Oyam District

Once again, thank you, Mr Speaker. Being my maiden speech, my name is Hon. Peter Obong Acuda, the gazetted Member of Parliament for Maruzi County in Apac District. Mr Speaker, I also want to express my appreciation to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda for his State-of-the- Nation Address. There are areas that caught my ear and have touched my heart. These are: economic sovereignty, wealth creation and poverty eradication. Mr Speaker, if you remember very well, the President, in his own initiative, gave a lot of money outside. I would like to cite examples of Emyooga and, recently, the Parish Development Module (PDM). People have taken up the money and put it to use. Unfortunately, the Government, after giving out this money, did not follow up on the processes of accessing markets and the rest. Mr Speaker, the areas of concern in my constituency are Maruzi County, Maruzi North County, and Oyam South. There is a central Government road that runs from the main junction of Rwekunye to the Apac main road from Corner Amii via Alworocen to Aber in Oyam. Mr Speaker, this road has been submerged by water since 2023 to date. As I speak, no minister has ever stepped in to assess the situation of the road. This road affects access to services and service delivery centres. Recently, we lost four people from one family. In fact, as I speak, the orphans have lost their mother and father, who drowned in the water because of a lack of access to medical services from Ibuje Health Centre III. Mr Speaker, I would like to appeal to the President and the Minister of Works and Transport, who is appointed by the President, not only to sit in the office. People are praising Hon. Balaam for being a field minister. Let the Minister of Works and Transport also be a field minister and assess the situation of the central Government roads within the country and give feedback to the appointing authority so that Parliament can appropriate resources for these roads to be improved. Mr Speaker, I want to thank you for the opportunity. I still commit to serving the interests of this Parliament and the interests of the country of Uganda as a Member of Parliament. May God bless you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker for giving me this opportunity. Allow me to draw the attention of the Rt Hon. Prime Minister. Mr Speaker, Oyam District is the food basket for Lango subregion. As we talk, the abandoned national road, especially the one connecting from Minakulu-Mitakyo-Kamdini-Loro to Oyam District headquarters is not accessible. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, Lango Subregion is supportive of other areas in terms of food. These roads are impassable. Trailers and trucks are stuck inside those subcounties. We call upon you to do something. Relatable, the road from Namasale, Ochero, Dokolo to Alebtong needs the attention of the Ministry of Works and Transport.

Your Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, my Lord the Chief Justice, the Rt Hon. Speaker, honourable members. My name is Dr Eunice Otuko Apio, Member of Parliament representing the great people of Oyam County North in Oyam District. Mr Speaker, women do matter in the affairs of this country and at all levels of leadership. I, therefore, rise in accordance with Rule 6 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Uganda to move that the capable Hon. Sarah Aguti, Woman Member of Parliament for Dokolo District, do take the Chair of this Parliament as Deputy Speaker of the 12 th Parliament of Uganda. Mr Speaker, Hon. Sarah Aguti is a committed legislator who has consistently demonstrated dedication to public service and parliamentary work. She holds a degree in Social Work and Social Administration in addition to a number of postgraduate certificates reflecting her continued commitment to leadership and professional development. She possesses the integrity, the temperament, and the ability required to serve this House diligently and fairly. Mr Speaker, allow me to emphatically note that as we have today elected a male speaker, you, Rt Hon. Speaker, it is important that this House now holds the principle of gender parity in its leadership. Electing Hon. Sarah Aguti as Deputy Speaker would reinforce our commitment to inclusive representation and ensure that the leadership of Parliament reflects both men and women at the highest level. Mr Speaker, Hon. Sarah affiliates with the Uganda People’s Congress Party. Her candidature, therefore, speaks to the spirit of multiparty democracy and the importance of accommodating diverse political views and voices in the leadership of the House. I, therefore, urge you, honourable members, to support this motion and elect Hon. Sarah Aguti as Deputy Speaker of the 12 th Parliament. I also congratulate you, Mr Speaker, upon your election to lead us in the House. I beg to move. Thank you.

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

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

Exactly! What I have seen with UNRA is that they have only changed the logo, and yet they used to have very good workshops. What about districts like Ntungamo, Isingiro, Kasese, or Oyam that are too big, in terms of equipment? The President promised that they will be given additional equipment and additional Shs 1 billion for road maintenance.

18628 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 districts that are too big – districts like Isingiro, Kasese, Oyam, Yumbe – there are about six districts. He said they were going to give them additional equipment – that is number one. Secondly, he also said they were going to give them additional Shs 1 billion for road maintenance. When we had a top political meeting on the budget, the President even emphasised to the PS/ST that this money must be provided. The equipment can be in a phased manner, but the money for road maintenance should start this financial year.

This is because I was in that meeting, and those districts must get their money. Yes, Member for Oyam?

Thank you. Madam Speaker, on the project on Industrial Parks Electrification Phase II, the intended project is to construct substations and power lines to supply power to industrial parks. This will include the Sukulu Hills in Tororo, Mbale Industrial Park, Kapeeka Park in Nakaseke, the Wobulenzi Park in Luwero, and Nakasongola-Kaweweta Defense Industrial Park, amongst others. Under the Kampala Metropolitan Transmission System Improvement Project, we intend to have an upgrade of the Kawaala, Mutundwe, Mukono, and Buloba-related infrastructure. Madam Speaker, the planned area of benefit is Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono environs. Madam Speaker, there is the ORIO Mini Hydro and Rural Electrification Project. The ministry intends to undertake construction of the mini hydro infrastructure, 288-kilometre distribution network, and 71,081 last-mile connections, particularly intended for areas in Hoima, Nchweera, Igassa, and Nsongya. Forgive my pronunciation due to cultural challenges. On the Kiba Hydropower Project, the ministry is undertaking a feasibility study, the environmental sustainability impact assessment, and access works and stakeholder engagement for this mini project, which is intended to be constructed in Nwoya and Kiryandongo districts. The Oriang Hydropower Project is still the same, and it is intended to be located in Nwoya and Oyam districts. On the Ayago Hydropower Project, preparatory studies are to be undertaken, as well as stakeholder management activities. The same is in Nwoya and Kiryandongo areas. Under the Buyende Nuclear Power Plant site evaluation is going to be undertaken, including meteorological tower installation, seismic and groundwater monitoring, and a resettlement action plan finalisation. This project will be located in Buyanja Subcounty in Buyende District. Madam Speaker, on the geothermal development, there is an intention to undertake deep exploration and drilling, as well as undertake surface studies. This project will be in Kibiro in Hoima, in Panyimur in Pakwach, in Okidi in Amuru, Karungu in Rubanda, Ihimbo in Rukungiri, and Kabuga in Kasese. The electricity access scale-up project

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.

18652 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 The gravity-piped water schemes are intended for Mbunga-Nyakazinga and Bughema in Kasese, and Mpunga in Kanungu. The climate-span smart wash clusters for Rwere in Kateretere, Bugarama-Karweru and Kagarama-Bushura-Kibuzigye in Rubanda, Kabale and Kisoro areas. Karamoja region schemes Under the institutional water schemes, Nadunget SS in Moroto, Amita Prisons in Abim. Public sanitation facilities There shall be two institutions in Karenga and one in Ngora. Additional water schemes in Kalapata, Lorengedwat, Tokora, Kathile listed under the broader solar and service expansion. The committee notes that the ministry’s water for production portfolio is particularly important in the drought-prone and livestock- dependent areas for expanding irrigation agriculture. Colleagues, we have selected water for production projects, which you will all see. I want to allow you to see them by yourselves. Under table 16, in Isingiro, Kanungu, and then those in Karamoja. Another area that will be covered is Agule in Kalaki, Soroti District, Bulusambu in Mbale, Biduku in Nakaseke, Kiryandongo, Masaka, Oyam, Gulu, Nwoya, among others. There will be solar-powered irrigation water systems also cited in the numerous areas across Central, Eastern, Northern, Karamoja, and Southwestern regions. Colleagues, the other aspects are those that I believe we will go through. I just would like to invite you to the aspect of the unfunded priority under Vote 019. Madam Speaker, the committee notes that under the project 2041- this is 7.6 colleagues: 100 per cent Service Coverage Acceleration project, (SCAP 100, Umbrellas Phase II), the Ministry of Water and Environment has identified critical financing gaps for targeted investments in water pipeline extensions, power extensions to pump stations, off-grid solar installations, and pump stations and drilling of production wells in small towns, rural growth centers, and the six umbrella and water and sanitation projects countrywide. Colleagues, in totality, the SCAP 100 project was in response to His Excellency, the President’s promise that every village in Uganda should have at least one clean water source. So, SCAP 100 was intended to ensure that water sources are placed in districts and in administrative units such as sub-counties, so as to distribute water using piped water systems. So SCAP 100 is crucial because it responds to the Government’s undertaking to the citizens. Here, the committee identified a funding gap of Shs 35.85 billion for Financial Year 26/27, which would support the undertaking of rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation skip schemes, as well as extend 5,000 kilometers of pipeline water to provide for 5,000 new water connections in the various communities of the country. The committee further notes an unfunded requirement under the water and sanitation development facilities that are responsible for the design, construction, and setting up of infrastructure for rural water supply. Colleagues, the unfunded priorities under Vote 019 are provided for under table 18. Madam Speaker, permit me to conclude with National Water and Sewerage Corporation. National Water and Sewerage Corporation remains central to urban water service delivery and to several other sectors, most visible investments in towns and municipalities. The committee notes that National Water and Sewerage Corporation medium-term financial and investment plan covers five projects currently supported by government

18653 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 and development partners, namely SCAP 100, Kampala Water-Lake Victoria and Sanitation Project, the Southwestern Cluster, the Integrated Water Management and Development Project, and the Wakiso West Water Sanitation Project. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation funding gap in the Financial Year 26/27 is provided for under Table 19. In particular, you note that there is a funding gap of Shs 62 billion for SCAP 100, 45 in the seven towns water project between Karuma and Gulu. As you might know, a multi-million thirty million cubic water supply project was set up at Karuma to supply Oyam, Gulu, and the neighbouring districts of Northern Uganda. Therefore, this money is necessary for the distribution of this water. There is need to undertake urgent but critical water projects in Nakawuka, in Kakumiro, and in Bukedea, which remains one of the only districts in Teso currently not covered sufficiently by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation. These provide us with a requirement of about Shs 50 billion, to be specific. Madam Speaker, the committee remains deeply concerned about the continued accumulation of the government water arrears owed to National Water and Sewerage Corporation because this undermines the corporation’s cash flow, weakens its creditworthiness, and constrains its capacity to sustain service delivery and finance new infrastructure investments. The updated arrears information submitted to the committee shows that as at the end of March 2026, the outstanding arrears stood at approximately Shs 75.37 billion. The committee notes that a significant portion of the verified water areas owed by the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to National Water was accumulated over two Financial years and amounted to Shs 24.42 billion as of February 2025. Madam Speaker, you might note that with your leadership and with the work of this Parliament, the Government provided money to clear the outstanding arrears that were owed to National Water by the MDAs. I wish to note here that the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, in particular, and the Uganda Police Force -

There are two things that you need to – honourable minister, two things; the PDM, Shs 15 billion, and then the Shs 1 billion to Isingiro, Ntungamo, Kasese and Yumbe; the big districts. They were about five big districts – an additional Shs 1 billion plus additional equipment – and Oyam District.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Further to that, I would like to thank Hon. Acuti very much for elaborating in detail on the progress or the lack of it, on that road. The President himself, during his recent campaign tour in Oyam North but also in the neighbouring districts in the north, pledged to have this road tarmacked as a matter of priority. We also had a number of meetings - Hon. Acuti and I, with the minister of works, late last year - to urge our communities, both in Kole, Oyam, and also in Toci, to accept to sign or to enter into agreement with the Government by signing commitment forms to allow compensation to take place after the works have started. It baffles me and the communities of Oyam and Kole that this project, which is really important, can be left out at this critical time. I would like the House - and you in particular, Madam Speaker, to urge or direct the relevant committees and the responsible ministry to prioritise this project in this ongoing budgeting process. Thank you very much.

17941 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2025 Madam Speaker, you raised a couple of pertinent issues, especially those to do with the human-wildlife conflict. I wish to inform this Parliament that we are constructing an electric fence in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls and we intend to add an additional 100 kilometres around the Murchison Falls; and we have done districts of Nwoya and Oyam. We are currently doing Buliisa, Kiryandongo and Masindi. We have done Kasese, Kitagwenda, Kanungu, Rubirizi, and we are currently doing Rukugiri. We intend to add another 50 kilometres. One of the areas that has been the biggest hotspot, is the Karenga or the Kidepo Valley Community Wildlife area. Through a directive from His Excellency, the President, but also with support of this Parliament, we are going to start by doing 128 kilometres of the Karenga, that is Karamoja, Kitgum and the districts around. We believe that in the next three to four years, we should be able to have finished fencing all these protected areas. Madam Speaker, the challenge has been because of the too much demand and pressure we have put as a population on most of these areas, most of the elephant corridors have been occupied by communities. These animals do not forget where they used to go and graze from, even as babies. They usually tend to trace where their parents probably - and it is something that they have in their memory. The only solution is to have them confined and it is something we are dealing with, plus other interventions to do with conversation and the rest. On the issues of the infrastructure - I want to thank the Government. In most of the protected areas, there is some good access and I want to assure the people around Ajai that with the reintroduction of the rhinos, definitely, you will see an improvement in infrastructure, not only by the Government, but even by the private sector. That is why it is important that we have this circuit completed and Ajai is included in the tourism circuit within the country. With those few remarks, thank you, Madam Speaker, for your support in the reintroduction of rhinos and your continued support as Parliament to the tourism sector and the support this country has given, because where there is no peace, there is no tourism. I always tell my brother, Hon. Ssenyonyi, that the only way we can sell this country is speaking good about it and selling the good. Hon. Ssenyonyi, I invite you and the entire Parliament on a one-week tour around the country so that you share, but you have a free invitation so that –(Interjection)– No, on our budget, yes -

Okay, so we will wait to hear your report. Let me let these pupils leave. In the public gallery this afternoon, we have students and teachers from Meta Primary school from Oyam County North, Oyam District. They are represented by Hon. Eunice Apio and Hon. Santa Alum. You are welcome. Where are the students? You are most welcome. Thank you so much for coming to the Parliament of Uganda. This is your House. Thank you. We also have, in the public gallery this afternoon, a delegation from the Uganda Local Government Association and the Urban Authorities Association of Uganda. Where are they? We have Hon. Kitatta Abdul, LC V Lwengo; they left. We have Hon. Turahi Alone, LC V Chairman Isingiro, who is unopposed already. We have Hon. Richard Akuku, Secretary-General, Local Governments. Thank you for coming. Yes?

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

17519 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 12 JNUE 2025 Agro-Industrialisation Madam Speaker, the interventions in agro- industrialisation this financial year and next financial year have prioritised research, an increase in productivity, commercialisation, and value addition in agriculture. Madam Speaker, some of the key achievements in this financial year include: 1. Research and genetic development of selected value chains. The National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Databank has introduced superior animal genetic resources for breeding, multiplication and distribution to farming households under PDM. NARO has completed the manufacturing facility for anti-tick vaccines at Nakyesasa in Wakiso District with the capacity to produce over 20 million doses of the anti-tick vaccine per year. NARO has also developed agricultural technologies that increase productivity such as water-saving cultivation technology, drought-resistant varieties, and integrated pest, disease and weed control technologies, among others. Research in coffee by NaCORI has contributed to increased national coffee production, productivity and export earnings. 2. Increasing agricultural production and productivity. The capacity of water for irrigation has increased to 54.76 million cubic metres. This is on account of Government investment in small and large irrigation systems, including solar-powered irrigation. In particular, seven large-scale irrigation schemes have been completed. These include Ngenge in Kween District; Rwengaaju in Kabarole; Tochi in Oyam; Mubuku II in Kasese; Olweny in Lira; Doho II in Butaleja; and Wadelai in Pakwach. Another three irrigation schemes are currently under construction. These are: Acomai in Bukedea District; Atari in Kween/ Bulambuli Districts; and Namatala, covering Budaka, Mbale and Butaleja Districts. Madam Speaker, another 145 solar-powered irrigation and water supply schemes have been completed across the country. In addition, 157 solar-powered irrigation and water supply schemes are under construction. Furthermore, 4,300 micro- scale irrigation facilities were constructed in 135 districts across the country and have benefitted smallholder farmers of less than 2.5 acres. Madam Speaker, in addition, the Government completed Usake Dam in Kaabong, and Ongunga Dam in Katakwi for livestock, irrigation and fish farming. In addition, 5,251 small- and medium- scale irrigation schemes were established in 135 districts. Madam Speaker, the Government established five zonal agricultural mechanisation centres in Namalere, Buwama, Bungokho, Agwata and Sanga to support equipment access and tractor hire services; procured and distributed 260 assorted four-wheeled tractors and implements to farmer groups in 60 districts countrywide, 750 power tillers (single-axle tractors and implements), and two pieces of dredging equipment for water hyacinth and weed control; and trained 2,150 youth and women as operators, artisans and mechanics for tractors and implements. Beginning this financial year, the Government introduced the large-scale commercial farmer interest-free credit facility of Shs 175 billion. This facility will help to increase production and productivity for improved food security and exports. The loan facility can be accessed through Government-owned banks, namely Post Bank, Housing Finance Bank, and Pride Bank Limited. 3. Agricultural value addition and marketing. NARO completed setting up an Aflasafe facility at Namulonge with capacity to eliminate aflatoxin contamination in grains. The facility has capacity to clean five tons of produce per hour. This will save the country an estimated $38 million per year, which is lost in export rejections due to aflatoxins and, most importantly, save the lives of Ugandans. Madam Speaker, to add value to agricultural produce, the Government constructed 11 agro- processing and storage facilities to increase opportunities for value-addition and access to high value markets. These include Rwimi Rice Processing Facility in Bunyangabu; Kasina Maize

17526 BUDGET SPEECH ii) Enhance access to electricity through implementation of the $638 million Electricity Access Scale-up Project covering grid expansion, connectivity and clean energy options for one million new electricity connections. Further, the Government will continue investing in priority transmission lines and sub-stations, particularly to the industrial parks, growth centres and other strategic manufacturing facilities like the clinker factory in Moroto, Karamoja; the fertiliser factory in Kampirigisa, Mpigi; Simba Cement Factory in Mbarara, Western Uganda; Dei BioPharma in Matugga, Wakiso District; and; the Coffee Factory in Ntungamo, among others. iii) Commence development of new power generation plants to meet the growing demand. These include new hydropower plants at Ayago and Oriang in Nwoya District, and Kiba in Oyam District, the development of nuclear power in Buyende District, and the rehabilitation of Kiira- Nalubaale Power Plant. Industrial Development and Manufacturing Madam Speaker, with regard to industrial development and manufacturing, the following achievements have been registered: i) The Government has operationalised eight industrial parks, which include Namanve, Luzira, Bweyogerere, Mbale, Soroti, Kasese, Mbarara, and Jinja industrial parks. We have also supported the development of three privately-owned industrial parks, which are Liao Shen Kapeeka in Nakaseke District, MMP in Buikwe District, and Tian Tang in Mukono. ii) To-date, a total of 628 companies/industries have been allocated land within the various industrial parks, 47 per cent of which are in manufacturing. Out of all the companies allocated land, 307 are fully operational, 195 are undertaking construction, and 122 have commenced preparatory activities. The parks have attracted a total capital investment of $4.5 billion and created 181,403 jobs. iii) Madam Speaker, several industrial parks have become centres of innovation, hosting firms that have introduced new technologies and products, such as: a single HIV pill (Quality Chemicals Ltd); GIS transformers (Orion Electricals); plastic-to-fabric recycling (Fei Long Investment Ltd); locally manufactured electric vehicles (Kiira Motors); the first powder-free surgical gloves (East African Medical Vitals); and import substitution products like fridges, transformers, toiletries, textiles, ceramics, televisions, and blankets. iv) The government has supported industrialisation by investing in strategic manufacturing facilities through Uganda Development Corporation with a total investment of Shs 1.2 trillion. Madam Speaker, next financial year, I have provided Shs 308.9 billion to further support infrastructure development in industrial parks, including roads, waste management, drainage, and utilities; and Shs 187 billion for capitalisation of Uganda Development Corporation (UDC). Security, Good Governance, and Rule of Law Madam Speaker, security, good governance and the rule of law are the foundation for socio- economic transformation. Everybody knows that. During this financial year, the following achievements were registered: i) Strengthened and modernised the security infrastructure to protect Ugandans, investors and our visitors from any security threats. We have invested in security apparatus and more sophisticated intelligence network and border control mechanisms. ii) Provided adequate funds to security institutions, including the Military, Police, Prisons, and intelligence agencies for operations, and improving the capacity and welfare of men and women in uniform. iii) Promoted regional and international relations, including playing a strategic role in peace processes in Somalia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Equatorial Guinea;

17498 ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION In the past, delayed investment in new electricity generation capacity led to power blackouts – Do you remember? And it affected productivity in the industrial services sector. To stop this from happening again, the Government will commence investment in new hydropower plants at Ayago in Nwoya District, 840 megawatts; Kiba in Oyam District, 400 megawatts; and Oriang in Nwoya, 382 megawatts. In addition, work is ongoing for the 8,400 megawatts nuclear power plant in Buyende District. All these investments, when completed, will bring Uganda’s electricity generation capacity to 12,074 megawatts. However, we are aiming at 52,000 megawatts. Human capital The Government continues – Do not mind the long speech; you are the ones who invited me. (Laughter) - to focus on attaining a good standard of health for Ugandans and those living in Uganda. The prevention strategy remains the most powerful tool for fighting diseases. Therefore, I urge all Ugandans to adopt healthy lifestyles by exercising, maintaining personal hygiene, eating nutritious foods, sleeping under a treated mosquito net, refraining from dangerous practices like smoking, sexual promiscuity, etc. While the Government is investing in improving the health infrastructure across the country, it is the responsibility of every individual to ensure that they live in a clean and safe environment to avoid falling sick. Government has invested in a number of health infrastructure projects. These include infrastructure development for the Uganda Cancer Institute and regional cancer centres, the Uganda Heart Institute, intensive care units and imaging centres for referral hospitals. Construction of new maternity wards and staff houses in the health centres II that are being upgraded to health centres III, is currently ongoing. This has significantly increased the health facilities in all districts across the country. For example, when I visited Yumbe District recently, I found out that Yumbe alone has 26 health centres III. This means that our people, especially children and expectant mothers, no longer have to travel long distances when they get sick or when they are going to give birth. This also supports immunisation, which helps to raise healthy children, and supports the detection of dangerous disease outbreaks before they spread. The Government has supported the establishment of a pharmaceutical industrial park at Namanve that is producing surgical gloves and examination gloves, disposable syringes, human drugs like magnesium sulphate and paracetamol. Next financial year, the Government will support the construction of specialised centres of excellence for cancer and cardiovascular treatment, among others. Education The Government has introduced reforms in the education sector, which are aimed at re-orienting the curriculum towards a competency-based approach. This involves equipping learners with practical skills and competencies that are required in the private sector. This will help to reduce unemployment among school graduates. Government continued to implement the Universal Primary Education programme, reaching 8.8 million learners across 12,433 Government-aided primary schools at a sum of Shs 184 billion. The Government, through the School Facility Grant, constructed 413 new classrooms for primary schools and renovated 181 classrooms. Government procured and distributed 334 sets of mini-laboratory equipment to 334 primary Government schools to enhance practical science learning and foster early scientific curiosity among young learners. A total of 593 teachers were recruited to facilitate operationalisation of the newly grant- aided secondary schools in sub-counties. The Government has successfully completed the construction of an additional 50 seed secondary

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the committee for giving us a very good report. My first question is to the Minister of Health: Sometime back, you called us to Nakasero to receive ambulances. When will Oyam District get the pledge of the ambulance? People are asking day in, day out. Secondly, I would like to address myself to the issue of counterpart funding arising from President Trump’s Executive Order because it has affected HIV infected persons. It has affected malaria and Tuberculosis control – where we have children, women, and others also infected. The committee has recommended Shs 9.6 billion, Mr Speaker. I think when you look at our population, and the people affected from these diseases, this Parliament can find room to provide this money. Thirdly, I would like to add my voice to the issue of cancer in this country. We recommended that the PET machine be bought. The whole of last year, I was in the Uganda Cancer Institute with my late dad and the congestion there – We are now in the rainy season; when it is raining, you will find attendants outside and beaten by rain. If there is something that this Parliament can do, again, let us buy this machine and secondly, focus on decongesting the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago by providing money for Mbarara Satellite Centre and then the Northern Regional Centre. When we look at the Uganda Cancer Institute, from congestion to lack of drugs, inadequate staff, you will find that we have a big problem as far as this disease is concerned. Then, finally, I would like to talk about the maintenance of equipment. We have bought equipment in many regional referral hospitals but we do not have the technicians to service and maintain them. It, therefore, looks like we are moving one step forward and two backward. Money has been spent but the equipment works for about two to five months or even a full year and then they are down and remain there. When the patients come in, they are referred to private facilities. I would like to thank you and I pray that this Parliament finds room to accommodate the budget, especially for the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I join my colleagues to thank the chairperson of the committee. Mr Speaker, to start with, you have been emphasising the Positron Emission Tomography machine (PET) for testing of cancer. There is also the dialysis machine for those who are - all of us are victims of kidney failure and the associated problems it comes with. I, therefore, recommend that we should put aside some funds so that most of our regional referral hospitals get this machine. For example, Kitgum and Agago - everybody has to run and go towards Oyam. Secondly, there was a project which the minister had to fast-track. It is about the teaching

16944 APPROVAL OF BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2025/2026 The last one is an appreciation for the committee’s emphasis on addressing the issue of public engagement, support, and awareness. Mr Speaker, the only time that my constituents get to hear anything to do with the East African Community is when there are EALA elections. Short of that, everything is silent, and no one in Oyam is substantively aware of what we are discussing and what we intend to do at the East African Community. I would like to commend the committee on that and urge that we give them adequate resources to do their job. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to start from the issue regarding the RDCs. Honourable chairperson, you mentioned some districts including Kasese, Nsingiro, Tororo, Wakiso and others - about six of them but I urge you to have a national lens - Honourable Alex, I am talking to you but you are engaged elsewhere. (Laughter) Why didn’t you have a lens towards the northern part of Uganda? A case in point is a district that I represent; Oyam, which is very big and my RDCs are really suffering because of the big size of the district. Mr Speaker, the number of the RDCs that we have now is enough. For example, we have four who can traverse the entire district if they are fully facilitated. Secondly, I would like to add my voice to the Youth MP’s voice about the Afro-Arab Youth Conference, which our country is about to

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the chairperson for coming up with this report. I would like to first address myself to the minister in charge of energy. Honourable minister, are you aware that we still have schools without connectivity to the electricity grid? For example, in Oyam, we still have secondary seed schools without connectivity. I have walked to your office many times but with very little help. With the coming of this report, I want to believe that my good friend, the honourable minister in charge of energy, will this time around see us and make sure that we have connectivity because when we are talking about electricity and ICT, they move together. Secondly, we also have schools – this is to the minister, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi; we still have schools without computers. For example, in my area, we have Acaba Secondary School; I have just received a letter from the headmaster. A school of 1,600 students has only 10 computers, but we are talking about ICT universally. Thirdly, Mr Speaker, reading the report, we still have a challenge with local governments who are taking a back seat. ICT plays a very crucial role in effectiveness and efficiency in service delivery. If we do not have local governments on board, then we are going to achieve very little because these people are at the grassroots. When we talk about awareness, these are the people who are supposed to help us work with the system and make the local communities aware of the services that help in service delivery. Finally, there is the high cost of connectivity and bandwidth. If the cost is still high and yet we need this system, then we are failing at the onset. I want to thank you, and I would like to believe that since we are in the budget cycle when the report comes back – when we are [Mr Okot] SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT

Thank you. Member for Kiboga and Member for Oyam.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. This particular proposal will paint a very wrong picture of Parliament and it can easily be abused. If we have a weakness from, for example, Oyam- we have gone to the field before, for example, when we were creating local governments, we go nearer to the people and we have money for that as a Parliament. Two, if we start like this and then a witness is summoned and he or she fails to appear before the committee, how will the clerk be accounting for this if there are like 10 or 20? Madam Chairperson, I object and pray that we drop this proposal.

16005 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 4 FEBRUARY 2025 6. UWA engages in the sensitisation of people living in districts prone to human-wildlife conflict on the cause and dangers of human- wildlife conflict as well as compensation rights and procedures under regulations in case of harm to life or property; and 7. UWA ensures the timely payment of claims for compensation that are due to claimants in compliance with Clause 15 of the Uganda Wildlife (Compensation Scheme) Regulations, 2022. Problem animals in human-wildlife conflict Mr Speaker, from the submissions that the committee received from UWA and from residents in areas where human-wildlife conflicts have occurred, wild animals that have caused mayhem include elephants, hippos, buffaloes, chimpanzees, monkeys in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park, followed by crocodiles that have killed humans and caused injuries in some parts of Buliisa, Oyam, Apac, among others. Furthermore, Caracals have been reported by some residents in Katakwi and Serere districts to frequently predate on domestic animals and birds, including sheep, goat, cows, turkeys, chicken and ducks. Mr Speaker, we have attached an image of the Caracal, for those that do not know it, on Appendix J. Mr Speaker, the committee further observed that whereas Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Act, Cap. 315, provides for compensable wildlife species whose damage creates liability for compassion, including elephants, lions, leopards, crocodiles, buffaloes, hyenas, hippopotami, gorillas, chimpanzees, baboons and bush pigs, damage to property and lives is caused by other wild animals including monkeys, caracals, squirrels, edible rats, snakes, for which the law does not provide compensation. Recommendations of the committee 1. Mr Speaker, the committee recommends that in order to safeguard communities from incidences of human-wildlife conflict, UWA should take deliberate steps to relocate identified problematic animals to gazetted national parks and game reserves; and 2. The Government should amend the Wildlife Act, Cap. 315 to include other wild species like caracals that cause destruction to human lives and property, but are currently not included in schedule four of the Act. Behavioural instincts of wild animals The committee observed that wild animals have instincts and unique behaviours. For instance, herds of herbivores like zebras, impalas, antelopes, elephants, and buffaloes will migrate to different locations following specific routes, purposely to feed, breed, and raise their young ones. Carnivores like lions, hyenas, and leopards are territorial in nature and will mark their hunting grounds with urine as a sign of their dominance over their grounds. According to research carried out on elephant migration triggers and effects on the surrounding environment, it was established that elephants’ migration is unique because elephants do not migrate innately like other species such as zebras and hummingbirds. These species are born with an innate sense to migrate every year at a certain point without fail. The study stated that elephants can make a concise decision to migrate based on when they feel necessary, and that causal factors that may lead to their migration include habitat loss, search for nutrition, and avoiding predators. Migration of elephants can be triggered in some ways and this migration causes considerable damage to the surrounding environment. Mr Speaker, the committee observes as follows: 1. Some causal factors like increasing human population that lead to habitat loss have driven wild animals like elephants out of

15821 THE E LEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY , 29 JANUARY 2025 We would like to report that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has so far, cumulatively, paid 1,118 claimants/ beneficiaries, as opposed to the 800 stated by the committee’s report. More information relating to the above can be obtained from the website already mentioned. Furthermore, in clause 3.4(ii), on page 15 of its report, the committee, in Nwoya District, observed that out of the lost 8,620 livestock, the total payment made so far is Shs 177,410,947 equivalent to 169 head of cattle. This is far from the truth. Our information, which is readily available on the website, shows and confirms that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, at the time, had paid out Shs 2,970,000,000 to Nwoya District, which is equivalent to 2,289 livestock. Additionally, in clause 3.4(iii) on page 15 of its report, the committee, in Kitgum District, observed that of the 1,336 claimants/ beneficiaries submitted for payment, only 11 were fully paid. Mr Speaker, our information reveals that a total of 27 claimants/beneficiaries had been fully paid, 420 claimants/beneficiaries partially paid and 376 claimants/beneficiaries not paid at all – but will be paid once the resources are available. The committee, in clause 3.4 on page 16 of its report, observed that in Oyam District, a total of 14,471 claimants/ beneficiaries, were registered and that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs issued only 6,000 data cards. Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, in 2016, verified 6,618 claimants/beneficiaries in Oyam District and equally in 2021, issued to Oyam District a corresponding number of 6,618 data cards. The discrepancy highlighted by the committee has arisen as a result of the Attorney- General’s instructions to the districts to also verify claimants/beneficiaries who took the Government to court in cases such as; Francis Ongia (formerly Betty Okello), and Delyon Johnson, which has led to the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs procuring additional data cards to cover the additional numbers. We have observed that whereas we furnished the Committee on Government Assurances and Implementation with information relating to financial years 2021/2022 and 2023/2024, it appears that the committee did not consider both financial years presented – and that is why they have discrepancies in their report. I beg to submit.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to appreciate honourable members because they were very vigilant on this matter. I wrote over 70 questions and comments because I was writing everything apart from Hon. Namugga. (Laughter) In light of the discrepancies and the submission by Hon. Mudimi, I am not an accountant, and so I think it will be best explained if my finance people can interface with the committee and go over these figures. Secondly, the honourable chairperson of the committee, Dr Abed talked about the claimants that were left out. Honourable colleagues, I need you to understand that there was an initial verification done in 2016. That is when the lists were made. But sometime later, when we had already displayed the lists and the exercise was about to begin, the President held a meeting in – there is that district between Oyam and Lira – Kole, yes! At the exact place where they buried Oyite Ojok. That is where we held the meeting. The President then said, “Even those who are not on the list, who went or did not go to court but have claims, let them file their claims.” So, people started—yes, he actually opened a Pandora’s Box, and many more claims started coming in. That is why you hear conflicting reports that, “for us who were initially claiming 10,000, now we are reporting 20,000.” As I speak, if we go by the list of 2016, in one subregion you have a particular figure, but because of the presidential directive, we have to print and issue more data cards so that many more applicants come on board. When they come on board, they are verified by the office of the DISO, GISO, CAO, and the veterinary officer. We use the veterinary officers, Mr Speaker, because we used to have livestock censuses in these areas throughout the country. There is no way - if I may use an example - if Hon. Dr Abed Bwanika claims that in 1980 he was in Oyam and he had 30,000 cows, and yet the census for Oyam had a particular number. That is how you say - I think it was Mama Hon. Betty Aol there, who said that someone is verified with 20 cows, and then they are slashed to six. The veterinary officers go into the records, and they inform the CAO, who fills in the final list and sends it to the ministry. We use the CAO as the accounting officer. If it is inflated or deflated, he is the person who can be held accountable. Do you understand? That is what causes the difference. That is why you are saying that some people are left out. The exercise is still ongoing. You talked of picking data cards from Karamoja. Mr Speaker, I got a specific directive from the President on Karamoja; he says he knows the protected kraals that were raided, and that he will write and give us guidance. If you send out data cards, everybody will fill it and file a claim, including those who did not. That is what it is all about. Mr Speaker, the issues were many, though most of them were cross-cutting indeed - issues of policy which we are going to take under advisement and several others. Thank you very much.

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

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

Thank you. Is the motion seconded? (Members rose_) Okay, it is seconded by Hon. Silas Aogon, Hon. Susan Abeja, Hon. Philiphs Lokwang, Hon, Flavia Kabahenda, Hon. Christine Kaaya, Hon. Agnes Taaka, Hon. Ssolo, Hon. Rose Obigah, honourable Member for Terego, Hon. Kakande, Hon. Mushemeza, Hon. Kirumira, Hon. Dr Bwanika, the honourable Member for Mukono, honourable Member for Gulu, honourable Member for Oyam, honourable Member for Kyamuswa and all colleagues. Thank you. Honourable, in three minutes, speak to the motion. It is very direct; I give two minutes to each colleague.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to begin by appreciating the mover of the motion. I am here to second the motion based on the following reasons. In Uganda, we have agencies that support our country. One of the reasons why we are urging for this Bill, these people use their money to do their surveys in our districts. One of the reasons that touched me is when they said that Lango Subregion is not much affected. However, if you go to Lango, you cannot compare Otuke with a district like Kole and Oyam. At least for them, they have some bit of food for their people. As for us, if our country had that money to carry enough surveys, they would equate us to Karamoja. Therefore, Otuke as a district is at the level of Karamoja, not at the level of the Lango Subregion. Two, the OPM investment plan of 2021/2024/2025, they just wanted Shs 3.28 trillion in five years to support this programme. Since this money was not provided, the research that we have is that if you invest $1 at the end of the day, in the end, you can harvest $30 out of the $1 that you have invested. If you multiply this $30 by 3.2, our country is losing Shs 98.4 trillion that could have been for other issues. Thank you, Mr Speaker, but our motto for this Bill is; we need money for nutrition and we need nutrition for money. Thank you.

14398 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT we are praising the NRM Government for; opening very many schools. Even during the UPC times, we did the same. However, for us, it was education for all the children of this country. Secondly, Mr Speaker, I would like to talk about yesterday’s presentation that was made by the Chairperson of the Committee on Education and Sports. He made mention of the lack of human resources and at the same time, taking money back to the Treasury. Unfortunately, we do not have the Minister of Public Service here. If there is money for the districts and the districts are taking it back to the Treasury, why can’t they recruit? Maybe, the Minister of Education and Sports can answer this. Mr Speaker, what we are seeing in tertiary and university education just reflects what is happening in primary education. For example, in Oyam District, we have schools that are not coded. For example, Ocwa Primary School, Dokitolo Primary School, Barrio Primary School - honourable minister, when will these schools be coded? Then, finally, on the PAC report, Shs 50 billion being unaccounted for - part-time lecturers are not paid for - (Member timed out.)

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

14193 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2024 2022, Tanzania recorded 1,223,583 and Kenya recorded 856,604 tourist visits to museums and monuments. However, Uganda recorded only 67,366 tourist visits. This underperformance raised concerns, given that Uganda is comparatively endowed with a rich cultural and natural heritage. We also have numerous sites and monuments. In total, there are about 614 throughout the country. The committee also did a cooperative analysis of the expenditure or the amount of investments in tourism, especially with a focus on cultural and natural heritage. We noted that Uganda, in the Financial Year 2020/2021, invested Shs 4.29 billion, but that in the budget for Financial Year 2023/2024, we have now invested Shs 9 billion, which is still comparatively lower than the rest of the East African countries. In terms of revenues, between 2016 and 2020, Uganda only got the visits from monuments and museums $127,747. In that year the whole tourism sector only got revenues of $I billion. Kenya got about $11.2 million during that period. Therefore, comparatively, we also get much lower revenues. I will go straight to the general observations and recommendations of the committee on page 12. Inadequate Tourism Infrastructure Mr Speaker, during the field visit, the committee established the inadequacy of key tourism infrastructure to support, boost and sustain tourism at tourism sites. Notably among the infrastructure were roads that are almost impassable to the sites, which inhibits the smooth movement of tourists from metropolitan areas to site locations. The committee further observed that except for the Mary Mother of the Church Shrine in Iceme, Oyam District, all other sites visited had no major or significant iconic and impressive features to welcome tourists. Barlonyo and Abok Massacre sites, for instance, did not have graphic images, artefacts, and expressions that would depict the incidents of the massacre. Such graphic images, among others, create lasting impressions and memories among visitors. Some sites visited by the committee were not even connected to the national grid of utility services like water and electricity, and even toilet facilities at the sites were in deplorable conditions while in others they were even non-existent. Recommendations of the committee i) The committee recommends that the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities should, in collaboration with key stakeholders, take deliberate measures to budget for the development and improvement of key infrastructure with the view of boosting tourism at the sites; and ii) The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities should champion inter-ministerial collaboration for the development of key infrastructures at the sites under the tourism development programme. Ownership of Land at the Tourist Sites The committee observed that there was no proof of ownership of land on which some tourism sites are located. As is the case with Amuru Hot Springs, Sir Samuel Baker`s Fort in Patiko, Gulu District. The committee was informed by the State Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities that the ministry had signed a memorandum of understanding with Local Governments where some of the sites are located, like the case of the Barlonyo Massacre Site and Kabalega and Mwanga Monument Site. The land title was yet to be transferred to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. The committee further observes that the absence of land titles for all these tourist sites visited may attract third-party interests.

14200 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT Mr Speaker, Uganda is grappling with the lack of or low revenue yet tourism is a key aspect that can generate for us revenue, both locally and internationally. Mr Speaker, I want to start with the report, which the committee presented. In Oyam, there is St Mary’s Mother of the Church Shrine, which is in Iceme. This shrine attracts both local and international pilgrims, in thousands. The church has tried its best to renovate and do something, but the Government has not put in anything. Mr Speaker, the late Speaker, Rt. Hon Jacob Oulanyah contributed and the Government promised to come and add to what the late Speaker had done. How I wish the Government, this time around, gets some money to work on this shrine of Mother Mary. We get a lot of miracles at this very site. Secondly, Mr Speaker, I want to add my voice to the voices that spoke to the Barlonyo site. The management and the road are so poor. A journey of 20 kilometers takes more than one hour. Are we really serious when we talk about generating local revenue and the tourism site? Even in this very place, there is no latrine, yet the place hosts so many people. When you look at the site – we have ever gone to Kigali, Rwanda and we have pictures of what we are talking about. The local community is struggling. When you reach Barlonyo, for example, you notice that they are struggling to communicate; there are no graphic images or pictures. Therefore, I would like to urge the ministry, since the minister is here - I hope you have ever gone to the genocide site in Kigali - we can start by having something in place. Mr Speaker, in this very place, there is a lot of vandalism that takes place. The area is not fenced. So, as I support the committee, I want to say that instead of the Government funding only one site in a year, how about taking three sites in a year? This is so that we start at a better rate. Thank you so much.

14204 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT part of the Museums Department. Please write to us and we will make this consideration. Mr Speaker, the statutory instrument was signed; it should be making its way to Parliament any time soon. I agree with the committee that we have identified so many sites, around 614. Our issue is resources to have a presence in each of the sites to develop and promote them. There has been an issue of human-wildlife relations. I do not want to call it conflict, because we are going to stay with these animals and we have stayed with them since creation; we shall continue to stay with them. Just for Northern Uganda, I speak to Karamoja and the Murchison Falls National Park. Last week, in Parliament, based on the directive of His Excellency, the President, we assessed what we need to do to resolve the issues of human-wildlife conflict around the Kidepo Community Wildlife Management Area, which is Kidepo and Karenga, which is around 317 kilometres. We need Shs 20 billion to have that area fenced and have the issue of elephants getting out and destroying crops, resolved once and for all. The most interesting bit or the difficult bit is that even when we deploy more rangers with the UPDF, these elephants are very intelligent animals because they know when they come out during the day, you will easily intercept them. So, they choose to come out in the night. It is very dangerous for rangers to run after elephants in the night. Usually, they have already entered, and then in the morning, we have to go and get them out of the community. Once we fence, we will have the problem resolved. For the Murchison Falls, which is 394 kilometres, we are doing the entire boundary; we have so far faced 44 kilometres in Nwoya and Oyam. We are currently doing 10 kilometres in Nwoya and 10 kilometres in Buliisa. We have an uncovered boundary of around 330 kilometres and it would cost us around Shs 21 billion to also fence Murchison Falls and have the issue resolved once and for all. The issue is with Parliament, and the Prime Minister has been holding meetings with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to see how we resolve it. I have been to the communities, Mr Speaker, and I want to assure you, if you see how people suffer, especially when a group of elephants, let us say five, or six, goes into the gardens. I understand the pain, and this is the only solution and way out. With those few remarks, again, I want to thank the committee. But, chairperson, indeed, let us support tourism. It is a low-hanging fruit, and the revenues can come in at any time. Thank you.

In the interest of time, I shall just read the highlights of the committee findings because this matter has been on the Order Paper since Wednesday. I am sure the honourable colleagues have addressed themselves many other issues in the report. On 12 September 2023, the Rt Hon. Speaker directed the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources to study and revert to Parliament on a petition submitted to her office by the Environment Governance Institute on behalf of the Project-Affected Persons of the Karuma Hydropower Project. The committee considered the petition in accordance with Rules 30(6) and (7) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament and hereby wishes to report. Karuma Hydropower Plant is a run-off river plant located along the River Nile, northwest of Uganda. It is 23.5 kilometres upstream of the Masindi-Gulu Highway. The project area falls within the Kiryandongo and Oyam districts, located in the vicinity of Karuma Village and Murchison Falls protected areas, including the Karuma Wildlife Reserve. The project utilises a gross head of about 700 meters and a design discharge of 1,098 cubic meters for the generation of 600 megawatts (six units of 100 megawatts each). It has six different generation turbines. In a letter dated 5 September 2023, the Environment Governance Institute petitioned the office of the Speaker on behalf of the Project-Affected Persons who were affected by the works on the Karuma Hydropower Plant and requested that the Speaker sets up an inquiry to look into how compensations of these persons had been done by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. The petition by the Environment Governance Institute recognises that in 2021, the Government of Uganda, facilitated by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, initiated the acquisition of 465.52 hectares of land in Karuma and Awoo villages in Mutunda Subcounty of Kiryandongo District and Nora and Akurudia villages in Kamdini Subcounty of Oyam District to make way for the construction of the hydropower plant. Energy Infrastructure (PVT) Limited was contracted in 2010 to prepare and carry out a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and a livelihood restoration assessment for the Karuma Hydropower Project. Consequently, between October and November 2011, it undertook a population census and land survey on behalf of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to assess the socioeconomic characteristics and property evaluation of the affected individuals. This data was used to compile a Resettlement Action Plan report that was finalised in 2012. Notable is that the Government set 16 January 2012, as the cut-off date, signalling that any development made on the affected land after that date would not be compensated and that the Government had taken over the property of the Project-Affected Persons (PAPs). The grievances of the PAPS in the petition included: i) Failure to relocate vulnerable APAs; ii) Lack of social services; iii) Uncertainty about the proposed relocation areas in Lapono Village in Nwoya District; iv) Unfair land acquisition; v) Lack of a grievance reporting platform; and vi) Presence of ghost landlords. Mr Speaker, the prayers of the petitioners included, among others: [Mr Ariko] ADDRESS BY H.E. THE PRESIDENT OF UGANDA

14207 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2024 i) Parliament should establish a commission of inquiry to thoroughly investigate the compensation issues around the Karuma Hydropower Project; ii) The Government should adhere to the guidelines for compensation assessments under the land acquisition framework; iii) The Government should urgently construct houses for the displaced households; and iv) The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development should establish a grievance- handling committee. In response to the prayers of the petition, the committee therefore set out the following objectives to look into the matters raised in the petition: i) To determine whether the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources has the capacity and competence to look into the matter since the petitions had prayed for a commission of inquiry; ii) To assess whether there was fair, adequate, and prompt compensation for the PAPs; iii) To ascertain the status of implementation of the Resettlement Action Plan; and iv) To report any other matter incidental to this. Mr Speaker, I will skip the relevant legal regime because we all know that. I will also skip the methodology. I will also skip the methodology. I will just go straight to the committee findings. Mr Speaker, under 5.1, the land and number of people affected by the project. The total area affected by the project, that is the Karuma Hydropower Project (KHPP) generation site is 462.52 hectares. Out of these, 238.6 hectares is land from the Karuma conservation area, 192.7 hectares is private land belonging to the Project-Affected Persons, while 34.17 hectares belongs to NORPAK. The land belonging to the Project-Affected Persons is in Karuma and Awoo villages in Mutunda Subcounty in Kiryandongo District and Akuridia and Nora Villages in Kamdini Subcounty in Oyam District. The total number of affected households was stated at 414 out of which 280 are landowners and 134 are tenants. The total population of the affected households is 3,735, comprising 50.04 per cent male against 49.96 per cent female. On the assessment of the competence of this committee to undertake the assignment, under Article 90 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda -

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

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I am grateful for being taken out of the Katebe by you, because I have been struggling to catch the eye of the presiding officer for the last three days. I will go ahead. There are three things that I would like to highlight, Mr Speaker. The first is curative services abroad. Yesterday, the public heard from the presiding officer that the Minister of Health was going to leave abruptly to clear a patient for travel abroad. The whole night, I received a number of calls from people from my constituency, who have similar cases, and they were wondering if such a service - which some of them know can go up to half a trillion shillings in the country every year - can be open to the general public. One of them has a four-month-old baby, Jasmine, from Oyam. Baby Jasmine was referred to India, by Mulago, for treatment. Like other cases that were earlier referred, Jasmine’s parents are waiting in vain. They are waiting for their baby to die. I would like this case to be taken up and explained to the public. Is this funding that is available every year for curative services abroad open to ordinary Ugandans or not? Two, we have an ailing health system in Oyam. We have sung about this for years, Mr Speaker. Oyam District has a population of more than 500,000 people, and one health centre IV, which we have begged the leaders to upgrade to a hospital. We need at least one general hospital, and another health centre IV, to serve the people who currently have to travel to Gulu and other districts, to access such services, which is really expensive. We have other issues in the district. One, we have an inadequate Wage Bill amounting to about Shs 1.6 billion this year, and we hope that it is taken up, so that we have enough staff

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Earlier, the minister stated that soon, he will announce a permanent closure. However, in the project area where the dam has been constructed, there is an alternative bridge connecting the dam to Oyam and the bridge acts as gates to release and reduce water levels into River Nile. I request the minister to engage the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development so that before or after closing the main Karuma Bridge, the energy ministry should allow smaller lighter vehicles to use that alternative bridge which is within the project area. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Dr Eunice Otuko Apio. I represent the great people of Oyam County North in Oyam District, Lango Subregion and I am an ardent member of the Uganda People’s Congress Party. UPC everywhere!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Santa Sandra Alum Ogwang, Member of Parliament representing Oyam District and the Whip of UPC in the Parliament of Uganda. I thank you for this very insightful occasion of hosting Parliament here. The people of Oyam and Lango expect a lot from this sitting. I have seen the Minister of State for Works and Transport seated here. Our road from Kona Molem to Bobi is blocked and I would expect that this sitting helps us. Minister of Local Government, we need a district. Thank you very much.

Madam Speaker, I thank you. You asked for those with the microphone and I am one of them. I want to thank you for bringing this because it is the right time that we raise these issues. I want to thank the committee for the elaborate report. However, within the national roads that we have in Nwoya District, we have Oyam-Koch- Lii-Koch-Goma Town Council Road, which is in the National Development Plan. And then we also have Katikati-Alero-Kona-Nwoya Road, which is also in the National Development Plan. We also have Anaka-Longolo-Amoro road, which is also in the National Development Plan. I want to explain this clearly, because, Madam Speaker, every week that our businessmen and women are traveling, especially on the roads of Kate Kate, Alero, Kona Nwoya, we have lost so many lives. Even right now as I speak, there are so many trailers which have blocked the road. The pedestrians cannot use the roads because it is impossible. I would like to request that the Ministry of Works and Transport send Uganda National Road Authority (UNRA) today as we plan and look for the contractors to start working on these roads for maintenance. Madam Speaker, it is my humble -

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am Christine Akello, a Member of Parliament from Erute North Constituency. Allow me to thank the committee for the report they have presented. I just want to add on about the few bridges. We have bridges that have taken seven years. These are the national roads. There is a bridge called Adyangoluto; it connects Kole up to Gulu. It has to be worked on. And we have Aler-Akor-Alebtong, which goes up to Teso. Then we have Aler-Akangi- Alebtong that connects up to Teso. We have Apuce-Ayile that connects Oyam up to Gulu. This one was being constructed by the Agriculture Cluster Development (ACDP) Project and it collapsed before they could even commission the project. Madam Speaker, we have lost so many lives. Just last month, three people died as they tried to cross from Oyam to Lira District. Therefore, I am requesting the Ministry of Works and Transport to take this seriously. I am also in support of the UPDF being given the mandate to construct the bridges. Lastly, the road that comes from Rwekunye, Apac up to Kitgum has issues, especially in Aler, my constituency, where they are quarrying rock. The people are complaining and they need to sign a new agreement concerning the compensation and the future of the people’s land. This is because there is conflict of interest between the district and the community. I request the chairperson of the roads committee to investigate that.

Madam Speaker, in accordance with our Rules of Procedure, Rule 189(c), as a committee, we visited Pakwach, Kole and Oyam districts in northern Uganda to assess water for agricultural production facilities. All these projects were under the NDPIII and under Water for Production Interventions. It was a facility that was on demand and the key big schemes that we visited were the Itek Okile Rice Scheme in Lira District, Tochi Rice Scheme in Oyam and Wadelai in Pakwach. These were the mega projects. The committee had other small scale irrigation projects that were also visited through the district leadership of the various districts under Uganda Green Investment Facility (UGIF). This was a project that was supposed to be co-funded by individual farmers to scale up water for production and enhance agriculture commercialization and on time production. I know this report was uploaded and I believe my colleagues are well versed with agriculture. I would like to move straight to our observations and recommendations. Madam Speaker, Wadelai irrigation scheme is located in Pakwach District in the subcounties of Ragem and Wadelai with River Ora as its water source. This irrigation scheme was constructed under FIEFOC-2, which is implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment. The original contract sum was Shs 54,784,397,918 but it was revised to Shs 61 billion after a change of scope in the design of the project. This project was funded by the World Bank under Nordic Development fund and Government of Uganda (GOU). The contractor was M/S Coil and Nasr General Contracting Company Joint Venture. The consultant was BEC Engineers Ltd, in association with HP Devoc International Civil Engineering Ltd. During the full visit, the committee was only able to interact with the district officials because the attempts to reach the site were frustrated by the bad roads as a result of flooding in Kagolo. Madam Speaker, according to the officials, physical progress of the work is at 93 percent; (a) The completion of upstream and downstream embankment protection works. (b) Construction of the spillway tail race protection works. (c) Repair of the right-side head regulator. (d) Completion of bottom outlet/environmental flow structure. (e) Completion of Secondary canal 4, associated tertiary canal and control structures. (f) Completion of Secondary Canal 5, associated tertiary canal and control. (g) Assess and scheme roads. (h) Scheme buildings and facilities (i) Farm clearing. There were a lot of findings that I do not intend to go through because I know Members have observed this but I would like to note that Wadelai Project had a lot of encumbrances, especially on land acquisition and compensation

14078 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT From the seven constructed dams, only three dams are functional and, by the time of our visit to the facility, one of the three dams that were made was completely vandalised and the water was flowing and flooding people’s gardens. The project roads were constructed. However, they require routine maintenance. We have talked to the district to take it up, other than waiting for the ministry to maintain these roads for them. Madam Speaker, through this project, the Government supported by organising the farmers into a cooperative group with facilities like offices, storage facilities, tractors, milling machines - they had a fully functional office. According to the report from the community, they have embraced this project. There are no land encumbrances because all the 1,500 acres were Government land. So, there was no need for compensation and the community acknowledges that the land belongs to the Government. We have to also give credit where it is due, Madam Speaker. The community was very grateful because in that area, there were reduced grass-thatched houses as a positive impact of the project. They told us that their children are even going to university – they are paying school fees – and NARO has also engaged them in seed multiplication of the new variety of the rice that NARO has come up with. Madam Speaker, the total production output of this rice scheme is 12,000 tonnes per season and the community was requesting that the Government should extend the phase II project to handle the remaining part – the 700 acres of land – because all the 6,000 is fully utilised. Observations One of the observations was that the fields were not fully levelled and farmers find it difficult to utilise the land due to the control of the areas to be irrigated. For the main control gate of the damaged gate, they also informed the ministry. The ministry stated that they wanted Shs 100 million to repair it because it is a big valve. The district could not repair it because the funds were too much for them to afford. Recommendations i) The committee recommends that the ministry should follow up the project design to completion to facilitate full utilisation of the scheme by farmers. Madam Speaker, most of this project has technically been handed over. When they were technically handed over, it means there were other defects or other areas that were not completed. ii) The Ministry of Water and Environment should also repair the damaged valve within one month. When we reached there, the farmers’ gardens were already flooded because there was no control of the water and the dam size was also reducing. That will, again, cause the remaining dam to dry up because there is no control of the water. iii) The district local government, as I said earlier, was advised to also have a budget – to at least put a budget under production unit to help in curbing these emergencies. iv) The water user committee was also - I think this should be something that the ministry should take as a serious matter because if someone was taking care of that control gate, the thieves would have not broken it. There is a need to sensitise the water user committee to protect the project from vandalism. 5.3 Tochi Irrigation Scheme Tochi Irrigation Scheme is located in Oyam District. It covers 500 hectares and 571 farmers are utilising it. This project was Government- owned but part of it was owned by the community where compensation was done. We did not hear any complaints from the farmers about the lack of compensation. The project sum was Shs 30 billion but when these farms were used, the canals were narrow which failed to control the water and so, the Government came up with a supplementary budget of Shs 10 billion and this matter was corrected.

14079 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2024 Madam Speaker, despite all these, the farms were not levelled. There are other blocks in the scheme that even the irrigation cannot reach because it is not levelled. We were happy with the farmers because they used it for horticulture, especially areas where irrigation could not reach. As I am winding up, the cooperative groups are very organised. They have looked for funding from other sources. They have their plans to be the best rice scheme in the country and that is a very positive thing. It means they are owning their project. On the small-scale irrigation, especially the one in Kole - Leye Valley Dam; this dam was constructed to help in aquaculture and the Government did everything and put this project in place which started in 2006 and ended in 2008. The Ministry of Water and Environment implemented this and it was by then in Apac before Kole. Right now, the observation under this valley dam is not functional yet the Government has put everything in place. The dam is also silted and covered up by weeds, meaning that if we assess the value for money, it is not being utilised as per the investment of the Government. Recommendation The Ministry of Water and Environment should rehabilitate this dam so that it is restored to its original purpose. 2.4 UgIFT Micro-Scale Irrigation Scheme We visited Lira District, some farmers in Oyam and Kole and Pakwach. The general complaint is on the issue of co-funding and the same issue on hybrid. Most of these contracts were given by the ministry but you find one contractor having a lot of contracts that sometimes, they fail to install this equipment to the farmers in time. Madam Speaker, the farmers are very interested and most of the local governments are taking back these funds, especially during the financial year because the farmers in Northern Uganda are poor. This is because a farmer was supposed to co-fund 25 per cent of the project yet the majority could not afford. Even those who have endeavoured to afford, there is a lot of delay in the installation by the contractors and the district has limited effort.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I join colleagues in thanking the chairperson and the committee for coming up with these two good reports. The first question is, how shall we come to an end on this problem of us borrowing money for the intended plan and then the money goes to waste? To me, some of these loans are a bonanza. The second question to the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries is that in the first report on Food and Animal Feed Security Interventions, the committee mentioned that in some areas like Karamoja, there is a lot of food insecurity to the tune of 41 per cent, followed by Teso with 21, Lango, Acholi and West Nile at 19 per cent. Do you plan to redistribute food? According to the report, in some areas we have adequate food while in other areas there is inadequate food. Is there any plan? This is a question of distribution of food where it is in plenty to areas where it is not there. As Government, I thought you should buy some of this food and take to areas which are lacking. In the second report, Oyam was one of the districts which benefited from this, but we have roads, as the chairperson indicated, which are incomplete. We have areas where we were supplied with machinery, for example, the rice millers, but we do not have power. The problem which the two reports cover is that the Ministry of Local Government is not involved in some of these issues. Therefore, I would like to know from you because the two reports captured that. The Ministry of Local Government is the face of this country, where all the programmes, projects and activities are implemented. If they are left out – they know the farmers, the projects are being implemented in their areas, and that is why the issue of extension workers is there, but dormant. [Mr Okot] SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT

Cluatar 229,A6r,75t 257,499,800 3 Bug\Men Butalela Butebo Buglrl Namutumba Palhsa Tororo Kapchorwa 4 80,520,828 232,500,O00 223,080.000 696,207,225 380,000,0o0 Mbale Bukwo Kumr Sorotl 60,354,275 5 Serere 66,250,000 Amuru 179,300.O00 302,900,o00 368,695,00O 6 Nwoya Oulu Omoro Lrra Kole Dokolo 284,597 ,?Oo 220,OOO,OOO 369,115,000 244,379,OOO 7 t96,959,267 222,500,0O0 303,988,900 260,O00,O00 Oyam Kwama Apac I(asese l(abarole 351,739,s00 262,240,OOO 46t,423,373 8 392,624 OOO 690,075,980 9 lfrac Of Dlrtrlctr Cuau.htl DlrbEtacacnt (ucxl 196,980,O00 295,OOO,OOO 5t4,949,440 r83,335.174 B I unyangabu Kamwenge Krtag! .enda Kyenlolo 803,442.0O0 Kyegeg!r/a N *d,.- 7

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

\;. ,, ,- i. }lL tu .,./ l -rfu \, I ffi P d 1 41" i ..- I =+*i: _.1 - / r \ Vote Description Amouat (OOO') 39,r92,9t4 902 Nakaseke District 903 Nakasongola District 3 1,339,971 904 Namayingo District 24,254,473 905 Namisindwa District 3t,27t,520 Namutumba District 33,601,552 906 907 Napak District 18,335,569 908 Nebbi District 3t,604,472 909 Ngora District 22,787,323 910 Ntoroko District 16,176,344 911 Ntungamo District 60,306,t24 9t2 Nwoya District 22,660,361 913 Obongi District L3,625,732 9t4 Omoro District 26,662,006 915 Otuke District 20,1OO,789 9L6 Oyam District 40,233,515 \rz Pader District 30,440,385 I s\a Pakwach District 22,888,O83 919 Pallisa District 36,368,2L1 920 Rakai District 39,855,468 92r Rubanda District 30,627,663 922 Rubirizi District 23,403,496 923 Rukiga District 2t,899,306 924 Rukungiri District 44,4to,975 925 Rwampara District 21,596,061 926 Sembabule District 33,249,O59 - 927 Serere District 35,784,457 928 Sheema District 3t,378,544 929 Sironko District 35,653,624 930 Soroti District 23,844,786 931 Terego District 23,87r,940 932 Tororo District 62,770,477 {7 {-.. 16 ir[

--T1tr- l+- ;,? "t ''i.. ?Y\,L \i. t -fi' --t*;=*" M I t({,,- I i: ij lL I v t1 f t l"=' ti.j Y Amount (OOO'| Vote Descriptlon 7,328,OO8 Manafwa District 886 3,44t,331 Maracha District 887 3,471,050 888 Masaka District 4,882,502 Masindi District 889 6,068,543 890 Mayuge District 6,429,337 Mbale District 891 3,641,820 492 Mbarara District 9,052,297 Mitooma District 893 6,6a2,495 894 Mityana District 1,658,849 895 Moroto District 1,922,2O4 896 Moyo District 3,477,355 897 Mpigi District 6,69L,743 898 Mubende District 3,766,672 899 Mukono District 4,343,422 Nabilatuk District 900 3,OL6,472 901 Nakapiripirit District 5,835,018 902 Nakaseke District 2,548,6t5 903 Nakasongola District 4,536,596 904 Namayingo District 4,9t8,709 Namisindwa District 905 3,981, 161 906 Namutumba District 3,807,O77 907 Napak District 4,970,272 Nebbi District 908 2,906,306 909 Ngora District t,75A,026 Ntoroko District 910 7,940,925 911 Ntungamo District 5,490,899 Nwoya District 9t2 L,649,499 913 Obongi District 2,603,313 9t4 Omoro District 2,577,067 915 Otuke District 6,868,886 9t6 Oyam District 3,127,34r 917 Pader District 2,692,356 918 Pakwach District 4,682,708 9t9 Pallisa District 3,493,436 920 Rakai District 5,950,433 92t Rubanda District 3,4tt,704 922 Rubirizi District ,-i I ,r 4 27 F$*\

13195 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 30 APRIL 2024 Vote 903: Nakasongola District – Shs 116,719,304; Vote 904: Namayingo District - Shs 11,900,000; Vote 905: Namisindwa District - Shs 1,118,779,694; Vote 907: Napak District – Shs 716,142,230; Vote 910: Ntoroko District – Shs 200,000,000; Vote 911: Ntungamo District – Shs 1,578,281,727; Vote 914: Omoro District - Shs 945,418,871; Vote 915: Otuke District – Shs 140,384,222; Vote 916: Oyam District – Shs 686,642,360; Vote 918: Pakwach District - Shs 1,194,282,483; Vote 919: Pallisa District - Shs 153,095,758; Vote 920: Rakai District - Shs 2,454,394,511; Vote 922: Rubirizi District – Shs 1,826,796,820; Vote 923: Rukiga District - Shs 147,370,222; Vote 924: Rukungiri District - Shs 885,488,277; Vote 925: Rwampara District – Shs 770,470,627; Vote 927: Serere District - Shs 311,478,920; Vote 928: Sheema District – Shs 1,953,424,896; Vote 932: Tororo District - Shs 91,205,614; Vote 933: Wakiso District – Shs 5,194,470,980; and Vote 935: Zombo District - Shs 819,580,024.

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

Thank you. Yes, the honourable member for Oyam.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. This disease has been with us for a very long time. When you come into contact with these children, you cannot fail to shed tears. Much as the Members of the Acholi Parliamentary Group are on the ground, I believe that they are handling the issue of Acholi Subregion. However, even in Lango, we have many of these children. A case in point in Lira is Erute North where we have very many of these children. We talked to the chairperson. Even in Oyam District where I represent, we have two subcounties affected by this very bad disease. I would like to know whether the committee has also gone to some of these areas affected outside Acholi Subregion. Mr Speaker, in the next debate, I would like to beg that all the areas affected by the nodding syndrome should be handled once and for all. Secondly, the problem that we are facing as a district is that we are lacking the commodities to help in addressing this problem. The drug that we are using is antiepileptic. I would like to ask the minister; we were told at one time that there was research being done. How far has this gone and when will the Government come to address this issue? Thirdly, there is no special day assigned for this very serious problem. It is just left to whom it may concern. Even some of the staff, when the patients come, they look the other direction. Therefore, I would like to ask the minister, who is seated here that, wouldn’t it be good for you to assign a special day to handle these children and above all, feeding? When you have a child suffering from this disease, you cannot do any other work. If you go to the garden, you will find the child burnt, giving them full time engagement with these children. I request the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development who is here, Hon. Henry Musasizi, to try to allocate for us funding to help these parents suffering with these children without any help coming from the Government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. When I was working in Pader, I was the technical advisor for maternal and child health and HIV/AIDS and nutrition with households with AFCA Foundation. We visited households with Nodding Syndrome cases, and we used to supply blankets and other household items to the families affected. A child with Nodding Syndrome is so stressing to the parents. We have those parents still living up to now with those children? What amount of stress, sincerely, do they have from that time up to this time that we are discussing the disease in this Parliament? I thank the Government for trying their best to support these people. However, there are people who do not care; the people who swindle what is given to support these families. These people must be investigated. We would now be at peace and feeling at home because the children and the parents would be supported by the amount of money we are hearing of the Shs 1 billion that was given to support the families. The Nodding Syndrome cases are also in Lango as submitted by Hon. Santa Alum. I was requesting that the number of these cases in Lango subregion, most especially in Erute North in Oyam District, should also be ascertained to add on this number of the Nodding Syndrome cases in Acholi, so that if there is going to be any intervention, they would go together. I heard you were talking of the Chairperson of Acholi parliamentary group going together with the Government Chief Whip to the Rt Hon. Prime minister. I would also interest myself and I request you if Lango parliamentary group can also join in and we ascertain the number in Erute North and also in Oyam districts.

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, Mr Speaker. I would like to clarify on some of the few issues that have been raised. First, in the case of Lango. I state that the cases we found in Omoro District were coming from Oyam because Omoro District borders Oyam District and the rehabilitation centre that is at Adek is actually at the border between Omoro and Oyam. Secondly, the cases from Lira were actually being reported also under those in Pader because it borders Lira District. What we found was that most of the cases in Oyam and Lira were moving towards Omoro and also Pader because that is where the services were available unlike in Lira and therefore it needs intervention in all those areas. Thirdly, these rehabilitation centres are health centres, social centres and also educational centres where they acquire vocational skills and they are integrated back into the community. We found out that some of the cases were integrated back into the community but there were some which were very severe and in the end, they went back home but still they could not be managed. That is the reason we proposed that a monthly support is given to those families because they have to stay close to them and they cannot go to their gardens, shops and businesses because if they do that, then there is a higher risk on them. Lastly, in regard to the new cases, in what we presented, we said that what they observed was that wherever there was a high population of the black flies, there was a high prevalence of nodding disease syndrome, mainly along the River Aswa. However, that hypothesis had a challenge. There are parts of the world in Latin America and Asia with a high black fly population but no nodding disease syndrome. Therefore, there could be possibilities that new cases may have emerged because the black fly hypothesis was not conclusive. Therefore, the proposal to support research will help to address this. In science, they say, “absence of evidence is not necessarily evidence of absence.” Thank you.

Hon. Laura, if you could wait a little. Honourable colleagues, in the public gallery this afternoon, we have religious leaders and chairpersons from Ameny Parish, Kamdini Archdeaconry, Oyam District. They are represented by Hon. Dr Apio Eunice, Hon. Amongi Betty and Hon. Alum Sandra. They have come to observe the proceedings of this House. Please join me in welcoming them. (Applause) Hon. Laura, continue.

11888 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT The Uganda Police helicopter (Aircraft Fixed Wing 5X PEF/P180 Piaggio Avanti Evo) was bought in June 2019 at a price of $7.48 million. However, it is now being sold at just $4 million. His prayer is: can the Prime Minister update the House on this matter? Mr Speaker, my response is that the Uganda Police Force has a police airwing whose function is to support policing within the country. It currently runs four aircrafts; three helicopters and that one: the Aircraft Fixed Wing aircraft. The aircrafts were intended, primarily, to assist in the maintenance of law and order by conducting aerial patrols and surveillance, aerial search and rescue, rapid response, force transportation and, sometimes, medical and casualty evacuation. When not required by the police for the stipulated duties, they may be used as a charter service by the Government, on payment of the prescribed fees. Mr Speaker, the fixed wing aircraft, which is a nine-seater aircraft, was acquired in June 2019 at a cost of $7.48 million and, since then, it has only flown for less than 200 hours. This is mainly due to its operational limitations, which includes designs that limit it to only paved or tarmacked runways, as well as high maintenance and operational costs. The aircraft is serviceable and has all the necessary requirements to operate. Mr Speaker, due to the above-mentioned limitations, Uganda Police Force management has been considering options of how the aircraft could be effectively and efficiently utilised in advancing the police mandate and, where possible, be linked to working domestically in the aviation industry, with a possibility of leasing it to the national carrier among other options. Disposal of the said aircraft has never been an option taken by police management as a way of ‘ utilisation ’ of the side aircrafts. In any case, if any disposal was to be considered, the due process would be diligently followed by all key stakeholders regarding the disposal of such an asset and in that respect, value for money would certainly be a key consideration to take into account. The Hon. Eunice Otuko Apio, Member of Parliament of Oyam North raised a question on the exclusion of Oyam North in the distribution of water by National Water and Sewerage Corporation under the on-going projects in the districts of Gulu, Omoro and Oyam. Prayer: Can the Rt Hon. Prime Minister update the House on the matter? Response: The Integrated Water Management and Development Project is a follow-up project being jointly implemented by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) and the Ministry of Water and Environment. The scope of work under National Water and Sewerage Corporation entails the following: 1. Gulu Water Supply and Sanitation Project This is jointly funded by the World Bank and a German development agency called KFW, implemented in two packages, (package 1 and package 2). Package 2 is financed by the World Bank and it involves laying of 70.2 kilometre DN-500 500 ductile iron transmission pipeline from Karuma to Gulu. 2. Mbale Water Supply and Sanitation Project This project targets the population of Mbale and the neighbouring areas, including the towns of Butaleja, Busolwe, Kibuku, Kadama, Tirinyi, and Budaka. The project scope under National Water Sewage Corporation entails expansion of the production capacity of Bunghoko and Manafwa Water Treatment Plants from 4,000 cubic meters per day to 18,000 cubic meters PRIME MINISTER’S TIME [Ms Nabbanja]

11667 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 6 FEBRUARY 2024 allocated towards the construction of staff houses in the Financial Year 2023/2024. The strategy is to cut down construction costs by adopting different designs, using low-cost solutions/Force on Account, and phasing construction using the incremental approach of 500 staff housing units, starting with 900 housing units. Shs 46.5 billion is required to construct the 900 housing units in different designs and sizes using Force on Account as shown in the table below. I think the honourable members have it. The design One is to have a block of two houses (two- bedroom and self-contained). A total of 150 blocks of 300 houses are planned at a unit cost of Shs 0.140 million. The quantity required is 150 and the amount needed is Shs 21 billion. Two, a block of four houses (two-roomed houses with external sanitation facilities) – 150 blocks of 600 houses. The unit cost is Shs 0.170 million, quantity needed is 150 and the total amount needed is Shs 25.5 billion. The total for the 900 housing units is Shs 46.5 billion. Provided in the budget is Shs 1.4 billion and so, the shortfall is Shs 45.1 billion. Another issue raised is mistreatment of prisoners. They recommended that we strengthen the monitoring department to periodically interface with the inmates to identify issues that affect them. The response is that the monitoring and observation of human rights for both staff and prisoners is conducted through the regular supervision of all human rights activities, supporting and monitoring the activities of staff and prisoners’ human rights committees in 266 prisons. The Service has a Department of Inspectorate and Quality Assurance headed by a Commissioner of Prisons and charged with the responsibility of monitoring human rights of observance. However, this needs to be strengthened in terms of both human resource, financial support and facilitation. In addition, in order to strengthen human rights monitoring observance, we undertake to appoint and induct visiting justices in accordance with Section 109(1) and (2) of the Prisons Act. In the Financial Year 2022/2023, the Service appointed and inducted 33 visiting justices to undertake supervision of prisons in the Eastern Region in respect of human rights observance and compliance to custodial standards. In Financial Year 2023/2024, the plan is to induct visiting justices to monitor human rights practices and observances in northern, southern, Kooki, mid-central, north-central and mid-western regions. Shs 2 billion is required to appoint, induct and facilitate the visiting justices to monitor human rights observance and practice in all prisons countrywide. Another issue was the distance between prisons and courts of law. The committee’s recommendation was that the location of adjudicating courts of law should be well planned to be in proximity with prison facilities to reduce distances that inmates have to travel. Our response is that there is a misalignment of prisons locations to courts of judicature, which overstretches prisons operations in delivery of prisoners to court in terms of long distances between courts and prisons. The Service has been in constant engagement with other criminal justice agencies as well as the ministry of finance, to have the misalignment of the criminal justice agencies addressed, especially prisons and courts. As a result, the Service established new prisons at Paidha, Nebbi, Amuru, Oyam, Lugore, Koboko, Kapchorwa, Sheema, Kyenjonjo, Nwoya, Mutufu, Kotido, Nyarushanje, Mityana West, Patongo West, Sanga, Nakapiriprit and Amudat. The challenge of misalignment still exists as reflected in the table that follows: i) Rubirizi - Bushenyi - the distance in between is 45 kilometres; ii) Rubindi - Mbarara – 43km;

Madam Speaker, I beg to designate the following members on the Appointments Committee: 1. Hon. Aisha Nalule Kabanda – Butambala; 2. Hon. Joseph Ssewungu – Kalungu West County; 3. Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe - Manjiya County; 4. Hon. Betty Ocan Aol – Gulu City; 5. Hon. Okin P.P. Ojara – Chua West County; 6. Hon Santa Alum – Oyam; 7. Hon. Peter Okot - Tochi County; and 8. Hon. Asuman Basalirwa – Bugiri Municipality. I beg to designate, Madam Speaker.

I designate the following Members to the Committee on Climate Change: 1. Hon. Christine Kaaya – Kiboga; 2. Hon. Charles Matovu - Busiro South; 3. Hon. Jimmy Lwanga - Njeru Municipality; 4. Hon. Ronald Balimwezo - Nakawa East; 5. Hon. Hellen Nakimuli – Kalangala; 6. Hon. Dr Nicholas Kamara - Kabale Municipality; 7. Hon. Asinansi Nyakato - Hoima City; 8. Hon. Richard Lumu – Mityana; and 9. Hon. Santa Sandra Alum – Oyam. I beg to designate, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise on a matter of national importance. The Government, through the National Water and Sewerage Corporation, is currently laying infrastructure as part of the implementation for the water supply and sanitation project to Gulu City and small towns en route. The small towns en route component includes three districts; Gulu, Omoro and Oyam. This very huge project that is being funded by the World Bank and the KFW Bank is drawing its water from a place called Nora in Oyam District. Oyam is going to be hosting up to 40 kilometres of the water works, which translates to approximately 60 per cent of the entire length of the water works to Gulu City. Oyam is very happy for Gulu and the two districts in between. However, to our shock and disbelief, Oyam has been left out of the entire scheme. Not a single drop of water -

Yes. Oyam is the hosting district and we have critical facilities like Atapara Hospital which is five kilometres from the main waterworks. There is not a single drop of water designed for the district headquarters which

So, the water is just going to pass through Oyam to Gulu City?

Correct. My requests, Madam Speaker, to the Rt Hon. Prime Minister, are two: First, I would like to invite her to clarify if this injustice, the inequality of denying a critical resource that is drawn from Oyam District and passes through the entire length of 40 kilometres – that is an unprecedented injustice and inequality. Secondly, we would like to request the Prime Minister to agree to meet-

No, because these two water tanks will simply serve as -(Interjections)- yes – it is going to serve as a processing point for the water flowing through Oyam to the rest of the districts. So, we are asking the Prime Minister to agree, together with her line minister and the project team, to sit down with me and the district leadership to thresh out this unfortunate problem. (Laughter)

Madam Speaker, to the best of my recollection, what was submitted in Cabinet is not far from what you have stated – to the effect that all the major townships along, for instance, in this case, Kamdini and Minakulu are beneficiaries. Even some townships in Omoro District – before you reach Gulu – are beneficiaries. What I strongly believe is about the people in Oyam because her constituency is Oyam North, which is not along the major highway. Even Oyam district headquarters is not along the major highway. It appears their intention is that there should be some – what we call in electricity, tee-off point to Oyam District Headquarters including Oyam Town Council, which now falls outside the precincts of the project as approved.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. On behalf of the people of Oyam District, the UPC party in the Parliament of Uganda and on my own behalf, I join my honourable colleagues in paying tribute to the deceased before us for the tremendous work that he did for this country, which has left a very rich legacy. Mr Speaker, it is memorable to note that the deceased had first been appointed by the late President, Dr Apollo Milton Obote and in his service, as the Assistant Private Secretary and the Principal Private Secretary, he worked tremendously well. This is a true testament of how the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) Government identified and mentored leaders who did not shame this country. I believe that we have a lot to learn from this identification of cadres. Furthermore, Mr Speaker, a man lying before us, worked with a lot of dignity and patriotism. He was an outstanding leader and because of that I would like to extend my sincere gratitude as a UPC Whip to the deceased and his family for standing with our founding father of this country and the UPC party President, Dr Apollo Milton Obote. Finally, allow me to join colleagues in thanking him for being who he was and urge my honourable colleagues to learn from him as leaders. Thank you, very much.

10675 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2023 Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Health has updated its specifications and only allows robust solar systems that can work up to a minimum of l5 years. A few facilities that have so for benefited and the systems have been installed and commissioned, are as follows; 1. Kiboga - Bukomero Health Centre IV; 2. Kazo - Kazo Health Centre IV; 3. Buhweju - Nsika Health Centre IV; 4. Kamwenge - Rukunyu Government Hospital; 5. Kakumiro - Kakumiro Health Centre IV; 6. Omoro - Lalogi Health Centre IV; 7. Kapelebyong - Kapelebyong Health Centre IV; 8. Bukedea - Bukedea Health Centre IV; 9. Sironko - Budadiri Health Centre IV; 10. Manafwa - Bugobero Health Centre IV; and 11. Oyam - Anyeke Health Centre IV. Mr Speaker, these health centres have their power reliability at 100 per cent for the last two years and that is the direction that the Ministry of Health has taken to reduce the recurrent expenditure to the minimum. My response to the second prayer is that the standard for the general wards provides for separate sections for male, female and children. Once funds are realised, the required infrastructure shall be put in place at Kassanda Health Centre IV. My response to the third prayer is that on 20 September 2021, the Emergency Medical Services Policy was approved by the Cabinet of Uganda, and it spells out the allocation of ambulances to defined catchment areas. The new policy is to allocate one Type B ambulances per 100,000 population equivalent to one constituency in Uganda. The allocated ambulance serves the population in that constituency. The policy disbanded the prior arrangement of the issue of allocating ambulances to health facilities in order to serve a wider population better. Mr Speaker, the ambulance vehicle is situated at the most accessible and secure health facility in the constituency, preferably on the highway. In the year 2020/2021, Kassanda District was allocated an ambulance registration UG6859M for Bukuya Constituency. For now, though situated in one of the constituencies, the ambulance is provided with fuel to respond to emergencies across Kassanda North and Kassanda South constituencies, in Kassanda District. In the Financial Year 2024/2025, we plan to procure additional 180 Type B and Type C ambulances to fill the gaps. The Government is committed to fill the gaps in ambulance vehicles at the constituency level for the Financial Year 2025/2026. The fifth question came from Hon. Chelangat Alinga Solomon, Member of Parliament, T’oo County, Bukwo District. He stated thus: “ Bukwo District is predominantly an agricultural district. People mainly grow maize for both commercial and subsistence purposes. However, the President has been discouraging people from maize farming unless on a large scale because it is not economically viable. Therefore, our people were advised to shift to short term crops, which are more profitable. The Government of Uganda thought of giving our people some incentives through the Agriculture Cluster Development Program (ACDP), under the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, I have issues of concern that have discouraged our people from taking the good advice from the President. i. Government through ACDP, procured a contractor, Bold Energy, in April 2021 to supply farm inputs, like maize seed and fertiliser. The contractor did their part, but the Government has never met its obligation of paying the contractor. This has put the contractor in a very fragile

Honourable colleagues, these are issues we should hold the meeting over tomorrow – with the honourable minister. Then we will see a way of reporting back about it. In the Public Gallery this afternoon, we have teachers and pupils from Oyam Junior School, Oyam District. They are represented by Hon. Alum Santa, Hon. Sandra Ogwang and Hon. Dr Apio Otuko Eunice. They have come to observe the proceedings of this House. Join me in welcoming them. Please, stand up so that we can welcome you. Thank you. (Applause) Hon. Atkins. You will be followed by Hon. Sarah Opendi . (Laughter) What is the problem, colleagues?

9941 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 23 AUGUST 2023 Lango in the Military, in recent times; he will forever be remembered. Mr Speaker, when my immediate predecessor passed on, he left behind a number of crucial issues that are important to my constituents, and I as the current Member of Parliament, I am now compelled to take them up. (Applause) One of the very urgent issues is the absence of a district hospital. The highest level of a health service unit in Oyam County North, in Oyam District, at the moment, is a health centre IV, which is Anyeke Health Centre IV. This health facility currently serves more than 500,000 people, which number is over and above the population threshold for a district hospital. My prayer, Mr Speaker, is that the Ministry of Health and Government at large, finds resources for this health centre IV, equips it properly, and elevates it to a district hospital for it to serve our people of Oyam District better. I thank you, Mr Speaker and I look forward to working with Members of Parliament in this august House across the divide for the development of both my constituency and the country at large. Thank you very much. (Applause)

Mr Speaker, this Parliament has the mandate to pass the budget. It is the reason I said that maybe if they submit it next year, it will be this Parliament to assure the people of Oyam that they have given them money to upgrade the hospital. So, I do not do it as a person, it is this Parliament that passes the budget. Thank you.

9712 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT [The Speaker] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR have budgeted for Shs 1 billion and you have not been able to consume and use all the money and you are returning it, then you are affecting the planning process. So, you must always budget for what you know you are going to consume. That still comes back to us in Parliament; we should not disburse money towards the end of the financial year because such money cannot be consumed. Whereas our role, as Members of Parliament, is to do appropriation of the budget, we also owe this country the need to ensure that people in this country are represented well. The approved budgets help in reducing poverty and working for the living conditions of our people. Let us not just approve budgets; let us make sure we follow the use of this approved money. I, therefore, call upon the leaders and technocrats to ensure the efficient, effective and economic utilisation of the approved funds is done. Honourable members, considering that we are in the fourth year of implementation of the National Development Plan III, it is imperative that resource utilisation matches the national development aspirations. That is why I am emphasising that utilisation of the money and the projects should be completed. I ask Members not to sleep on their jobs. Make a follow-up with your constituencies, districts, and most of the MDAs to ensure there is effective use of this money. Once more, I welcome Hon. Apio Eunice to the Parliament of Uganda; this is your Parliament. It is a people-centred Parliament. While in the House, we do not work as political parties. We work as Members of Parliament for the people of Uganda. We will not say, “Eunice of UPC.” We will say, “Eunice, the Ugandan Member of Parliament.” So, we look forward to working with you. This House is very friendly and united with loving Members of Parliament, who are very hard-working. I pray that you serve the people of Oyam the way they expect you to do. Thank you. Honourable members, I want us to agree on one thing: those who have matters of national importance will raise them during the Prime Minister’s Time so that the Prime Minister is able to answer everything. We have a very important message from the Attorney-General; so, I do not think we should waste a lot of time.

9715 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 20 JULY 2023 Honourable members, again in the public gallery this afternoon, we have a mighty delegation from Oyam. Hon. Ebil, you are most welcome. These people are represented by none other than the Hon. Santa Alum and Hon. Apio. They are here to witness their Member of Parliament being sworn in. You are most welcome to Parliament of Uganda. Thank you. Join me in welcoming them. Honourable members, the Prime Minister wants to give a statement on the returned monies.

Much obliged, Madam Speaker. The learned Attorney-General knows that I hold him in very high regard, being my senior at the bar and in all respects. Two things have happened today, Madam Speaker. One is that we have had a Member of Parliament sworn in as a matter of law and the Constitution. If there were powers anywhere that anybody could instruct someone to fill the vacuum, we would have had an MP for Oyam in the interim, as the Government prepares for elections. However, since the law cannot be vacated, we had to have an election in that constituency. I know it is summer in Uganda, and the Government could be on holiday, that is why the learned Attorney-General –

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for that wise ruling. I sit on the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. We have also been waiting for the Attorney- General to appear before our committee, all in vain. Now that you have given us up to tomorrow - Madam Speaker, in my district, I have even a bigger crisis. The LCIs for the newly-created town councils did not get their ex-gratia in the last financial year. The district wrote to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, but nothing was done. One hundred thirty-nine (139) LCIs and even the LC III councilors have not been paid. Therefore, wouldn’t it be procedurally right that when the Government is coming, the LCs I and the LCs III of the newly-created town councils in Oyam District are included? We would like to know when the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development will provide money for this.

9669 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 18 JULY 2023 When you look at the issue of refugees, we remain one of the biggest hosts of refugees. We are next after Turkey, Iran and Columbia. We still host refugees in this country, despite the numerous challenges that we have. We have tried, as a country, and we should also be given some appreciation. On the right to adequate standard of living, that is the function of productivity. On the opportunity and enabling environment, there is an enabling environment; you would not be speaking here. (Laughter) We have challenges, but we have an enabling environment – where we can quarrel, abuse everybody and disagree. The Parish Development Model is a national development strategy to try and reduce poverty. The issue is: will it reduce the poverty? It has challenges, which we all need to come in and ensure that we handle them so that we reduce poverty among our people. As leaders, we should come up and ensure that PDM works out well. If we sit back and say we are waiting for the Government, we will wait until the cows come home. Let us put in all our energy and ensure that PDM works. We put a lot of money in PDM; let us not go into lamentations. The other issue is on infrastructural development. The problem we have with infrastructural development is that when you look at our appropriation, as Parliament, infrastructure takes the biggest amount of money. We talked about the issue of having no regulations, lack of discipline and people not knowing what they are doing, yet a lot of money is being allocated to the sector. So, Leader of the Opposition, we have put a lot of money there. We now need to work together. As the minister for works said, they will come with regulations in one month – I think one month is even too much. We need the regulations to operationalise most of the laws that have been presented in this House. You cannot pass a law and fail to operationalise it. On Defence and security, of course, despite the threats of terrorism, Uganda remains the most peaceful country, as of now. (Applause) I thank the Government for one thing. Two days ago, NUP had a very successful procession in Jinja – uninterrupted. Leave these people to have their processions, uninterrupted. So, the issue of oppression – and I also congratulate UPC on winning in Oyam. That shows democracy. The MP-elect is going to be sworn in on Thursday. Honourable members, the LoP has given a report. Where we see weaknesses, we will correct them – we will get a comprehensive report to that effect. However, where we see that it is not what is being said per se and is a blanket statement; Government should also be appreciated where it has done something. Can I now hear from Members on this side? I will choose five people only. The Leader of the Opposition has said it all. If you are on this side, sit. That is how much I respect the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr Speaker, I rise on a matter of national importance on the issue of local government structures. Part V and Section 45 of the Local Government Act establish administration structures, especially the LCI and LCII. Unfortunately, they conducted elections for these structures in 2018 and 2019. These are LCI and LCII chairpersons, and their teams. Mr Speaker, it has been realised that the term of these people ended this June and therefore, they are sitting in their offices illegally. All of us know how important this team is. They give recommendations. The LCIIs also have Local Council Courts. Yesterday, I watched an LCI welcome His Excellency the President in Oyam yet the office is actually operating illegally. My prayers are: 1. Can the Ministry of Local Government and the Attorney-General tell us whether they have made a special arrangement that is within the law to ensure these offices continue to operate; 2. The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs should update the House when the election of these important offices in this country will take place. I beg to move. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On behalf of the people of Oyam District and on my own behalf, I stand here to pay tribute to the late Lady Justice Stella Arach-Amoko. Madam Speaker, if there is any institution which has benefited from the Lady Justice lying before us, it is Parliament. I remember in the Ninth Parliament, when we had just joined Parliament we were called by our party and requested to vacate our seats in Parliament because the elections were a sham. We had a very heated meeting, as Members of the Uganda People’s Congress. Article 84 of the Constitution of Uganda, which talks about the recall of Members of Parliament, was read before us. We refused to vacate our seats in Parliament because we did not know how to go back and tell the electorates why we were vacating the seats. Our only hope rested in the case that was before court as far as the “rebel” Members of Parliament were concerned. When the judgment was passed and the “rebel” Members of Parliament won, it was not only them, but also us, as Members of the UPC, whose party also wanted us to leave. Therefore, I thank the lady lying before us for that wonderful independent decision. As UPC Members of Parliament in the Ninth Parliament, we also benefitted. Secondly, as a woman, I stand here very proud of a fellow woman who worked with all the humility and raised the status and standards of women who have been given offices, especially in the Judiciary. You cannot find any history of corruption in her legacy as a judge of the Supreme Court. Madam Speaker, as women in this country, we have a lot to emulate from her. Those in the Judiciary also have a lot to learn from the late Justice Stella Arach-Amoko. May the good Lord rest her soul in eternal peace. Thank you.

9139 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 20 JUNE 2023 by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). That was a tragic occurrence. It opens up the scars of the previous tragedies that have happened. In 1998, there was an attack at Kichwamba Technical Institute in Kabarole, where students were burnt. In 1991, there was the abduction of students from Sacred Heart in Gulu. In 1996, there was also an abduction of girls from Aboke in Oyam. We sincerely condole with the bereaved families and management of the school, the people of Kasese and all the people of Uganda. We condemn this loss in the strongest terms. Such actions are very unproductive and should be investigated and the perpetrators brought to book. It is a very bad incident. Just imagine you are killing your kid or grandkid. You wake up thinking your kid is at school and you just get the news that your kid has been killed! It is a bad incident. I call upon the Minister of State for Higher Education, who was at the site, to come and give us a statement on what his findings were and what the Government is planning to do. The Minister of Internal Affairs was also there. I am happy that the Prime Minister is also in the House. They should be able to give us a statement on what happened and what the Government is planning to do. Honourable members, on Saturday, 17 June 2023, we received the tragic news of the demise of Justice Stella Arach-Amoko of the Supreme Court. The deceased had an illustrious career as a judicial officer. We condole with the family, the Judiciary, the people of West Nile and all the people of Uganda. Please, accept our condolences for the loss of this very industrious lady. On behalf of Parliament, we sincerely convey our condolences to the families of the children who died, the Judiciary and all the people of Uganda. Much as the Bible says there is a time to be born and a time to die, one should die in an acceptable way, and not in the way the children were killed. We put all that in God’s hand. May their souls rest in eternal peace. May we rise please and observe a moment of silence in their honour? (Members rose and observed a moment of silence.)

To the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, I beg to designate the following Members: 1. Hon. Shamim Malende, Woman Representative, Kampala; 2. Hon. Medard Lubega-Sseggona of Busiro County East; 3. Hon. Robert Ssekitoleko of Bamunanika County; 4. Hon. Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda of Kira Municipality; 5. Hon. Anna Adeke Ebaju of Soroti District; 6. Hon. Santa Sandra Alum of Oyam District; and 7. Hon. Asuman Basalirwa of Bugiri Municipality.

8759 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 18 MAY 2023 229) Vote 900: Nabilatuk District – Shs 8,965,015,000 230) Vote 901: Nakapiripirt District – Shs 11,039,255,000 231) Vote 902: Nakaseke District – Shs 33,609,209,000 232) Vote 903: Nakasongola District – Shs 29,199,461,000 233) Vote 904: Namayingo District – Shs 24,345,537,000 234) Vote 905: Namisindwa District – Shs 25,757,056,000 235) Vote 906: Namutumba District – Shs 29,395,177,000 236) Vote 907: Napak District – Shs 14,554,931,000 237) Vote 908: Nebbi District – Shs 28,393,138,000 238) Vote 909: Ngora District – Shs 20,015,428,000 239) Vote 910: Ntoroko District – Shs 17,856,009,000 240) Vote 911: Ntungamo District – Shs 52,482,302,000 241) Vote 912: Nwoya District – Shs 19,818,194,000 242) Vote 913: Obongi District – Shs 11,259,732,000 243) Vote 914: Omoro District – Shs 23,623,072,000 244) Vote 915: Otuke District – Shs 17,308,500,000 245) Vote 916: Oyam District – Shs 36,647,321,000 246) Vote 917: Pader District – Shs 28,538,070,000 247) Vote 918: Pakwach District – Shs 20,416,756,000 248) Vote 919: Pallisa District – Shs 32,319,522,000 249) Vote 920: Rakai District – Shs 35,470,398,000 250) Vote 921: Rubanda District – Shs 26,781,538,000 251) Vote 922: Rubirizi District – Shs 17,650,350,000 252) Vote 923: Rukiga District – Shs 21,557,840,000 253) Vote 924: Rukungiri District – Shs 40,111,677,000 254) Vote 925: Rwampara District - Shs 21,241,513,000 255) Vote 926: Ssembabule District – Shs 29,341,783,000 256) Vote 927: Serere District – Shs 32,000,876,000 257) Vote 928: Sheema District – Shs 26,927,219,000 258) Vote 929: Sironko District – Shs 32,016,598,000 259) Vote 930: Soroti District – Shs 22,110,246,000 260) Vote 931: Terego District – Shs 25,198,993,000 261) Vote 932: Tororo District – Shs 57,785,129,000 262) Vote 933: Wakiso District – Shs 78,280,713,000

Honourable members, I welcome you to this afternoon sitting. I thank you for yesterday’s special sitting where we paid tribute to our colleague, Hon. Engola. Some Members are in Kololo and that is why you see the House is like this - and I appreciate Members who are in Kololo. Honourable members, I request you to spare time to go and send off our colleague on Saturday in Oyam. Please create time to go there. This afternoon, we have students from Makerere University Business School and Mount Kenya University. They are here to witness today’s proceedings. Please stand up. (Applause) You are most welcome. This is Parliament of Uganda and a people-centred Parliament. Honourable members, we have few matters of national importance and one of them, which is urgent is from Hon. Chemonges. Then, we shall proceed to other business. Hon. Chemonges?

Thank you. As we send off our brother and colleague, we are comforted by the biblical teaching in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3; that there is an appointed time for everything and every affair under Heaven. There is a time to be born and a time to die. Hon. Charles was born and now he has died. Hon. Charles has been a Member of the 11 th Parliament and it so happened that we used to be together in the 10 th Parliament. We will miss Hon. Charles dearly. He fought a good fight. To the bereaved family and the people of Oyam, I pray that the good Lord comforts you and Ugandans. We will continue praying for you. As the 11 th Parliament, we need to pray a little more. Within a short time, we have had bodies lying before us here. It is not an easy thing but we leave it all to God. He brought us here for a purpose. We will continue praying for the family and as Parliament, we will continue supporting the family of the late. When you are a Member of Parliament here, we become one family. Therefore, we will take you as part of our family. I have a condolence message here from the Parliament of Uganda. This means that it is from all of you. It reads: “The Parliament of Uganda learnt with profound shock and sadness of the demise of Hon. Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola, the Member of Parliament for Oyam North and Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development, which occurred on 2 May 2023. It is extremely unfortunate that the late Hon. Charles Macodwogo succumbed to a brutal assassination carried out by one of his guards. Hon. Charles Engola was a disciplined, hard-working, honest and kind person. He contributed immensely to the development of Uganda in his various responsibilities as a Member of Parliament and a minister. On behalf of the Parliament of Uganda and indeed on my own behalf as the Speaker, I convey my heartfelt condolences to the family at this painful time.” Be encouraged with the scripture from the Book of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 which says: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion, and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” I trust that God Almighty will grant you and the family members the comfort you deserve during this time of loss. May the good Lord comfort you and be with you. As the Parliament of Uganda, we have contributed Shs 50 million to support the family. (Applause) The letter is addressed to the widow of the late, Mrs Joyce Okello Engola. Thank you very much. (Applause) Honourable members, we would like to thank the Government for honouring our Member of Parliament and giving him an official burial. Of course, we are not saying we have not managed but we thank Government. This is a trying moment that we should all embrace irrespective of our sides in the House. Today, it is Charles that has been killed but tomorrow, it might be any of us. On that note, therefore, I ask the Prime Minister to move the motion. However, before the motion is moved, can we first have the body inside the Chambers? (Entrance of the late Col (Rt) Charles Patrick Okello Engola Macodwogo.) The National Anthem. The East African Community Anthem. Laying of wreaths.

8548 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. COL (RTD) CHARLES OKELLO-ENGOLA MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. CHARLES OKELLO- ENGOLA, FORMER MINISTER OF STATE FOR GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR OYAM COUNTY NORTH, OYAM DISTRICT

Honourable members, before we get the motion, on the technical bench this afternoon, we have immediate family members of the late Hon. Charles Okello-Engola, the former Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development as well as the Member of Parliament for Oyam County. We have: Mrs Joyce Okello Engola, the widow; she is seated right behind here; Ms Sharon Agweng Okello, the daughter, Mr Samuel Engola, Mr David Olong Grabbie, the son; Mr Frank Okaka, the son; Mr Brian Feni, the son; Hon. Sam Engola, the brother and Brig. (Rtd) Charles Wacha, family coordinator. They have come to join us in paying tribute to their beloved one. Please join me in welcoming them. (Applause) In the VIP gallery this afternoon, we have the following: 1. Hon. Rose Akol, EALA Member of Parliament; 2. Hon. Paul Musamali, EALA Member of Parliament; 3. Hon. Veronica Kadogo, EALA Member of Parliament; 4. Hon. George Atim, former Member of Parliament; 5. Hon. Sarah Lanyero Ochieng, former Member of Parliament; 6. Hon. Capt. Otekat Emily; 7. Hon. Anthony Okello; 8. Hon. Ismail Orot, former Member of Parliament; 9. Hon. Agnes Nabirye, former Member of Parliament; 10. Hon. Lydia Wanyoto, former Member of Parliament; 11. Hon. Samuel Ssemugaba, former Member of Parliament; 12. Mr Waiswa Bageya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport. You are welcome. They have come to join us in paying tribute to the late Hon. Charles Okello- Engola. (Applause) In the public gallery this afternoon, we have family members and friends of the late Hon. Charles Okello-Engola. Please stand up so that we can see you. The family together with the friends are there. (Applause) You are most welcome. We also have Hon. Ben Wacha, former Member of Parliament. You are welcome. We have Hon. Masiko Kabakumba, you are welcome. (Applause) In the public gallery this afternoon, we have parliamentary interns attached to the Department of Legislative and Procedural Services. They are here to observe what is happening in the House. Where are you? Stand up. You are welcome. (Applause) We have some condolence messages. There is a condolence message from the Government Chief Whip, Hon. Hamson Obua, and attached is Shs 1 million. Thank you very much. It will be forwarded to the family. We also have a condolence message from Hon. Lydia Wanyoto, a member of the Central Executive Committee representing the women. Thank you very much. We have a condolence message from the Uganda Parliamentary Co-operative Savings and Credit Society Limited (SACCO) of Shs 1 million signed by Hon. Migadde. Thank you.

8549 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 9 MAY 2023 Allow me to read one condolence message, which is dated 9 May 2023, to the bereaved family of the late Hon. Charles Okello-Engola: “I have learnt with deep sorrow the very tragic and untimely death of Hon. Charles Okello- Engola, Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations), which occurred on Tuesday, 2 May 2023. I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the entire bereaved family of the late Hon. Charles Okello-Engola, the NRM, Parliament of Uganda, the Government of Uganda and the country at large. The late Hon. Charles Okello-Engola will be remembered for his selfless service to this country. He contributed actively to the liberation of this country, specifically in the fight against the LRA war. He was the LC 5 Chairperson of Oyam and an active member of our party; the NRM. We shall miss him greatly. I pray that the good Lord grants us strength, courage and faith to endure the extremely painful moment. May God grant his soul eternal rest and comfort. Signed by the Vice President, Maj. (Rtd) Jessica Alupo, and the Woman Representative for Katakwi District. (Applause) Rt Hon. Prime Minister, can we have the motion moved? It will be seconded by the Leader of the Opposition.

Madam Speaker, Your Excellency the Vice President, honourable colleagues, I move under Rule 56 of our Rules of Procedure to move a motion for a resolution of Parliament to pay tribute to the late Hon. Col (Rtd) Okello Charles Patrick Engola Macodwogo for his dedicated and patriotic service to the Republic of Uganda. “WHEREAS, Parliament received with deep sorrow, the sad news of the demise of Col (Rtd) Okello Charles Patrick Engola Macodwogo which occurred in Kyanja-Kampala on 2 May 2023; AWARE that Col (Rtd) Charles Patrick Engola Macodwogo had a distinguished career and served in various capacities; in the military and political spheres where he greatly contributed to the political, social, and economic transformation of Uganda: NOTING that Col (Rtd) Charles Engola served Uganda in the following key positions of responsibility: a) The Minister of State for Gender, Labor and Social Development (Labour Employment and Industrial Relations) from 2021 to 2 May 2023; b) The Minister of State for Defense and Veteran Affairs from the year 2016 to 2021; c) Member of Parliament for Oyam North County, Oyam District from the year 2016 to 2021; d) The Local Council V Chairperson of Oyam District from 2006 to 2016. e) The Commander of the Uganda peoples’ Defence Forces for the 501 Brigade 2005; ACKNOWLEDGING that Col (Rtd) Engola Charles Macodwogo served his country with patriotism, commitment and a Commander of Uganda People’s Defence Forces 501 Brigade, played a vital role in ensuring that peace and stability is realised in Northern Uganda; APPRECIATING that Col (Rtd) Engola Charles significantly contributed to the social protection and transformation of Ugandan migrant workers abroad during his tenure in the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development; NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by this Parliament as follows:

Yes, Madam Speaker. On Tuesday, 2 May 2023, the country received the sad news of the passing on of Hon. Col (Rtd) Charles Patrick Okello Engola Macodwogo, the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations, a Member of Parliament for Oyam North County since 2016 and a member of the Lango Parliamentary Group. Col (Rtd) Charles Patrick Engola Macodwogo was born on 12 October 1958 to the late Rwot (Jago) Nassan Engola and Ketula Engola of Awangi in Iceme, Oyam District. The late Okello Charles Engola was the grandson of Rwot Olong Adilo and great-grandson of Rwot Olwa Abelli of Iceme Village. Madam Speaker, Col (Rtd) Charles Engola attended Atura Common Primary School from 1967 to 1973. He attended Soroti Senior Secondary School from 1974 to 1978. Hon. Charles Engola, attended Kampala International University from the year 2007 to 2010 and awarded a Bachelor of Development Studies. In 2013, he acquired a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Management from Kampala International University. Col (Rtd) Charles Patrick Okello Engola Macodwogo joined the army in 1980 at the rank of private. He was later promoted to the rank of Major and appointed the Commanding Officer-501 Brigade based in Opit, Gulu. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and maintained as a Commanding Officer 501 Brigade. In 2006, he was promoted to the rank of colonel and retired from the army. Madam Speaker, Col (Rtd) Charles Engola joined politics in the year 2006 and was elected the LC V Apac District till when Oyam District was created. From the year 2011 to 2016, he was the LC V Chairperson of Oyam. While from the year 2016 to 2021, Col (Rtd) Charles Engola was elected the Member of Parliament for Oyam North County and in the same period, he served as the Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs. From 2021 to the time of his demise, Hon. Col (Rtd) Charles Patrick Okello Engola Macodwogo was the Minister of State for Gender, Labour and Social Development (Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations). Madam Speaker, Hon. Col (Rtd) Charles Patrick Okello Engola Macodwogo was married to Mrs Joyce Okello Engola and they were blessed with children; Sharon Agweng Okello, Samuel Engola Jr, Daniel Olong, Frank Okaka and Feni Brian. Madam Speaker, Charles Okello Engola answered the highest call of serving his country as a professional soldier. He was a war hero and played a fundamental role in the pacification of the northern part of this country against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebel insurgency and acquired the name ‘Macodwogo”, meaning “fire has returned”. (Applause) Madam Speaker, in 2019, Hon. Col (Rtd) Charles Patrick Okello Engola Macodwogo, as the Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs (Defence), led a team of Ugandan Members of Parliament to Arabiska Forward Operating Base in Somalia, where they interacted with the UPDF troops and the local leadership.

Madam Speaker and honourable Members of Parliament, on Tuesday 2 May 2023, we lost Hon Col(Rtd) Okello-Engola Macodwogo, Member of Parliament for Oyam North, who was also the Minister of State for the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations). The sad news came unexpectedly, especially since the day before, he had organised and supervised the celebration of the International Labour Day held in Namutumba District. Many of you saw how active and humble he was; he even walked in the rain to go and make his speech. Prior to Labour Day, he had notified us in top management that he would be wedding in June. He had asked all of us to preserve that month for his wedding. The widow and the family - especially the widow - will not see this day that her husband had planned for her. Your sadness and sorrow are nothing compared to the pain and agony that visited you that Tuesday morning, when we arrived to see the minister lying dead in the compound. I have known Hon. Okello-Engola Macodwogo as a Member of Parliament because we share the district; I am the Member of Parliament for Oyam South and he was the Member of Parliament for Oyam North. However, I got to know him when I was the Woman Member of Parliament for Apac District in 2001. At the time, he was based in Opit Barracks. I had Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in my constituency and required that I constantly visit the IDP camps. Opit, where he was, was a stone throw away from my subcounty, Minakulu. That is why in his statement, H.E the President, mentioned Minakulu. As a serving Member of Parliament from the area at the time, the minister in charge of disaster preparedness was Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere, who requested me to support him in closing the IDP camps. When we toured Oyam to close the IDP camps, Hon. Prof Tarsis Kabwegyere recognised the then commandant of 501 Command Post for the job well done and that was Hon. Okello-Engola, with whom we worked together with the Professor to close the IDP camps. Subsequently, he won the name Macodwogo; he had to swear an affidavit to include it in his name because it was an appreciation for the people of Oyam for the work he did to ensure that we return back from the IDP camps. He then developed interest to contest for an elective position, but because of his good work, he did not want to accept. It was his brother, Hon. Sam Engola, who is seated there, who came and negotiated for his promotion and retirement from the Army for him to contest as the LC 5 Chairman, Apac District. When he contested, he won with 93 per cent. He was then appointed after serving two terms of serving in Parliament; he was appointed the Minister of State for Defence and Veteran Affairs. In this term, he was appointed the minister of state in our ministry. During his tenure as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, he was in charge of negotiations, engagements and implementation of labour issues emanating from IGAD, the East African Community, the African Union and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. We already have a minister from Kenya who is arriving shortly to pay tribute to him because they have been working on these matters together. He was overseeing inspections of workplaces for compliance with safety and occupational health issues. He had toured so many areas; he had inspected almost all plantations in the country and very many factories. He was coordinating ministerial involvement with the Industrial Court because it is the one that deals with labour matters. He was supervising the pursuit of compensation claims and labour disputes. Many people get complaints about labour issues and they require compensation. He was handling those disputes almost every day. Most times, the employers wanted to pay

Madam Speaker, I am privileged to say a few positive things about my very close friend, the late Okello Engola before we finally say “bye” to him. From the onset, just to add to what Hon. Mao has said to the country, that death belongs to all of us. To celebrate the death of a person even if you do not agree with them, in our humble position, is to invite a curse unto your family and people. I am happy that, much as this callous soldier cut Hon. Macodwogo’s life short, there are no more camps in Oyam District – (Applause) – and there are no more convoys from Corner Kamdini to Gulu. There are also no more convoys from Karuma Bridge to Pakwach. Madam Speaker, the Langi, Acholi – the people of Northern Uganda – have now joined the rest of Uganda in fending for their lives as normal peaceful citizens. The role Hon. Okello Macodwogo played was very critical in making this happen. I think Hon. Mao had read my mind, but even after doing all those big things enumerated by

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I join the rest of my colleagues in paying tribute to our fallen comrade but I will limit my submission to a few areas. Madam Speaker, I first met the late Col (Rtd) Engola Okello Macodwogo 12 years ago when we were both district chairpersons. He was the district chairperson of Oyam while I was the district chairperson of Jinja. While I was elected the President of the Local Governments Association of Uganda, he was elected the vice-president representing the northern region. We served the local governments. He had a lot of passion and commitment. He had a lot of time for his people. He committed a lot of time and resources to ensure Uganda, under the local government fraternity, took over the chair and presidency of the East African Local Governments Association. We later met in the 10 th Parliament and we were both appointed ministers. In the first term, he persisted and invited me to his constituency, Oyam North, to preside over the annual general meeting of the Oyam North Women Farmers’ Cooperative Society. I found him at his home, we toured his farm and we had lunch together before –(Member timed out.)

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I rise to support the motion as we mourn our friend. I was one of those who rushed to his home together with the Minister of Health and a few other ministers, when we heard the sad news of his shooting. You could not believe that Macodwogo was lying in a pool of blood just in front of his house in Kyanja. On behalf of the people of Kinkizi and Kanungu District, I convey our sympathies and condolences to the family and pray that God comforts you in this trying moment. We condemn in the highest terms possible all those who think they can put down others through a gun. We hope the investigators will get to the root of the matter - what motivated this soldier to just shoot an innocent minister. We are told that they had been together for barely a month. So, what could have motivated this? Even when we belong to different political persuasions, we should be able to engage each other and the solution should not be one thinking of killing the other. We have many things we could talk about Macodwogo; I came in touch with him for the first time when I led the Committee on HIV/AIDS of Parliament to assess the impact of the war in northern Uganda. He was the chairperson of Oyam District and he gave us a lot - he was a very amiable and receptive man. We shall dearly miss him. We pray that the good Lord receives him and gives him a comfortable seat in Heaven. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Madam Speaker, I support the motion by the Rt Hon. Prime Minister and also extend my sympathies and condolences to the family, the people of Oyam and the Government for the loss of our dear friend at the hands of a rogue guard. I was privileged to serve with Hon. Charles as a soldier and comrade in the UPDF, as a state minister at my last duty station in defence and as a colleague minister in the Government. So, it is a personal loss. I think his service in the UPDF has been well spoken to by Gen. Mugira – as a frontline commander, artillery officer and other assignments, both here and abroad. I will speak mostly to his lighter side, the recent one being work-related, where I was tasked with him and Hon. Bright to go and

8564 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. COL (RTD) CHARLES OKELLO-ENGOLA handle the Balaalo issue in the north. In one of the engagements with the population – he was always our bridgehead. We had the Balaalo and the people of the area. They looked at the Balaalo, looked and at us and started grumbling. (Laughter) We asked him: “What is it?” He said: “They think you are like those people.” (Laughter) Thanks to his diplomatic credentials, he calmed them down and we had a very good interaction. So, that was his other side of being a peacemaker and I salute him for that. I also had the privilege, later, of being hosted by him and his wife at his home in Oyam, where he told me about his childhood; how he survived Idi Amin with his father. It was quite a telling and deep engagement. On the comments by the honourable colleague and my dear friend, the Leader of the Opposition, I want to share the sentiments of Gen. Mugira: Can we, for now, avoid speculations until we conclude the investigations. (Applause) I want also to allay the fears of the House about the measures outlined by the President, including the installation of the CCTV cameras and the fingerprinting of the guns. There has been impact and we shall account to this House. Do not despair; we actually want more support to do phase three of the CCTV cameras to cover the gaps in phase one and phase two. Lastly, life is invaluable, more so the life of such an exceptional human being as Hon. Charles, and there is no excuse whatsoever for taking life unlawfully. That is the reason why – I think Sabiiti knew what would befall him and had to take his own life. The discipline of the UPDF is known and tested. May the soul of Hon. Charles rest in eternal peace.

Thank you, Minister of State for Internal Affairs. I wonder whether Sabiiti was still in his normal senses at that time. Based on what has been said, we will need an account of the cameras before we give more money because the cameras will help us in investigations. (Applause) Minister in charge of agriculture? THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES (ANIMAL INDUSTRY) (Lt Col (Rtd) Bright Rwamirama): Thank you, Madam Speaker. I send condolences to the Commander-in-Chief, you, Madam Speaker, the family, the people of northern Uganda and the entire country. I knew the late Hon. Okello Engola during my time in the UPDF. I also interacted with him when he was the chairman LC V and we also had a social relationship. My daughter was getting married to Oyam – in Acaba – and I had to find out where my daughter was going. Hon. Charles Okello Engola showed me the way. I went with Hon. Santa – and his wife prepared a meal for us. At that time, I said: “But, we are going to eat and we are eating here.” He said: “We, soldiers, first eat what we find. There, you never know.” All I want to confirm is that Hon. Engola was a nationalist. He served his country and his contribution to the community is documented as perfectly made clear in the speech by Gen. Mugira, the Prime Minister and the people of Oyam. Hon. Charles Engola was a very simple person, but very purposeful. I worked with him in the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs as my colleague minister and our offices were very close to each other’s. I want to say a few things and one is that Hon. Charles Engola put his life between the enemy and the community. Unfortunately, he has died a very criminal and brutal death at the hands of a rogue bodyguard. I join the others who condemned some of the utterances, especially celebrating criminal acts. As citizens of this country, we should condemn

Madam Speaker, I stand here to support the motion that was presented here by our Prime Minister. I stand here in sadness for the loss of my brother, Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola. I met Col (Rtd) Engola Macodwogo in 2001 when the rebel situation in northern Uganda was very bad, that each time one would try to go to Gulu or farther north, they had to wait at Karuma Bridge in order to be escorted across to wherever destination they were going. At that time, I paid no attention to who he was; just regarded him as any other UPDF officer. Much later, when he became the LC V Chairperson of Oyam District and I was in Government, we came to know each other better. A lot has been spoken about this man but when he came into Government, we came to realise that there are some similarities between us in terms of character. This was a very noble, humble, down-to-earth gentleman that you would never even imagine could quarrel or even kill a fly; he was a wonderful person. On many occasions – I say many occasions - people mistook him to be me and me to be him; Sam Engola to be me. All the time, there was confusion. (Laughter) I do not know why. Order, Madam Speaker. (Laughter)

8567 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 9 MAY 2023 he gave us a lot of tips on security. It is very unfortunate that he died by a gun. He would tell us that that even when we travel out, we needed to be careful which room they have booked for us. I would then tell him that I am a civilian. He would then say, “Do not joke with the position you have; it is a position that everybody envies.” I then told him, “Now, as you teach me security I will teach you issues of gender.” I told him, “Now, you are a soldier and have come to gender, allow us to teach you gender issues.” When his daughter was getting married, he said, “You know, I have one daughter. I feel pain for her to get married and I want you people to come home.” I told him, “My brother, I will not be able to attend the marriage ceremony but I will give you support.” He then said, “You people of the gender ministry, you must come for my wedding” and we had made that promise. Unfortunately, we shall be going to send him off. The wedding has not come to be. I even asked him what type of good soldier this is with one woman because we know soldiers – with due respect to the ones in the House - are usually – (Laughter) - this man was a Christian, Madam Speaker. The late Hon. Engola liked jokes and whenever we were at the ministry, he would tell me, “You ‘ Muteso’ look at the way you are moving.” I would then respond, “You Langi man, look at the way you are looking at me” before we would start a meeting, and you would find us laughing. Before he went for Labour Day, the Office of the Government Chief Whip called me and said that they were looking for somebody to present the statement. I called him - he said he was supposed to go to Moroto. I think he had another assignment from His Excellency. He told me he was at the Uganda Media Centre and I told him to finish with the media centre and rush to Parliament. That day, we had an issue here and he was not able to come and present this statement. However, he came here and said, “My sister, I have to leave for Moroto.” I said, “No, go to the House and then travel to Moroto. After all, you have your ‘wiwi’,” and we laughed. He then told me that from Moroto, he was going to attend prayers in Ntungamo. From Ntungamo on a Sunday, he was going to Namutumba. This was a very hardworking man. Madam Speaker, whenever we used to have a caucus meeting in Entebbe, he would call me and tell me to take advantage of his lead car and we used to move together. This was a friend. We have missed a great man; a man who loved this country, his family and his constituency. Every time he was free, he was in Oyam. I remember when he was an LC V Chairman, one of our councillors was given the position of secretary for finance - Hon. Odongo Ali. This man loved everybody despite their status. May God rest your soul in peace until we meet, my brother. Thank you. THE MINISTER OF STATE, OFFICE OF

8568 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. COL (RTD) CHARLES OKELLO-ENGOLA I attended many social and official functions with him and we always joked because he would always dance to Lingala when he was happy. He would also dance to the Lango traditional dance. I would always tease him about the Lango dance because they would first sing and then dance to the beat of the drum, which now ignites your dancing. He would simply laugh; you would think he was too heavy to jump but he would jump high up to the excitement of the crowd and to the amusement of the public. I consulted him many times on the issues of northern Uganda, cattle compensation and the Balaalo issue. At one moment, he said “There are people who are liars and you should not believe them.” He brought me a file of photographs and letters and he would show me the people. He would tell me of the people who had already been paid. After the sitting, I asked him for the file and he told me it was a secret, but if I had anything to consult on, he would be there for me. At one of the first functions I had in Oyam, when he became a minister, we went together for his thanksgiving. At another time, I went for my own work and he had lunch for us in his home. That is when he told me that he was also a medicine man. I asked him what he cured, to which he responded, “kidneys, lungs, and other diseases that people fear to talk about.” He took us around his gardens and showed me one of the plants because I had a cough. I took a leaf and coughed; it was bitter. I took another leaf and came back with it to Kampala. The next morning, I took it again and my cough went away. So, I know him as a medicine man as well but I did not discover the other diseases. He told me that I could only get those plants with his permission because if I did not, the medicine would not work. (Laughter) To the family, God has given and God has taken. May the Lord protect you and give you peace. May the soul of Hon. Charles Macodwogo rest in perfect peace. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I also stand here to pay my tribute to the family, His Excellency the President and to you, Madam Speaker, for the loss of a man who was patriotic, hardworking and humble. He was a man of himself. I came to know Hon. Engola when we were deployed in the same Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. When I introduced myself as Hon. Sarah Mateke, he said “Mateke and Lango have a very serious relationship.” Each time, he would tell me, “Do you know that Mateke should have donated all the daughters to Lango?” To which I responded that we donated one. He then told me that he wanted me in Oyam. That is how our relationship was. He was a parent to some of us; so he listened and guided us. Whenever he would hear the youths say something, he would say, “Calm down. You are the minister for the youths; so first listen, before you talk.” I personally learnt a lot from him; one of the things I learnt from him is that you should not go for any trip and not document what you have seen there. Secondly, I learnt to always listen and first internalise what I have been told before I respond. If you feel you cannot respond, keep quiet and be patient before responding. I want to encourage the family that Col Engola had already made his legacy; please keep it up. Some of us who carry our parents’ names - Those who carry Col (Rtd) Engola’s name, please do not shame him; instead, make his name move farther. For the Christians, we believe God had a reason why all these things happened. May his soul rest in peace. (Applause) Thank you.

I knew him as Macodwogo but I did not know the meaning. Even the President in Cabinet called him Macodwogo. When I learned the meaning, I remembered the time I went to Oyam with the Hon. Ben Wacha, when I was still on the other side - of the media fraternity. We moved in the villages of Oyam and indeed the saucepans and the kitchen had gone silent. People deserted their homes and were staying in the IDP camps. When I went back to do the post-war recovery series, I found that the people had come back to their homes and they were indeed cooking. Therefore, I learnt that the reason why they gave him that name was because the fire had returned to the kitchens in that subregion. He defended his people. When I became a Member of Parliament, Hon. Macodwogo looked for me. As you are aware, Madam Speaker, many Ugandans fell in love with me from their TV screens in their sitting rooms. I came to learn that Hon. Macodwogo was one of those who fell in love with me from his TV set. When he met me – when I became a Member of Parliament – he declared his love for me. (Laughter) Do not misquote the love. He said: “Agness Nandutu, my family and I loved you when you were on TV. From today, you are my friend.” Indeed, we became friends. The soldier who is lying before us here was, really, a “loverman”. (Laughter) He was a good man.

8572 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. COL (RTD) CHARLES OKELLO-ENGOLA Parliamentary Group. Next, we shall have the Woman MP of Oyam, the Shadow Minister for Gender and Shadow Minister for Internal Affairs.

8573 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 9 MAY 2023 Women suffered with the children and the public; they were not able to cook. They were not able to light a fire. If one lit fire, the rebels would see the smoke. The women were going hungry together with their children and others. When Macodwogo jumped up and said, “I must die for my people,” he fought the war and chased the Lord’s Resistance Army from Lango and peace prevailed in Lango. (Applause) Up to now, we are enjoying peace that the late brought in Lango. He was given the name, “Macodwogo” because we are now cooking and the children can eat cooked food. I want to briefly say that the late Macodwogo was development- and action-oriented. He loved education. He gave out his land for the construction of a technical school, which he did not do. He had already acquired the land. He was promoting agriculture. He made sure he put very many demonstration gardens in Lango including the one on coffee growing. Madam Speaker, let me say this: Having listened to the entire debate, let Government come in to construct a technical school in Oyam in his name because the land is already there; it is a matter of talking to the people there – let the technical school be constructed on the land that he had acquired, in his remembrance. Secondly, on the issues of agriculture, he promoted the growing of Hass Avocado and coffee, among others. Right now, Lango Subregion and the entire northern Uganda have not yet received coffee seedlings from Government yet the season is running out. To remember him as a great farmer and as somebody who has been promoting farming in the region; at the earliest opportunity that we are experiencing rain – you know very well that we only experience much rain in the first season – let us be availed with coffee seedlings; our farmers are ready. The Government needs about 20 billion bags of coffee for export, but it is able to raise only 8 million bags right now. We have vast land upon which we can promote coffee growing and remember him for that. Madam Speaker, I would like to mention that the late Col (Rtd) Macodwogo served this country selflessly. It is my wish that much as he has died, His Excellency, the President, promotes him posthumously. Let his family be supported with the benefits that they really deserve. That is my humble request. While I conclude, we are grieving. Everybody is touched. Everyone is asking questions. We are all asking many questions. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the people of Lango, I request Government to avail us with a substantial report on the death of the late Macodwogo, who has been a minister, Member of Parliament and served this country tirelessly. We need that report for our hearts to be at rest because we will have known what caused the shooting by the bodyguard. I beg to submit.

Thank you. Hon. Alum Santa, is the Woman Member of Parliament for Oyam District, where the late –

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the people of Oyam and on my own behalf, I stand here with deep sorrows to pay tribute to our gallant son, the late Col(Rtd) Hon. Charles Okello-Engola Macodwogo, who happens to be my very good colleague; my area Member of Parliament for Oyam County North, my defender and my signaller. I met the late when I was a student at Bombo Senior Secondary School and we used to cross the barracks together when going to school. One thing that he taught us was discipline; that when you are crossing the barracks, you have to be disciplined and greet people “ habari .” When the flag is being pulled down, you have to stand still and not walk and look straight. That was his mentorship right from my student days.

8574 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. COL (RTD) CHARLES OKELLO-ENGOLA It was a big shock and surprise to us to hear of the brutal murder of Hon. Charles Okello- Engola; something which is difficult for us to comprehend and it is really terrifying. The people of Oyam are so scared and worried. They are asking the big question that “what will happen to us now that Hon. Okello-Engola is not there?” Who will be our defender now that Hon. Okello-Engola is – Because of that Madam Speaker, Hon. Okello-Engola was a very brave man to many people. He was highly courageous; a man who would do anything for the sake of his people and a man who would sacrifice his life for the sake of others. The name “Macodwogo” was given to him by the women of Oyam. I got married at that time when the insurgency was at its highest. The women and the children as we all know bear the greater burden of wars. Women would not cook or fetch firewood but whenever he was around, all those would happen and the women gave him the name “Macodwogo”. I would like to salute him for that. The late Hon. Charles Okello-Engola was really a gallant son. He was a Member of Parliament for Oyam County North. I want to mention this because there is a lesson that we can learn. We had a very good working relationship with the honourable minister. I am from the UPC party and he was from the NRM party, but he was very developmental; never at any one time did he interfere with any of my programmes to the extent that all my Women’s Day celebrations were never interrupted and people used to wonder. Hon. Sam Engola was here and he used to tease us that “for me, I am aluc”, which means somebody who does something on the opposite or upside down. He would say why do you support that aluc? Then he would – However, this is a lesson that we can learn; the constituency is big enough for all of us, if we choose to follow that example that he gave us. He was a family man and I would like to thank the wife and the children for the legacy that he has left; whenever anybody would go to his home, we would eat together even with the soldiers. As we were eating this side, the soldiers and bodyguards would also be eating the other side. I feel so bad to hear people say his death was because of pay. This record must be corrected. Allow me to mention something very briefly. He was a farmer and many honourable colleagues have mentioned that. In Lango, we only have apples in his farm and many other farming activities. My sister, the chairperson, has mentioned this and I would like to add my voice to ask the Government to support us. There were many other developmental initiatives and we were following the issue of tarmacking the road from Aboke to Bobi Road in addition to the district hospital that he was following together with us. I would like to request that all these plus paying school fees for orphans that he was taking care of - in remembrance of the great work that he did - may we grant his wish. Finally, he was a retired Colonel; I want to join and add my voice that his wish of becoming a brigadier general should be granted. Madam Speaker, allow me to thank first of all, the Government together with you our Speaker of Parliament, the Rt Hon. Anita Among and Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, for standing with us. Honourable colleagues, I want to thank you very much for standing with the family and being with us. In the interest of time and to allow my honourable colleagues also to pay tribute, I want to say, may his soul rest in eternal peace.

8578 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. COL (RTD) CHARLES OKELLO-ENGOLA disciplined, patriotic and believe in the African cause. The other point I want to make is that he has been a real cadre. (Applause) I have my own definition of cadreship: a cadre must be that one who grasps and understands the ideologies, the aims, the objectives and the purpose for which the system he or she believes in stands for. Knowing that does not qualify you to become a complete cadre. You have to add the second one, which is the ability to pass them on to others. The third one is what the English today call “walking the talk”. If you believe in them, do you do them? That is what completes a cadreship. Our comrade lying here was a real cadre. Finally, comrade Charles was a pragmatic leader. When he retired and joined politics to become the LC V Chairman of Oyam District, I was already in northern Uganda - like I have told you – and the insurgency was still going on. However, because of his quality of leadership, he mobilised other leaders and the people of Lango to reject the Kony rebellion and within a few years, the insurgency had been defeated. (Applause) It was not only that. When he became the chairman, I remember – and those of you from Lango can bear me witness -

You will bear me witness that Oyam became a model district in terms of development. (Applause) Finally, I want to convey my condolences to my sister and the entire family. During my activities there, they hosted me in their home and she fed me for quite some time. I want to convey our condolences – mine and my family’s – to the family and Hon. Sam, to you, Madam Speaker and the entire Parliament, to H.E. the President and the entire Cabinet, to the people of Oyam and Lango and all Ugandans for this sad and unfortunate death of our comrade. May the soul of comrade Charles rest in perfect peace. I thank you very much.

8579 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 9 MAY 2023 now on wealth creation. I went to Oyam and saw how people are vandalising electricity poles, which would help in creating wealth. We now pray that as we send him off, let the vandalism of those poles stop. Let the LRA war victims from Northern Uganda and West Nile be paid so that they can now have a full recovery. I want to pray for the family to be united. At the same time, I want to pray to all of us to give comfort to the family. May the soul of Col (Rtd) Charles Engola Macodwogo rest in eternal peace.

8580 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. COL (RTD) CHARLES OKELLO-ENGOLA first cousin to my dear husband, Hon. Sam Engola. In Lango, we belong to and are identified by clans. Macodwogo and I belong to the Otikokin clan, a very powerful one. He served as an executive member, promoting the Luo local language, culture and tradition. Madam Speaker, Macodwogo supported orphans and churches, and promoted fish farming and agriculture. The late stood with his people both in the good and bad times. He was our strength and hope in the subregion. The late is honoured for serving greatly in the UPDF. He was the first LC V Chairperson of Apac District; the district I represent in this House. He was the LC V Chairman of Oyam for two terms. While he was there, he moved with sticks in his car to beat people along the way or trading centres found drinking alcohol known as “ lira lira ”. Now, that means he advocated for hard work. Madam Speaker, life is very fragile. What has happened has happened. To us as a family, it is too heavy for us to take in and yet we cannot run away from it. Macodwogo was a very courageous NRM flag bearer for Oyam North. He will be remembered for what he did in Northern Uganda, especially during the Kony war and that history in Lango will never disappear. On Sunday, we drove to Bombo Military Hospital to view his body. That body was shot 28 times. As a family, there are questions to ask but God knows. I would like to thank you, Madam Speaker, for your support. I also thank your deputy, colleagues and the Government for the support. I thank you for this opportunity.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I add my voice in support of the motion to pay tribute to our fallen colleague, Hon. Charles Engola. I send my condolences to the family, the people of Oyam and Ugandans. I am the Vice-Chairperson of the Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development, but Hon. Engola has been a very humble and respectful person. Whenever we summoned the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to appear on issues of labour, he used to appear himself. There are ministers who are summoned before committees and they do not appear, but that was not Hon. Engola. When we were handling the petition on migrant workers, he was very instrumental before the committee –

8582 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. COL (RTD) CHARLES OKELLO-ENGOLA District and LC V Chairperson Oyam, and then eventually he came to Parliament. Madam Speaker, Hon. Charles Okello was a symbol of peace, security, and development in Lango, Northern Uganda and the country. Just seeing the late Okello Engola moving around, you would know we still have our peace and security. Today, our symbol is down. We pray that fire continues to be lit in our kitchen in Northern Uganda, Lango and the country. Madam Speaker, allow me to say one thing I have observed. With due respect to UPDF and other security forces – and this is for all for the ministers in this country that have got escorts and bodyguards. When officers go to the field with their bosses, there is a tendency where their duty allowance is paid to either their commander or the Aides-De-Camp (ADC) or somebody in charge. That person then pays the officers when their principals are not even aware of what goes on. Madam Speaker, from my experience, at one time, I dealt with a District Police Commander (DPC) who presented a budget of Shs 20,000 for paying officers who were going to be on duty. Yet, he ended up paying them Shs 5,000. As a result, the officers put him at gunpoint. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, I appeal to you that the permanent secretaries in these ministries must ensure that the allowances of officers who guard ministers and any other person is paid directly to them, not a third party. (Applause) The circumstances under which the man I have known for long, the late Col (Rtd) Okello Engola died - when I saw him lying, it was a great pity, painful and shameful. Madam Speaker, someone is paid to give money to the officers but then he does not give them all the money. Imagine Col (Rtd) Okello Engola, an innocent person died in circumstance that he did not create. This must be taken seriously by all ministers and their bodyguards. Also, pay them promptly. We are not going to run away from certain facts and truth, then tomorrow, we end up coming back here again talking about the same thing. I would like to tell the family of Okello that the late died an accomplished man; a hero. Forget about the people who believe that one way of survival in this country is to talk negatively about people. It is so painful, when you have lost a dear one then someone starts celebrating, sending messages and recording bad things. Madam Speaker, the Computer Misuse (Amendment) Act that was passed was quashed by court.

8583 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 9 MAY 2023 was moved by the Rt Hon. Prime Minister to pay tribute to our senior colleague ; Col (Rtd) Okello Engola Macodwogo. I would like to convey my condolences, that of my family and the people of Omoro District to the bereaved family of our fallen brother, Col Okello Engola Macodwogo. Madam Speaker, from what has been talked about in the House this afternoon about Okello Engola, the testimonies are: one is that he is above self and two, serving for the common need of our people. Hon. Okello Engola chose to serve in the military and grew from the lowest rank up to the rank of a colonel, serving in the military field, a department of service that is very risky. He did it very diligently and we are benefiting as a region from the outcome of his service. He has been a pacifier. Madam Speaker, while he served as the 501 Brigade Commander in Opit - Opit is in Omoro District and it neighbors Oyam District. The people of Omoro District have expressed sympathy for the loss of this gallant son. The people of Lango, Opit and Omoro District know the very meaning of Macodwogo because they are direct beneficiaries. I wish to end and quote the words of Scott Hildreth. He said, “ The value of a person’s life is measured by the amount of people they touch in living it. ” From the efforts of Okello Engola by ensuring that we receive peace in the region, he was able to touch so many lives, particularly of the vulnerable people; the women and the children. Madam Speaker, when he was serving as the LC V Chairperson Oyam District that was the time I got to know him better. I was the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) in Pader District and he was the LCV Chairperson of Apac District. We were in a meeting discussing Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF II) that time and he spoke very passionately on ensuring that we support livelihood component of the people that have returned home. So, I picked interest to know who this man was. I am not surprised with eulogies Members are giving about Hon. Okello Engola Macodwogo. Indeed, we have lost a great man, a man with great humility. There is a word Hon. Okello Engola told me when we were in our campaigns for the first time by-elections in Omoro when I came to Parliament. I did not know Hon. Ssewungu, who has confessed today was in the team of Hon. Mao campaigning on the other side. I was the candidate on the side of Okello Engola with Hon. Mao hitting us badly but Okello Engola told me one thing that when they found him, Hon. Mao entered the rally that he was addressing. When they started throwing words at him, he kept quiet and did not answer. I was wondering: what kind of military man is this? He did not respond to them. I asked him: “What should we do?” He said: “You are a candidate, just sneak from behind and disappear. Let me deal with the situation.” It did not take long. After about six minutes, I got a call from another subcounty – Lalogi – which was about seven kilometres away, that Hon. Okello Engola Macodwogo was already in Lalogi Subcounty. He left Hon. Mao and team in that very place. That was humility. Humility takes you to greater heights. I appeal to honourable colleagues that we are all in positions of leadership and are serving this country: what shall we be remembered for? I wish to express my condolences, again, to the bereaved family of Hon. Okello Engola Macodwogo. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

Madam Speaker, from the time the late Hon. Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo passed on, it is befitting to say “thank you” to the many key stakeholders who have so far made it possible. I want to thank, on behalf of the political family where the late belonged; and where he was a member. He served with loyalty and conviction, and that is the National Resistance Movement Party. I wish to thank His Excellency, the President and Cabinet, for granting him an official burial. Madam Speaker, I wish to also thank you, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, and all of you, colleagues. We have demonstrated, through this tribute motion, and generated consensus on the various contributions on the various submissions, especially on the role played by the late Hon. Col (Rtd) Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo; as a father, soldier, politician, and leader; I pay tribute! This is probably the first – I would say, where Parliament has sat and it is coming to almost 7 p.m. in the year 2023, unprecedented. Madam Speaker, we want to thank you even for personally paying homage to the deceased’s home in Kyanja - including the Deputy Speaker. We want to thank you for the personal contributions that you have made and the official one, on behalf of the institution of Parliament. I believe that the journey has not yet ended. Tomorrow, we are at Kololo at 10.00 a.m. Kindly, spare time and come to Kololo, whether you have taken a COVID-19 test or not. (Applause) On Saturday, we pray that you again get time and come to Oyam where our colleague will be laid to rest at his ancestral home. From Kampala to Oyam is about 3 hours 30 minutes’

8588 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE HON. COL (RTD) CHARLES OKELLO-ENGOLA to do due diligence on these people; mental check-ups. We are talking about people who are running mad due to frustration. For example, you send these people to Somalia and wherever and when they come back, you need to counsel them and do rehabilitation. The stress they go through while there cannot be something that you can just push and say, “go and guard Hon. Betty Amongi.” These people are frustrated. When you hear the story that Hon. Mukula was talking about - this young man had a loan and two women in addition to other things. We need to see how best we can handle the stress that these people go through. Honourable members, as we conclude, what Hon. Imat Cecilia Ogwal was talking about was only urging the Government. We urge the Government - and we are not saying the Government should do - but we urge you. That is why she said it is upon you to do it or not. If you loved your person, do it. (Laughter) Honourable members, I want to end here by urging all of you. We have never failed to support our fallen honourable colleagues. We have lost a number of honourable colleagues in this House and we have continuously supported the families of those honourable colleagues. We lost Rt Hon. Oulanyah and we continued supporting the family. We lost Hon. Okabe and we continued supporting the family. I am also asking this Parliament to continue supporting and standing with the family of the late Hon. Charles Okello-Engola. (Applause) As the leadership of the institution, we will continue standing by our fallen honourable colleagues. To the family, God gives and takes. Hon. Charles Okello-Engola has fought a good fight and won. He will always be remembered for all that he did in Lango and Uganda in general. Be strong, he has left a legacy; take on the mantle. We will continue to pray for you and where we can support you, we will. May the good Lord continue to comfort you during this painful time and God will see you through. Many of us, you see here, are total orphans but we have been able to make it. The God we serve is a God of orphans and widows so He will see you through. I now put the question that Parliament pays a glowing tribute in honor of the late Col (Rtd) Okello Charles Patrick Engola Macodwogo, the former Minister of State for Gender, Labor and Social Development responsible for Labor, Employment and Industrial Relations and a Member of Parliament for Oyam North County, Oyam District with the amendment proposed by Hon. Cecilia. (Question put and agreed to.)

I know I have put you, honourable colleagues, under pressure, so, it is not surprising. Please, communicate to the Clerk, who should be the custodian of the minutes. The report is already here - and we also need a table showing the figures per Vote. What is the total per Vote - even if you do not go to the recurrent and development figures? Give us the totals per Vote and the total for the whole sector and we refer to it the Committee on Budget. Honourable colleagues, I am going to open debate. I will start with Hon. Ferigo Kambale, the Member for Nakasongola, Hon. Osoru, Hon. Kugonza, the Member for Oyam and then the whip of DP. Let us use two minutes each.

Thank you. If we do not get that now, we will handle it at the time the Committee on Budget interfaces with the report. I picked the Member for Oyam and Hon. Mwijukye.

Lango Subregion has nine districts and one city namely: Kole, Dokolo, Apac, Oyam, Kwania, Alebtong, Amolatar, Otuke, Lira; and Lira City, comprising 21 constituencies. Our terms of reference were: 1. To determine the exact amount of approved funds that have been disbursed to the various parishes. 2. To examine the eligibility of the various categories of beneficiaries of the PDM funds. 3. To assess the effectiveness of utilisation of disbursed funds by PDM beneficiaries. 4. To establish the extent of adherence to the PDM guidelines and procedures by the various actors in the implementation of PDM. 5. To examine any other matters incidental and make recommendations for corrective action. Methodology Our methodology involved meetings with district officials and PDM focal persons; meetings with PDM SACCO leaders; meetings with selected SACCOs; and review of PDM district reports and documentation. I now present the findings, observations and recommendations. The report is already uploaded on the iPad under the northern region reports. TOR No.1: To determine the exact amount of approved funds that have been disbursed to the various parishes Lango Subregion registered 597 parish SACCOs and 9,771 enterprise groups. In the Financial Year 2021/2022, the Government committed to disbursing Shs 17 million to each of the parish SACCOs. Out of the 576 parish SACCOs in Lango Subregion, only 175 SACCOs received the full amount equivalent to 29 per cent. A total of 277 SACCOs received

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Like I had said, out of the loan of $110 million, $22.5 million was earmarked for infrastructure - to improve infrastructure in 81 health facilities. This was divided into six lots. The lot in question is Lot 6, which was worth $24 billion - VAT inclusive. The contractor was BMK. They were supposed to construct maternity units and extras like pit latrines and placenta pits in 14 health facilities in West Nile and in Northern Uganda. The duration of the project was 16 months and it was supposed to commence on 15 March 2021, upon signing of the project contract. However, site handover was delayed to May 2021. The contract was supposed to run till 30 September 2022. The supervising architect was KK Partnership Architects. The Ministry of Health advanced 30 per cent of the total contract sum totalling to about Shs 6 billion to BMK to enable them mobilise and bring equipment to the site and start preliminary construction. BMK provided performance security in the form of a bank guarantee worth approximately Shs 6 billion and environmental and social safety guarantees of approximately Shs 1.9 billion, respectively. The objective of our visit, as a committee - which was very important - was to ascertain the physical progress of the works, among others. We had received many complaints from the citizens of West Nile and Northern Uganda, but most importantly, the politicians, about the delayed progress. In other parts of the country, they were 80 per cent and in this particular area, they had not yet reached even 50 per cent, yet we were running out of time. The committee also conducted a financial and legal analysis of the project to have a holistic scrutiny of the project. The sites visited were Panyimur in Pakwach, Kuchwiny in Nebbi, Kochi in Yumbe, Lobule in Koboko, Oluvu in Maracha, Awoo in Omoro, Akura in Alebtong, Anyangatir in Lira City and Kamdini in Oyam. Key findings from the field visit The committee found that on average, the civil works in nine sites ranged from between 55 per [Dr Ayume] SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT

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.