Lamwo District

Mr Speaker, allow me, on behalf of the Acholi Parliamentary Group – as neighbours – to extend our heartfelt condolences to the Parliament of Uganda, the President and the bereaved family. Mr Speaker, many things have been said about the late. As neighbours in Acholi, the late was a beacon of hope. Why do I say this? His grandfather was born in Lamwo. He died and was buried there. His father was also born in Lamwo and, later, moved to Adjumani. As someone mentioned, he was recruited from Acholi Quarters to join the army. Much has been said, eloquently, about him being a peacemaker. It is our humble prayer - (Member timed out.)

Mr Speaker, we received seven written questions from members and we have responded to them in writing. Hon. Benson Lugwar, Member of Parliament for Agago North County, raised a matter concerning the escalating human-wildlife conflict that is directly undermining our food security and economic empowerment in his constituency. His prayer was whether the Government could provide an update on the matter. Mr Speaker, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has established satellite ranger outposts. Tikawo outpost is already deployed in Agago North, and 1,300 rangers are undergoing training to improve response. The electric fencing programme is ongoing, and sensitisation is also underway because some stakeholders fear land grabbing, so we have to sensitise our people. The Government is promoting block farming, and we have recruited community wildlife scouts as volunteers where the Uganda Wildlife Authority has no presence. The three million five hundred US dollar Kidepo Landscape Integrated Conservation and Development Project will start this Financial Year, 2026/2027. This will cover Agago, Abim, Karenga, Kaabong, Kotido, Kitgum and Lamwo to reduce human-wildlife conflicts. The second question came from Hon. Osoru Mourine, Woman Member of Parliament for Arua City. She raised the matter concerning the segregative vehicle transit permits through the Bugungu Gate at Murchison Falls National Game Park, which risks potential loss of revenue to the national economy. Her prayer is for the Government to give an update on the matter. Mr Speaker, the road through Bugungu Gate is not a public road. Its use is subject to park regulations, and all vehicles must pay the UWA tariff fees. Exemptions are only to vehicles with the sick, referrals, UPDF, Uganda Police Force, Uganda Prison Service on official operations with evidence. Mr Speaker, the third question came from Hon. Juliet Achayo, the Member of Parliament for Ngora County. She said that during the last cropping season, there was a severe attack on groundnuts by groundnut rosette, affecting over 75 per cent of the households in Ngora. Her prayers were that:

7. Nankwanga Stellamaris Woman Representative Bugweri Independent 8. Nanzala Metrine Namisindwa County Namisindwa NRM 9. Nassolo Eugenia Rubaga Division South Kampala NUP 10. Nawe Molly Kamukama Woman Representative Kazo NRM 11. Ndeezi Alex PWD Representative N/A NRM 12. Ngabirano Charles Rwampara East County Rwampara Independent 13. Ninsiima Evelyne Woman Representative Rubanda Independent 14. Nnamara Annet Oyes Byamukama Woman Representative Buhweju NRM 15. Nyakato Asinansi City Woman Representative Hoima City PFF 16. Namujju Cissy Dionizia Woman Representative Lwengo NRM 17. Nyakato Dorothy Woman Representative Kitagwenda NRM 18. Namutaawe Joan Woman Representative Masaka NUP 19. Nayebale Sylivia Woman Representative Gomba NRM 20. Naziiwa Margret Woman Representative Kagadi NRM 21. Nkunyingi Muwada Kyadondo County East Wakiso NUP 22. Nuria Hafsa Teko Woman Representative Kotido Independent 23. Nangoli Gerald Elgon North County Bulambuli NRM 24. Nyeko Johnson Kezekiya Lamwo County Lamwo NRM 25. Obong Peter Acuda Maruzi County Apac UPC 26. Obong Vincent Shedrick Lira West Division Lira City UPC 27. Okiding Sam (Lt Gen.) UPDF Representative N/A N/A 28. Ofwono Opondo P’Odel Older Person’s Representative Eastern NRM 29. Ocen Geoffery Kioga North County Amolatar UPC 30. 3Ogwal Joseph Jones Dokolo North County Dokolo NRM 31. Ojara Martin Mapenduzi Bardege-Layibi Division Gulu City NRM 32. Nameere Justine Woman Representative Masaka City NRM 33. Nkrumah Roland Bufumbira County East Kisoro NRM 34. 3Ojiit Peter Pingire County Serere Independent 35. Ntabazi Harriet Bwamba County Bundibugyo NRM 36. Ocan Patrick Apac Municipality Apac Independent 37. Ogwang Patrick Obura Oyam County South Oyam NRM 38. Okaasai Sidronius Opolot Kumi County Kumi NRM 39. Oketcho George West Budama County South Tororo NRM 40. Oketcho John Francis Bugiri Municipality Bugiri NRM 41. Okeyoh Peter Bukooli Island County Namayingo NRM 42. Okot Peter Tochi County Omoro DP 43. Okumu Gabriel Okoro County Zombo NRM 44. Omara Paul Otuke County Otuke NRM 45. Omoding Emmanuel Serere County Serere NRM 46. Onek Hilary Obaloker Palabek County Lamwo NRM 47. Oneka Lit Amere Denis Kitgum Municipality Kitgum FDC 48. Ongom Patrick Erute County North Lira NRM 49. Ongu James Kwania North County Kwania NRM 50. Opito Vincent Dokolo South County Dokolo UPC 51. Nankabirwa Ann Maria Woman Representative Kyankwanzi NRM 52. Nantongo Fortunate Rose Woman Representative Kyotera NUP 53. Natumanya Flora Woman Representative Kikuube NRM 54. Naturinda Eliab Ndorwa County West Kabale NRM 55. Ngompek Linos Kibanda North County Kiryandongo NRM 56. Ninkusiima John Paul (Dr) Ibanda County South Ibanda NRM 57. Niringiyimana James R. Kaberuka Kinkizi County West Kanungu NRM

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

18647 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 Luwero, Nakasongola as well as water supply schemes in districts such as Terego, Moyo, Lamwo, Zombo, Agago, Pader, Namutumba, Mayuge, Ssembabule, Mityana, Isingiro, Kazo, Kyenjojo, Bukedea, Kanungu, Moroto, Kakumiro and Abim, among others. Colleagues, I can see that some of you are trying to keep pace. I jumped into the executive summary, which is on page, Page 3. However, the committee also notes material implementation constraints, particularly funding gaps, delayed counterpart funding, stalled contractor obligations, weak operation and maintenance financing, land acquisition delays, environmental compliance burdens, and institutional capacity limitations, which, if not addressed, will undermine the political credibility of the budget. Madam Speaker, the context of this report is that sectors and Votes under the committee’s purview are central to the Government’s broader economic growth for various reasons. First, energy powers production and industry, while the extractives are expected to create fiscal space and employment. On the other hand, water supports life and production, while environmental management protects the natural resource base on which the growth ultimately depends. The committee notes that the significance of these Votes is not abstract. In many constituencies, the Government is judged by whether power reaches the households, trading centres and industrial parks; whether piped water reaches institutions, towns and villages; whether boreholes and small schemes remain functional; whether the first oil is obtained and is properly regulated; and whether wetlands, forests and the fragile landscapes are actually protected for the benefit of all. This means that the budget scrutiny in these sectors must go beyond the aggregate figures and focus squarely on whether planned projects are financed, implemented, and sustained in actual locations where Ugandans live and work. Madam Speaker, I will go straight to Item 7.0: Programme budget allocations for Financial Year 2026/2027. Analysis of Vote 017 Vote 017: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development contributes to the sustainable energy development programme and a sustainable extractives industry development programme of the National Development Plan IV (NDPIV), with policy priorities covering electricity generation, transmission, distribution, clean cooking, petroleum infrastructure, minerals development, geothermal development, and strategic industrial energy investments. Madam Speaker, the committee notes, from the updated submissions of the budget estimates, that the total budget allocation for vote 017 rises from Shs 1.844 billion, in the Financial Year 2025/2026, to Shs 2.282 billion, in Financial Year 2026/2027, representing an increase of Shs 438.11 billion. Table two thereby gives you, colleagues , an overview of how these resources have been allocated. The committee further notes that the ministry’s functional allocation reflects a major emphasis on transmission, distribution, petroleum, and administration-related land acquisition and institutional costs, alongside continued support to generation, minerals, and clean cooking. Colleagues, table 4 gives us an allocation of resources by major functional areas. Madam Speaker, the committee notes that the ministry has identified substantial project outlay for Financial Year 2026/2027, and the medium term, and many of these projects are location-specific and visible. Colleagues, the major planned projects under Vote 017 represent the following, which I believe is a point of critical concern to most of us here. There is a project of Mutundwe-Buloba- Kabulasoke-Masaka and Kabulasoke-Nkonge-

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

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on 27 November 2019, the honourable minister came to Gulu to commission roads that were funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and at that event, he made a public statement committing that the road from Gulu- Lamwo-Kitgum would be tarmacked. The people of Northern Uganda have waited for that road in vain. Fortunately, it is part of what - last year, he issued a statement in this House, that the Government was already in the final stages of design. It would be good, Madam Speaker, for the honourable minister to clarify. Secondly, he also directed Hon. Musa Ecweru, last year, to go and look at the status of the road from Bank of Uganda through Customs Corner to Juba, which has cost many lives. It would also be good for him to clearly help us understand how far he has gone with that. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity. I would like to appreciate the senior minister, Gen. Katumba. Early last year, I received a commitment from the ministry, signed by the General himself, saying, under the refugee roads, Gulu-Patiagu Road must be done concurrently with the road joining Atiak and Lamwo. Each time the minister makes a statement, he seems to be silent about the refugee roads. May we know, from the ministry, what is -

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity. Honourable Minister of Works and Transport, I would like to find out the status of the road from Kitgum to Ngomoromo via Padibe because this road was also included in the World Bank project under the refugee window. The people of Lamwo have been yearning and waiting. Lamwo, being a border district bordering South Sudan, is also the food basket for this country, yet the road is really in a deplorable state. For so many years, we have been waiting for when the road is going to be done. Being aware that the Government of Uganda is supposed to do the design, and the money for working on the road will be given by the World Bank, it will be very prudent for you to give us clarification. In addition to adding on what my brother, Hon. Mapenduzi, stated, the road that goes to Atiak via Palabek from Kitgum; those are the two roads that, when worked upon, the people of Lamwo and East Acholi will really be very grateful.

17705 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 6 AUGUST 2025 Affected Persons (PAPs). I think somebody also raised the issue of the land titles. On the issue of the PAPs, the compensation is still very big, as has already been observed by an honourable member, but we are going to try. Our idea and decision is that we focus on compensation now for mainly projects where we have contractors, so that they do not charge for idle equipment. These include the Nakawuka complex, the Kira-Matugga, Rwenkunye-Apac Road and those other areas. We are going to concentrate the compensation there so that we have the contractors able to move. On the land titles, I have already instructed our land acquisition team to get all the land titles, which they have, on project by project basis. Very soon, we are going to be handing back these land titles after severing off what is required for our projects. It has been unfair for us to hold land titles for more than even 10 years because then, you deny the owner the use of his land and the rest. On Kitgum-Karenga-Kidepo Road, we already signed the contract. It was already being funded by UK Export Finance (UKF). The only challenge which we had was the precondition that we must confirm that we have five per cent as Government contribution. That has now been confirmed, it is in this year’s budget. Therefore, the Kitgum-Orom-Karenga-Kidepo Road will start. On the issue of the compensation for the PAPs, we also have the money in this year’s budget, once we start the releases. The first quarter was not so good, but we have been assured by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development that the second quarter will be better. Hopefully, we shall start compensating the people. On Gulu-Lamwo-Kitgum road, which is that one?

Honourable minister, this road runs from Gulu via Patiko to Lamwo to Palaro.

…59,901 persons with disabilities. Madam Speaker, I have provided an additional Shs 404.9 billion for social protection next Financial Year 2025/2026. Water, Sanitation, and Environmental Protection To improve the quality of life, the Government continues to invest in the provision of safe water, improve sanitation, and ensure protection of the environment. These include the following: (i) Villages in Uganda with at least one safe water source have remarkably increased to eight out of every 10 villages. Nationwide, 57,951 villages out of 71,225 have been served with a safe water source. (ii) Completed construction of 259 medium and large solar-powered water supply and sanitation systems and gravity flow schemes across the country. (iii) The construction of 42 large solar-powered water supply systems is ongoing in Agago, Yumbe, Amudat, Kaabong, Kasese, Kakumiro, Sembabule, Kisoro, Rubanda, Bulambuli, Kyankwanzi, Mubende, Kyegegwa, Buyende, Nakaseke, Namayingo, Rakai and Buvuma. (iv) With regard to clean water, the construction of piped town water supply systems is ongoing in 32 towns. These include: Namasale, Kakingol, Kamuli, Ngoma Town, Lunya, Karogo Phase II, Ishaka (mobilisation), Nyakashaka, Bukumi, Kanapa, and Odongai. Construction is also ongoing in Palabek-Kal, Rhino Camp, Arra-Dufile, Lubeli Refugee Settlement, Bolori, Nyanseke, Busaale, Kibuzi, and expansion in two towns of Kiboga and Zigoti. Other beneficiary towns are: Lamwo, Lacekocot, Iri-Iri, Lorengecora, Manafwa, Butaleja-Busolwe, Tirinyi-Kibuku-Kadama- Budaka, Kaliro-Namungalwe, Rukungiri and Obongi. (v) The construction of various water supply systems in 26 districts is at varying levels of physical progress. These include: Manafwa Town Council and the installation of solar packages that is ongoing in Losilang, Kasawo (Phase I), Kabura-Mwizi (Phase I), Bukumi, Bulangira and Kyebando-Kasimbi, and Busaale Town. Also, the Government is starting the development of new piped water supply systems in Rubanda, Kabale, Alebtong, Nakasongola, and Kamuli districts, among others. Madam Speaker, I have provided an additional Shs 366.1 billion next financial year for water resource management, climate change mitigation, natural resources and environment. The priority interventions include: the construction of water supply infrastructure to increase service in the underserved communities in rural, urban and refugee settlements; increasing rehabilitation and expansion of existing Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) infrastructure; and increasing forest and wetland cover. Overall, I have allocated a total of Shs 11.44 trillion in the next financial year towards investing in the people of Uganda through health, education, social protection, and water and sanitation.

17491 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 5 JUNE 2025 To achieve this goal, the Government is accelerating the construction of solar-powered irrigation schemes; medium-scale irrigation schemes, earth dams, communal and individual valley tanks, and large-scale irrigation schemes across the country. The construction works for 92 solar-powered irrigation schemes have been completed, adding an irrigation area of 900 acres. These are in the districts of Apac, Buhweju, Buikwe, Bukomansimbi, Buliisa, Bushenyi, Butambala, Buvuma, Gomba, Hoima, Isingiro, Kakumiro, etc. The new solar-powered irrigation schemes have benefitted 110,000 farmers and production yield from 120 schemes has increased to 3,600 tons per season. The major crop enterprises in these irrigation schemes include green pepper, onions, Irish potatoes, watermelons, tomatoes, apples, cabbages, pineapples, coffee, eggplants, vanilla, grapes, mangoes, and pumpkins. The construction works are also ongoing for 22 solar-powered irrigation demonstration sites in the districts of Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kole, Gulu, Napak, Abim, etc. In Nakaseke District, the construction works for the Kirema Phase 1, a medium-scale irrigation scheme, have been completed; thus adding a total of 124 hectares and benefitting 50 farmers engaged in coffee growing, passion fruits, maize, and bananas. The construction works for the Wadelai Irrigation Scheme, 1,000 hectares in Pakwach District, stands at 93.5 per cent. The construction works for the Namaitsu medium- scale Irrigation Scheme in Bududa District stands at 70 per cent. Kawumu Irrigation Scheme, which is in Luwero District, is at 90 per cent, among others. A mega irrigation scheme, Nyimur, covering 3,300 hectares, has been constructed in Lamwo District. Do you know where Lamwo is? You people, you do not know where Lamwo is? Lamwo is far away, on the South Sudan border. Other construction works include the Acomai Irrigation Scheme in Bukedea District, covering 1,480 hectares, and targeting 1,600 households; Atari Irrigation Scheme in Kween/ Bulambuli districts, covering 680 hectares, targeting 2,667 households; and Namatala Irrigation Scheme in the Budaka, Mbale, and Butaleja districts, covering 3,450 hectares, targets 4,923 households. The current production of milk stands at 5.4 billion litres at the end of 2024, compared to 2.5 billion litres in the Financial Year 2017/2018. We have also identified and secured foreign markets through government-to-government interventions, e.g. Algeria and Nigeria. These countries are now buying our powdered milk. This has resulted into an increase in the value of milk and milk products, as already pointed out, from $28.7 million in the Financial Year 2014/2015 to $285 million in the 2024 year. A new processing factory, Benni Foods, has been commissioned and is currently operational with an installed capacity of 10,000 litres of milk per day. The total value of fish catches from all the water bodies has steadily increased since the Government deployed armed forces to assist in fisheries enforcement. Currently, we are producing 658,000 metric tonnes of fish annually. The availability of raw material fish sustained operations of 12 fish processing factories; you know that debate. The fisheries unit has been able to stop overfishing or reduce it, although they have also been accused – once in a while – of being sinners, but we can audit their work by looking at the 12 factories that are now processing fish. Many of these had closed. I will meet the fisheries people soon; I will meet the traditional fishing communities, but this is one of the facts. Are the factories operating or not? Had they closed or not? When we meet, we shall discuss this. According to this one here, 12 factories are now operating, processing 658,000 metric tonnes.

Thank you, honourable chairperson. Honourable colleagues, debate starts now. I will start with Prof. Mushemeza, Dr Akiki, Hon. Linda, Member from Rukungiri, Hon. Atima, Member for Kajara, “ Afande ”, Member for Lamwo, Doctor and Hon. Angura. I am first picking those who have not yet spoken. I am giving you three minutes each.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to join my colleagues in thanking the chairperson of the Committee on East African Community Affairs and the members for the good report. I would like to comment on the border between South Sudan and Uganda, where my constituency is. About a year back, I took the Committee on East African Community Affairs to my constituency to familiarise themselves with the border issues of Lamwo and South Sudan. I would say we were lucky in the sense that we found the problem live. When we were at what we thought was the border demarcation, we found South Sudanese coming inside Uganda hunting squirrels, antelopes and other animals with bows and

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

Thank you. The Leader of the Opposition, do you want to respond first? Honourable colleagues, I am going to allow four from NRM, two from the Opposition, and two from the independents. Yes, so that we go to other programmes. On the NRM side, I am allowing the Member from Mubende – Hon. Kabanda – Hon. Sarah Opendi, Hon. Kangwagye and – I need Hon. Feta also to represent - from the independents, I will pick Dr Byakatonda and my sister from Lamwo. From the Opposition, I am picking the Leader of the Opposition and the Woman MP for Luweero. If time allows, I will see if I can be more flexible but each one has three minutes.

Appreciate that these questions come from members. So, I try to make sure that we answer them and give answers satisfactorily. Thank you so much. My response is that the National Seeds Project (NOSP) is a seven-year initiative that started in 2021 to 2028, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Local Government. Building on the successes of the Vegetable Oil Development Project(VODP) Phase 2 that started in 2010-2020, NOSP operates in 81 districts, clustered into hubs, that is West Nile, Northern, Eastern, Mid-Western and Karamoja. In Northern Uganda, the project is active in 17 districts including Lamwo, Pader, Kitgum, Gulu, Amuru, Nwoya, Omoro, Agago, Kwania, Otuke, Lira, Alebtong, Amolatar, Apac, Oyam Dokolo and Kole. The project aims to address the shortfall in domestic oil seed production and increase the local output of vegetable oil and related by- products. Its primary development objective is to accelerate commercialisation in the key oil-seed value chain, thereby improving livelihoods and resilience of smallholders involved in oil-seed production and marketing. Actual implementation of the project activities commenced in the financial year 2023/2024. The following have so far been carried out: i) The National Oil Seed Project has provided inputs such as soybean foundation seed and fertilisers to 48 clusters in the region for multiplication to ensure availability of quality declared seed closer to the farmers. This in turn supports farmer groups in growing the seed as grain to increase production and productivity, improve nutrition, and enhance backward and forward linkages within the region; ii) Extension service. The project has provided refresher training for 273 district extension staff to support farmers in the implementing seed value chain activities and to enhance production and productivity. iii) MAAIF, through the project, procured and distributed 162 motorcycles per district to ease mobility - two motorcycles per district- enhance service delivery, and boost the production and productivity of agricultural commodities; iv) Clustering and formation of farmer groups to enhance oilseed production and productivity, contribute to crushing [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

15030 THE NATIONAL COFFEE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024 Madam Speaker, via Rule 53, I would like to present this very brief report of the oversight visit that I carried out with some colleagues to Atiak Sugar Factory on 7 October 2024 and I begin by tabling a copy of this report. Madam Speaker and colleagues, the shadow cabinet, conducted an oversight visit on Monday 7 October 2024, at the Atiak Sugar Factory in Amuru District to assess its operational status, economic impact and challenges. The factory located in northern Uganda is a Government- supported initiative aimed at reviving the sugar industry in the region, providing employment and promoting economic development in post- conflict areas. Atiak Sugar Factory is an investment located in Atiak in Amuru District that was initiated by a private company Called Horyal Investments Holding Company limited. Herein, after called Horyal. It was incorporated on 11 April 2013 as a private limited liability company, to set up a plant to process sugarcane into sugar and its by-products. The Atiak Sugar Factory began as a private community partnership, in the sense that land was provided by the people of northern Uganda. The construction of the company was envisaged as a milestone in facilitating economic recovery in northern Uganda through the creation of thousands of jobs for local workers. Additionally, the factory would also promote women empowerment, since they would become the main suppliers of sugarcane. However, Horyal soon contracted very expensive short-term credit from a number of financial institutions for the purpose of setting up the factory. Upon experiencing difficulty in servicing the expensive loans, Horyal sought financial support from the Government of Uganda on the grounds that this investment was very strategic for the people of northern Uganda. The factory was officially launched on 22 October 2020. The capacity of this plant in Phase 1 was targeted at 1,650 tonnes of cane crushed per day, to be expandable to 3,500 tonnes of cane crushed per day in Phase 2 and 5,000 in Phase 3. According to the shareholder agreement that the Government of Uganda, through Uganda Development Corporation, signed with Horyal, Government intervention would be solely for completion of the factory up to Phase 1. Unfortunately, despite Government intervention in this factory, production at the Atiak Sugar Factory was halted on account of a persistent shortage of sugarcane and was closed in April 2022. Between Financial Year 2017/2018 and Financial Year 2019/2020, the Government of Uganda, through its investment arm, Uganda Development Corporation, progressively purchased and acquired equity shares worth Shs 81 billion in Horyal. During Financial Year 2017/2018, UDC provided two shareholder loans worth Shs 20 billion and through NAADS, released Shs 54.68 billion in Financial Year 2019/2020 to support sugarcane out growers in Amuru and Lamwo districts to sustain sugarcane supply to this factory. Additionally, the Government of Uganda made available a transport subsidy worth Shs 16 billion in the Financial Year 2019/2020 to transport sugarcane from Busoga to Atiak. All this investment had the sole objective of enabling Horyal to complete the factory to Phase 1. In the Financial Year 2021/2022, UDC, through a supplementary budget, provided Shs 108 billion meant for mechanisation and shares and in the Financial Year 2022/2023, the Government, through UDC, added Shs 274.1 billion meant for preference shares. Unknown today is the total percentage shares that the Government of Uganda has in Horyal because it has continuously injected more funds into this company since the acquisition of equity shares has broken down. I have COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR [Mr Ssenyonyi]

15031 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2024 provided a table and the minister will look at that. The total investment, both direct and indirect investment, as we speak today, is Shs 553.71 billion - Shs 553.71 billion. It is against the above background that I went with colleagues for this oversight visit with a couple of objectives: 1. To evaluate the factory’s production capacity, the current operational status and its economic contribution to Uganda’s economy; 2. To examine the involvement of local farmers and out grower schemes in the sugar production chain; 3. To assess the accountability and transparency mechanisms in this factory’s operations; 4. To identify any operational, financial or infrastructural challenges faced by the factory; and 5. To review the extent of Government support and private sector partnerships in the development of this factory. These were some of our findings: 1. The factory is currently non-operational, not producing any sugar, and this raises concerns, given the Government’s intervention over the years. Management intimated that the reason for non- production is that sugarcane is not readily available. All this, despite the huge investment by the Government; 2. There were ongoing civil and infrastructure development works at the factory, such as the construction of water reservoirs and an irrigation system, although they were behind schedule. Management said to us that they hope to get more funding from the Government to aid with the irrigation; 3. The management of this factory has abandoned the earlier model of planting 60,000 acres of sugarcane from Atiak across to Lamwo through farmer cooperatives, and has now instead resorted to planting 25,000 acres of sugarcane in Atiak, owned by the factory; 4. Despite the factory being non-operational for a couple of years, it spends 200 litres of diesel daily, running turbines apparently to prevent the machines from rusting and malfunctioning. This regular expenditure is disturbing, given that there is no production going on; 5. There has been slow delivery of machinery to fast-track mechanisation of this factory. At the time of the visit, only some of the required equipment had been delivered, yet these are also incomplete and without the necessary accessories; 6. Uganda Development Corporation, which is supposed to be the overseer of this project on behalf of the Government of Uganda, has limited or no presence at all in the operations of the factory; 7. Management told us that the factory’s sugarcane plantation totalling 7,900 acres had been burnt down in December 2020, and this affected operations. However, the cause of the fire was unknown; and 8. Despite the heavy financial investment of Shs 553.71 billion by the Government in this joint venture, what is on the ground is not commensurate with this investment. It raises questions about whether this is not another white elephant – (Interruption)

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for that experience. In northern Uganda, we have a district called Lamwo- I am explaining the case. In Lamwo, they took advantage of front- loading and they overstated their budget for NTR. As a result, we gave them money, which they could not realise, among many other agencies. That one also led us to a shortfall. That is why we are now careful not to enter into the trap of these Accounting Officers, who normally want to use any means possible to beat our systems. That is why we stopped front-loading.

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 so much, Mr Speaker. I join my colleagues to thank the committee for the good report. However, I would like the chairperson of the committee to include the following. When I heard you read out the areas affected by the Nodding Disease Syndrome, you left the main area with the disease - that is the districts in East Acholi. These districts are; Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader, Omoro, and Gulu. Pader is the district with the highest number. We have over 5,000 children affected by the nodding disease. Pader District has about 10 subcounties affected by this disease. So, I request that you include them on your list. Secondly, when the President visited Atanga Subcounty to assess the Nodding Disease Syndrome issue, he made promises. One, he said he was going to give iron sheets to all the families affected by Nodding Disease Syndrome. This was because some of the children, because of mental disturbance, kept on burning their parents’ houses. The other promise he made is that Atanga Health Centre III should be elevated to a Health Centre IV, to cater for the children suffering from Nodding Disease Syndrome. I know the policy is that every county should have one health centre IV, but this is going to be a special case.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank you for setting your eye on me so that I can at least say a word or two. Kitgum District has a general hospital which handles more than two or three districts. Referrals from Kaabong, Karenga, Lamwo districts and South Sudan always come to Kit - gum District. We have been requesting, several times, for Kitgum District to be upgraded to a referral hospital, so that we are able to treat all the patients who come from these areas. Kitgum Hospital, being a general hospital that was built in 1957, down the road, it does not have a cold room or a mortuary where we could keep the dead bodies or unknown people, who normally get accidents. In 2019, Shs 1.7 billion was projected for the cold room, but to date, as I speak, the technocrats from the ministry keep on coming to survey and they go back. I do not know when the cold room will be constructed. Another issue affecting Kitgum District is the appointment of the staff. Well aware that some clinical officers upgraded to doctors and some doctors upgraded to masters and they are now consultants, the challenge that we are facing now, even when there is deployment of interns, is that Kitgum District is not receiving the interns, simply because there is nobody, according to them, who can supervise these interns. My prayer is, why can’t the Ministry of Public Service open up recruitment, especially for doctors? If we are thinking of the health and education of Uganda, we should think of recruiting doctors and making sure that our health centres and hospitals are equipped. Finally, most of our subcounties do not have health centres III, as it had been alluded to by my colleagues. More so, we neighbour Lamwo District and Development Response to Displacement Impacts Projects (DRDIP), which has some infrastructure like secondary schools. My prayer is, DRDIP should take up Kitgum District, one of the health centres or Kitgum Hospital and build at least a maternity or children’s ward to help us contain those patients who normally come and lie on the ground without mattresses or a mat. I beg to submit.

Thank you, Your Excellency. The rice scheme in Agoro is not doing well at all. My name is Maj. (Rtd) Dr Okullo Aabuka, MP Lamwo. I was there with the Chief Justice who had been to you to check on Agoro Rice Scheme and the irrigation scheme. We found out that the dam had a technical problem.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Nancy Odonga Acora. I represent the wise people of Lamwo District, bordering South Sudan, one of the refugee-hosting districts in Northern Uganda. I take this singular honour to welcome you to Acholi, the land of mwo yaa and odii . However, on a special note, Madam Speaker, the people of Lamwo, particularly my civil servants – I got a call this morning that from the onset of this quarter, our district has not got money disbursed to the subcounty. Secondly, the issue of –

14049 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2024 Atiak-Apyeta-Lamwo-Kitgum Road This road links Lamwo and Kitgum to the regional economic hub at Atiak and provides a key route for cross-border trade with South Sudan. Developing this road to high-grade standards will not only improve regional connectivity, but also boost economic activities, enhance service delivery and reduce travel times between key districts. Madam Speaker, Members earlier on alluded to Nebbi-Goli and other networks of the roads in West Nile that should also be given due attention. The committee recommends that: 1. The Government and relevant authorities should prioritise the rehabilitation and maintenance of oil roads in Nwoya District to align with their policy commitments. This is because in Acholi subregion, the oil roads have not been optimally worked on, as you would see in other regions. 2. The Ministry of Works and Transport conducts feasibility studies on the above- mentioned strategic roads and have them tarmacked. 3. The Government should allocate sufficient funds and resources to ensure timely and quality construction and maintenance of these roads so as to enhance economic and social growth to the region. The District Urban and Community Access Roads (DUCAR) The committee observed that the network in most local governments was in fair to poor condition. The committee observed that in Financial Year 2023/2024, the Government allocated Shs 1 billion to local governments for rehabilitation of roads and, this year, the same amount has been allocated for road maintenance following a parliamentary recommendation to rename the grant. During oversight, the committee established that the Shs 1 billion had enabled Gulu City to rehabilitate some roads and construct two bridges (box culverts), improving the condition of the network in the city. In Apac, the funds enabled them to rehabilitate roads which had not happened in over 10 years, and similar reports were received from other local governments across northern Uganda. The committee noted that only districts have road equipment, while cities and municipalities rely on bureaucratic processes of requesting for equipment from the Executive Director of UNRA, since the district equipment is always utilised with the provision of Shs 1 billion and money is released at the same time. Further, the committee observed that while the Government shifted to the policy on Force on Account and districts are now using Force on Account for maintenance of roads, the works departments have no supervision vehicles. This makes it challenging for the staff in the works department to supervise equipment and ongoing works in the field. The committee recommends that; 1. The Government provides additional funding towards maintenance and rehabilitation of roads. 2. The Government provides supervision vehicles to the works departments to facilitate supervision of road works and equipment. Madam Speaker, allow me to make this footnote: northern Uganda has only one regional mechanical workshop – which is stationed here in Gulu – that supervises the entire northern Uganda. The committee recommended that at least each subregion be funded to have its own mechanical workshop. USMID roads The committee noted that the USMID roads completed under phase I were being maintained by the respective local governments. However, the life span of most of the solar lights expired.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity. I have been sitting for a long time. Madam Speaker, I remember history very well. When this Government came into power, the first thing they did was to secure the country. In other words, without security, there cannot be any business, touring, or economic development. I come from Lamwo County, which borders South Sudan. Recently, I made a submission in Parliament in respect to border insecurity whereby South Sudanese have been robbing and terrorising the people of Lamwo. It resulted into one big thing, which was the positioning of a whole brigade of 5,000 UPDF soldiers in Lamwo, my constituency. Now the problem arises that, in case of supplies and other things, the road from Kitgum-Padipe to Ngomoromo-Lokung needs to be tarmacked to fasten communication quickly for the army personnel to supply the border posts. This is because there are now 5,000 UPDF men and women guarding the people of Lamwo, for which we thank the commander-in-chief of this country. Secondly, there is another road from Aweno Olwi to Lamwo, which also needs to be addressed, preferably by tarmacking. I do not have a lot of words. We need to secure this country. We need the borders to be calm. We are in the North right now and we want the northern parts of the country to be secured. Right now, South Sudan is a hotspot for insecurity. I would like this Parliament to address this.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity. I would like to add to what my colleague, the male MP for Lamwo County, has said. Kitgum to Ngomoromo via Padibe Road is about 67 kilometres and is a number six priority road under the World Bank Refugee Funded Project. By the grace of God, the money for the construction is available. What is needed from the Government of the Republic of Uganda is the money for designing it. Therefore, it is my humble plea, on behalf of the people of Lamwo District, to not just coordinate and connect the refugee district, but to connect us to South Sudan. Being a border district, this has been long overdue. His Excellency promised the people of Lamwo this road in 2018 when he visited our side. Secondly, Lututuru Hill was one of the tourist sites in the history of this country. When His Excellency, by then, President Idi Amin Dada, was in power, he had his site at Lututuru Hill. So, I also want to interest the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Industry to take keen interest and make that site valuable to give some credit to the economy of Uganda. Last but not least, Madam Speaker, we need a security road that borders the Kitgum people and Lamwo District. Recently, we had a land dispute where my people lost lives in a land conflict between the community of Mucwini East and the community of Madi Opei subcounty in Lamwo district. I request the Ministry of Internal Affairs to give us a security road to clearly demarcate the landmark. I beg to submit.

14075 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2024 petition. In 2017, the Minister of Works and Transport gave assurance to the people of Gulu that the Government had put in the budget and had planned to build a road from Kitgum to Lamwo, Lamwo to Palaro, Palaro to Gulu City and Palaro to Atiak. This has been for over five consecutive financial years. It would be important, Madam Speaker, that this matter is clarified and we would love to hear from the honourable minister why this promise has been continuously - Finally, Hon. Betty raised a concern on the plight of the people who got affected by the construction of the logistic hub. I have personally gone to the Ministry of Works and Transport and asked when these people would be paid. The story we hear from the Ministry of Works and Transport is that there is no money. Wouldn’t it be okay to have it included now in the budget for the next financial year so that these people are paid?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the minister for being elaborate. I also thank the Government for organising celebrations to commemorate the International Youth Day on 12 August 2024 in Soroti. I would like to sincerely thank the President of the Republic of Uganda for initiating the skilling of the youth in all the subregions of this country. And in light of that, I implore the minister that it should not only be the skilling that is being done. This should be enhanced with a few things, for example, after the training for the six months when the youth are going home, those who have done tailoring should be given sewing machines. I am saying this because we have realised that most of these youth, after finishing, go home empty-handed. The minister might tell us that there are sewing machines at their ministry, but the procedure of getting them is not very easy and it is not enough for all those that have already acquired the skills at the industrial hub. So, honourable minister, please take note of that. Finally, Mr Speaker, we have seen youth livelihood programmes in this country, but in some districts, including Lamwo where I come from, the money that is allocated to the youth is always swindled by the technical staff at the district. Most of these technical officers who are the youth focal persons, do not even want to let the youth know how much the district has received for the youth livelihood programmes. I implore the Minister of State for Youth to start fast-tracking how much the youth are getting because severally some of these monies that go to the district are embezzled.

13811 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 8 AUGUST 2024 My colleague Hon. Masaba was accurate in talking about slavery. Modern-day slavery is where your labour is exploited. Most of the investors, Mr Speaker - some investors would love to come to Uganda because Uganda has the cheapest labour to offer. Uganda has the best young population whose labour is exploitable, which is not something to aggrandise yourself about but something to frown upon. However, from the submission, I see your statement awash with achievements which are theoretical on the ground – (Interjections) - yes, the truth of the matter is that even this youth “ Juakali ” who are skilled and the majority of them - I think I concur with the distinguished Member for Lamwo that most of the youths are back home and almost three-quarters of those are skilled. So, don’t you think it is high time you revised the policy of skilling Uganda? Mr Speaker, let me conclude. Recently, I went through the public debt. Are you aware that if you add it is at Shs 84 trillion and if you add commitment fees and interests, it is at Shs 97 trillion I calculated and realised that the burden will shift from us to the young people; they will be the ones to pay that debt. So, I pondered it and said if you were to design a perfect theme for next Monday 12 2024, it should have been “Blessed are the Youth of Uganda because they will inherit the public debt”. (Laughter) Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I got a written question from Hon. Okullo Aabuka, Member of Parliament for Lamwo, that the district councillors are hard-pressed by the non-payment of their ex-gratia and allowances since the Financial Year 2021/2022 despite their vigorous follow-ups within the districts, as well as a visit of their representatives to the Minister of Local Government in Kampala. His prayer is that can Government open up the bottleneck and post-appropriation of funds so that the over-patient and hard-working counsellors receive their funds. Mr Speaker, my response is that ex-gratia is an appreciation paid once a year to village and parish chairpersons. Each chairperson at village and parish levels. Each chairperson at the village and parish level is paid Shs 120,000 annually. It is paid in the last quarter of the financial year. Since Shs 120,000 is below the taxable bracket, it is not taxed. These funds are part of the city division municipal approved budget. 2. Honoraria Mr Speaker in the Financial Year 2017/18, the Government resolved to pay honoraria of Shs 35,000 per councillor at the sub-county level, and town council level, division level, in the whole country. This category of leaders had all along been left out, yet their counterparts at the village and parish level had been receiving some pay. 3. Allowances paid to district and municipal councillors. Mr Speaker, due to the meagre resources in local governments, the Government decided to pay district and municipal councillors who are not members of the District Executive Committee Shs 250,000 per month, tax inclusive. 4. Salaried Leaders The Government over 15 years ago resolved to pay salaries to executive members of the district committees, speakers of districts, chairpersons of subcounties, town councils, and divisions as follows; a) The district chairperson is paid Shs 2 million per month tax-inclusive. b) The district vice chairperson is paid Shs 1 million per month tax-inclusive. c) The district speaker is also paid Shs 600,000 per month, including tax. d) A member of the executive committee is paid Shs 500,000 per month, tax inclusive. e) Subcounty, town council, and division chairpersons are paid Shs 300,000 per month tax inclusive. 5. Other emoluments Mr Speaker, there are other leaders at the district, city, municipal level who are not paid salaries. These leaders are paid allowances as follows: a) The district deputy speaker is paid Shs 400,000 per month tax inclusive b) The municipal speaker is paid Shs 400,000and the municipality deputy speaker is paid Shs 300,000.

l.Hon Aabuka Okullo- Member of Parllament- LamWO District councillors are hard-pressed by the non- payment of their ex-gratias and allowances since FY 2O2L 12022 despite their vigorous follow ups within the District of Lamwo as well as a visit of their representatives to the Ministry of Local Government in Kampala. PRAY-ER: Can government open up the bottle neck, post appropriation of funds, so that the over-patient and hard-working councillors receive their funds? RISPONSE: Rt Hon. Speaker and Honourable Colleagues, 1. Ex-gratla s is an appreciation paid once a year to Village and Parish Chairpersons. Each Chairperson at Village and Parish is paid UGX. 120,000 annually, and it is paid in the last Quarter of the Financial Year. Since UGX. 120,OOO is below the taxable bracket, it is not taxed. These funds are part of the City/District/Municipal Approved Budget. 2. Honoraria In FY 2OtT /18 Government resolved to pay Honoraria of UGX. 35,OOO per Councilor at the Sub Count5r, Town Council and Division level in the whole Country. This Category of leaders had all along been left out, yet their I

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will begin with the choice of the bank. You cannot pick a bank that is Kampala-based and it is going to serve the interests of people in Lamwo, Kamuli. The cost involved is so high for those people to move to these Kampala- based banks. Mr Speaker, the second issue is about the efficiency of our systems. A SACCO applied for these grants in 2018, they received approval in 2022 when most of the members had already given up. This is why a few members begin now to plan around and enjoy this money when it has come in because most of the members have already lost morale by the time the money comes in. The third one is the issue of feasibility studies. We pay a lot of money to consultancy firms to do this work for us but I do not know what could be the problem. Someone comes up with a feasibility study and says, it is okay for us to put a maize mill somewhere, where he knows there is no electricity. We go ahead to implement the project and put up the facility, but there is no power. This is happening in so many of these projects. In local government, it is actually a bigger challenge. Mr Speaker, the issue of our loans - many of these loans have not been performed. I want to give an example. The Kasolwe Stock Ranch, which is in my district, Kamuli - we gave it a lot of money, but I cannot today even tell you that I know even 10 people in my district that have benefited from the Kasolwe Project yet we put in close to Shs 60 billion. It is four years down the road and I cannot give accountability of what my people around that project have benefited. Mr Speaker, it is a challenge to us, as Members of Parliament because we pass these loans with high expectations but at the end of the day, we see nothing. As the chairperson has narrated, it is really bad that we had put in $150 million and nothing almost came out. We have only been able to achieve 30 per cent of the money - (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Before I proceed, I take the honour to thank you so much for offering me the opportunity to designate Independent Members of the 11 th Parliament to the various sectoral committees, on your behalf. On behalf of the Office of the Speaker, I take the honour to designate the following Members as follows: Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries I designate the following Members: 1. Hon. Obong Vincent Shedrick, Lira West Division; 2. Hon. Namutaawe Joan, Woman Representative, Masaka; 3. Hon. Mukasa Julius Opondo, Bujumba County; 4. Hon. Auma Linda Agnes, Woman Representative Lira; 5. Hon. Tusiime Julius, Rwampara County East; and 6. Hon. Acora Nancy, Woman Representative Lamwo. Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs I beg to designate the following Members: 1. Hon. Lamwaka Margaret, Chua East County; 2. Hon. Komol Emmanuel, Dodoth East County; 3. Hon. Arinaitwe Rauben, Insingiro West County; 4. Hon. Museveni William, Buwekula South County. Committee on East African Community Affairs I designate the following Members and they are four: 1. Hon. Nakato Mary Annet, Woman Representative, Buyende; 2. Hon. Were Godfrey Odero, Samia-Bugwe County South; 3. Hon. Walyamu Muwanika Moses, Kagoma County; 4. Hon. Nyangweso Dennis, Samia-Bugwe Central County. Committee on Education and Sports I designate the following Members: 1. Hon. Macho Geofrey, Busia Municipality; 2. Hon. Makhoha Margaret, Woman Representative, Namayingo; 3. Hon. Suubi Kinyamatama Juliet K, Woman Representative, Rakai; 4. Hon. Nakayenze Connie Galiwango, Woman Representative, Mbale City; 5. Hon. Akugizibwe Aled Ronald, Buruli County; 6. Hon. Onen Charles, Laroo-Pece Division; 7. Hon. Aogon Silas, Kumi Municipality; and 8. Hon. Tweisgye Nathan Itungo, Kashari South County.

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

13466 PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET SPEECH FY 2024/2025 iii. Improving the quality of power supply through the systematic operation and maintenance of existing power infrastructure; iv. Increasing access to clean energy by supporting clean cooking technologies; v. The development of five micro-grid power plants using wind and solar hybrids in Karamoja; and vi. Preparatory activities for the 8,400MW Nuclear Power Plant in Buyende District. Industrial development and manufacturing Madam Speaker, in our tenfold growth strategy, the Government is going to step up efforts to accelerate the diversification of the economy, add value to raw materials to boost exports and import substitution to continue reducing our import bill, and also build more basic industries to produce items that Ugandans use daily such as sugar, soap, cooking oil, clothes, medicines, construction materials, et cetera. Our industrialisation efforts are being undertaken mainly through the private sector, but with the State playing a de- risking role. The Government, through the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), is undertaking targeted investments to increase Uganda’s manufacturing capacity. During the financial year we are ending, the following investments have been undertaken by UDC to increase local manufacturing capacity: i. The Atiak Sugar Factory has acquired modern mechanised equipment for the sugarcane fields in Amuru and Lamwo districts and installed modern irrigation systems; ii. Four tea factories have been supported to expand and process tea for both domestic market and export. These are: Kayonza Growers Tea Factory; Kigezi Highland Tea Factory; Mabale Growers Tea Factory; and Mpanga Growers Tea Factory; iii. Continued support to Mutuma Commercial Agencies (Ltd) in Luuka District to produce intermediary and final products such as surgical cotton, cotton cake, soap stock, and cotton-seed oil; iv. Investment in Bukona Agro-processors Ltd in Nwoya District to process cassava and cereals into ethanol for cooking. It produces 40,000 litres of ethanol per day; v. Investment in Budadiri Arabica Coffee Mills (Ltd) in Sironko District to process coffee for export; vi. Additional investment in Soroti Fruits Factory (Ltd) that is processing six metric tons of fruit (mangoes and oranges) per hour into fruit concentrates and juice; and vii. UDC has also invested in East African Medical Vitals (Ltd), manufacturer of examination and surgical gloves, to increase the company’s production capacity to create jobs and also save the country foreign exchange through import substitution. Madam Speaker, the Government is also continuing to develop industrial parks to provide investors with the required infrastructure and utilities. Work is in progress in Namanve Park (with 190 companies operating); Liao Shen Park in Kapeeka (19 companies); Sino-Uganda Industrial Park in Mbale (18 companies); Luzira Park (11 companies); Bweyogerere Park (eight companies); and MMP in Buikwe (seven companies). Other operational industrial parks include Jinja, Soroti, Kasese, Mbarara, and Tian Tang-Mukono Industrial Park. So far, over $3.5 billion has been invested in these parks in the form of foreign direct investment. Over 266,812 direct and indirect jobs have so far been created. Security, good governance, and rule of law Madam Speaker, peace and security, as well as the rule of law, are the foundation for all other

Madam Speaker, I can provide the details on the districts that have offices, and they are the following: Lamwo, Abim, Amuru, Kiryandongo, Kamuli, Buhweju, Bundibugyo, Lwengo, Rubirizi, Butaleja, Adjumani, Butambala, Otuke, Luuka and Nakapiripirit. Those are the 15 that have offices. The rest do not have. Madam Speaker, the second issue is Cabinet support and policy development. We have a gap of Shs 1.976 billion. Our total request is Shs 4.579 billion. What was provided for is Shs 2.603 billion and we request for the balance to be provided. Regarding the facilitation for RDCs, our budget is Shs 21 billion, but what was provided is Shs 14.8 billion, leaving a gap of Shs 6.2 billion. That is what we are recommending. On facilitation of the project management team for the Intelligence Transport Monitoring System Aware that in July 2021, the Government signed an agreement with Joint Stock Global Security. Subsequently, a committee to oversee this project was established by the Office of the President and we request for the facilitation of this committee; we request for Shs 3.5 billion. Support to the Afro-Arab Youth Council for headquarters construction Madam Speaker, we are about to lose a prime opportunity to construct an office block, a stadium, and a cultural heritage centre, among others, because the Government of Uganda signed an agreement, in August 2023, to host the headquarters and the condition given to our government is to provide land. The duration of the project is only five years. We have only purchased 23 acres and we are left with 27 acres. The money we are demanding so that we comply is Shs 5.4 billion minus that we shall lose this prime opportunity. Monitoring the mainstreaming of the manifesto commitments Aware that the governance of this country is dependent on the manifesto –

Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the committee for the good report that they presented. I know that the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development is in charge of all the special interest groups. There is one issue that has been appearing on the Floor of Parliament every year; that is the issue of the children affected by nodding syndrome during the war. Up to today, some of them have never walked, some are limping, some are on medication and they are doing well. I believe the issue of nodding syndrome cuts across the two ministries; Ministry of Gender and Ministry of Health, for medication, welfare under Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. When the chairperson presented the budget, I did not hear any mention of these children. Some weeks ago, the Speaker the Acholi Parliamentary Group, to do assessment on this issue. We went to Omoro, Pader, Kitgum and Lamwo, we invited the people who were in Lango. When we met the community and those children, the main thing that the parents requested for was to revive the rehabilitation and habitation centres, which were opened up by some time back by a white lady. However, when she ran out of the money, the Government did not complete the centres.

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker and congratulations to Hon. Aber. I rise on a matter of national importance. The issue is related to the population census, which is due to take place from 10 th to 19 th May. There is insecurity along the common border with Sudan, stretching from Koboko to Yumbe, Moyo, Adjumani, as well as Lamwo. Currently, there are conflicts and quarrels related to the boundary, land, settlement, social services and so on. Mr Speaker, if you can remember, in the year 2014 there were conflicts when officials from Moyo went to carry out a census along the border. Nine Members of Parliament were arrested and detained. My prayers are as follows: 1. We need peace and security along the border during the census period. That is very important. 2. Institute patrols by the army and the police during that period so that we do not get that incidence of 2014, where I was also a victim. I was tied up, arrested and bundled and I felt belittled. 3. Setting up of an army detach for peace and security. 4. In the long run, demarcating the border line between Uganda and South Sudan. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker and all Members who have contributed to this report. From the onset, I would like to note that I feel so much pain when I listen to Members who have come across these children and seen them suffering. I have come across them, not in a rehabilitation centre but in a home. I have seen the pain of a mother who has a child with Nodding Syndrome. I want to commit that the Minister of Health is doing all it takes under the circumstances and with the limited resource envelope to make sure this ends. It is so sad for everybody. None of us may have that child but most of us are parents and we know what it means to have a condition that is not treatable and is out of your control. However, I would like to clarify a few things. As the Ministry of Health, we know that this Nodding Syndrome is in eight districts and two of them are in the Lango Subregion. Oyam and Lira are in Lango, isn’t it? The Ministry of Health is already there. They are working with Omoro, Gulu, Kitgum, Lamwo, Amuru, Oyam, Lira and Pader. Regarding this Nodding Syndrome, the Ministry of Health has a number. There are 2,200 children who have been reported and are under care and treatment. Out of these, some healed completely. Others even got married and have had children. We have others who sat senior six exams. Actually, their performance was not very good because of mental retardation but they grew into useful human beings. So, they need to get that treatment and also live productive lives. In one of the letters that the Ministry of Health wrote to the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury requesting for funds -most of you people from Northern Uganda are aware that the money that came through the Ministry of Health was not sufficient. It was little money. Nonetheless, the Ministry of Health at least provided treatment for these children, which is their core mandate. Mr Speaker, Nodding Syndrome requires a multi-sectoral approach. The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has got to come in. The Office of the Prime Minister

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I stand in Prime Minister’s Time to report an incident which has been occurring in my constituency for the last three or four months. The number of deaths have gone up by a large scale. The District Health Officer of Lamwo agrees with me. I wrote on 21 st February, to the Office of the Prime Minister as well as the Speaker’s Office indicating the abnormality. My prayer in the letter was that a team of doctors who are experts should immediately go to Lamwo to do a survey of what could be wrong. It could be a disease because people are drinking which is very bad so they have to determine it. I wonder whether the Prime Minister has received the letter.

Mr Speaker, the fact is that I have not seen the letter, but the concern of the Member will be taken care of. I will make sure that by tomorrow or even today, the Ministry of Health is informed about the same so that they can institute a team to go to Lamwo to ensure that our people are safe.

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.

11875 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2024 9. The committee observed that the continued influx of new arrivals from South Sudan, which happened throughout 2020-2023 created shortage of land for settlement of new arrivals and poor road networks within the settlements due to heavy rains. The committee, therefore, recommends that the Government of Uganda should: i. Expedite the compensation to the landowners where refugee settlements and other institutional and social services such as schools and health centres were constructed; and ii. Rehabilitate roads within the host communities and refugee settlements. The other challenge is about land wrangles. The committee observed that an impending conflict over land ownership and use in refugee settlements exists. The committee identified issues within the area of land management: i. For accommodating refugees, host communities had high expectations for material benefits in exchange for their land. However, this was not forthcoming. ii. There were also disagreements over land boundaries among different host communities and with refugees, which created an active conflict over land use and land ownership. The other is about property owners. Some of them were threatening to repossess land formerly given to refugees due to delayed compensation. Some refugees refused to settle in their located plots and chose to migrate to other zones in an attempt to locate their loved ones, which resulted into overcrowding of these particular zones. There was also shortage of land for agriculture leading to fear of food security among the host communities. The committee recommends that Government should: i. Fast-track settlements of compensation claims by host communities to ensure that host community goodwill is not taken for granted; and ii. Conduct further negotiations with the host communities for more land on a rental basis in pursuit of sustainable food production and reduce dependence on donors for refugee food supply. Another challenge is about the donor cuts . The committee observed that budget cuts to the refugee programme was affecting service delivery, specifically: 1. Development Response to Displacement Impact Project(DRDIP) Programme and the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Programme (USMID) was scheduled to end operations in December 2023 in all the areas we visited in the North, Kyangwali and Kiryandongo. 2. In Lamwo, when donors pulled out of the street child project, 37 teachers who were paid under the project were laid off thereby increasing the teacher-pupils ratio from 1:58 to 1:164. 3. In Kyegegwa, a similar issue occurred. Out of 338 teachers in schools, only 98 of them were on the Government payroll and donor partners were paying the remaining 240 teachers. However, Members were informed that a total of 136 teachers and 50 teaching assistants had their contracts terminated by the end of February 2023 due to reduced donor funding across all the schools in the settlement. 4. In Lamwo, it is a similar issue about general food assistance in the settlement with collection points, which were established under the UN World Food Programme. This resulted into reduced food allocation as a result of the donor funding cuts. The committee recommends that the Government needs to have contingency financial plans for refugees in situations where

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will make use of the five minutes. Let us go to page 3. The areas that we visited are highlighted; Pader, Omoro and Lamwo. The prevalence of Nodding Syndrome in the African countries is well highlighted; like I had mentioned, they are

11864 MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS Tanzania, Uganda and South Sudan. Mr Speaker, I would like to draw your attention to page 5, which is about the findings, observations and recommendations. 5.1 The extent of prevalence of Nodding Syndrome in Acholi Subregion. There are five tables. Table 1 is Pader District and it has about 1,000 cases. Table 2 is Kitgum and shows that there are 527, table 3 is Lamwo, table 4 is Omoro and table 5 is Gulu District. Committee observations According to records from the district local governments –

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Thank you very much, honourable minister for agriculture. The minister talked about the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease in other parts of Uganda and other districts, and short-term, medium- term and long-term strategies for control. This involves animals like cows, goats, pigs and sheep. As it was said by my honourable colleague, the land between South Sudan and Uganda is vast, so much that cows from South Sudan roam freely. At times, the refugees move with these animals across the border. From Koboko, Moyo and Adjumani in West Nile up to Lamwo, these areas are being used by the refugees for grazing their animals. Mr Speaker, my worry is that sooner or later, there are going to be issues related to Food and Mouth Disease in these areas if the Government does not control movement of these animals in West Nile. Thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, I designate the following to the Committee on Appointments: 1. Hon. Irene Muloni – Bulambuli; 2. Hon. Sarah Najjuma – Nakaseke; 3. Hon. Anthony Okullo Jalon Aabuka – Lamwo; 4. Hon. Betty Awor Engola – Apac; 5. Hon. Clare Mugumya – Isingiro; 6. Hon. Florence Asiimwe – Masindi; 7. Hon. Arinaitwe Rwakajara - Workers’ Representative; 8. Hon. Ferigo Kambale - Kasese Municipality; 9. Hon. David Kabanda - Kasambya County;

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. The following have been designated to the Committee on National Economy: 1. Hon. Allan Atugonza - Buliisa County; 2. Hon. Geofrey Macho - Busia Municipality; 3. Hon. Nancy Acora - Lamwo; 4. Hon. Muhammad Nsereko - Kampala Central Division; 5. Hon. Jonathan Ebwalu - Soroti West Division; 6. Hon. David Livingstone Zijjan - Butembe County; 7. Hon. Emmanuel Omoding - Serere County; and 8. Hon. Roland Ndyomugyenyi - Rukiga County.

We need to help her. It is the same thing, Mr Speaker; we need to support her – (Interjection)- yes, because right now, you stand for the ministry. Mr Speaker, I am on the issue of fuel prices. Yesterday, I was in Lamwo, very far away and I thought I was in the middle of South Sudan. I thought about a Member of Parliament fueling a car from here to Lamwo to check on the voters four times a month considering the entire cost; this is so disturbing. I thank the minister for one thing - you are the first minister to bring a statement here without blaming COVID-19 for any of the troubles. (Laughter) When the prices of fuel first soared in this country, everybody was blaming COVID-19. After COVID-19 went down, the prices equally went down. When Russia came up, they said “Russia and Ukraine”. Those two have continued to fight. Where is the connection? Why did the price go up again? Now, Israel has come up and Gaza is burning; you are not blaming them, but trying to look for other reasons. Therefore, Mr Speaker, I call upon you to institute a select committee to look into this special matter of fuel prices. There, we shall be able to summon all the stakeholders- include me on the team to go up to Mombasa. (Laughter) We shall check where the pipe has a problem and handle this problem properly. (Interruption)

I am compelled, Mr Speaker. Hon. Aogon, to begin soliciting support, which is bordering on corruption, that he should be included on a team to be instituted. Is he in order? Is the honourable member, a chairperson of the Independents, with experience in Parliament and traversed various parts of the country including Lamwo; is he in order?

Thank you. Hon. Silas, since you visited Lamwo, you do not need to go to Mombasa. They are very close; so you are not in order. Leave out issues of Mombasa.

He further explained that the money was meant for the establishment for sugarcane, land opening, fertilisers, etc, following the establishment of an estate and preparation for the construction of a sugar factory in Atiak. He explained that NAADS' involvement came after receiving letters from the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Prime Minister requesting them to establish out- growers and expand cane plantation to benefit the people near Atiak Sugar Factory. NAADS worked with Horyal to undertake land opening, planting, and acquisition of fertilisers. The relationship was contractual and they worked to plant more sugarcane on behalf of the members of the cooperatives. Recommendation The Commlttee recommend.s tlut the Accounting Officer should strengthen mechanisms.,for tlrc contract management and. supenfision to ensure that contractors deliaer q,:s expected,, and. uhere appllcable, contract tenns such as liqutdated damages should. be enforced. against the contractors. 4. Status of the Sugarcane production Project in Northern Uganda The Government of Uganda through the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) has since the FYR 2Ol7-18 been supporting sugarcane production for the Atiak sugar factory under the sugar cane out growers'scheme. Launched in August 2OI7, the intervention initially started at the pioneer sugarcane production site in Atiak sub county Amuru District, and subsequently expanded to two additional sites in Lamwo district, namely, Palabek Kal (Lamwo 1) and Palabek Nyimur (Lamwo 2). The goal of the intervention is to empower and uplift the most vulnerable groups including women in the Sub-region to have a source of livelihood through sugar cane growing. At the national strategic level, the intervention is aimed at boosting sugarcane production for increased sugar production for both the domestic and export markets. At its inception the intervention targeted to establish 13,841 acres of sugarcane at the pioneer site at Atiak, Amuru District; and 15,000 acres and 31,1s9 acres tpo expansion production sites in Lamwo district, namely Palabek Kal site (Lamwo 1) and Palabek Ogilli site (Lamwo 2) October 2Ol9 up to 7,906 acres of sugar cane had been established at the pioneer production site in Atiak after which the contractor ceased operations at the site. By the end of 2O2O up to 4,994 acres of sugarcane had been established at the Palabek Kal production site (Lamwo 1). Despite the progress made over the period, implementation of the intervention has been affected by several challenges which have resulted in ceasing of operations by the Project. Some of the challenges affecting the Project include s- \c u l. \ ,f I I t(tt' \-',^-.- tz-2y\: No*\ \ @

Slow progress at the Atiak site attributed to adverse weather, field conditions and other operational constraints; Slow progress at the Palabek Kal production site, with progress initially constrained by the shortage of seed cane within the proximity of the plantation site and the related complications of acquiring seed from distant areas; Unfortunate incidences of fire outbreaks in 2020, which wiped out a substantial acreage especially at the production site in Atiak; And subsequently, the decision by the Shareholders (of HHIC Ltd) to halt operations after 2o2o to allow for the proposed shift from the predominantly manual field operations to fully mechanized farm operations under the oversite of Uganda Development Corporation (UDC). The Accounting Officer explained that he received instructions from the Minister of Finance in July 2OI7 to conduct an assessment and advise the Ministry on the appropriate steps to take to acquire equity in the sugar factory in Amuru. He further explained that he received communication from the Minister of Finance instructing him to apply funds to the out-grower scheme for the Atiak Sugar Factory, and that several thousands of acres of cane were grown and infrastructure set up. The Committee interacted with Mohamud Ahmed, the Director of Planning & Business Development at Horyal Investment Ltd. He informed the Committee that the factory had temporarily closed due to insufficient sugarcane production, yet the company had encountered challenges while dealing with out-growers, and several hectares of sugarcane were burnt. He told the committee that the company had set up a factory and planted cane on out-growers'schemes in both Atiak and Lamwo. He explained that there were several challenges that the company had encountered including the lack of accommodation for labourers, necessitating the need to put up such accommodation. He also cited the failure to build a bridge on the Aswa River, which means trucks from Lamwo to the sugar factory have to travel longer distances. He further informed the Committee that there was machinery that the factory requires, which was to be provided by the Uganda Development Corporation, and that the factory would resume production after the arrival of that machinery. Obsenration The Committee observes that a delay in the implementation of the sugarcane production project of Northern Uganda negatively impacts the livelihood of the vulnerable groups in Northern Uganda, as the recipients of the intended benefits o a a a ..lo N \c^ (:" i,lj & fi,(t -i .t-\ ,i/(( -t-t-- L I I t, ---9 r:. L4 ,- '@

{ t t7 Hon. Kambale Ferigo (New ) Kasese Municipality 18 Hon. Ruhunda Alex Fort Portal Central r9 Hon. Sekyanzi Benard Kirya Budyebo County 20 Hon. Wandwasi Robert Bungokho South County b"L I 2I Hon. Hashim Sulaiman Neebi Municipality ,@a} 22 Hon. Maneno Zumura DWR Obongi - 23 Hon. Nangoli Gerald Elgon North County a 24 Hon. Ababiku Jessica DWR Adjuman lY! 25 Hon. Wakabi Pius Bugahya County 26 Hon. Linda lrene DWR Fort Portal \ ) 27 Hon. Kamukama Davis Bunyangabu County 28 Hon. TWalla Fadil Tingey County 29 Hon. Nsibambi Yusuf Mawokota South County t ?2b^t 30 Hon. Ekanya Geofrey Tororo County 31 Hon. Okot Santa DWR Aruu North 32 Hon. Auma Kenny Kwania North 33 Hon. Sebamala Richard Bukoto Central 34 Hon. Okupa Elijah Kasilo County 35 Hon. Mpindi Bumali RvDs Rep ffiru 36 Hon. Nsanja Patrick Ntenjeru County South I A 37 Hon. Acora Nancy DWR Lamwo *=d1 38 Hon. Mugema Peter Iganga Municipality rr\Flry\- 2

Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is true, the climate has changed. In northern Uganda, Gulu, Eastern Acholi Subregion; Kitgum, Lamwo, Agago and Pader used to start receiving the second rain by the month of July, but now we are in August when rainfall is supposed to be intense. However, since June, we have a very severe dry spell to the extent that the crops that were planted and germinated, have withered. And if the rains start, people are expecting to put some seeds down so that at least in some three or four months, they could be in position to harvest some crops. The problem is that they lack seeds. If the rain comes, they will have nothing to plant. Now that this is becoming a countrywide issue, Government should give us some seeds as quickly as possible so as to help these people within this period. Other than waiting until the end of August or September, we are going to miss the season’s rain. You can recall that the country has been suffering because of lack of posho and beans. A similar thing is being projected if nothing is done and next year is going to be worse. Thank you.

Mr Speaker, this statement is about incidents that happened in July. A little bit of time has passed, but nevertheless, it has finally found space on the Order Paper and I want to report back as follows: Reference is made to the matters of national importance that were raised by Hon. Dr Okullo Aabuka, the MP for Lamwo, concerning the above issue. Lamwo District, being at the border with South Sudan, has faced some challenges regarding cattle raids. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank the minister for the statement. Indeed, he has captured most of the issues that were presented to his attention. However, the illegal armed people who constantly move using a motorcycle, in that part of the country, Lamwo, part of Kitgum, even in Agago; it is not something silent. One person called Bosco Ukiru, also from that part of Madi Opei, went to do his business and indeed, he had some money. According to the information that he gave me, it was close to $3,000 and he had been doing business on his own. He was tracked down. Two guys on a motorcycle followed him and the traces of all these people are from South Sudan. The moment they commit those atrocities, they enter South Sudan area to the extent that people who are supposed to do business, fear for their lives. Mr Speaker, the activities which those people are doing are not only limited in Lamwo. Across the border, when you go to Amuru, you find a similar thing. So, we urge the Government to continue doing the work, especially the army men and the police whom they deploy, to do the work. Let them do their work and not wait until something has happened, then react to it. Doing patrols and being assertive to the issues around will help to give confidence to the people who are living there. Thank you so much. Lastly, this issue has affected production – (Interjection)– of course, you can thank in between. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mr Speaker and colleagues. I would like to thank the Minister of Internal Affairs for the statement well stated. As you have heard from a well-written report from Lamwo, later than that, on the 10 th of July, on the border of Obworo village, in Lelabul, Nyimur Parish, Lukung East Sub county, we lost four people who were killed by our brothers from South Sudan, and they were on their farm. Later on, on the first of this month again, we lost another four people who were also killed innocently in their gardens. We had several security meetings with Brig. Gen. Katungi, the 5 th Infantry Division Commander, which has not yielded very good fruits, because the meeting was after life was lost. The people of Lamwo are very furious because we are hosting refugees who have come from South Sudan and there are about 95,000 South Sudanese who are settled peacefully in our district. The people of the Acholi Subregion are very peaceful, not just only in Lamwo. We feel so burdened and we have had several interfaces with the Ambassador of South Sudan, with the commissioners, and nothing has been done. Therefore, on behalf of the people of Lamwo, there were several meetings that we had with the cultural leaders and the local communities. They wanted to take the law into their hands. First of all, if the leaders of Lamwo had not stopped our communities, by now the resettlement in Palabek would have been burnt down. But we had to settle them and talk to them. My plea to the Government of the Republic of Uganda is, because the South Sudanese claim that the Ngomoromo border is already in South Sudan, which is not true - even our people who were killed were killed 24 kilometres inside Lamwo District -we want to appeal to the Government to give a clear demarcation of where Lamwo starts and ends. When you go by GPS - our security men, the Resident District Commissioner, and the LC V chairperson, who went to pick up the dead bodies, while using GPS, found that our people were killed within 24 kilometres. So, we wonder why the South Sudanese are disturbing us when we are giving them refuge in our country. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

18 Hon. Ruhunda Alex Fort Portal Central NRM L9 Hon. Seky'anzi Benard Krrya Budyebo Counry NRM <944 '20 Hon. Wandwasr Robert Bungokho South County NRM 2r Hon. Hashim Sulaiman Neebr Municrpalry NRM 22 Hon. Maneno Zumura DWR Obongr NRM 23 Hon. Nangoli Gerald Elgon North Count-v NRM 24 Hon. Ababiku Jessica DWR Adjuman NRM 25 Hon. Wakabi hus Bugahya County NRM 26 Hon. Lrnda Irene DWR Fort Portal NRM -PJ '27 Hon. Kamukama Davis Bunyangabu C<.runty NRM 28 Hon. Twalla Fadil Trngey County NRM 29 Hon. NsrbambL Yusuf Mawokota South County FDC --Ta^- 30 Hon. Ekanya Geofrey Tororo County FDC 3l DWR Aruu North PPP 32 Hon. Okot Santa Hon. Auma Kennv Kwania North UPC 33 Hon Sebamala Rrchard Bukoto Central DP 34 Hon. Okupa Elijah Kasilo Countv IND ac. Hon Mpindi Bumah PwDs Rep IND 36 Hon Nsanla Patnck Ntenjeru Counlv South IND 37 IND DWR Lamwo Iganga Munrcipality IND \ 38 39 Hon. Acora Nancy Hon Mugema Peter Hon Roland Nd1'omug.yenyr Rukrga Counlv IND $fuisn\ -t 2

22 18 Hon. Ruhunda Alcx Fort Portal Central NRM t9 Hon. Se$anzr Benard Krrya Budyebo County NRM sffi,-. 20 Hon. Wandwasr Roberr Bungokho South County NRM 2l Hon. Hashim Sularman Neebi Municipalrty NRM Hon. Maneno Zorrlura DWR Obongi NRM 23 Hon. Nangoh Gerald Elgon North County NRM 24 Hon. Ababrku Jessrca DWR Adj uman NRM 25 Hon. Wakabi Pius Buga hya County NRM -:.\ 26 Hon. Linda lrcne DWR Fort Portal NRM 27 Hon. Kamukama Davis Bunyangabu Count5r NRM 2a Hon. Tw'alla Fadrl Tingey County NRM 29 Hon. Nsrbambr Yusuf Mawokota South County FDC q+ -.,1--tt 30 Hon. Ekanya Geofrey Tororo County FDC 31 Hon. Okot Santa DWR Aruu North PPP 32 Hon. Auma Kenny Kwania North UPC .).) Hon. Scbamala Richard Bukoto Central DP 34 Hon. Okupa Ehlah Kasrlo County IND 35 Hon. Mprndr Bumali RrDs Rcp IND 36 Hon. Nsanja Patrrck NtenJeru County South IND 37 Hon Acora Nancy DWR Lamwo IND 38 Hon Mugema Peter lganga Municipalrty IND 39 Hon. Roland Ndyomuglenyi Rukiga County IND &^^.*r*i

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity. I rise on an urgent matter of national importance regarding a new wave of livestock raids, at gunpoint, from South Sudan, associated with general terror and insecurity in Lamwo County and the district. In the last few weeks, fear and terror have gripped my constituency of Lamwo as a result of a new and heightened wave of animal rustling. The animals include cattle, goats, and sheep. The affected subcounties of Lamwo District include Agoro, Madi-Opei, Paloga – my home area – Lokung, Potika, and Nyimur. As a result of the raids and general insecurity, there has been displacement of people and movement of animals away from the hotspots along the South Sudan border to other areas in the interior of the district. This population and animal relocation has affected and continues to stifle farm production activities on the land. In particular, the PDM programme is getting scuttled despite the vigorous and successful steps the constituency and district has taken to significantly increase production, following the disbursement of funds to the majority of the SACCO accounts. Other than the envisaged scuttling of the agro activities, famine and associated complications of disease, hopelessness, and misery are expected to ensue in the near future –

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. 3. Personnel of the OPM and disaster preparedness be dispatched immediately to assess the situation in preparation/ anticipation for disaster and other threatening fallouts from the state of fear and displacement of population and animals in Lamwo constituency and the district; 5. The resolutions from the security meeting be studied and internalised by various security agencies for implementation of the interventions. Finally, Mr Speaker and colleagues – (Laughter) - I would like to lay two documents on the Table as follows: 1. A copy of resolutions of the security meeting held in Lamwo District by the leaders in the affected subcounties on 27 June 2023; and 2. The latest document detailing PDM status in Lamwo, which is now in high gear but being threatened. I beg to submit.

9230 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT district as a hard-to-reach area so as to benefit from funds earmarked for such areas. His questions are: a) What criteria is used to determine hard-to- reach areas? b) What is the possibility of including other areas in the hard-to-reach areas category? c) Which areas are categorised as hard-to- reach? My response is that the Ministry of Public Service observed that there were areas in some local governments that had consistently failed to attract and retain skilled and capable human resource, leading to inadequacies and gaps in the delivery of services. This was observed through inspection reports, support supervision exercises and payroll status reports. These areas were, therefore, defined as hard to reach. Hard-to-reach areas are defined as remote or insecure areas that are unable to attract and retain sufficient numbers of motivated staff because of difficult living conditions. They are, therefore, “hard to work in and hard to stay in.” These areas are characterised by remoteness, insecurity and poor infrastructure, among others. In the Financial Year 2010-2011, Government approved payment of hardship allowances of 30 per cent of the basic monthly salary for public officers working in the local governments defined as hard to reach. The following 24 areas are categorised as hard-to-reach: Kotido, Nakapiripirit, Abim, Moroto, Kaabong, Pader, Kitgum, Nwoya, Amuru, Kalangala, Gulu, Bundibugyo, Adjumani, Kisoro, Kanungu, Bukwo, Ntoroko, Buvuma, Lamwo, Namayingo, Napak, Mayuge (specifically Malonge Island), Bugiri (specifically Sigulu Island), and Mukono (specifically Koome Islands). Over the years, the Ministry of Public Service has received requests from various local governments to be considered hard-to-reach areas. Consequently, the ministry carried out a study, in the year 2020, in order to review the hard-to-reach and hard-to-stay areas in the country based on the criteria of remoteness, insecurity and poor infrastructure. Out of the 63 districts that had requested to be considered, 54 were found to have hard- to-reach and hard-to-stay spots eligible for payment of the hard-to-reach allowance. In total, 340 hard-to-reach spots were identified as the qualifying localities within the 54 districts. Madam Speaker, allow me to lay, on the Table, a full list of the hard-to-reach and hard-to-stay areas in the country. In the interest of time, Members can access it. Madam Speaker, based on the criteria used, I would like to inform the honourable member that Rubanda was not categorised as a hard-to- reach and hard-to-stay district. It is also important to note that the Ministry of Public Service has not yet implemented the revised Hard-to-Reach Framework. The current priority of the Government is the salary enhancement of all public officers in a phased approach. Madam Speaker, I got another question from Hon. Francis Adome, MP for Moroto Municipality. His question was to know the Government’s plan to rehabilitate government- aided schools in Karamoja. My response is that the Government of Uganda, in collaboration with education development partners, has been providing infrastructure support to both primary and post-primary institutions in the Karamoja subregion. All the post-primary institutions (11 secondary schools and two PTCs) benefitted from infrastructure support under the Irish Aid. All secondary schools in the Karamoja subregion implementing Universal Secondary Education were provided with additional infrastructure under the World Bank support and were provided with additional classrooms to attain the recommended classroom-student ratio of 1:60. [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on a matter of national importance concerning massive tree cutting in Acholi Subregion, purposely for charcoal. As I speak now, we have people coming from all parts of Uganda based in Acholi Subregion and are cutting down trees massively, including Sheanut trees, especially in Kitgum, Pader and Lamwo. Surprisingly, the police officers are the ones protecting and encouraging those who are destroying the environment in Acholi Subregion. I remember when we raised the matter to the President, he directed that the police officers and the military personnel in Northern Uganda should stop massive tree cutting for charcoal in Acholi Subregion. Last Monday, the President issued an executive order, banning tree cutting for charcoal in Acholi, but, surprisingly, the police officers are still continuing to escort charcoal dealers right from the source up to Kampala. Mr Speaker, I would like the Minister of Internal Affairs to explain the role of the police officers and the military personnel in the charcoal deals in Acholi Subregion. [Mr Aleper] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

Vot nrD. Ainalrnt llrctl 60,+ 4.603.643.823 605 Jmla Ctt!. 4 .529 .t? | .? 53 606 lrra clw 1.520.445.594 607 Malaka Crtv )39.52? 544 604 r3,+.133.003 60q 16.663.662.020 610 Soroo CItv 2.914.038.950 ?ot Aoac Mumclbal Counc 2.75t '?4 610 ?05 Eatcbb. MumcDr-t Counc 6.634.70?.446 ?oe Kaba.lc MunrcDal Councd 3 .4O2.620 .232 ?09 Ka-6ull MumcDal Counc 6. t,+7.,m4.4 I a 7tl Kr!c!. Murlclaal Counc 2 4Sq O2A O3,+ ?t4 Krtaum MunrcrDrl Couac 8.200.000.000 ?t2 Lucaa Mu[rclDal Counc 6.983.786.560 ?22 Moroto MunrcDal Counc 2.? 52 _At3 _3?4 ?23 Mubcddc MumcrDal counc 3_qo2.556.4S5 ?28 NtunEa.mo MurlraDd C6unc 3.300.883. r82 ?11 Tororo MumcDal Counc 7.500.000.000 ao2 Adrumalu DBtnct 4.414.940.14S 8r0 lrua Dlltnct | .?2r .439 .83',t 437 l noro Dratnct 13.437.515.380 aso l(e.awcntc Drstnct l r.88,+.sog. r59 865 lorvandoaro O6tnct 5.S,13.241.324 a?9 Lamwo Dlstnct 2 .995.t32.922 aas Madr-Okollo Dtltnct t.t92.9??.ttg 896 Movo Drstnct 49S.547.37r 913 Oboaa Dlstrrcl r.gr7.?45.26s 931 2.590.662.?20 q34 Yuaba DBtflct 6.539 2r? .?46 IOTAI. 15{!.6{x).2m. 159 A IEI8: UNSp€t{T FUNOS lN fY202r22 (UGIO t1 61 L- Votc l(rac A.ao|rrt tIrOXt 606 2.962.$2 947 6lo Sorotr Crty 846.780.S03 ?ot Apac Munrcroal Councll 1.146.I()4.421 704 Kabalc Mumcroe-t Counc 1. r63.Or4.383 ?oe liamuh Munrabel Coua. 671.552,935 7to KaDchorwi MurucrDa.l councd lqI.t84.I0l ?13 ($o.o MutucrDal Counc[ 36.78 t.5r{ 715 1.S16. rOA_O73 Koboko-MumcDil Councd & € M*

7882 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEDULE NO. 1 FOR FY 2022/2023 benefiting districts are Kitgum, Lamwo and Nwoya. We recommend the approval of Shs 288,053,805. iii) Shs 150.601 billion is unspent funds for Financial Year 2021/2022 for USMID. Members, (see annex 7). We recommend approval of Shs 150.601 billion for USMID to facilitate Local Government Votes to settle contractual obligations. iv) Shs 225.233 billion is unspent funds for Financial Year 2021/2022 for the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer (UGIFT) reform for the construction of Seed Secondary School, upgrade of Health Centres IIs to IIIs, water projects and micro-scale irrigation projects (see annex 8). We recommend approval of Shs 225.233 billion to cater for all that. v) Shs 28.611 billion to cater for reallocation within the local Government budgets. This is required given that the funds were allocated to non-budgetary items and the requests for virement on these items are not in line with the 10 per cent threshold stated in the PFMA, 2015 (See annex 9 for details) We recommend approval of Shs 28.611 billion to cater for relocation within the Local Government budgets. Conclusion Mr Speaker, I request the House to consider the committee’s recommendations and approve the Supplementary Expenditure under Schedule No. 1, Addenda 1, 2, 3 and 4 for Financial Year 2022/2023 as outlined in the table below and the details in Annex 1 and 2 of the proposed supply schedules. Recurrent budget: Shs 1,714,590,568,914 Development: Shs 883,184,203,925 Grand total: Shs 2,597,774,772,839. Mr Speaker, I beg to report. (Applause)

Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity. I have heard the minister make a presentation of services under the disaster ministry. However, I would like to inform the minister that I did not hear anything about the distribution of food to our children who are suffering from the Nodding syndrome. These are no longer children, Madam Speaker; they are now youth who are becoming very wild in the community. I would like to report that in December, one of them hit his father to death. There were three in the family affected by this disease, but one boy - something came to his mind; he took a log and hit the father on the head. According to medical personnel, these children like to eat food most of the time and so when the parent fails to provide food, they get into trouble. This also gives me time to alert the Government that maybe at a certain time, we need to begin thinking about having rehabilitation centres. Kitgum, Lamwo, Pader and part of Omoro districts are affected. Where are we going to put these boys and girls who are a little bit mad and do not understand themselves? They will start raping girls and women on the way. We need to start thinking about that because they are not a few people; they are really many. Nonetheless, for now, I want to hear from the state minister whether there is food going to be given to them because normally, they give food to the parents. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, last year in October, I asked your office to help the people of Lamwo District to elevate Padibe Health Centre IV to a general hospital. I want to thank you because the Ministry of Health sent a team and they did an assessment. You also promised the people of Lamwo on this Floor of Parliament that you were going to use money from Dr Deep to raise Padibe Health Centre IV to a general hospital. After the assessment was done, my people thought we were going to get that elevation through your Minister of Health, as a Christmas gift. However, up to now, we have not got any feedback. I want to still ask you, since the minister is available, to help the people of Lamwo get that feedback.

Mr Speaker, of course elevation is a process. Now that the technical team came on the ground, you just have to be patient. Dr Deep - maybe the unfortunate thing is phasing out, but I, you and the Minister of Northern Uganda will sit and agree on how to prioritise Lamwo. The Minister of Health is here -

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want to comment on the issues of deleting names of staff and also delays in the payments of salaries. For example, in Lamwo, there are many civil servants who have cried, day in and day out. Some of them have spent one and a half years without salary. I wonder how Public Service sends money to the district, but the human resource officers in the districts do not pay the intended recipients. It is my prayer that the Ministry of Local Government should enact some laws to manage these human resource officers because we have come to realise that there are other people who have already been transferred to other districts, but their names still feature on the payrolls. There are other civil servants who were appointed and have letters of appointment since last year or even 2021, but up to now, they have not received even a single coin of their salary. When we start talking, the human resource officers will say that saying we, politicians, are fighting them. It is a big problem because these are people who have children whose fees they have to pay. We request the Ministry of Local Government to take serious action. In fact, Lamwo District has featured in this report and it is quite bad. We want serious action taken against these human resource officers who are not doing well because I know that Public Service sends money and decentralises it to all the 146 districts.

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.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. This is a response to the question raised by Hon. Ababiku Jesca, Adjumani District Woman MP, on the impending expiry of the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID) project in refugee hosting districts. We have a running programme in 11 refugee- hosting districts of Adjumani, Terego, Madi- Okollo, Moyo, Obongi, Yumbe, Lamwo. They have signed a civil works contract for a total of 36 sub-projects. Right now, they have reported full mobilisation of their contractors with varying stages of construction ongoing. Mr Speaker, about the expiry of the USMID; USMID is supposed to expire in December 2023. Nevertheless, as a ministry, we have started engaging all the stakeholders to enable us have a successor-project that will benefit our cities and some of the municipalities. That is the statement as of now. I beg to submit. RESPONSES TO QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Lamwo?

5825 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2022 Sudan. Lamwo District does not have a general hospital. We are being served by Padibe Health Centre IV. In February, UNHCR and the Ministry of Health’s commissioner in charge of infrastructure went to Lamwo to do assessment on the elevation and upgrade of the facility to a general hospital. However, up to now, we have not got any feedback. Our prayer is that the Government of Uganda, through your office, upgrades Padibe Health Centre IV to a general hospital. Otherwise, Padibe is constrained. I beg to submit.

Madam Speaker, I am here to give response on behalf of the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs. The first question was raised by Hon. Acora Nancy, Member of Parliament Lamwo District on the insecurity in the district where about two people were killed and about 270 heads of cattle were lost. In Lamwo District, these incidents were attributed to, among others; 1. Porosity of the border, Lamwo is bordering South Sudan. 2. Unresolved border dispute between Uganda and South Sudan. However, efforts are there to re-demarcate the border. 3. Cross-border community dynamics, including cross border movements for socio-economic activities. For example, intermarriages, farming, visits. 4. Disruption of cross-border security meetings by the COVID-19 pandemics. Investigations were carried out regarding the incident on 5 March 2020, where two people namely Okello Joseph, aged 46, and Aroma David aged 38 by suspected Langi of South Sudan were killed revealed. The investigation revealed the following: 1. In 2021, local authorities resolved to establish community kraals for protection of livestock of the locals. The community of Oryang Village, Pobura Parish, Madi Opei Subcounty, Lamwo District where the incident occurred, formed two kraals with the 201 heads of cattle. 2. On the fateful day, it was the turn of the deceased persons to graze the cattle, which were 193 in number. 3. The victims had taken the cattle to the watering point approximately four kilometres to the border, when they were attacked by eight armed warriors from South Sudan. 4. Due to the proximity of the scene of crime to the border, the attackers managed to cross back into South Sudan before our own security forces could quickly respond.

4336 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME 5. The attackers hailed from Lodwara in South Sudan and belong to the Koki clan. 6. Efforts are ongoing to recover the stolen livestock and bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice, working in collaboration with the South Sudan authorities. In view of the continued pockets of insecurity in the affected districts, the following measures are being taken: 1. Continuous readjustments in security deployments to deal with the threats. 2. Enhancing kraal-based intelligence collection to support security operations. 3. Construction of security roads, especially along the borders to stem the cross-border issues. 4. Enhancing coordination amongst various local security actors, including the district security committees. Madam Speaker, the latest is that we have had a meeting of the Chiefs of Defence Forces of Republic of Uganda and that of South Sudan and the agreement is that for those who are visiting from South Sudan, when coming to Lamwo, they should not come while armed; that is the latest we have. 6(II)(B) OVER THE EVICTION OF 700 RESIDENTS OF KATABI TOWN COUNCIL BY SPECIAL FORCES COMMAND (SFC) – BY HON. MATOVU CHARLES, MP BUSIRO SOUTH

I am very grateful for the opportunity given to me. I also would like to appreciate the minister for the response delivered, especially on the issue of the border with Lamwo District. Madam Speaker, part of the reason the people of Lamwo, Kitgum and Agago are suffering is because of the porous border. We have reliable information - and security is very aware of this - the reason why the Government is also getting difficulty with the disarmament in Karamoja sub region is because of the porous border. Some of the cattle rustlers normally penetrate to South Sudan and buy guns and come back with those guns for raiding cattle. And I would like to find out the strategy the Government has in place in mitigating some of the porous borders because it is becoming a big problem. And then, two, the minister talked about the border conflicts. What are some of the strategies that are also put in place to make sure the conflicts on the border are mitigated? I thank you.

Thank you for your protection, Madam Speaker. What is the latest? I actually said here that the latest - by the time we prepared this response – is quite a number of weeks ago - as I was concluding on Lamwo. I said the latest is that our CDF and the CDF of South Sudan have already engaged each other. This is just in the past two weeks. Right now, the situation there is that no South Sudanese is allowed to cross over the border with a gun. If there is any new –

First of all, the verification takes place. This is not isolated to cases of Lamwo, Madi Opei where I have been myself; I mean in the whole Acholi Sub-region and the border districts. I do not know where I have not been to. Secondly -

Thank you very much. On international borders, as I said, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of East African Community Affairs, has been charged with a duty to lobby the sister ministers of Africa within the member countries to effect the East African Boundaries Commission to make sure they start working. The issue of protection of territorial integrity is the mandate of the UPDF. But the challenge we have when the UPDF goes out; not long ago, a few weeks ago, they were in Lamwo and repulsed those South Sudanese - I do not want to say it here, but a few casualties were realised from those who resisted. So, the UPDF gets into a problem because they can only enforce when the boundaries are demarcated. This is work in progress, we are now waiting for the Minister of East African Community and First Deputy Prime Minister to come up with a report so that the East Africa Boundaries Commission should help to fast track that, with our Ministry of Lands. Therefore, colleagues we need your support; the other ministries will need the money also to do that. Hon. Biraro, soldiers dressed in police or in UWA uniforms? Hon. Biraro, you know that I know you very well, but today you confused me. How you are able to tell that these are soldiers dressed in police uniform or in UWA uniform; there is a problem there. Hon. Biraro, are you still there? We need to talk; we need details to help us speak with some clarity. UPDF has gazetted uniforms; they are known and are not shy to put it on, including in the Parliament of Uganda. Therefore, I think with that, I would invite hon. Ephraim Biraro, who is my very good friend, to share with me so that we can - I think I have -