day, you hear the secretary was sacked; and the next day, there is a new secretary. There is also a problem in the Uganda Land Commission and this House has to look into it. Mr Speaker, I would like to comment on the issue of the Youth Livelihood Programme (YLP). I sit on the Committee on Public Accounts (Local Government). YLP funds are not disbursed to KCCA only, but also to other local governments. We have traversed the entire country but what we find there is that there is no education being given to these groups. When the youth wake up and form a group, they go either to the district, municipality or city and say: “We want the money.” What happens is that even in those entities – those people who are dispersing the money – also want a percentage. Let me share this with you. There are youths who came as whistleblowers when we were in Arua and Gulu. They told us that when they go there, if they are giving you Shs 12 million, they tell you to sign for Shs 12 million, but Shs 3 million has to remain. Imagine I sign for Shs 12 million, but you have given me Shs 9 million, yet I have to pay back Shs 12 million. What will happen? What they do is to run away to their relatives in Congo or go to the border of Rwanda. Others disappear. So, for this money, the Government should come up with a mechanism on how it can be disbursed and the recovery plan. I submit.

This also applies to the Laropi- Moyo-Afoji Road. However, there are other developments, especially the tarmacking of the Kampala-Karuma-Nebbi-Arua-Oraba Road, for which I thank the President. Lastly, industrialisation, in any place, can take place when there is electricity. I thank the President for the achievements so far, where poles have been fitted in most of the subcounties. However, the polls do not have the wires and are just rotting. So, I request the Government to fast-track the wiring of these poles so that we can have electricity extended to all the rural areas of this country. Thank you very much.

I am sorry that I could not be in the House on time. And I will try to be as brief as possible. Madam Speaker, kindly allow me to start with the issue of blood. Honourable members, you are aware that from time to time we continue to have challenges of blood availability because we need over 400,000 units of blood on an annual basis, but we are not yet able to collect that amount. The highest we have collected is 300,000. Madam Speaker, we still have blood in our blood banks. And I have statistics in regard to that that I will quickly read. We have: Nakasero - 2,400 units; Masaka – 535 units; Mbarara – 390 units; Hoima – 200 units; Jinja – 150 units; Mbale – 400 units; Gulu – 250 units; Mengo – 100 units; Lira – 300 units; Soroti – 300 units; Arua – 200 units; Nebbi – 50 units; Kabale – 270 units; Rukungiri – 172 units; Fort Portal – 317 units; and Kitovu – 350 units, giving us a total of 6,284 units available at this point in time. PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On behalf of the West Nile community, I thank you so much. On such a day, and on behalf of Parliament, I want to acknowledge the contribution you have given to the sendoff of our dear beloved sister. We will not take this for granted. Thank you very much; we owe you. Madam Speaker, I first came in touch with my big sister when I was pursuing a Diploma in Law before enrolling for a Bachelor of Laws and that was in Arua High Court. As a paralegal, after seeing a judge, you all want to crowd and move away from her, but she would say “No, come to me.” She held my hand and I went with her to the office. She asked me why I decided to go for a diploma and not a degree. I told her I had lost my father while in senior two and that I had siblings to look after. She said, “No, it is possible, you have to come from far. I want to say, you should be the first lawyer in your village.” Madam Speaker, for me, it has been a region. I did not take that for granted. I went home, thought over it, and prayed to God - the rest is history. Today, I am a lawyer because of her guidance. (Applause) I am one proud girl who would text her and she would write back. We will dearly miss you; you were exemplary and you guided many of us. I pay special tribute to you, my sister. We love you. May the good Lord rest your soul in peace!

9121 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 15 JUNE 2023 Madam Speaker, after the on-going audit of the Government payroll, the ban on recruitment will also be lifted to enable cover the staffing gaps in education. Government will continue to support sports activities and entertainment talents and enforce copyrights for performing artists. Safe Water The national coverage for safe and clean water for human consumption now stands at 70 per cent; with 67 per cent in rural areas and 72 per cent in urban areas, but we still need more. In rural areas, gravity flow schemes have been completed at Lirima in Manafwa, Lukalu- Kabasanda in Butambala and Nyabuhikye- Kikyenke in Ibanda. Piped water systems have also been constructed at Nyakabingo in Rukungiri, Kabuyanda in Isingiro, and Orom Water Supply System in Kitgum-Lamwo. In addition, 40 solar-powered mini-piped schemes serving 173,000 persons have been constructed across 15 least-served districts including Lyantonde, Sembabule, Yumbe, Rakai, Buyende, Kamuli and Kakumiro. In urban areas, nine piped water supply and sanitation systems have been completed in Dokolo, Padibe - Lamwo, Odramacaku - Arua, Kagadi, Morulem and Alerek (Abim), and Kambuga II in Kanungu. Access to safe and clean water will be enhanced to achieve 85 per cent coverage in rural areas and 100 per cent coverage in urban areas by the year 2025. Next year, the main activities towards this goal include the construction of 1,540 boreholes in 1,050 villages and town wards; building 49 large, 67 medium and 80 small piped water schemes in both urban and rural areas, and the rehabilitation and maintenance of 50 water systems in growth centres. Interventions that build human capital have been allocated Shs 9.57 trillion, representing 18.2 per cent of the total budget. In addition, the Government, together with the World Bank, are implementing the $500 million in Uganda through the Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer programme to construct health centres III, IV, seed secondary schools and micro-scale irrigation facilities in local governments that do not have these facilities. Enhancing Infrastructure Stock and Quality The stock and quality of infrastructure is a key enabler for economic growth, development and social transformation. Transport Infrastructure Transport infrastructure development has been a major hallmark of Uganda’s recent economic development. The road sector in 1986 totalled 7,900 km. Today, it has expanded twenty-fold to almost 160,000 km. While only 6,700 km of today’s road network is paved, the road network now allows access to even the remotest parts of Uganda. Next financial year, we will substantially complete 16 national road projects including Atiak-Laropi, Moroto-Lokitanyala, Kawuku- Bwerenga, Namugonde-Bugiri, Nsambya- Mukwano, the Kampala Flyover and Rushere Town and Kyamate Access roads. In addition, priority will be accorded to maintenance of existing road networks, both national and District Urban and Community Access Roads (DUCAR). The Bukungu-Kagwara- Kaberamaido (BKK) Ferry and related landing sites, and Lake Bunyonyi ferries and their landing sites will also be completed. Madam Speaker, emergency repairs of the Kampala-Malaba Metre Gauge Railway were completed this year. (Applause) My team will have to come and explain this. The full rehabilitation of the Kampala–Malaba and Tororo–Gulu Metre Gauge Railway will

9122 BUDGET SPEECH, 2023 commence next financial year. Forty-nine per cent of the right-of-way for the Kampala- Malaba Standard Gauge railway has been acquired. The construction of the Malaba- Kampala Standard Gauge Railway will commence next financial year, for which Shs 535 billion has been provided. Madam Speaker, in the air transport sector, the redevelopment and expansion of Entebbe International Airport is at 85 per cent complete and due to be completed by July 2024. The construction of Kabalega International Airport now stands at 91.7 per cent and will be completed by September 2023. We shall also rehabilitate and upgrade the following aerodromes that are under feasibility studies: Kidepo, Pakuba, Mbarara, Gulu, Arua, Kisoro and Kasese. Madam Speaker, an allocation of Shs 4.5 trillion, representing 13.3 per cent of the total budget has been budgeted for road maintenance and construction; railway development and rehabilitation; and water and air transport development. Of particular significance, an allocation of Shs 1 billion has been provided to each district, city and municipality for road grading, murram and compacting. In total, Shs 176 billion has been allocated for this purpose. (Applause) We have also secured US$ 608.7 million, equivalent to Shs 2.25 trillion to address flooding, traffic congestion, poor road infrastructure, un- signalised junctions and unemployment in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area (GKMA) covering Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono and Mpigi districts and their municipalities. This will upgrade 504 kilometres of roads including junction signalisation in eight urban authorities; rehabilitation of 30 storm water drainage points; upgrade 23 markets and construct 25 artisanal parks, and industrial workspaces for small-scale manufacturers. (Applause) In collaboration with the World Bank, the Government is implementing a $360 million Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) programme to improve infrastructure and address operational challenges in the cities and municipalities. Power infrastructure Power generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure have continued to expand. Generation capacity increased to 1,378.1 Megawatts as at March 2023 from 1,343.9 Megawatts in March 2022, an increase of 34.4 Megawatts, although that is again not enough. With the commissioning of the Karuma Hydropower Project planned for September this year, generation capacity will increase to 1,976 Megawatts. The 6-Megawatt Nyagak III Hydropower project is also due for commissioning by end of this month. In transmission, a total of 417 kilometres of transmission lines were added to the main grid during the year, bringing the total transmission line network now to 4,011 kilometres. To enable evacuation of power from the 600-Megawatt Karuma Hydropower Project the 248-kilometre Karuma-Kawanda, the 55-kilometre Karuma-Olwiyo and the 76-kilometre Karuma-Lira lines have been completed. Twekubireko mu ngalo . (Applause) Next year, 761 kilometres of transmission lines and associated power substations will be constructed to improve the stability and reliability of the networks. We will also build the capacity of the Uganda Electricity Generation and Transmission companies to manage the generation and distribution networks after the expiry of the ESKOM and Umeme concessions. Madam Speaker, next financial year, Shs 1.3 trillion has been allocated for electricity interventions. Digital transformation Turning to digital transformation, 4,717 kilometres of optic fibre have been laid across the country. Geographical coverage of broad Band services stands at 66 per cent and 25

9096 ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION The rehabilitation works of Mityana - Mubende (86 kilometres); 14 kilometres town roads in Mubende; Olwiyo-Pakwach (62 kilometres); Alwii - Nebbi (33 kilometres) are ongoing. The Government is expediting the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway, starting next Financial Year 2023/2024, starting with Malaba to Kampala. I welcome the decision of His Excellency, President William Ruto of Kenya, agreeing to extend the Standard Gauge Railway from Naivasha to Malaba because that was a problem. In the meantime, the rehabilitation of the Tororo to Gulu Metre Gauge Railway and Kampala Metre Gauge Railway are underway. As regards road transport, priority will be given to the maintenance of existing road networks, especially in the urban areas, continued upgrade of selected strategic roads from gravel to bituminous surface, maintenance of national districts and community roads by facilitating each district in the country, with a minimum of Shs 1 billion to upgrade and compact the dry weather marram roads next financial year. Infrastructure priorities Government has over the years invested heavily in infrastructure. This has helped to narrow the huge infrastructure gap we had in the 1990s. However, there are still critical gaps that Government will continue to prioritise in order to reduce the cost of doing business such as lowering the electricity price. You know, these people use their mysterious language; power tariffs and all that. Mwe ba wanainchi, ekyo mukitegele bulungi, bano byeboogela ebya “power tariffs”. They simply mean electricity prices for manufacturers and other businesses. The critical infrastructure include the railway, upgrading of airports, including completion of Kabaale International Airport, which is at 91 per cent completion and Entebbe International Airport, which is at 71 per cent completion; development of new ports on our lakes; and completing the heavy investment in the energy infrastructure, for example, Karuma Dam and associated transmission lines. We also need to build new airports near the tourism destinations such as Kidepo, Bwindi, Kasese, among others. Tourists, who are the rich people, do not have time to come, land at Entebbe International Airport and drive for 700 kilometres to Kidepo. No, they do not have time. We need to build airports for the rich foreigners to land near the national park, see the animals and go away. Those airports, of course, also help with security. Like now with night operations in Karamoja, we fly very far; from Nakasongola and all those places. It is better to have a good airport which can operate day and night in those areas. Government will prioritise infrastructure that supports industrialisation, production of oil and gas, and promote tourism. These include industrial parks, electricity power substations, extending and upgrading electricity transmission lines, water for industrial use and ICT infrastructure. Energy The total electricity generation capacity is now 1,346.6 megawatts. This is from 60 megawatts in 1986. This will increase to 1,800 megawatts once Karuma is commissioned this year. This means, therefore, that the construction of the transmission lines to evacuate this power must be completed without further delays. These lines include Karuma-Kawanda (400 KV), Karuma-Olwiyo (400 KV), Karuma-Lira (132 KV) and Kole-Gulu-Nebbi-Arua. They did not include the strength here; I think it is 132 KV. The demand for electricity is increasing by 15 per cent per year, although these figures of finance are kasoobo . You heard my figures on the milk; 193 per cent. Bano bali ku 15 per cent. Anyway, we are talking with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and I think we shall eventually agree. They are beginning to wake up because they are the ones who wrote this. Mukawulire kano . Bebawaandika bino ; Katonda yebazibwe .

9101 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 24 MAY 2023 In the cattle corridor - the Members of Parliament were there the other day - you saw people with nice houses in Goma and income, even when the infrastructure is not there. You saw the very bad road, but the people have income. Therefore, every leader calling himself a leader - even these religious leaders, the cultural leaders like these who are here – Please, if you do not see the importance of metamorphosis - metamorphosis is a biological process in insects. An insect starts as an egg, the egg hatches and it becomes a caterpillar; the caterpillar changes and then becomes a pupa; then, it becomes a mature butterfly. In biology, it is called “metamorphosis.” That is the same thing with society. We must be clear that we work for social metamorphosis of African societies because that is where the problem is. The middle class women who live in the town here do not carry children on their back -(Laughter) Mama Janet has never carried children on her back. Even when we were in exile, we were pushing our children in these small “ wheelbarrows” -(Laughter). You have got a few people where the children are being pushed in those small - whatever they are - those motor vehicles. They have piped water and use gas cookers and electric cookers. Then, you have your people blowing into the fire -(Laughter)- this is not acceptable. It is a betrayal and we say that we are leaders, “Your Excellency, right honourable…” (Laughter ) You cannot have peasants producing younger peasants on increasingly fragmented agricultural plots and think that you are not an enemy of your country, if as a leader, you do not see this and combat it. You should not be leaders into futurelessness to our people. You can see, in Latin America, people are running away. They walk on foot to go to America and yet Latin America is one of the richest parts of the world in terms of natural resources, but the problem is the leadership. In the United States of America, they had leaders who could think about how to transform their country while in South America, they are busy with other things. Africa should not be like that. Education I am about to conclude; so, do not worry. I have another 10 pages or something -(Laughter)- because you are the ones who invited me. The NRM Government introduced UPE and USE programmes in order to ensure that no child of school-going age misses out on schooling, on account of school fees. These programmes were created to provide free education, especially for the poor families that cannot afford to pay the school fees. It is, therefore, unacceptable for school authorities to demand fees from the poor parents. The Government will not tolerate this practice. Education must be totally free in Government schools. The local leaders must enforce this when we give them renewed orders after an internal review, to find out the obstacles hitherto. We are going to review and issue fresh orders. Once these fresh orders are given, please, I do not expect any deviation from what we shall tell you to do. The literacy rate is currently 76 per cent while overall, school enrolment is at 85 per cent. The demand for free primary and secondary education has increased significantly, which is overwhelming the current education infrastructure. Part of the problem is that private schools have increased school fees, making Government schools more attractive. To meet the increase in demand for free education, the Government is now rehabilitating the primary schools and the traditional Government secondary schools. These include 18 secondary schools such as: 1. St Peter’s College, Tororo; 2. St Henry’s College, Masaka; 3. Mvara Secondary School, Arua; 4. Nabisunsa Girls’ Secondary School Kampala; 5. Kabalega Secondary School, Masindi;

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I join my colleagues in thanking the committee for a very good report. Honourable colleagues, the absence of this law has made the famous Arua boys disappear from business. The gist of the matter -

For instance, the supply chain challenges are; a manufacturer establishes a wholesale shop in Arua and he gives you goods at wholesale. However, he is selling at the same price you are selling, and yet you are incurring transportation costs from the production plant to Arua. The same producer also puts up a retail shop in a village in Terego. How do you compete with this person? (Applause) This is why I think the committee has produced a very good report and I support it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on a matter of national importance which is the persistent insecurity hitting Arua City. On the night of 28 April 2023 at Nsambya Cell in Awindiri Ward, Arua Central Division, unidentified armed robbers attacked Champion Betting Centre and shot a person called Adule Collins on the left side of the waist and robbed cash of unspecified amounts. Mr Adule is nursing wounds and receiving treatment at Arua Regional Referral Hospital. On 1 May 2023, another aggravated robbery happened at Premier Betting Centre along Rhino Camp Road in Arua Central Business Area, where three masked men and one masked woman - all wearing jungle boots - made their way to this betting centre and went with unspecified amounts of money. On 13 May 2023, at 2.00 a.m., Novafinia Clinic in Arua Central was attacked and the private guard called Amaku Alex was shot dead with one bullet. The people in Arua Central Business Area in Arua Central Division are now living in panic and fear; they do not know what will happen to their lives. The police visited these scenes. We held security meetings with them and they have some challenges; and I want this House to help the people of Arua Central and Arua City -

Honourable minister, I was in Arua recently on the invitation of Hon. Atima. It is a bustling city with business. The vibrancy of Arua City needs serious attention, especially now with the borders on the side of South Sudan and Congo. The business feeds the whole of that region and it plays a very critical role so they need some bit of special attention. I do not know what you can say about that, in terms of his prayers.

Mr Speaker, and Hon. Atima in particular, we have had a spate of incidents. It is true Arua lies astride Congo and Sudan. The borders are porous and sometimes we get inlets of illegal guns. Regarding this recent spike, I am aware that the gun that was used was recovered by the police, but in particular, to the prayers made by the Hon. Atima, I request that we have an engagement and see what we can do with the police leadership to respond to those concerns.

Honourable minister, I also make a personal request that you visit Arua with the Members.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity. Tracking and surveillance is very necessary and important for the following reasons: First of all, recently, the ambulance belonging to Moyo General Hospital was at the border trying to smuggle cigarettes from South Sudan into Uganda. Secondly - the committee is already of course investigating this - the ambulance that belongs to Arua Regional Referral Hospital was also found in the DR Congo. If there was a surveillance system or the tracking system, it would have been very easy for us to get the ambulance from the DR Congo. Thirdly, security tracking and surveillance for smuggling arms and ammunition is very

Mr Speaker, reading from where I had stopped, the staff of State House provide the necessary logistical and technical support for efficient and effective operations of the Presidency. State House, in turn, provides the necessary facilitation for the staff to carry out their responsibilities effectively. This is the mandate which informs the budgetary allocations across the various items. For instance, to explain what has been in the media as to whether the President, in State House, consumes Shs 500 million, we want to clarify that the expenditure on this electricity consumption is addressed to Entebbe State House, Nakasero State Lodge, the Vice- President’s residence and 23 upcountry state lodges distributed in the various parts of the country including Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Bardege in Gulu, Arua, Masindi, Luwero, Kyankwanzi, Mubende, Fort Portal, Kisozi, Masaka, Bushenyi, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro, Kapchorwa, Ngoma, Kawumu, Mayuge, and Buvuma and five administrative office blocks that support State House and many other forms of infrastructure. In the media, there has also been a discussion as to whether the President spends Shs 350 million per year to buy clothing. Our President is one of the smartest presidents according to us who see him regularly. I just want to clarify that the item that appears under the State House Budget on beddings, clothing and footwear is meant to cover the protective gear for support staff, beddings for the state lodges, which I have read, the curtains, the various linens for furniture and State House functions as well as uniforms for staff as need arises. The categories of staff include drivers, housekeepers, caterers, kitchen staff, cleaners and the regular office staff. The State House also supports skilling programmes where you have seen young people who are skilled in various vocational skills and it usually provides uniforms. Therefore, this is to dispel the misinformation that the budget caters for clothing the President. Rather, it facilitates all these functions that I have explained. I could go on and on but that is the point I wanted to make, Mr Speaker. I hope this information clarifies the issues to do with budgeting for State House and states proper the record on the Hansard of this House. I want to appeal to all of us that we should always desist from raising sensational and unsubstantiated information, which misleads the public. I beg to move, Mr Speaker, and I thank you. (Mr Ssemujju rose_)

We are now on Butabika Hospital. (Laughter) I am simply reminding Members that there is a Butabika Hospital somewhere – mental health. I put the question that Shs 18,305,348,000 be provided for under Vote 402: Butabika Hospital as recurrent expenditure for Financial Year 2023/2024. (Question put and agreed to.) Vote 403: Arua Regional Referral Hospital

I put the question that Shs 10,397,689,000 be provided for under Vote 403: Arua Regional Referral Hospital as recurrent expenditure for Financial Year 2023/2024. (Question put and agreed to.) Vote 404: Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital

Under the expenditure for Kiruddu Referral Hospital, you earlier directed that we get some money and reallocate to health. Kiruddu Referral Hospital lacks Shs 4 billion for decentralisation of dialysis services to Mbale, Kabale and Arua; so I think the recurrent expenditure may be affected. Once the services are decentralised, it means new recruitment will be needed for dialysis.

8766 BUDGETARY PROPOSALS & ESTIMATES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/2024 make sure we have land, MoUs in place and ownership. It is ownership – Hon. Tinkasiimire, first sit down. Honourable members, do not come and just lose - You know when you lose your head in this House, nobody will pick it. For me, when I get out of that door, I go a happy girl. These are things that - let us debate with calmness. If we disagree, let us disagree respectfully. The minister has said that everything will be provided for and that is it. Now, I want you people - Hon. Tinkasiimire, first wait. You all have been outside while I have been seated with my brother Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi. All of you have been out. Honourable members, order in the House. Listen to the question. Honourable members, I want to advise that next time you have issues that concern the Budget, go to your sectoral committee and follow it up with the Budget Committee. You are all ex-officio members of the Budget Committee. Do not wait for things to come on the Floor and you begin asking, “Why didn’t you give me also?” Make a follow-up from the House sectoral committee and the Budget Committee. Based on the Votes that have been read – (Member rose _) - you are a Member, first sit down. I am going to report this one to my husband; he wants to touch me. (Laughter) Honourable members, based on the Votes of the central government that have been read on development expenditure, I put the question that Shs 13,223,122,671,000 be provided for as development expenditure for the Votes that have been read for Financial Year 2023/2024. (Question put and agreed to.) Vote 403: Arua Hospital - Shs 2,620,000,000 Vote 404: Fort Portal Hospital - Shs 120,000,000

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank you for this opportunity. I send my condolences to His Excellency the President, the country, Parliament, northern Uganda and to the family. I recall that Hon. Macodwogo was a happy man, a gentleman, a calm person and took decisions in a cool manner. In 2000, when some rebel activity took place in Zombo, he asked me, “Why have you not told me? Why did you not let me know? I would have come to support and teach those people a lesson.” I did not know the origin of his name at that moment and that is when he told me how he earned it; how now we are free to move without convoys, like the Members before have already spoken. On a social level, he presided over my daughter’s wedding and I attended his introduction to his wife in Arua; he landed in a helicopter. I told him that Arua would never forget him and his wife would never leave him because of that. He laughed, but he was very happy all the time.

Thank you Madam Speaker. First of all, allow me to thank you for having rescued our honourable colleagues when they were arrested. Secondly, I condemn brutality. Madam Speaker, for the incident involving Hon. Susan, I was there. I only survived the teargas because they undermined my size. (Laughter) I was there in Buvuma. For the report the Prime Minister has given here, the police misinformed her. On that day, when I went to support my colleague on the other side – we were at Kiyindi Landing Site. Even the District Police Commander (DPC) came and took my full address. They wanted me to identify myself, which I did. Shortly after, they were asking for Hon. Susan. I did not know that they were looking for her, actually. I had never been to Buvuma – that was my first time there. Shortly after, Hon. Susan jumped in my car – actually, she was hiding in the boot of my car. The soldiers started running after us – even the police. We had to run away from that place. We connected to – I do not know which district that was, Madam Speaker. We went to another –(Interjection)- no, it was not Buvuma. We had not yet crossed. Even the speed boat that we were supposed to use was confiscated. Madam Speaker, I saw whatever happened to Hon. Susan with my own eyes; nobody told me. I condemn what happened. We went to somebody’s home – we did not know the lady – in Buikwe. We even ended up undressing and wearing somebody else’s clothes. It was that serious. On reaching the other side, we found the security officers waiting for us on the water. I refused this time – I told Hon. Susan that I have a phobia of water. So, it was Hon. Susan and Hon. Manjeri who stepped into the boat to go to the other side. Madam Speaker, it was a very nasty experience. Any person, leader or Ugandan should not be in that situation. We have Members of Parliament who are mandated to carry out their roles. Even Arua City Members, are complaining about the RCCs; they have become a headache. In Hon. Susan’s case the, RDC actually has an interest to contest in Buvuma. That is what is happening. So, Madam Speaker, I think we should look into that. If they are sent to disorganise us – Madam Speaker, as our leader, we have faith in you. Please, something must be done. On that day, I tried calling you, but the number was engaged. That is how we ended up running like mad dogs on the streets. Indeed, I condemn the brutality and those officers must be apprehended for what they did. For Arua, we may not hold guns, but if the opportunity was given for us to exchange – and they are not in uniform – you can trust me. For us, we are trained in that one, Madam Speaker. (Laughter)

Madam Speaker, the solution is, first of all, when you asked the Attorney-General whether somebody must get permission, he testified that it is not permission, but notification. It has taken two years for the police to put into force the court ruling. The Attorney-General has said he is going to write to police to notify them how they should proceed. Could he tell us when the letter will reach the police and when we shall know that the police is informed? Secondly, on the solution for Hon. Suzan, we shall not come here and romance with the issue of Buvuma. Buvuma was nasty. This was a water body, and we could have lost the Member of Parliament and we would be here lamenting. Either the Minister for Presidency or somebody concerned should tell us the action that has been taken against those errant officers because this was a water body. You cannot chase somebody around the water body like that. Some of these young men and ladies do not know how to swim, like the Member of Parliament from Arua. We could have lost someone. Therefore, could we know when a comprehensive report is coming to tell us which action has been taken? When I go to Buvuma and find that RDC there, we shall act if the government is not acting – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Our point of dissent on this matter is on the introduction in clause 16 of the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill; introduction of a tax on non-resident digital providing companies or digital service providers. I will do a summary since everything is with you. The role of this summary is to keep you abreast with what I am talking about in very simple terms for us to explain to our electorates. We have introduced various taxes on digital platforms. Digital platforms are the havens where our people have gone in order to try and hammer businesses out of the convention business. Technology has helped us in different ways with the internet of things (IOT). Our accessibility and usage of the internet and the smart technology on smart platforms has enabled start-ups. Young people out of school create their own employment; they start up small shops and they want to promote their businesses through advertisements. Of course, the conventional system of advertisement only caters for the big players. Assuming we are all selling titles and I have started with a meagre capital of about Shs 2,000,000 or Shs 500,000, there is no way I would compete with a manufacturer and the other players. The only way I have to go is to use either the social media platforms through acquisition of cheaper adverts and I request them to help me promote my product, whether within the boundary or trans-boundary. The impact of this taxation shall be that whatever tax we impose on those companies, they will factor in and incidentally heap it on the backs of your own people. Therefore, at the end of the day, it will increase the cost of operation of business. Who are the biggest beneficiaries? The young start-ups. When you start a lodge in Arua of two rooms, you cannot advertise it on NTV or on NBS, but you also want to tap into this tourists that come into this country. The only way to go is to buy Google ads, open up a website, get your data hosted by digital players, and have it promoted to different players either through Instagram, Facebook, and others. The moment you increase tax on those non- resident digital players, they just pass it on. When they pass it on, you automatically limit me.

I I I I I I t I I I I I I I ! I I I I I I h A-a6unt llror(l Vot r.ac 159.309.084 146 Publra Sarvrcc Commrs3ron 7.200,000 144 Judrcra.l S.rvrcc Codrmrssrcn ,t95.OOO.000 151 Uganda Blood Tr3nlfuston Scrvrcc (UBaSl 857.q10.OOO 152 Natronal Asrculturd AdvBorv scrucca IN^ADSI Uqanda lffd Com6r$lon 17.400.()00 r56 1.825.473.200 rs8 tntcrne.l s.cunty Organrraoon 0SOl soo.ooo 000 rsq Ertcmal Sccunty O.ge-aEatba (e.SO) l _235.OOO.OOO r6s uprnda Busncas 3nd tccbnrcsl Eranrmatron Eosrd r 6sq.q78.286 302 Mbarara Utuv€rsrh of Sarancc rnd Tcahaolo(v ?.695.Ot2.?9? 303 Mekarcrc UDrvcrsfty Busrncas School 625.?4232r 306 3.213.006.662 307 (aba-ta UmgcftrB. 1.646.60?.404 304 43r.8?S.752 309 Gulu Udrvcrsrty 3.?93.257.856 310 r.330.79S.483 312 Ucenda ManaEancnt lnsttutc s.900.000.000 313 MouatdnB of lhc Moon Utuvcrsrw 4.359.OOO.OOO 40l Mulaao Holprt .l Complcr sl2.400.ooo 402 Butab*a Hosprt l 864.I4S,100 403 Arua R.fcrral Hoaprtal 82S.000.000 404 Fort Po(al Rcfc.ral Rosp(il | .232.At6 .A22 405 Oulu Rcfcr€-t Hospltal 1.363.()43.239 406 Holma R.acrre-t Hoaprta-t 542.600.ooo 407 Jlnta Rcfcrral Ho3prti 667,644 9t2 408 liabrlc Rcfcrr.l Ho3prtat 67S,600.000 409 Masaka Rcfcrrel H6prtal es4.600.000 410 Mbalc Reacftal Ho3prt -t 637.200.OOO 411 Sorotr Rcfcrral Hdprt I r.o47.s19.737 4t2 Lrra Rcfcral Holprti.l Mbarara Rcfcrral Ho3p(al s77 200,000 ,t l3 505.800.000 414 Mubctrdc Rcfcrrs.l Hosprtal 895.423.320 4ls Moroto Rcfcrral Hosplte-t 634.200.OOO 416 Nagunr Rospltal 9ls,oo0.o00 4l? Kruddu Rcfcrral Hosp(al 4.? 3? .A2t .230 418 Kawcmpc Rcferral Hospx.-t 406.200.ooo 419 Entcbbc Rcfcrra-l Hospltal 420 Mulato SpcclalEed womcn and Neonatal Hosp(al 4 .992.O53 .292 600.o00.000 421 Ka!,unPa Rcfcrla-t HosDltal 3r0.000.000 50s U?anda Hmh Commrssron rn l(cnva. Nafobr 47? _949.420 so7 upanda Hreh Comorssron rn Nrscna. Abura sr2 UE nda Embaqqv ln EthroDra. Addrs Ababa 550.000,000 32aA59.o?? 51:t ucanda Edbas3v rn SMtzcrland, Ocncva 300 000.000 518 ln B. Bru3acls Etaba U -$y

votc f,trnc A.aaunt lUOr 608 533.546 463 609 Mbarr-ra dty r6.663.662.020 610 Sorou Clty 3.760.8r9.453 '?ot Aoac Mudrcroa-t Councrl 3.897.3?9.O41 70s Etrt€bb. MuarcrD..l Counc 6.634-?0? -446 704 Kabalc MunrclDal Coutrcrl 4 S65.634.6rS ?09 Ka.muh MudrcrDe-t Couac,l 6.8 r8.961.?S3 ?to Kaochorwa MunlcrDal Councrl 191.144. tot ?tl Kaaesc Mumcroel Counc 2.4Sq.O28.O34 ?t2 ltua Mumcmal Councl.l l.o1r.q55.ooo ?tx l(Isorc Muanpal Councrl 36,78 r 514 ?14 Ktgu6 MuDrcrp3l Counc 8.200.ooo.000 715 Koboko Mu-orcrDe-t Counc r.s16.104.o?3 ?ta Lups-a MuorcrDi-t Counc 6.943.746.560 ?20 Maimdr Mu ctDa.l Counc 342.34S_AAa ?22 Mdr6r6 Muntcrr)al Councd 2.? 52.8t3.371 723 Mubcndc Mumclpa-t Counc 3.902.666.455 ?2a Ntunraho MunrcDal Counc 3.300.883.r82 ?1r Torom Murucbel Counc t3.o?4.299.999 801 1.259.698.363 ao2 Adtuma.ol Dlstnct 6 994,326.O22 ao3 AlrEo DBtnct 3.405.A78 139 ao4 Alcbtons D6tnct r.946.305 243 80s 3_O56.509.S32 805 r 4as.?sa.?gq ao? 3.607.717.591 808 Amuru Drltnct 8S7.O98.r03 8lo Arua DBtnct 2.89,+.633.15 t 8t 1 Budaka Dtstnct 3.247 .O34.70I ar2 Bududa Dl8tnct 3.Ot?.?3?.064 813 Euon Dr3tflct I .t97 .319 .87? 8l,t Buqwclr Drstnct 890.050.304 8ls Buhlieru D$tnct 4 _2rA.424 .O22 al6 Burkwr Drstnct s6s.269.61? at? Bukcd€a Dtstnct r .622.72t .923 ala Bukohansrabr Orctnct 23s.670.269 a1q Bukwo Dlatnct 4183.1?4.33r 820 Bula-dbuL DBtnct 2.61l 401.0 t4 a2r Bulllqa DBtnct t.081.149.212 422 EundrbuEr.o DBtnct i.a19.719.0?6 823 Bunvanpabu DEtflct 2.06r.902.349 824 | .652 71 t .246 a2S Busra DBtrrct 3.153 626.404 v /r\ 45 hs

Aaouat lUCtr o22 Ml,lrtstrv of Iourum. wddMe and Antrourtres 24L162.425 tt2 Etlrca and Intcgnt! 7.200.ooo ll4 USanda Canccr Instrtutc ?8,r 800.000 I ls USanda Hcart lnstltutc 253.200.000 120 Natronal CluzcnsluD and ldruEAuon Crarol[Nclcl r{ 400.000 r22 Ka.mpala Cap(al Clty Authonty t? .6?? .o4 t.?64 t2? Upanda Vmrs Rcs..rch laqtrtutc luvRn 137.400.{lOO t32 Educatron Scrvrcc Cofi nlaslon 7.200.ooo 133 Dr.ctorate of ArbLc Prosecuhona 1?.400.000 134 Hcdth S.rucc Commlssmn r4.400.000 r3s Drcctoiatc of Oovcmmcot A,lalvucal Laboratorv {DOALI 194.600.o00 t42 Natotril Agncultural R.s.arch Orgaruzahon (NARO) l_ooo.ooo.ooo t44 Uginda PoLcc Forc. 7.0?8.800.000 145 Ugaada Pnsoa3 2.O29.800.000 146 Arblrc S.ruc. CotrrJrlsslon 7 200.000 148 JudrcEI &rvrc. Com-tl1ls8mn 7 200.000 l5l Uganda Blood T.ansfuson Scrvrcc (lJBfSl 495.OOO.OOO 156 Uaanda land Conmrs8bn r?.,+oo.ooo r58 lntcmal Sccunty Orgaflratroo (lSOl 500.o00.000 159 D(te.tral S.cunty OrAanr.zahon (ESO) s00.o00.000 401 Mulago Hosprta.l Codplcr( 4.359.OOO.OOO 402 Butabrka Hosprt l 512.400.OOO 40i Arua Rcfcrral Hosprtal 627.OOO.OOO 4M Fon Ponal Rcfcrral Hosprtal a2s.ooo.ooo 405 Gulu Rcfcrlil Hosprtal 825.600.000 406 Homa Rclcrral Ho3pltal 890.400.000 40? Jlqa Rcfcrral Hosprtal s82.600.000 404 (abe-tc Rcfcrrra-t Ho3plta-t s6s.400.ooo 409 Mas.ka RefcrrJ Ho6pxr.l 6?5.600.000 410 Mbat Rcfcrral Hosprtal 954.600.000 411 Sorotr Rclcrral Holprtal 63?.200.000 4t2 lrr'a Rcfcaral Hoaprtal 415.400.ooo 413 Mbarara Rcfcrral Hospltal 5?? 200 000 414 Mubcndc Rcfcrra-t Hosprta-t 505.800.o00 41S Moroto Rafcrra.l Hospltal s02 800.000 416 Neguru Hosprta-t 634.200.OOO 41? loruddu Rcfcrra-t Hdprtal 915.000.000 418 (ewcmpc Rcfcrral Hosprtal 1.237.320.000 419 Entcbbr Rcfcrral Hosprrrl ,106.200.ooo 420 Mulago SpccElrred Womcn a.nd Nconat l Hosp(al 1 .,[46 000.ooo 601 3.130.961.O25 602 Fort-Pona.l clB 2. r53.656.406 601 2.O99.60a.100 I I I I t t I I t I t I I I t I t I I I (/ +r so

Vot ItrEC Aaotrlt IUO:I ao6 3?2.3t2.r15 2.O1S.714.515 807 A-muna Dr3tnct s46_076_265 808 Aburu Dratnct 809 Aoac DEtnct 945,298,8,r5 alo Arua Dlatrlct r.248.599.303 8l I Budaka Dl8trlct r.95?.r53.838 2_O3A.$6.,t90 at2 2 r3A.4qS-O4q 8r3 Buon DBtnct 814 Bupw€d DBtnct 1.585.529.5r3 als Buhweru Dlstnct l. r88.105.624 a16 Burkcrc Drathct 2.089.799.O80 t .?9? .645.?25 8r? Bukcdca DEtact r 4q3.420.675 818 Bukoaenshbr Orstnct a19 Bukwb Dlltrlct 1.879.8?9.4r r 420 Butambuh Dlstr|ct r.741.9r0.268 a2l BulLBa Dlrtact | .o7 L242.8?8 2.352_644.646 422 AundrbuEvo DBtrlct r.11o.994.?64 423 Bunvancabu O8tnct 424 Bushcnr.r DEtflct 2.932.602 .7? 4 ar5 Burla Dtitact 2.685.535.812 2.364.571.493 426 Blrta.lqa D8tnct 827 Bute.abda Dlltnct 3.250.056.866 I 2utut.537 aOS a2a Butcbo Dlstnct 429 Buvuma Dlltnct 945.120.798 430 Bulcndc Dlstrlct r.2s3.s84.O53 1.785.O19.81t 831 t okob fhltnct 2.101.166.674 412 Oomba DBtnct I 061.811.q67 433 Oulu Dtltnct a3 Horma Dlitrlct L.44t.922.242 a3s r.?22.911.?50 3.574_929.035 836 kanla Drstnct 437 lshoro Dt8tnct 3.8??.'tO3.?22 a3a .Jrnra Orst ct 4.O9?.99?.251 l.l9s. t 12.316 839 l(rabonP Drltrrct ,254.112_914 840 Ka&lc DBtrrct 841 Kab.rolc lhitrlct t.244.995.9?? 623.Oa4.O35 842 Kabcrarnardo Drstnct 1-483.026.529 843 Kaeadr D8tnct u4 Kakumrro Drltflct r.2?5.?O3 rO? a4s Krl,rk DEtnct 1.35?.?24.2?A l.16a.934.?1? 446 Kalaneala Drst at 2.113.56r_S60 a4? Kalrro OGtnct a4a ,Llun{u Dlltnct 2.434.521.319 l/ H L_ ^ 52 .)(

Annet Musrsha la Hon Dr Atrm Asrrcs ADca Member DWR Amolatar -{ 1g Hon Mbabazr Pascal Member Buwekula County 20 Osoru Hon Mounne Member DWR Arua Crty 2l Hon Kankunda Amos lcbw&a Mcmbcr Rwampara Countv 22 Hon Tmkasumrre Barnabas Member County Buyaga West 23 Hon Ycn Ofipono Apollo Member Tororo MunlclDahty 24 Hon Ndamrra Atwakxrc CatheLne Member DWR Kabale 25 Kabanda Hon Davrd Member Kasambya Countv 26 Omara Hon Paul Member Otuke County 27 Hon Nrwagaba Wrlfred Membcr County Ndorwa East 28 Hon. Nakato Mary Annet Membcr DWR Buvende 29 Hon Nyang eso Denms Member Safi[a-Buglve Central County 30 Hon Acrro Paska Mcnya Member DWR Pader 31 Hon Musherure Nayebare Kutesa Shartsr Member Mat ogota North County 32 Hon Maxwell Patnck Akora Ebong Member Maruzr County 33 Hon Bayrgga Mrchaet PhrhD Member Bulkwe Lulume South Hon Muwanga lovumbr Muhammad Member 34 Butambala County

I want to conclude by saying two things. One, on what my sister, Hon Osoru said about the athletes, specifically the pledges, I would like to state that the stipend given to the athletes includes the following games: 1. All-Africa games 2. Olympic games 3. Commonwealth games. These stipends are given to those who win gold, silver and bronze. I would like to confirm to my sister that if any one of them is not getting their stipend from the three, then you need to see me so I can follow it up. To my knowledge, this money is being paid monthly to those athletes because I get the records from the Statehouse Comptroller. Last, but not least, on the issue of the Paralympics, I would like to say that some of the challenges which come in here, came in at a time when we did not have the support - Hon. Mpindi is here. Recently, I constituted a steering committee that will organise the All Africa Games. We also have the Paralympic games and Hon. Mpindi is the president of that federation in Uganda. For that matter, I nominated him as the Chairperson of the Paralympic Games, which is going to take place. I would like to confirm that as Government, we are committed to supporting sports holistically without segregating. On the issue of Barifa Stadium - Hon. Ssolo, I was in Arua under the directive of the President. I met the stakeholders but we must accept to address the question of land. What is happening in West Nile, particularly Barifa land is that there is a contest between the National Forestry Authority. The President sent me to Arua. I met the sports administrators. Barifa Stadium, as of now, is on the National Forestry Authority’s land. We are looking at getting funds to construct the stadia which were pledged to the people of Uganda by His Excellency the President. For that matter, I challenge you, Hon. Aza that as leaders from West Nile, sit down as stakeholders, and agree on the area the Government should plan to construct the Barifa or Dorcas Inzikuru Stadium. To my knowledge, that plan is in Arua City. Mr Speaker, I have been asked about Namboole – let me put this on record.

Honourable colleagues, if you cannot state the rule – let me read for you rule 78(4); it reads: “ Where a Member interrupts debate on a point of procedure, the Member shall state the Rule of Procedure he or she deems to have been breached by the Member holding the Floor.” Honourable colleagues, there is no Member holding the Floor; so, I do not know which rule is being breached. Honourable colleagues, let us move on. Before I put the question, honourable minister, you talked about retooling. If the issue of asbestos is covered under that, kindly, let us help our people because we shall be sued in future. This morning, I received a message from a resident in Arua who said, “Rt Hon. Speaker, I am told you are going to be debating education. Mvara Secondary School, one of the traditional schools in Arua, still has asbestos roofs.” Let us identify those schools; even Kyambogo is one of them. Honourable chairperson, read the supply table and the figures.

8259 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 20 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. Two, Mr Speaker, the chairperson of the committee talked about equipment for the newly created cities. I did not see the figures for the cities that have been created like Arua are – (Member timed out.)

He was alleging that the dry ones are from West Nile; we do not agree. Money should be given to Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) to do a good job. In 2018, Government compensated landowners around Arua Airfield and about six people remained to be compensated. However, up to today, nobody is talking about the balance to be paid to the people so that they vacate the place. Arua Airfield is the second biggest after Entebbe and people are dilly-dallying. I do not know why people do not want to speak facts. It has the highest traffic in this country after Entebbe; so, consider upgrading Arua Airfield. The Shs 1 billion given to the districts is going to solve a lot of problems. It is good that the committee has seen sense in putting that money under the Uganda Road Fund because we have a legal framework under which this money can be properly managed. A district can decide to buy equipment; Shs 1 billion can buy a grader and you begin from there. In the next financial year, you can decide to do another thing. This quarrel of not having equipment should be addressed using the Shs 1 billion through the Uganda Road Fund. In the mean –(Member timed out.)

The commlttcc observes that thc council expenence hugc budget cuts w'lth their budgct for FY2O23|24 rcductng by 640/o compared to FY2O22 /23 from UShs 4?.tbn to an allocation of l?.387ba n fY2O23124, this budget cut is hkcly to affect a numbcr of planned activities under the Council such as preparatlonr quahficatrons and participation of Team Uganda in the 2O23 All Africa Games in Accra Ghana and thc 2O24 Paris, France Olympic and Paralympic games a.rnong others The Council seeks an additional Uahr 3O.42 bn in order to Eupport 5l reglst-ered National Fcdcrations and other activlttcs. The Councrl requires a dcvclopment budgct of UEhr t4.OSbn for the rcfurbishment and renovatton of Sports facilities at Lugogo Sports Complex and UShe 2o2bn nceded to facrlitate the refurbishment of various National Stadra regionally; Akibua Olymprc Stadium (Lira), Buhinga (Fort Portal crty)' Kakycka (Mbarara), Barifa (Arua), Pece (Gulu). Bugembe /lGkindu(Jrnja), Mbale Municipal Stadium (Mbalcl, Masaka Recrcattonal Grounds (Masaka)\, Ihbale Stadium (Kabale), Soroti Stadium (Soroti), King George Stadium(Tororo), Hoima (Boma Cround) and Masindi Stadium. Recomma,'datlons The commlttce recp,mmcnd,s f,hd:t: i. MFPED rclrwtatea that [ntdgct' of lfi$fot rZ2(ngf24 b U$rts4?.abn ll. MPPBL cualls llES a dcr*lopmeat hrdgct ol UShs Sobrt to klck scaft thc dcoclopma,I.C ol ttt ,Ib rt clrlmplcx/rrrNrna at Lugogo atd U*hs 2O2bt tor the Nat"lolnal ,tadla rcglotallg la thc medlut,za tctlra. FUBLIC T'N'IVERIIITIESI Gcacrd Obrcnatioar ead rccornnctr&tlont af Uadontafllag rnd hlgh rtrtl turnovcr: The Commrttec obscrves that most Public Universities are grossly understalled, with stafflng levels as low as 3O7o in some Universities/Colleges especially the s1

a REPORT ON THE MINISTERIAL POLICY STATEMENT AI{D BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR THE COMMTTTEE ON EDUCATION, SPORTS AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SUB.PROGRAMME FOR FY 2023124. No NAME CONSIITUENCY PARTY Hoo. Twesigye John Nlomuhlro Choirpecon Hon. Iibosiimwo Jorom Rurongo Hon. Eogrrre Aggrey Henry BUNYA WEST EUNYARUGURU COUNW NRIA NRM NRM 2 t SIGNATURE 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. ll. 12. 13. 14. t5. t{on.Culhbcrl Abigobo Mlrcmbe V/Choirperon KIBAI.E COUNTY NRM Mr- Hon. Asiimwe Musrrme Molly RWAMPARA COUNTY NRM Hon. Nyokolo Dorothy DWR KITAGWENDA NRM Hon. Nyomuloro Phiono YOUTH NAIIONAL NRM Hon. Acibu Agnes NEEBI DISTRICT NRM Hon. Komoteneti Josyline DWR NIUGAMO NRM Hon. Awich Jone DWR KABERAMAIDO NRM Hon. Kubeketeryo Jomes EUNYA COUNlY EAST NRM Hon. Lokwong Philiphs llukol NAPORE WEST COUNTY NRM Hon. Mutumbo Abdul KIBOGA WESl COUNTY NRM Hon. Etuko lsooc Jookino UPPER MADI NRM Hon. Dr. Tobon Shorifoh Aole OWR KOBOKO NRM Hon. Poporu Lillion Obiole DWR ARUA NRM l-lon. Kotusrme Annel Mugisho DWR EUSHENYI NRM OPS WESTERN t6 17.

8198 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. MINISTERIAL POLICY STATEMENTS & BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR THE FY 2023/2024 was overhauled. The committee reiterates its earlier recommendation that Shs 1 billion be provided for the total overhaul of the plumbing system. Inadequate budget for essential medicines and supplies The committee recommends that an additional Shs 1 billion be provided. Lack of budget for extension of medical gases The committee recommends that Shs 420 million be provided to Kawempe Regional Referral Hospital for maintenance of equipment and extension of oxygen to the wards. Vote 417: Kiruddu National Referral Hospital. Inadequate funding to the burns and surgery unit Mr Speaker, Kiruddu acts as the national referral centre for burns and surgery. The committee recommends that Shs 1 billion be availed to mitigate the shortfall for Financial Year 2023/2024. Insufficient budget for essential medicines The committee recommends an extra Shs 1 billion to be provided for essential medicines. Inadequate funds for decentralisation of dialysis services Mr Speaker, I would like to thank Parliament and the Committee on Budget that last year, Shs 2 billion was allocated for decentralisation of dialysis. I am happy to say that in Lira, the dialysis is functional; we are rolling out to Hoima. This financial year, the committee recommends that Shs 4 billion be provided to Kiruddu to decentralise dialysis to Arua, Kabale and Mbale. Vote 401: Mulago National Referral Hospital Inadequate funding for essential medicines and health supplies, non-communicable disease services and specialised services Under this, the committee recommends that an additional Shs 8 billion be provided for specialised units like maxillofacial, endocrine, neurology, gastroenterology and so forth, and another Shs 10 billion be provided towards the provision of essential medicines and health supplies, and non-communicable disease commodities. It is quite common to go to Mulago these days and you are asked to buy these. Inadequate staff accommodation The committee agrees that 50 units should be completed immediately to house critical care workers and the remaining two blocks of 50 units each, be completed in the subsequent financial years. The Committee recommends that an additional Shs 8.5 billion should be provided in the Financial Year 2023/2024 to complete at least one block of 50 units. Lack of funds for commencement of kidney transplant services On this, the committee recommends that Shs 1.5 billion should be provided to the national referral hospitals to start kidney transplant services in the Financial Year 2023/2024. Inadequate funds for maintenance The committee recommends that an additional Shs 7 billion be provided for maintenance. You saw the headline screaming in Monday’s Daily Monitor newspaper. Mr Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to page 47, bullet 6.4 on incomplete civil plumbing and sewerage ICT and electric works; ROKO did not complete the work for several reasons.

8199 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. The committee recommends that a total of Shs 25.5 billion be provided to Mulago National Referral Hospital, as a matter of urgency, to fully operationalise it. Vote 420: Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital Mr Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to page 48 on the lack of funds for the purchase of a LEEP machine. This machine helps in early treatment of cancer of the cervix, which is the number one cause of death amongst women. We have the colposcopy machines for detection but we need another Shs 180 million provided for the procurement of two LEEP machines in the Financial Year 2023/2024. Vote for 402: Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital On page 49, bullet 6.48 on the lack of funds for completion of the perimeter wall - the patients in Butabika Hospital are not ordinary patients. We were informed that some of them have strayed out of the perimeter wall and we have lost some in the swamp. So, we want Shs 2.5 billion to construct the perimeter wall. Regional Referral Hospitals Mr Speaker, these are on page 50. There was a cross-cutting issue of understaffing - that is 6.49. There was also a cross-cutting issue of incomplete infrastructure in various regional hospitals. The committee recommends that Shs 29.81 billion be provided and allocated as follows: Shs 3 billion to Gulu for the 54-staff housing, Shs 500 Million to Masaka for the ICU, Shs 12 billion Mbale for their surgical complex; Shs 1 billion to Jinja; Shs 4.5 billion to Arua, and Shs 4 billion to Fort Portal. These projects, Mr Speaker, have been built for the last seven years and we are losing a lot of money through variation in costs. Mr Speaker, as I conclude, the committee recommends that a total of Shs 3,034,158,769,598 be provided for that excludes KCCA, Uganda AIDS Commission and the PHC that we give to local governments. Mr Speaker, the budgetary allocations for the health sector votes for Financial Year 2023/2024 are presented in a tabular format. The first table shows recurrent expenditure and the total proposed budget by the committee is Shs 1,614,000,280,648. When we when we move to page 53, the development budget is also presented in a tabular form. The proposed budget by the committee is Shs 1,419,878,000,121. Mr Speaker and honourable members, please support this report. I thank you very much. (Applause)

I{o. Requlrcncnt Budget Justlflcatloa increasing demand for these training given the number of new exporters that emerge every year. There are also a number of emerging issues especially in the market. UEPB is seeking for an increase in the exporter training budget to meet this requirement, This in tum will enhance the efhciency of these exporters and thus lead to an increase in their exporter turnover. 6 Opening Regional Export Information and Support Centres o Arua o Gulu o Mbale o Entebbe o Mbarara o Hoima 4.15 UEPB was in FY2O2O/21 cleared to establish up to fifteen ( 15) satellite information and support centers by 2025. The purpose of these centers was to bring services closer to the people - especially the producers. The centres would amongst other business development services provide guidance and information to the producers on ?roducing for Export'; support export business in upcountry locations; directly link producers with exporters and foreign buyers; and coordinate export development activities in upcountry locations. Efforts to establish and operationalize the first six (6) centres in Arua, Gulu, Mbale, Entebbe, Hoima and Mbarara were delayed due to the impending restructuring of MDAs. This should be established during the next fY 2023/24. i o (l 't 64

Mr Speaker, the President is going to Arua next week. I am going to inform him before he goes to Arua so he can guide me on how to handle this but as I told you, Northern Uganda - and Arua falls under Northern Uganda - we can always look around and get iron sheets for you.

7880 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEDULE NO. 1 FOR FY 2022/2023 Shs 6 billion is required for maintenance of oxygen plants. Shs 2.7 billion is requested for supervision of the International Specialised Hospital at Lubowa. Shs 3.6 billion is required as counterpart funding for Busolwe General Hospital Project. Members can read the details. We recommend as follows: A total of Shs 5.9 billion, instead of the requested Shs 6 billion, be provided as follows: a) Shs 4 billion be availed to procure eight transformers and accessories for eight regional referral hospitals namely: Masaka, Jinja, Soroti, Gulu, Arua, Hoima, Kabale and Moroto. b) Shs 1.5 billion be availed for repair of oxygen plants in the regional referral hospitals. c) Shs 400 million be availed for van maintenance – for the workshop. The committee further recommends that recurrent expenditure should be incorporated in the subsequent budgets. In addition, we recommend that upon installation of the new oxygen plants, the current stock of oxygen plants should be evaluated and decommissioned since they have become more expensive to maintain. For the issue of Lubowa, the committee recommends that Shs 2.7 billion for supervision of the International Specialised Hospital at Lubowa –(Interjections)- Members, listen. We decline the approval –(Applause)– because up to now, the Ministry of Health has not given accountability for what has been given so far. For the Shs 3.6 billion counterpart funding for Busolwe General Hospital - this is a grant from the Spanish Government – we recommend the approval of Shs 3.6 billion. Vote 018: Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development requested for Shs 21.6 billion for Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women (GROW) project. This project is funded by the World Bank. We recommend the approval of Shs 21.6 billion to Vote 018 for the GROW project. Vote 022: Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities made a request of Shs 1.359 billion as unspent NTR for Financial Year 2021/2022 for UWEC. We recommend the approval of Shs 1.359 billion. The same ministry is requesting for Shs 3.8 billion as non-tax revenue for emergency relocation of Uganda Hotel and Tourism Institute to rented premises and establishment of students’ accommodation facilities in Jinja to pave way for smooth construction. We recommend that Shs 3.8 billion be availed to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. Vote 120: National Citizenship and Immigration Control requested for Shs 46.784 billion for the directorate to procure more passport booklets. We observed that the demand for the booklets has increased and there is a shortage of 288,000 booklets. Once the money is given, the directorate will generate an additional Shs 65 billion in non-tax revenue. We recommend the approval of Shs 46.784 billion to Vote 120. Vote 122: Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) requested for Shs 34.446 billion as unspent balances for Financial Year 2021/2022 for the Second Kampala Integrated Infrastructure Development Project (KIIDP II) from the World Bank. We recommend that the Shs 34.446 billion be availed to KCCA.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to lay on the Table the policy statement for the health sub-programme for Financial Year 2023/2024: Vote 014 – Ministry of Health Vote 114 - Uganda Cancer Institute Vote 115 – Uganda Heart Institute Vote 116 - National Medical Stores Vote 127 - Uganda Virus Research Institute Vote 134 - Health Service Commission Vote 151 - Uganda Blood Transfusion Service Vote 401 - Mulago National Referral Hospital Vote 402 - Butabika Hospital Vote 403 - Arua Regional Referral Hospital Vote 404 - Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital Vote 405 - Gulu Regional Referral Hospital Vote 406 - Hoima Regional Referral Hospital Vote 407 - Jinja Regional Referral Hospital Vote 408 - Kabale Regional Referral Hospital Vote 409 - Masaka Regional Referral Hospital Vote 410 - Mbale Regional Referral Hospital Vote 411 - Soroti Regional Referral Hospital Vote 412 - Lira Regional Referral Hospital Vote 413 - Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Vote 414 - Mubende Regional Referral Hospital Vote 415 - Moroto Regional Referral Hospital Vote 416 - Naguru National Referral Hospital Vote 417 - Kiruddu Regional Referral Hospital Vote 418 - Kawempe Regional Referral Hospital Vote 419 - Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital Vote420 - Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital Vote 421 - Kayunga Referral Hospital Vote 422 - Yumbe Referral Hospital Vote 612 - Local Governments and the other annex attached. Madam Speaker, I beg to lay.

7368 SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT ON THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN NSSF [Mr Mpaka] approval of the investments and declaration of annual interest by the Minister of Finance and yet these are closely intertwined activities. The committee further notes that where the supervisory functions of the ministers are overlapping, the decision-making function of the Board may be delayed since in such a situation, the approval of the ministers must be sought first. If you want to invest in land, you must seek the approval of the Minister of Finance and then go back to the Minister of Gender. Therefore, we are just providing for a solution but are not against dual supervision. 4. The committee notes that the write-off of the Shs 2.3 billion invested in West Nile Golf Club is unreasonable since the board has not taken all reasonable steps to recover it and is, therefore, in breach of a fiduciary duty imposed on the board by Section 4(3) of the NSSF Act. The committee, therefore, recommends that the board should undertake the necessary steps to protect the savers’ interest in the West Nile Golf Club project in Arua. Madam Speaker, while the club was to provide land and create a sublease of 48 years in favour of the joint venture company, on the NSSF land, the NSSF was to finance and carry out the entire project with the exclusion of furnishing. Although the project was completed in 2005 with the NSSF having sunk in over Shs 2.3 billion as alleged, neither the joint venture company agreement envisaged in 2003 nor any agreement on the future running of the project was ever executed. Therefore, this is more or less like the NSSF carried out a donation. 5. The committee finds no justification for the continued holding of the land title over which Workers House is established by Tumusiime Kabega & Company Advocates and, therefore, recommends that NSSF takes legal action to recover the land title from Alcon and Tumusiime Kabega & Company Advocates, with immediate effect. Madam Speaker, the committee was concerned that the title of the land on which Workers House sits is held by Alcon International Limited, which has since refused to surrender it on account of an outstanding balance of Shs 200 billion that the Fund owes Alcon International Limited – the physical land title is not held with NSSF. The committee was informed that upon NSSF advertising bid notices in the newspapers for the construction of Workers House, M/s Alcon International Limited, a Kenyan-based company, emerged the best evaluated bidder for the project works. It, however, later emerged that the Kenyan company, which emerged as the best evaluated bidder, instead subcontracted a Ugandan company to construct Workers House. The works were, however, found to be substandard, prompting the NSFF to terminate the contract, forcing Alcon to seek arbitration against NSSF. The court ruled against NSSF and awarded Alcon International $6 million in arbitration, which forced the Fund to seek redress from the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal ruled that the company, which built Workers House, was not the owner of the contract and the company that NSSF contracted did not actually build Workers House. The court ruling led to Alcon International winding up operations in Uganda. Therefore, the committee recommends that since the court ruled that the costs Alcon claims from NSSF for the termination of the contract were illegal since they also subcontracted another company, NSSF should take all necessary measures to recover our land title. 6. The committee recommends for immediate investigations by the IGG, with the possibility of prosecuting, the following officers involved in the conceptualisation and execution of the casual transaction, which led to the loss of Shs 2.3 billion invested in West Nile Golf Club. These include Mr Leonard Mpuuma, the then MD, Mr Onegi-Obel, the then Chairman of the Board of Directors; board members namely, Ms Fiona Lucy Egunyu Asamo, Mr George

I want to thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for that good communication. My interest goes to the Ministry of Education and Sports. Madam Speaker, I raised an issue here about the closure of Primary Teachers Colleges (PTC) and core PTCs. As we talk, the colleges are not functional and the tutors have not been placed anywhere. Secondly, recently, I watched, on TV, a school in Arua with over 300 children in one class; others - 400 pupils - were studying through the window struggling to get the white man’s knowledge. All these are areas of bullying of children. Madam Speaker, you directed this ministry; so, we cannot sit in this House without getting a statement from the Ministry of Education and Sports on what procedures they are following to close teacher’s training colleges. Yet, we are going to lose teachers and shall be lacking teachers in the near future. What is the future of those colleges since they are being closed? I have a college in Kalungu called Kabukunge Primary Teachers College. As we talk, the principal is worried, he has no money. They have no funds, tutors are not paid and they do not know their destiny. We would like to know: are we getting graduate teachers? How are they prepared? What is the National Council for Higher Education saying about this particular programme? Madam Speaker, we need to know from the Ministry of Education and Sports. Otherwise, we are in trouble; teachers are retiring and others are leaving the profession. So, who is going to replace those that have left when colleges are closed? Hon. Muyingo and his team, educated as they are, are keeping a low profile and not informing this House the status of teachers.

7227 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 1 MARCH 2023 iv) Total requirement for critical national roads and small bridges assessed for immediate maintenance intervention is estimated at about Shs 1.2 trillion. Therefore, in light of the budget suppression and inadequate releases, it is our prayer that adequate resources are located to prioritise and clear the following backlog: i) Ongoing national road projects ii) Counterpart funding for externally- financed national road projects and procurement because these attract interest if we do not implement them and already, the contractor is on site. If they are not financed, they will charge for idle equipment. iii) Rehabilitation projects under procurement. Some of these are very critical as you will see in the tables, for example: Mutukula- Kyotera-Masaka, Kikolongo-Bwera- Mpondwe, Nebbi-Goli and Nebbi-Arua. These are very critical roads, which we need to respond to now. iv) National roads and bridges assessed for immediate periodic maintenance and intervention v) There are a number of bridges, which are very critical and we cannot afford to postpone. For example, the Sezibwa Bridge I was talking about on Kayunga Road is over 70 years old and it is really gone. Katungulu Bridge in Kasese needs intervention as well as other bridges on major roads. Madam Speaker, in the document, there is also another set of documents, which give the details about the DUCA Roads (District and Urban Community Access Roads.) In that document, you will find reports about the damage on our national roads, which happened during the rains where regions and districts have submitted for intervention. We visited the sites and costed them. There was a directive that we get money to intervene immediately after the rains but we have never received any money. Therefore, those roads have remained in those bad conditions - that is on the DUCAR network. Also in the document, you will find ongoing projects which we are implementing, including the names of the contractors carrying out those projects. That is so that you can also be able to supervise and check on some of those projects. There are many tables - I do not know if I can comment on some of them or I leave Members to - The Members must have gone through them and they can raise issues on specific ones. Thank you, Madam Speaker. I beg to submit. (Applause)

7270 THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SPORTS BILL, 2022 a) That a member required to leave the Board to enable its reconstitution be compensated with the amounts that would otherwise have been due to them for the rest of their Board term pursuant to the Board appointment letters issued on 31 August; b) That the affected Board members be compensated in cash in lieu of Board positions on the Fund’s Investee Board – some of them were on different boards and they had to be compensated on the other boards – since it is not possible to guarantee board placements on the boards of the Fund’s investee companies; and c) The payments above would be made to the affected Board members upon receipt of the related communication confirming their recall. In response to the Board Chairman’s letter, the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Ms Betty Amongi Ongom, indicated no objection, with the principle of compensating retiring members in accordance with the Fund’s existing policy, legal framework and practices. The committee was informed that upon computation of the exit package, both Mr Fred K. Bamwesigye, the Chief Executive Officer of Civil Aviation (CAA) and Mr Julius Bahemuka were each to be compensated a gross total of Shs 311,708,880. Total for the both was about Shs 600 million. However, while appearing before the committee on Thursday, 10 February 2023, Mr Bahemuka testified and confirmed that NSSF credited his bank Account No: 11000217676 held at Housing Finance Bank Limited, Kololo Branch with Shs 175,118,964 on 23 February 2022 as opposed to Shs 311,708,880. The committee was informed by the Financial Accountant at NSSF, Mr Pius Ayebare, that crediting Mr Bahemuka’s bank account with Shs 175,118,964 instead of Shs 311,708,880 was due to statutory deductions such as PAYE and NSSF. (Laughter) The committee observes that the emergency consultative meeting convened by the Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Ms Betty Amongi Ongom on 17 January 2022 at Simbamanyo House to discuss reconstitution of the 12 th NSSF Board did not have clear guidelines, procedures and processes on determination of which Board members needed to resign so as to reconstitute the Board to take into consideration gender aspects. In reaching this decision, the committee is aware that section 3(4) of the NSSF Act empowers a member to resign from the Board by giving notice of not less than one month in writing addressed to the minister. This same right is recognised under Paragraph 5 of the Board Charter. The committee examined the Act and Board Charter and found no provision entitling a resigning member of the Board from being granted any benefits for exercising his or her right to resign. Resignation is voluntary and exercised pursuant to the inherent freedom of an employee to contract. Once members of the Board decided to resign, they were free to terminate their contracts in accordance with section 3(4) of the NSSF Act. The resignation did not give them any benefits whatsoever including compensation because they did not suffer any wrong which is being atoned for by compensation. The grant of compensation to the resigning members of the board is, therefore, illegal and unjustifiable. It represents wastage of funds by the NSSF in contravention of section 4(4) of the NSSF Act. In the interest of time, I will go to the projects written off. In 2010, NSSF embarked on a number of projects including the Smart Card System – Shs 2.6 billion and Arua investment property but all these projects were written off – (Interruption)

Madam Speaker, all the recommendations are derived from the observations, but if it is the Member’s wishes, and under your guidance, allow me to go straight to the recommendations. We have 27 recommendations. Page 139. Honourable members and Madam Speaker, recommendations. The following agreements and memoranda executed between the NSSF and the various entities and individuals, without the approval of the Attorney-General as required in Article 119 of the Constitution are null and void and should immediately be terminated: a) Memorandum of Understanding between NSSF and COFTU. b) The memorandum of understanding between the NSSF and Ms Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa, under which the NSSF agreed to pay Ms Geraldine Ssali Busuulwa Shs 1 Billion. 2. In order to incorporate best corporate practices in the management and decision- making, and processes of the NSSF Board: a) The minister should, therefore, appoint - before appointing representatives nominated by employers and employees - to ensure that the persons nominated to the Board were nominated by a body which is mandated to take such decisions in the nominating entity; b) Entities representing the NSSF Board should not be contracted by NSSF to provide services for or on behalf of the NSSF in order to avert conflict of interest that arises from such allocation. c) Funds provided by the NSSF Board to any persons should be accounted for within 90 days of being disbursed; 3. The committee recommends that Parliament streamlines the dual supervision of the Fund. It is global practice to see pension funds as financial institutions and consequently, investment vehicles are not labour institutions, as was envisaged during the amendments of the NSSF Act. We strongly recommend that the NSSF Act be amended to give full supervision of the Fund with the Ministry of Finance. We further recommend that the appointment of the Managing Director and the Deputy Managing Director should be vested in the minister responsible for finance. However, the minister responsible for labour will remain the sole responsibility for appointing the Board members for checks and balances. 4. The competent notes that the write off of Shs 2.3 billion invested in West Nile Golf Club is unreasonable since the Board has not taken all reasonable steps to recover it and is, therefore, in breach of a fiduciary duty imposed on the Board by section 4(3) of the NSSF Act. The committee, therefore, recommends that the Board should take the necessary steps to protect savers’ interests in the West Nile golf course projects-Arua with immediate effect.

Mr Speaker, we shall investigate that matter and come up with a concrete answer. However, I want Members to note that national roads across the country are given priority when it comes to funding. Arua is not exceptional and we shall work on those roads. As long as the NRM Government is still in power, we are accredited to work on roads.

Thank you. Mr Speaker, Hon. Odur said that the list of interdicted staff is not there, but it is attached to the document. They were not all arrested on one day. It started in 2020 up to now. The list is very clear; who was involved, what they did or what their fate is. We are not going to just transfer these people. No, those who have been involved in the vice will be charged. The only transfer we are talking about is those of institutions like the military, the intelligence, who have overstayed at the airport. There should be a tour of duty so that they do not build a cartel - because that is what was happening. The other thing we have been trying to do, for example, at the check point – you saw we built a search park, which must be fitted with automatic scanner, not the hands. When we went to look for equipment, the cost is about $6 million and we could not have that, but we are aiming at automating. On the issue of separating the entities; this matter was even discussed in the Committee on Physical Infrastructure. The challenge, as of now, we have only one airport. But now, since we are developing new airports including Kabaale International Airport, then we shall have reason to ask for the separation. Otherwise, with one airport, it was very difficult to defend that expenditure of separating the entities. As we move forward, Kabaale is about to become an international airport; Arua is growing and so, we may now look at separating the entities – with an authority to manage airports and an authority to be able to regulate the activities. Mr Speaker, I think what we see in this society as you have said – there is a general moral decay because some of the things which, for example, those people are doing, as a human being, you ask how somebody can do such a thing to that extent. There is a general moral decay, which

Mr Speaker, thank you for that strong memory. (Laughter) I would like to observe that we can sit here and aspire that there should be more resources going to the road sector. However, if this Parliament is not decisive enough to address the issue of domestic resource mobilisation, then those will be very wild wishes. We have sat in this House and passed budgets, but without putting much emphasis on how we get money. I would have loved the report on tax expenditures to be presented here because that is one of the fundamental issues that is causing leakage in revenue. Right now, this country loses or forgoes Shs 2.8 trillion in tax exemptions that are cleared by this House. So, where do you expect the money for the roads to come from? You are paying tax for Bujagali, which is making profit. You have exempted the BIDCOs that are making billions of profits and you have given exemptions and tax incentives to companies that are foreign; the benefits not even going to the local people. So, where do these resources come from? Therefore, first, we must address the issue of resource mobilisation; we must help the Government to mobilise resources. Mr Speaker, it will interest you to note that Uganda annually loses more than US$500 million in illicit financial flows. And these illicit financial flows are not addressed. So, how is the House going to help the contractors to deal with issues of delayed certificate clearance? A few days ago, we received a report from COSASE, which indicated that there is serious operational inefficiency in UNRA. We have had cases of money being diverted from one project to another without approvals. So, I would have expected that after, this process, maybe there must be a treasury memorandum, which collectively deals with all these issues. Ideally, if it were up to me, actually UNRA would go to the Ministry of Works and Transport because they have demonstrated, based on that report, that they cannot be able to fix a number of things. Right now to go to Arua, you have to take many hours because the segment of the road from Oloya to Pakwach is just impassable yet we worked on this road some few years ago. So, where is the quality assurance? If you go to the many roads that UNRA has constructed, you will find that they are not even climate resilient and yet we passed a law here to ensure that every MDA must integrate climate change into their programming. All these things are not happening. I do not know if the Committee on Physical Infrastructure is really exercising its oversight role on UNRA. Why is it that these issues are occurring repeatedly? Mr Speaker, as you rightly observed, as we get to the budget process, let us not just be good at appropriating. Let us first ask where this money is coming from. If we do not address that question, we will continue to lament here and nothing will happen. These ministers will visit and the result will be ‘hot air’. Thank you.

- travel to the regional headquarters where these recruitments are. The plight of the youth of Obongi is that instead of telling them to go to Arua, Moyo and Adjumani to be recruited in the forces, can the recruitment be taken nearer to them? Many of the districts could not fill their quota because of the access factor. I 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, Madam Speaker. I rise on a matter of national importance and the issue is about challenges of transport and communication across River Nile at Laropi Town Council, causing delays, suffering and loss of lives to our people. A section of leaders and residents of West Nile in general - Obongi, Moyo and Adjumani districts in particular - have requested Government to expedite and fast-track plans to construct a bridge across the Nile at Laropi that will connect Moyo and Adjumani districts. Of late, travellers get stranded for hours - and others for days - as they wait for the ferry at Laropi, due to the increase in population and traffic flow. Madam Speaker, travellers who normally opt to travel via Arua take more than 14 hours instead of the usual eight hours. The ferry also frequently breaks down and routine maintenance usually takes half a day. The Laropi ferry starts operation at 7 a.m. and ends at 7 p.m. It has a vessel capacity of 120 tonnes and it carries on average 1,500 to 1,800 people per day with a minimum of 12 trips and a maximum of 22 trips. It takes 30 minutes loading and offloading while the time to cross is between 10 to 15 minutes. The ferry has a capacity of 180 passengers and cargo of 90 tonnes. IN THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA Official Report of the Proceedings of Parliament SECOND SESSION - 4TH SITTING - THIRD MEETING Parliament met at 1.59 p.m., at 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 want to thank my colleague who presented the report. Looking at a number of things, I realise that every local government in Uganda has an issue. Madam Speaker, before Arua became a city, we used to have boreholes dug yearly. However, when we upgraded, most of the district cities, of which Arua is part, are not receiving even a single borehole as guided by the new policy. It is now the mandate of the National Water and Sewerage Corporation to extend water to every city that was newly created, and now our people are struggling because of that. Secondly, before our subcounties were merged, we used to receive road funds. It has been two years down the road - Arua City is in a terrible state because our roads have not been worked on for all this time. When you visit Arua, you may want to ask whether there are leaders in place or not. Madam Speaker, I wonder: even when we push our priorities to the Ministry of Finance, they will still say that there is no money. Now that we have issues, budgets have been cut everywhere, what do they expect us to do? The people of Arua City are crying; they do not have water and the roads are in a bad state. Lastly, we still have offices of another district operating within the offices of Arua City.

That is Arua District; it still operates its district office headquarters within Arua City. Now, I wonder - we upgraded these cities, in this House - I remember, the Ministry of Finance said there was money, but now there is no money. How come? I think the Ministry of Finance should be realistic. Otherwise, people are questioning us every day. They think we just wasted their time by creating these cities. We thought cities would even have more money than districts, but it is to the contrary. Ministry of Finance, can you please help us - because at the border, we collect a lot of revenue, which we send this way. Arua being in a triangular form, it shares a border with South Sudan and DRC and it sends a lot of money to the Consolidated Fund; why don’t you - I remember Parliament guided last time that the money that is collected by the local governments be spent at source, but up to now, this has not been implemented, and I want to ask why. Let them answer because we are also

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. That is a matter we need to address together. However, honourable colleagues, I want to implore you to balance these interests very carefully. As we clamour to say the money should be retained in the cities that make it, you know Kampala will make more, Arua will make the next and then Mbarara, among other cities. So, some people in this process may suffer. As we balance this, we need to do it very carefully. As we look at amending this law, we need to look at it very carefully to make sure that we have balanced development of the country. It is something, but it is a thought that we need to address and I agree with honourable members. A lot has been said about the law on local government –

6742 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT General. The audit revealed that on the account of delayed deletion of staff from payroll, some accounting officers authorised payment for salaries to staff who are either retired, transferred their services, absconded or died. I will give you an example of Gulu city where there was a delayed deletion of 20 staff who had left services leading to payment of Shs 64,323,558. Mr Speaker, such anomalies lead to loss of funds, and we have provided recommendations to that effect. We would also like to report on non-deduction of PAYE from political leaders. We have indicated details of our findings as a committee, where political leaders were not subjected to deductions of PAYE. We have also provided recommendations and to be specific. The committee recommends that accounting officers recover all the monies that were not deducted from these political leaders or the accounting officers will have to be held liable and they will have to make good the losses. Mr Speaker, we would also like to report on payment of salaries, pension and gratuity of IPPS. We noted for example, in Bulambuli District, where nine pensioners were paid a total of Shs 170 million off IPPS. The committee observed that payment of salary pension and gratuity off IPPS contravenes paragraph 4.5 of the Establishment Notice No.2 of 2019 and could lead to abuse and manipulation for private gains. As a result, we recommend the following: The accounting officers should ensure to reconcile their respective entity staff lists together with the Ministry of Public Service IPPS, in order to avoid payment of salaries and pension and gratuity off IPPS. The accounting officers should desist from the practice and can only take such actions with the approval of the line ministries. Mr Speaker, under 3.3, we have off-budget receipts. We have provided those details and I request Members to look through. The committee has also provided observations, and I will take you straight to recommendations. The recommendations as follows: The accounting officers should adhere to paragraph 29 of the Budget Execution Circular for the said financial year. The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should mainstream the disbursement of funds through the normal planning and budgeting cycles to avoid off- budget receipts. Mr Speaker, we would like to report on the operationalisation of the new cities. The audit report noted that during the Financial Year 2019/2020, Government made a pronouncement upgrading 10 municipal councils to city status, effective 1 st July 2020. These include: Arua, Mbarara, Gulu, Jinja, Fort Portal, Mbale, Masaka, Soroti and Hoima. The audit report noted the following: The Government did not provide funding in the budgets of the newly created entities to enable them to operate as cities. They continue to operate using the budget of the municipal councils. The cities lacked establishment structures against which the recruitment of the required human resources could be undertaken. There was no guidance on the allocation and sharing of assets. This has become a contentious matter between the councils of the newly created cities and the district entities from where the cities were created. Mr Speaker, we would like to report on the capitation grant for printing. This is a matter that has been concluded and we will request Members to read through, but we have also provided recommendations that, for all the money sent to districts, there should be clear

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to respond to your communication. In the 10 th Parliament, we lost Hon. Abiriga and you saw what happened when the body was taken to Arua. People were bitter because there was no report on why he was killed. I think up to now, there is no report on how our colleague died. Gen. Katumba was attacked and I have heard the President saying it was the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). We lost a colleague on Monday in an accident - the Minister of Works and Transport, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Defence and the Minister of Foreign Affairs are Members of this House. It is reported that the truck that knocked our colleague had registration numbers of a foreign country. Mr Speaker, we are burying our colleague who died on Monday, tomorrow, Saturday, but there is no report on what exactly happened. If it was a Kenyan truck, where was it going? If the IN THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA Official Report of the Proceedings of Parliament SECOND SESSION - 17TH SITTING - SECOND MEETING Parliament met at 10.22 a.m. in Parliament House, Kampala. PRAYERS (The Deputy Speaker, Mr Thomas Tayebwa, in the Chair.) The House was called to order. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

6698 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR [Mr Twesigye] driver took off, who is the owner of the truck? What is the police doing? I request that before we go for burial tomorrow, we should have at least a partial report of what happened and what has been done so that we give people hope that something is being done about this matter. Otherwise, we may have another scenario like what happened in Arua.

Thank you. Is the motion seconded? (Members rose_) It is seconded by Hon. Katoto, Hon. Kimosho, Hon. Rauben, Hon. Macho, Hon. Basalirwa. Hon. Okupa, Hon. Mwijukye, Hon. Akol, Hon. Lucy Akello, Hon. Nebanda, Hon. Otimgiw, Hon. Christine, Member for Busia, Member for Arua, Member for Butalejja, Hon. Nsegumire and Hon. Fox-Odoi. Happy to see you, Hon. Everlyn Chemutai. Hon. Amos, because you have raised the issues properly, can you use three minutes to speak to your motion.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I join you and the rest to pay tribute to Hon. Justice Opio Aweri and pass my condolences to the family. I came to know Justice Aweri not under very good circumstances. At that time, around 2001, I had lost an election and had a petition before him. Like anybody else, I expected him to rule in my favour, but he did not. In my heart, this was a bad man. However, immediately after, less than a year, we had some social interaction. There is a trading centre called Migyera. When you are going to the North, it is halfway Gulu and Arua. Travellers stop there to rest and that is where I used to meet him.

Mr Speaker, when we gave that equipment across the districts, initially we decided to put regional workshops for the servicing. The idea was what the Rt Hon. Prime Minister has correctly observed - about the quality of the service - that we would continue to extend to that equipment. We realised that the resources could not allow us to decentralise adequately. That is why, sometimes, there has been backlog. We have had a discussion with the Minister of Local Government where we have issued a position that allows the local governments to do minor repairs like what has been described by my colleague. I think the question of Nebbi now is a question of implementation and that will be something that we are going to share again and communicate to all the districts and make sure that all the district engineers will abide by the directive that we have given. Minor repairs will be handled in the district. Only those critical ones will be taken to the region. Even in the regions, we are trying to create more workshops. For example, West Nile, very soon will not be having all their machines going to Gulu; they will be in Arua. And the same will be for some parts of – (Member timed out.)

6602 ACTION TAKEN REPORT ON THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE 11 TH PARLIAMENT Mr Speaker, allow me to first give a background of this report. The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, as amended, enjoins the State to promote and implement energy policies, which ensure that people’s basic needs and those of environmental preservations are met. The Energy Policy for Uganda and the Electricity Act, as amended, operationalise the provisions of the Constitution in regard to these energy policies. The movers of the motion noted that West Nile has never been connected to the national grid. Citing the Electricity Act, they noted that in an effort to address power shortages in the West Nile region, the Government of Uganda, in 2003, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, granted a concession to the West Nile Rural Electrification Company commonly known as WENRECO, to generate, distribute and sell electricity in West Nile for a period of 20 years. The petitioners acknowledged that WENRECO, having failed to fulfil its obligations, Electro- Maxx was contracted to supplement power generation in 2019. However, despite this intervention, they stated, West Nile’s electricity supply to date is unreliable, unstable, unpredictable, costly and is characterised by constant power shortages, interruptions and blackouts. They further noted that the Government of Uganda has previously made promises to have the region connected to the national grid by September 2022, which was just a few months ago, but this was postponed to March 2023. The prayers sought in the motion were: 1. Parliament urges Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Development to urgently provide funds to the Uganda National Oil Company to supply fuel to Electro-Maxx to generate the licensed 8.2 Megawatts of electricity to be supplied to WENRECO and to ensure a stable and reliable supply of electricity to the people of the West Nile Sub-region. 2. The Ministry of Energy to fast-track the evacuation of the electricity 132KV line to West Nile and also expedite the work at the sub-stations in Arua and Nebbi districts to enable the region get connected to the National Grid. 3. The Government avails all the required funds to speed up the completion of the 6.6 Megawatts at Nyagak III and the Government should replace the second turbine at Nyagak I to generate 3.5 Megawatts installed capacity instead of the 1.7 Megawatts that was being generated at that time. 4. The ministry of energy upgrades the existing electricity network in West Nile region to be able to distribute high voltage 132KV from the National Grid Transmission Line once evacuated to the region by March 2023, as promised by Government. 5. The Ministry of Energy intensifies the expansion of the network to rural areas to cover all the parishes in West Nile subregion to support the Parish Development Model and reduce the high rate of environmental degradation. 6. A forensic audit of the operations of Electro-Maxx be conducted to ascertain whether Uganda has obtained value for money for the period Electro-Maxx has operated in West Nile. 7. A compliance audit be carried out on the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) in relation to the operations of Electro-Maxx and WENRECO. Mr Speaker, those were the prayers and this House adopted those prayers. As a committee, we also adopted these prayers as the terms of reference for us to proceed. The methodologies we employed were as follows: [Dr Otaala] SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT

6603 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 6 DECEMBER 2022 Undertook physical visits and inspections. Mr Speaker, the methodology is indicated in the report. I will now focus on the committee’s findings, observations, and recommendations. The observation in this report is made on the various prayers that I have just explained above in the electricity sector of West Nile. They are matched as practically possible to the prayers made by the movers of the motion. Consequently, observations were made on Electro-Maxx Uganda Limited and WENRECO. We made recommendations on Nyagak III, the transmission infrastructure projects, and other incidental matters. Background to the power supply in West Nile In meetings we held with key stakeholders in West Nile, the committee was informed that WENRECO took over the operations and infrastructure originally owned and operated by the Uganda Electricity Board in a concessional agreement that became operational in 2003. WENRECO inherited a generating facility that was producing 1.5 Megawatts of electricity from heavy fuel oils and serving less than 1,000 customers for approximately four hours per day. WENRECO decommissioned the generators after the commissioning and coming on board Nyagak I in September 2012, which has an installed capacity of 3.5 Megawatts. Due to the increase in demand, Nyagak I was unable to meet demand in West Nile. This consequently led the Government of Uganda to enter into an agreement with Electro-Maxx to relocate and install an additional 8.2 Megawatts diesel facility from Tororo to Arua to complement generation from WENRECO. Currently, West Nile has an overall installed capacity of 11.78 Megawatts of electricity, that is, 3.5 Megawatts from Nyagak I, which is a hydro-power plant, and 8.28 Megawatts from Electro-Maxx, which is a thermal generating facility. However, the committee was informed that although Electro-Maxx had a licensed capacity of 8.28 Megawatts, the tested capacity was 6.5 Megawatts while the highest ever produced capacity was three Megawatts. The committee was informed that peak demand for West Nile is six Megawatts and suppressed demand is estimated at five Megawatts. The committee observed that as per the reported installed capacity from Nyagak I and Electro-Maxx, Arua should be having sufficient capacity to meet its current and suppressed demand. However, this is not the case as load- shedding and outages remain rampant in the region. 4.2 Actual total electricity supply in West Nile The committee extracted generation figures from ERA’s Comprehensive Electricity Supply Industry Database. The database gives figures from WENRECO’s actual generation per quarter and what it buys from Electro-Maxx for the period 2015-2019 as reflected in the table below. Computations were made to obtain the average power produced in Megawatts and I want to refer you to the shaded columns in the report, that is, the last three columns, which is not reflected on the screen. You will see what we have computed to be the actual generation in Megawatts. You will also see the WENRECO generation in Megawatts; 2.32. 2.55, 2.18 etcetera. Similarly, for Electro-Maxx, which is meant to generate 1.28 Megawatts, you can see what they are generating – 1.09 Megawatts, 0.56 Megawatts, 0.78 Megawatts etcetera. From the table, you can see that both Electro-Maxx and WENRECO are generating below the capacity that was agreed upon. From the table above and figure one that you will see subsequently, the committee observed that the total generation for West Nile from the two generators - WENRECO and Electro- Maxx - for the period 2015–2021 ranges from 1.07 Megawatts, the lowest value reported in

6605 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 6 DECEMBER 2022 Transmission Regarding transmission losses, Mr Speaker, the committee recommends that to fully realise the envisaged benefits of the Kole-Gulu-Nebbi- Arua transmission project, the Ministry of Finance, UETCL, and the Ministry of Energy, with their consultants, should consolidate all efforts to ensure that this project is completed and commissioned by March 2023 as a way of reducing technical losses at transmission. Impact of loadshedding Regarding impact of loadshedding, Mr Speaker, the committee recommends that the plant availability of the operated plants be increased, power dispatches increased and the connection of the West Nile region to the national grid be expedited to avail stable and reliable power supply to West Nile. Conclusion In conclusion, Mr Speaker, the need for adequate and reliable electricity is key in driving Uganda’s vision of transforming the whole country from a peasant to an industrialised economy. Despite West Nile being a trade hub connecting to South Sudan and the DRC, it experiences rampant loadshedding and power outages, which have hindered its contribution to the economic transformation of the country. The reasons for this unreliable electricity are attributed, majorly, to the region not being connected to the national grid, thus failing to tap into the excess electricity available from the rest of the country and the other benefits accrued from being connected to high voltage transmission networks and substations. A good transmission network ensures that sources from different loads are synchronised, transmission loads are reduced and there is easier control for remote and onsite functions. Further, Mr Speaker, the two generators in the region are dispatching far below their subcontracted and installed capacities, thus failing to meet the demand for the region. To address the rampart loadshedding in the region, the Government of Uganda has put in place several initiatives to overcome this challenge. In the short term, the Government is constructing a medium voltage line connecting Olwiyo to a substation in Pakwach. Mr Speaker, I am happy to report that West Nile has actually been connected already – since our intervention. This line was expected to be commissioned in November 2022. However, the long-term solution is the completion of the Kole-Gulu-Nebbi-Arua transmission project, which connects West Nile to the high voltage electricity backbone transmission infrastructure, by March 2023. Thereafter, Government will have to invest in the distribution network so as to increase the West Nile’s rate of electricity access. Therefore, the committee, in its findings, agrees with the prayers of the movers of the motion, except in Prayer No. 1, where it recommended that the contract of Electro-Maxx be terminated rather than the Government of Uganda providing funds to the Uganda National Oil Company to supply fuel to Electro-Maxx to generate its licensed capacity. Mr Speaker, I beg to submit. (Applause)

6606 ACTION TAKEN REPORT ON THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE 11 TH PARLIAMENT address the shortages of electricity in West Nile. I wish to confirm that the 33 KV line is actually on in West Nile and power has relatively stabilised in the region. There may be occasions when there are outages and the outages are because we incur a lot of losses of electricity in the 33 KV line. The 33 KV line was supposed to end in Nebbi and Pakwach. However, because we wanted to test if we would deliver stable power to Arua, we decided to extend it and we are now merging the power generated in -

We have actually successfully connected the power generated from Nyagak I and it is being complimented by the 33 KV line, which we have successfully delivered to Arua. (Interjections) - Yes, clarification allowed.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the committee for the report, aware of the power challenges in West Nile that we have been addressing in this Parliament. The issue of power in West Nile is from two different angles: Firstly, we have electricity which is supplied from the national grid in Adjumani and Moyo Districts, but the challenge we have in Adjumani and Moyo is the power outage. What we expect is we need a substation in Adjumani, which is in Madi Subregion, part of West Nile. It is unfortunate that when the committee was given time to go to West Nile, they thought West Nile is only Arua and greater Nebbi. They did not reach Madi Subregion, which is part of West Nile. We complained and we are still complaining that we need the committee to reach Madi Subregion, which is part of West Nile, to ascertain the power challenge in that region. (Applause)

Honourable chairperson, before I allow others, can you first clarify that? That you reduced West Nile to Arua and Nebbi- why didn’t you go to Madi Subregion?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to add my voice to thank the committee for that report. The issue of power in the West Nile region is a concern. However, allow me to bring it this august House, and particularly to the minister, the issue of the network in West Nile. Our power system and network in West Nile is in such a way that when power in Arua is off, it will definitely be off in Maracha, Koboko and Madi. I want the minister to help us and address the issue of the network in West Nile. I beg to submit.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity. I support the motion. Aware that the late Ssemogerere had aged, he was weak, but he had an immense ocean of experience and wisdom that was enough to be given to the young people. Therefore, his passing on means that the young people in this country have lost the massive experience that he was supposed to give. The late Dr Ssemogerere contested in 1996 in the West Nile Subregion, specifically in Arua, and got 93 per cent. Almost the whole of the North voted for Dr Ssemogerere. That night our young energetic men got all their bows and arrows fighting against the army who were in uniform and had guns, safeguarding the votes of Dr Ssemogerere. Whether you were young or old, whether you were 18 years - all of us were lined up to vote. Even if you were not 18; that was how we got 93 per cent in West Nile.

There is a procedural matter. One thing I need to correct Members on is that we did not say specifically the same amount; districts differ. Kasese, for instance is one of the biggest districts. When you go to Arua and Wakiso, they are different. That is why I said it is not cast in stone. We will assess from district to district.

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.

Madam Speaker, they are not nuclear weapon documents. I have a presidential communication ordering Finance to pay their bills, dated 17 September 2022. He was probably privy. He is quoting bills in the range of Shs 44 billion. My other private document quotes over Shs 60 billion and so, we have a divergence, but he is accepting the problem. I have evidence that the UPDF is not paying, just as Uganda Police, Nebbi Hospital, Arua Hospital, Masaka Regional Referral Hospital, Hoima Hospital - Madam Speaker, I visited Hoima Regional Referral Hospital a month ago and I will lay a report tomorrow. The hospital did not have water that day. They do not have money and the hospital is very sick itself. I would like to lay this evidence for the record. I have other copies, but the ministry of finance can explain what we are dealing with.

6233 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT O F U GANDA TUESDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2022 2. To analyse the type of accidents and the total admissions; 3. To conduct an in-depth analysis of the total estimated costs of road traffic accidents and to review challenges in the road safety sector in the country; and 4. To develop a policy brief and recommendation in terms of laws, training, monitoring, and specific budget allocations that policymakers can consider in addition to increasing funding. The hospitals whose data we analysed were Arua, Entebbe, Fort Portal, Gulu, Hoima, Jinja, Kabale, Masaka, Mbale, Soroti, Lira, Mbarara, Mubende, Yumbe, Moroto and Naguru regional referral hospitals, and Mulago National Referral Hospital. When coming up with a cost of treatment, we interfaced with the consultants of Mulago and asked them what it costs to treat a patient who is severely injured, moderately injured or with mild injuries. We came up with the guided figures. We also looked at documents: the Annual Health Sector Performance Report, the police accident reports, reports from regional referral hospitals and so forth. Madam Speaker, let me go to some of the results on page 13. In 2018, the total number of accidents were 12,805. Of these 3,194 were fatal. In 2019, the total number of accidents are 12,858. Of these 3,407 were fatal. In 2020, 12,249 accidents occurred; 3,269 were fatal. In 2021, we had a spike, 17,443 accidents occurred and 3,757 were fatal. Madam Speaker, if I break it down to the magnitude of the injuries, and people killed: in 2018, 3,689 people died from accidents. Those seriously injured were 9,541, and those slightly injured were 1,881. In 2019, those who died were 3,880 and those seriously Injured were 9,635. Those slightly injured were 1,175. In 2020, those who were killed were 3,663, those seriously injured were 8,370, and those slightly injured were 979. Finally, in 2021, those who died were 4,159, the seriously injured were 12,589 and those slightly injured were 1,287. Madam Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to table nine. That is comparison of fatalities by road user groups. From that table - I wish the IT man could flush it - motorcyclists accounted for the biggest number of fatalities in all the four years, followed by passengers on motorcycles, followed by pedestrians. There is clear evidence to show that motorcycles, commonly known as boda boda s, are the biggest cause of injuries but most importantly, deaths from road traffic accidents. Page 15: causes of the crashes. We had reckless or careless driving, over speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, and cars in dangerous mechanical conditions; the causes are up there. I would like to draw your attention to page 21: total admissions. Table 12 on page 21 shows the highest number of cases of admissions due to motorcycles, commonly known as boda boda s. If we break it down by sex, males were certainly more affected and these were males above five years, compared to females. I think it is quite clear on the table. I would like to draw your attention to table 22: again, the problem is boda boda s. Madam Speaker, on the issue of the costs that we pay, that is page 34 - Mr IT, can you please move to page 34? - We broke it down into the costs based on critical level four, critical level three and critical level one. The overall daily cost that we spend on treating accidents is Shs 877 million monthly. It comes to Shs 26 billion and annually, it comes to Shs 315 billion. That is what the sector needs to be able to treat victims of accidents. As Chairperson of the Committee on Health, I know very well that we do not appropriate this amount of money for accidents and

Thank you very much, but with due respect, it was me who raised this matter in the 10 th Parliament and presidential pronouncements were transformed into statutory instruments. Therefore, I do not want you to make the same mistake because we had a case in Arua, for example, where a lady was arrested for selling malwa . When she was taken to police, she was given police bond. What offence was written on the police bond? Unlawful selling of malwa during COVID-19 lockdown? Where is that offence written? (Laughter) I hope you do not make the same mistake. As you come tomorrow, please, let us have a copy of that statutory instrument. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Is the motion seconded? ( Members rose_) It is seconded by Hon. Bahati, Hon. Afidra, Member for Arua and many other Members. Hon. Mushemeza, before you speak to your motion, in the VIP Gallery this afternoon, we have a delegation from Makerere University comprising members of the University Council and top management. They include the following: 1. Ms Lorna Magara- Chairperson of Council; Women are at the helm again (Applause) 2. Rt Hon. Dan Kidega - Vice Chairperson of Council; 3. Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe – Vice- Chancellor; 4. Prof. Umar Kakumba - Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Academic Affairs; 5. Prof. Henry Alinaitwe - Ag. Deputy Vice Chancellor, Finance 6. Dr Eng. Charles Wana-Etyem - Former Chairperson of Council; 7. Hon. Prof. Tickodri - Togboa - CEO Kira Motors and Former Deputy Vice- Chancellor, Makerere University; 8. Prof. Helen Nkabala - Chairperson RESOLUTION TO COMMEMORATE 100 YEARS OF THE EXISTENCE OF MAKERERE UNIVERSITY

Thank you. Member for Arua and then the Member for Terego - You have heard that I am calling those who have not spoken; I am trying to conclude.

Thank you, very Mr Speaker. I have seen two critical issues on pages 60 and 104, where our health facilities have no land titles. These include; Arua Hospital, Mbale, Kitovu and Fort portal blood banks. I request you, Mr Speaker, to task the Ministry of Health to go across the country and bring a report on the status of all health facilities, so that we get to know whether we have land titles or not. As patients, we are in fear; land owners may throw us out the hospital.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I stand to support the motion. Looking at this number – 14 million Ugandans suffering from mental illness, out of about 46 million Ugandans – this is so perturbing. Parliament and the Government of Uganda, need to prioritise and support this cause. Looking at the recommendation of the committee, where they said that the facilities that were being used for mental health were transferred during the COVID-19 pandemic, Arua being an example - as I speak, people suspected to be suffering from mental illness are taken to prison – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Over the weekend, I lost a cousin, at the age of 31, as a result of suicide and he was a medical practitioner. West Nile has a very big problem of youths abusing substances. There was a social media recording, where a young man, after eating mairungi , was telling a person questioning him that this is used as a family planning method; that after eating mairungi , they will not be able to look at women. If you look at the rate at which young men are stripping themselves naked and moving on the streets of Yumbe and Arua, you notice that it is a big problem. I appeal to Members to support the motion so that we can improve the situation. Thank you.

Thank you. Colleagues, remember we are limited by Article 93 of the Constitution in whatever we are doing. We cannot pass resolutions where we are saying, “You must do this” no, this is the proposal to Government and so, we only urge Government to take this seriously because it is in good faith. And as MPs, we want to support it. Otherwise, we cannot pass a resolution moved by a private Member that has a direct charge on the Consolidated Fund. Now, I would like to know MPs who are farmers. You know Bakiga are known for digging. You people of Arua - I do not know. Colleagues, I am going to allow you one minute. We have a serious farmer in Hon. Alioni, one of the biggest cassava farmers in the country.

Hon. Mwesigwa, the MP for Hoima East Division, wanted to know why the country has delayed validation and the approval of staff structures for the newly-created cities and its effect on service delivery. Mr Speaker, in January 2022, Cabinet under, Minute 21 (CT 2022) approved the 10 cities in Uganda and the structures for the 10 cities to implement. The following actions have been taken: 1. The structures were customised to enable the cities come up with individual human resource structures that address their uniqueness; 2. The customised city structures have been adopted by the respective city councils and implementation guidelines for the said structures have been prepared and disseminated to the city authorities; 3. The job descriptions and person specifications were prepared to enable the City Service Commissions place the existing staff and recruit the right people in the right jobs; Mr Speaker, validation of the existing staff, formally belonging to the respective municipalities and annexed areas from the mother districts, was also done and successfully concluded in all the 10 cities of Hoima, Masaka, Mbarara, Fort Portal, Soroti, Jinja, Mbale, Lira, Gulu and Arua.

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.

5942 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME With the increasing burden of cancer in the country, the Government of Uganda has embarked on the development of regional cancer centres. This is in line with the National Development Plan III and the National Health Policy, Health Sector Development Plan and the Uganda Cancer Institute Strategic Plan 2022/2026. According to the Uganda Cancer Institute Strategic Plan, four regional cancer centres in the western, eastern, northern, and north- western regions are to be set up, equipped and operationalised by the end of the Financial Year 2025/2026. This is the update on the progress of the regional cancer centres across the country. Northern Uganda Regional Cancer Institute Gulu The project for the regional cancer centre in Gulu was approved by Parliament in 2020, as a Turkey project. The construction work is nearing completion. Equipment has been shipped and is on site awaiting installation. The site handover is expected by the end of the year 2022, and the official commissioning will be in the year 2023. The Eastern Uganda Regional Cancer Centre Mbale The feasibility studies for the realisation of this project have been completed and the concept was submitted to the development committee of the finance ministry. In the meantime, the Uganda Cancer Institute commenced work on start-up structures in order to have a skeleton service, while awaiting a comprehensive project that will accommodate all the cancer services. Western Uganda Regional Cancer Centre Mbarara The final report of the feasibility studies for Western Uganda Regional Cancer Centre in Mbarara has been completed and submitted together with a concept to the development committee of the finance ministry, for approval and financing. In the meantime, Mr Speaker, there is a very active cancer care service, which is second only to the services in Kampala, with over 3,000 patients attended to, in the last financial year. This has been achieved using the available infrastructure, equipment and human resource. North-Western Uganda Regional Cancer Centre Arua Mr Speaker, the feasibility studies for North- Western Uganda Cancer Centre in Arua, have been developed and submitted to the development committee of the finance ministry, awaiting approval and financing. In the meantime, breast cancer prevention and early detection services commenced in Arua using the available infrastructure equipment and human resources. Hon. Acayo asked a question: Whereas the general civilian population continues to obey and respect the traffic laws while walking or driving on the road, there are a number of vehicles and motorists of security personnel vehicles with civilian number plates, but with military jackets put on the driver’s car seats to disguise as vehicles of military officers. There are also civilians and some security elements that have sirens and flashlights similar to those of VIP vehicles. They always abuse traffic rules, force to have the right of way and even disobey the police traffic officers on the roads. Her prayer is: Rt Hon. Prime Minister, what mechanism does Government have in place to stop this abuse of the road and disruption of traffic flow that inconveniences the movement of people, especially at peak hours?” My response is that Section 123 of the Traffic and Road Safety Act, 1998, (Amendment) Act, 2020, the Traffic and Road safety (Rules of the Road) Regulations, 2004, specifically, regulation 5 specifies who has a right of way.

Mr Speaker, Government is aware of this problem. I am also aware that the people of Arua supplied tobacco to those companies, the way those of Bunyoro and Mubende did. We are done with Bunyoro, and next is Arua. The verification exercise is ongoing. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to appreciate the content in the two reports. The issues of insecurity at the border are very serious. Our districts are at the border. The issue of insecurity needs to be handled very seriously because it is a major problem hindering businesses in the border districts. Secondly, is the issue of boundaries: the country needs to have clear boundaries with other countries. When travelling from Arua to Koboko, the boundary between the DRC and Uganda is a road. People will tell you that this side of the road is the DRC and the other side is Uganda. The community living there is at risk. We are told that the DRC alone has 23 rebel groups. The majority of rebel groups live mostly on Uganda’s side. It is very important to control affairs in our country. We are not yet clear about – (Member timed out.)

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. The issue of military intelligence and immigration at the border should be strengthened because more often than not, most of the vehicles stolen from Uganda are taken to the DRC. Recently, the Arua Regional Hospital ambulance was stolen and smuggled into the DRC and yet, it passes and goes through the immigration system. What is happening? We need to strengthen the military intelligence network and also the politics of defence, the police, prisons and so on. If there is anything that has been taken to the DRC illegally, it must be brought back. This should be said to the intelligence system of the DRC and that of Uganda. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. The issue of the border between Uganda and the DRC is a serious one. I worked for 15 years at the border as the LC III chairperson. Currently, there are many cases of stolen vehicles, which are transported through my constituency. If you try to check the border between Uganda and the DRC, there is no road. If you went there now, you would get lost. You would think you are in the DRC and yet you are on the Uganda side. I request our Government to do border demarcation from Vurra Custom, Logire up to Zombo because there is a lot of confusion there. People claim to be land owners or landlords, but it always causes a lot of confusion. Secondly, as my colleague has said, recently, the Arua Regional Referral Hospital ambulance was stolen. We have a neighbouring district called Aru. All our vehicles are there in the DRC. Currently in the DRC – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The border between Uganda and Sudan is very porous, especially stretching from Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo, Adjumani up to Amuru. The refugees move without check. There are urban refugees who move from town to town without control. There are some in Arua Town, others in Koboko Town, Yumbe Town, Moyo Town, Adjumani Town and so on. They move without control. Apart from that, we also have these rural refugees that have settled in the settlement camps, but their movement is uncontrolled and unchecked. I am afraid this will lead to the spread of Ebola in our region. Honourable minister, I want to interest you to come down there and see what is taking place there. People are moving without control - I want to repeat. Thank you.

5670 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT Therefore, my bone of contention is that the situation could be direr than she is reporting in terms of the information she has; she could be economically shy with the truth. Honourable colleagues, the country is recovering from COVID-19 and we know the impact and poverty levels in the country. So, any information that further scares away investors, and tourists should be adequately controlled and I believe this is a security matter. The last time I was in northern Uganda, Arua, with Hon. Atiku, during the outbreak of the Ebola virus, we went for sensitisation of the people who eat wild bats; it was said that one of the easiest ways leading to the spread of Ebola is through those communities that hunt and feed on wild bats. We, especially Members of Parliament from communities that have a habit of bird hunting and eating them, should go on a massive sensitisation because bats easily spread Ebola. And they move long distances; they can even move from western Africa quickly as the season changes. My humble appeal is that we all know communities that go after these wild bats. Please, go and tell your people that it will lead to a rapid spread of Ebola. Then the Ministry of Health - I agree with the position of the energy and minerals development minister on this matter. Let us be fairly radical in our approach, even if it means quarantining a given area, so be it. I beg to move.

Mr Speaker, I am required by the rules, before reading the report, to present to the House the minutes of the Public Accounts Committee (Central Government), all filed and which form the basis of this report. I beg to lay them on the Table. I also beg to lay a copy of the executive summary that I am going to read, for purposes of your record. Mr Speaker, Article 163(4) of the Constitution of Uganda mandates the Auditor-General to submit to Parliament an annual report on the accounts audited by him for the financial year immediately preceding. The Constitution further, under Article 163(5), requires Parliament to debate and consider the report, and take appropriate action within six months after the submission by the Auditor-General. The report of the Auditor-General for the Financial Year 2020/2021 was presented on the Floor, on 3 February 2022 and referred to the committee for consideration. In accordance with Rule 174 of the Rules of Procedure, the Committee on Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) considered the Auditor- General’s report for the Financial Year 2020/2021 on the health sector to satisfy itself, among others, that: a. The monies appropriated by Parliament and disbursed were legally available for, and applicable for the services or purpose to which they were being appropriated or charged; b. The expenditure conforms to the authority, which governs it; c. Re-appropriation has been made, in accordance with the provisions of the rules of a competent authority; and d. The intended value of the extended monies was attained. Scope The report covers audit queries contained in the report of the Auditor-General for the period ended 30 June 2021, in respect of the health sector, in particular focusing on the Ministry of Health, the national referral hospitals of Mulago, Kiruddu, Butabika, China-Uganda Friendship Naguru, Kawempe and all regional referral hospitals. In addition, the report covers findings on other specialised-related institutions of votes and programmes such as the Uganda Heart Institute, the Uganda Cancer Institute, the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services and the Uganda Virus Research Institute. Others include the Uganda National Health Research Organisation, the Joint Clinical Research Centre and the Uganda Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health Services Improvement Project. Methodology The committee held meetings with accounting officers and staff of all national referral hospitals, regional referral hospitals, the Ministry of Health and other specialised votes under the sector, including the Uganda Heart Institute, the Uganda Cancer Institute, the Uganda Virus Research Institute, the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, the Joint Clinical Research Centre and the Uganda National Health Research Organisation. The committee further carried out field visits to selected regional and district hospitals of Arua, Mbale, Mubende, Fort Portal, Nebbi and Tororo respectively, to appreciate the conditions in which they operate, the extent of implementation of the development budget and the general levels of service delivery to Ugandans. In the visits, the committee observed the physical condition of the infrastructure and equipment. Members also interacted with hospital staff as well as other stakeholders,

5817 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2022 This model has an option of either contributing food in kind or cash for food rations. We all know that feeding is important for the health of our children and how poor learning, absenteeism and school dropout are partly caused by hunger in schools. Mr Speaker, Government started a pilot project to engage parents to start contributing towards feeding their children while at school, targeting at least one million children within Kampala Metropolitan Area – covering Entebbe, Kira, Makindye, Mukono and Nansana municipalities – and later to have it extended to the districts of Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Lira, Gulu, Hoima, Kabale, Arua, Kabarole and Masaka, if well implemented. Government has secured a partnership between the Ministry of Education Sports and SNV Uganda, a Netherlands Development Organisation, which will help in subsidising the parents. As such, the parents will contribute between Shs 10,000 and Shs 20,000 each term to ensure their children are fed on milk at school. Mr Speaker, milk was chosen because it provides bone-building nutrients, specifically, calcium, vitamin D and magnesium, which are of high nutrition for both good health and development. Government has entered into partnership with processors who will design specific milk and yoghurt products for school children and distribute about 250mls (per quarter pint) of milk to each child per day for five days. Mr Speaker, the targeted level of school is pre- primary, primary and secondary school. We, therefore, urge honourable members and parents to embrace this programme for the better health of our children in schools and to improve their learning. Hon. Ronald Akugizibwe, Member of Parliament, Buruuli County, Masindi District. He said: “Census is a critical planning tool, which helps governments to plan for the future in terms of schools, hospitals, roads, urban infrastructure and more. For Vision 2020 to be achieved there is need to plan based on reliable statistics.” His prayer is that I update this august House on when Government intends to carry out a housing and population census. Mr Speaker, on Monday, 12 September 2022, Cabinet approved a plan to carry out a housing and population census, scheduled for 24 to 25 August 2023. The process is estimated to cost Shs 330 billion, which Government will mobilise in two financial years; that is, 2022/2023 and 2023/2024. The census will enable Government to establish the number of houses, the people and budget accordingly, in terms of service delivery to various regions. The census will be done digitally and data uploaded directly to the central server in Kampala. Mr Speaker, this year, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, through the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, shall be procuring information technology (IT) devices, which will be used in the exercise. After the census, the smart gadgets will be used to carry out other studies such as agricultural census and administrative statistics, among others. Question No.5 came from Hon. Phiona Nyamutoro, the National Female Youth MP. She said: “There are about 13 million people in urban centres in the country. Over 50 per cent of Ugandans, by the year 2050, will be in cities, yet housing is still a challenge in urban centres. Last week, His Excellency the President launched a multi-billion housing project in Lubowa, under the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).” She asked: “What is the status of Solana- Lubowa Housing Project and its benefit to the people of Uganda?” My response, Mr Speaker, is that on Thursday, 8 September 2022, His Excellency the President commissioned the first phase of the Shs 1.4 trillion Solana-Lubowa Housing Project.

Honourable minister, I know you take it seriously, and you have even invited me to the launch of the Indoor Residual Spraying on Friday, in Arua. No, colleagues, we are in line. I know if I open up a debate on malaria, the whole day will be gone. We have an Order Paper, colleagues. Hon. Enos Asiimwe? I know each one of you can make very good submissions, but we might spend the whole day on malaria.

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

2398 2399 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 2 FEBRUARY 2022 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT As noted earlier, in most locations visited by the committee, this exercise was marred by irregularities. Officials who were assigned the responsibility to carry out the exercise negated on their duties. There was also poor co-ordination between the offices responsible and the grassroot structures as such as GISOs, DISOs, RCCs/RDCs, LCI and town agents in the supervision and verification of the beneficiaries, which led to abuse of the process. Whereas in Masaka and Lira cities, the RCCs actively participated in the exercise, in Ntungamo Municipality and Mbarara City, the elected leaders were not involved at all. In Mbale City, the Office of RCC was denied the opportunity to verify the beneficiaries in the Office of the Town Clerk. As such, about 1,500 persons were verified out of the over 9,000 that benefited. In Arua city, the RCC and the Mayor only got to receive a report on the exercise while meeting the committee. There was no structural framework involving all leaders to ensure a co-ordinated execution. This led to people, who were not intended to benefit, taking part of the fund. It is worth noting that a few random telephone calls made by the committee to the beneficiaries revealed that some persons did not receive payments whereas their names are captured as having received relief and in the list provided. The committee could not, however, establish the accuracy of such assertions as the payments were made privately through their telephones and they could have deleted the confirmation messages. A one Ssewankambo Bashir Mbale captured in the list as having been paid under the bus/taxi conductor category denied having received the money when the committee called him. A one Oloya Geoffrey from Gulu purported to have been the first beneficiary of the relief fund under the boda-boda category could not be traced. When the committee consulted the boda-boda Association in Gulu, they denied him being a member and alleged that the Oloya in question is, in fact, a builder. While interacting with the committee, the Gulu City officials informed the meeting that their efforts to reach out to Oloya were futile. The committee noted that not all persons registered received the money due to various reasons, such as disparities in the names registered vis-à-vis those that appear in their NIN, using one’s NIN to register many telephone numbers and incomplete information, among others. The Committee further noted that there was an option in the guidelines to pay persons who qualified and were in possession of NIN, but had no telephones through the bank post. However, many would-be beneficiaries with these cases were ignored and replaced hence leaving out a big number. Recommendations 1. The Ministry of Gender considers verifying and giving relief to the vulnerable who had already been identified within the quota range but were left out due to errors in the information. This should be done before the end of October 2021; and 2. In future, systems designed for this kind of exercise should cater for vulnerable persons without phones and persons with disability. Term of reference number five was on how much money the beneficiaries received. We have indicated the figures and the committee recommends that should such an intervention be necessary in the future, the rates should be based on the current cost of living. We did observe before the recommendation on how we arrive at that conclusion. Term of reference number six was to establish the roles played by the different stakeholders. We have examined the same at page 17 and came to the conclusion that the committee recommends that should such an exercise be necessary in the future, elected leaders should be involved from the onset to give it ownership. benefited under the boda boda category than food vendors, salonists and car washers. In Mbale, the committee noted that the number of support staff who benefited in private schools was more than the teachers in those schools, which is not logical. In Tororo, a total number of 1,402 slum residents benefited, representing 37 per cent of the entire threshold, as compared to three vehicle loaders. In Soroti, the committee interacted with Mr Saleh Babu Opwonya, the Chairperson Teso Coach Stage, who intimated that out of the 75 members he registered, none of them received relief. Meanwhile, his counterpart, Mr Abdu Mugisha, the Gateway Bus Company chairperson, revealed that out of the 56 members he registered, 48 benefited. In Fort Portal, at Kampala-Kyenjojo Taxi Stage, 60 members were registered and on Kampala Road Boda Boda Stage, 132 members were registered but none of them received relief. These inequities meant that certain categories benefited more to the disadvantage of others. Suffice to note that the Government was able to set thresholds for beneficiaries in all the cities/ municipalities but did not consider setting out a workable formula to be used to equitably share the quotas. The committee noted that for success to be achieved in Lira City, identification was done based on the area of operation and business location for each category. Leadership structures for each category also supported the registration and verification process. Consequently, internal structures were put in place where the compiled lists were first submitted to the DISOs’ office and both physical verification and phone call verification was done to ascertain authenticity of the submitted lists. Once approved, the list would be submitted back to the Town Clerk for data entry. Other cities and municipalities did not fully verify their lists. Cognisant of the directive of the ministry to display the lists generated in public places within urban areas for purposes of updating and verification, with supervision of warden administrators and support of village health teams, the committee noted that across all the cities and municipalities, this directive was defied. This was attributed to limited time, technicalities in the online system, bulk and sensitivity of information. In the committee’s view, the display was avoided as it would expose the irregularities and abuse of the process. Nonetheless, if a display was to be done, raw data would have been the one to be displayed as and when the lists would come through. The committee recommends, therefore, that; 1. The Ministry of Local Government should, in liaison with UBOS, support the local government administrative units to set up a more robust database for future use. 2. In future, if such an activity reoccurs, the Ministry of Local Government should ensure that Town Clerks strictly adhere to the set guidelines. Term of reference No.3: Verify the list of people who received the money Madam Speaker, the observations here are contained on pages 12 to 13. I would wish to proceed directly to the recommendations, following the observations. The committee recommends that the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development should consider giving relief to residents of Ayivu Division and Northern Division of Arua and Fort Portal cities, respectively. This flows from the observations that there were no benefits to them. Term of reference No.4: Verify and establish whether the intended beneficiaries actually received the money.

Hon. Lematia, if you looked at the report very well, it is talking about Ayivu and how it did not benefit because of non-capturing of the data. I wish you were attentive when the report was being read. It reads, “The committee recommends that the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development should consider giving relief to the residents of Ayivu Division and northern division of Arua and Fort Portal cities respectively.” Therefore, the committee captured your issues.