Pallisa District

Mr Speaker, Hon. Orone is aware that I am part of his constituency. I stayed in Pallisa for more than five years. The restocking programme started long ago in Acholi, Lango and Teso subregions. You are aware that last year, this Parliament appropriated Shs 80 billion for the same exercise. The money we spent last financial year was exactly that. After spending this money, many other regions came in. I will inform the President. After that, he will guide on the next course of action. For the technical school, I have the Minister of Education and Sports. He can always give a better answer.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. First of all, I would like to congratulate you upon achieving that seat and I would like to thank my party members for trusting me to be their General Secretary of the NRM Caucus. (Applause) Mr Speaker, I rise to support the motion thanking His Excellency, the President, for the State of the Nation Address for 2026. His Excellency, the President stated that the NRM philosophy was on building an independent, integrated and self-sustaining national economy. Independence has been on reducing external dependence. This is well articulated in the health sector by investors like Dei Pharmaceuticals and other related projects, which are producing previously imported drugs. This has reduced foreign dependence and saved foreign exchange. Mr Speaker, in the health sector, I will zero in on Kaliro District. Much as we still have issues, for example, Nawaikoke Health Centre III has to be upgraded to Health Centre IV because it is a constituency and according to the Ministry of Health programme, health centre IIs are supposed to be upgraded to health centre IIIs and each constituency is entitled to have a health centre IV. However, Mr Speaker, as Kaliro, we advocate for a health centre IV in Nawaikoke. On the same note, much as we still have high levels of unemployment, especially among the youth. We still have issues of infrastructure. For example, the road from Kaliro to Pallisa needs to be tarmacked, plus other roads. Much as we still have such issues, our country is not where we were; we need to appreciate and applaud His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, for where he has brought this country from. We believe that with the Kisanja no more sleep and no more corruption, we hope to achieve more development. I beg to submit.

Parliament. At that time, I was a Deputy RDC in Pallisa. She was such a developmental woman. She used to help her farmers, especially those who were growing cotton. She even had a ginnery in the district – then Pallisa, but now Kibuku. So, I know her, and unfortunately, we did not receive this information early enough. I will inform the President because I know the President knows the late very well. I know he will definitely send his condolence message. I will deliver the message, and I want to thank the Member for having brought this message to the House. Honourable members, the person we are talking about was once a Member of Parliament, and she did a very good job. So, the message delivered should be taken in good faith.

59 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 28 MAY 2026 the Republic of Uganda, and Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament: “ WHEREAS Article 108A(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides that there shall be a Prime Minister who shall be appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament by a simple majority from among Members of Parliament or persons qualified to be elected Members of Parliament; AND WHEREAS under Article 108A(2)(a) of the Constitution, the Prime Minister is the Leader of Government Business in Parliament, and is responsible for the coordination and implementation of Government policies across ministries, departments, and other public institutions, and performs such other functions as may be assigned to him or her by the President or as may be conferred to him or her by the Constitution or by law; AWARE that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda has, in exercise of powers conferred upon him by Article 108A(1) of the Constitution, appointed Hon. Nabbanja Robinah, District Woman Representative, Kakumiro District, as Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in Parliament ; NOTING that Hon. Nabbanja Robinah possesses the requisite qualifications for appointment as Prime Minister as set out in Article 108A(1) of the Constitution, since; (a) she is a citizen of Uganda, having been born on 17 December 1969 at Kamusenene, Nkoko Town Council, Kakumiro District; (b) she is a registered voter in Kakumiro District, and (c) she completed a minimum formal education of advanced level standard and obtained the following academic qualifications: i) She is a PhD student of Public Administration specialising in monitoring and evaluation from Nkumba University; ii) She holds a Master’s of Arts Degree in Monitoring and Evaluation from Nkumba University, Entebbe; iii) She has a Bachelor’s degree in Democracy and Development Studies from Uganda Martyrs University; iv) She holds a Diploma in Democracy and Development Studies from Uganda Martyrs University; v) A certificate in Audit Management from ESAMI, Arusha, Tanzania; vi) Certificate in Policy Formulation and Management from the Islamic University in Uganda; vii) Certificate in Leadership Skills and Management from Uganda Management Institute; viii) Certificate in Leadership, Economic Management and Transformation from NALI, Kyankwanzi; ix) Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education from St Edward’s, Bukumi Senior Secondary School, and; x) Uganda Certificate of Education from St Edward’s, Bukumi Senior Secondary School; FURTHER NOTING THAT Hon. Nabbanja Robinah has the necessary experience to execute the duties and functions of the Office of the Prime Minister, having held the following key positions of responsibility in the Cabinet, Parliament, and in the Local Government of Uganda, including: a. Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda and Leader of Government Business from June 2021 to May 2026. b. Minister of State for Health (General Duties). c. Parliamentary Commissioner in the 10 th Parliament. d. Treasurer of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Parliamentary Caucus in the Ninth Parliament. e. Woman Representative, Kakumiro District, from 2011 to date. f. Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for 10 years, serving in the districts of Pallisa, Budaka and Busia. g. Deputy Resident District Commissioner (Deputy RDC) Pallisa District. h. District Councillor representing the people of Nkoko Subcounty in Kibale District

15 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 15 MAY 2026 58. Niyonsaba Alex Bufumbira County South Kisoro NRM 59. Nsamba Patrick Oshabe Kassanda County North Kassanda NUP 60. Ntale Nsereko Madina Kawempe Division South Kampala NRM 61. Obigah Rose Woman Representative Terego NRM 62. Ochai Maximus West Budama County North Tororo NRM 63. Ojok Andrew Oulanyah Omoro County Omoro NRM 64. Okello Patrick Onguti Aswa County Gulu DP 65. Okot Boniface Henry Kole South County Kole NRM 66. Odwori John Kagoma North County Jinja NUP 67. Oboth Marksons Jacob West Budama Central County Tororo NRM 68. Onzima Phiona Ayivu Division West Arua City NRM 69. Ongalo-Obote Clement Kenneth Kalaki County Kalaki NRM 70. Okia Joanne Aniku Woman Representative Madi-Okollo NRM 71. Nsegumire Muhamad Kibedi Mityana County North Mityana NRM 72. Okullo Francis Ochero County Kaberamaido NRM 73. Opio Samuel Acuti Kole North County Kole NRM 74. Okwi Constantine Kibale County Pallisa NRM 75. Waako Joy Peggy Older Persons Representative Female NRM 76. Ongiertho Emmanuel Jor Nebbi Municipality Nebbi Independent 77. Ssekitoleeko Robert Bamunanika County Luweero NUP 78. Ogwang Peter Ngariam County Katakwi NRM 79. Ongorok Richard Usuk County Katakwi NRM 80. Olanya Gilbert Kilak South County Amuru FDC 81. Okoya John Calvin Chua East County Kaberamaido NRM 82. Okello Geoffery Charles Nwoya East County Nwoya DP 83. Ogama Alli Ismail Lower Madi County Madi-Okollo NRM The House was suspended at 11.12 a.m. until 1.00 p.m. On resumption, at 1.00 p.m. 84. Wanyoto Godfrey Budadiri County West Sironko Independent 85. Nyamutoro Phiona Woman Representative Nebbi NRM 86. Opio Denish Geoffrey Nwoya County Nwoya DP 87. Origumisiriza Enid Atuheire Woman Representative Kabale NRM 88. Ottober Wellborn Odiya Aruu North County Pader NRM 89. Ssewagudde Robert PWD Representative N/A Independent 90. Otimgiw Isaac Ismail Padyere County Nebbi NRM 91. Ruteraho Lillian Woman Representative Isingiro NRM 92. Ssemwanga Joseph (Brig. Gen.) UPDF Representative N/A N/A 93. Sange Jackline Woman Representative Kween NRM 94. Opolot-Okwalinga Simon Peter Kanyum County Kumi NRM 95. Owere Richard Machika West Budama North East Tororo NRM 96. Paparu Lillian Obiale Woman Representative Arua NRM 97. Paak Peter Pex Dodoth East County Kaabong NRM 98. Rwakoojo Robina Gureme Woman Representative Gomba NRM 99. Rwashande Emmanuel (Brig. Gen. Rtd) Lwemiyaga County Ssembabule NRM 100. Sekabira Denes Katikamu North County Luweero NUP 101. Ssewungu Joseph Gonzaga Kalungu County West Kalungu NUP 102. Owino Nicholas Simon Tororo North County Tororo NRM

103. Ruhindi Fredrick Nakawa Division East Kampala NRM 104. Taban Aate Sharifah Woman Representative Koboko Independent 105. Ouma Willy Namayingo South County Namayingo Independent 106. Orone Derrick Gogonyo County Pallisa NRM 107. Tete Chelengat Everline Woman Representative Bukwo NRM 108. Tibyaze Peace Woman Representative Jinja NRM 109. Tom Aliti Candia Maracha East County Maracha NRM 110. Rwakimari Beatrice Ruhaama County Ntungamo NRM 111. Tumuramye Genensio Kashongi County Kiruhura NRM 112. Tumusiime John Bosco Kashari South County Mbarara NRM 113. Teira John Bugabula County North Kamuli NRM 114. Oryema Simon Peter Adum Chua West County Kitgum NRM 115. Turyahikayo Kebirungi Mary Paula Woman Representative Rukungiri NRM 116. Sebamala Richard Bukoto County Central Masaka DP 117. Tiyo William Taylor Odaa Ayivu Division East Arua City NRM 118. Ssebbugga-Kimeze Berunado Budyepo County Nakasongola NRM 119. Tayebwa Thomas Ruhinda North County Mitooma NRM 120. Otto Edward Makmot Agago County Agago NRM 121. Rwamirama Bright Kanyontore (Lt Col Rtd) Isingiro County North Isingiro NRM 122. Tebandeke Charles Bbaale County Kayunga NUP 123. Tukahirwa James Byenjuru Hunter Kajara County Ntungamo NRM 124. Tumukunde Henry Kakurugu (Lt Gen. Rtd) Rukungiri Municipality Rukungiri NRM 125. Tumwesigye Anthony Isingiro West County Isingiro Independent 126. Ssenyonyi Joel Basekezi Nakawa Division West Kampala NUP 127. Osoru Mourine Woman Representative Arua City NRM 128. Ossiya Solomon Alemu Toroma County Katakwi NRM 129. Shyam Jay Tanna Tororo Municipality Tororo Independent 130. Twalla Fadil Tingey County Kapchorwa NRM 131. Waluswaka James Bunyole West County Butaleja NRM 132. Tumwebaze Mwine Youth Representative Western NRM 133. Twinomujuni Francis Kazini Buhaguzi County Kikuube NRM 134. Otafiire Kahinda (Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Ruhinda County Mitooma NRM 135. Silwany Solomon Bukooli County Central Bugiri NRM 136. Otim Bernard Maruzi North County Apac NRM 137. Waiswa Joel Azalwa Busiki County Namutumba Independent 138. Ssemwanga Gyaviira Buyamba County Rakai NRM 139. Wakida Patrick Godfrey Kabweri County Kibuku NRM 140. Walyomu Moses Muwanika Kagoma County Jinja Independent 141. Wandera John Paul Samia Bugwe County North Busia Independent 142. Saazi Godfrey Gomba East County Gomba NUP 143. Wanyenya Shafiga Bungokho County North Mbale NRM 144. Twesige Stephen Buyaga East County Kagadi NRM 145. Twinamasiko Onesimus Bugangaizi East County Kakumiro NRM 146. Wandera Sadala Bugweri County Bugweri NRM 147. Tayebwa Didas Kabumbuza Kooki County Rakai NRM 148. Wanyama Judas Thadeo Youth Representative Eastern NRM 149. Sserukenya David Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality Wakiso NUP 150. Sekindi Aisha Woman Representative Kalungu Independent

2 ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS 6. Abeja Susan Jolly District Woman Representative Otuke NRM 7. Abigaba Cuthbert Mirembe Kibale County Kamwenge NRM 8. Acamfua Topista District Woman Representative Zombo Independent 9. Acan Joyce Okeny PWD Representative N/A NRM 10. Achayo Juliet Lodou Ngora County Ngora NRM 11. Achia Lokiru Gabriel Jie County Kotido NRM 12. Achola Catherine District Woman Representative Pallisa NRM 13. Aber Lillian District Woman Representative Kitgum NRM 14. Acom Alobo Joan City Woman Representative Soroti FDC 15. Aayoo Joyce Makamoe District Woman Representative Abim Independent 16. Acon Julius Bua Otuke East County Otuke NRM 17. Adeke Anna Ebaju District Woman Representative Soroti FDC 18. Adidwa Abdu Bukooli South County Namayingo Independent 19. Agaba Gilbert Workers Representative N/A Independent 20. Agaba Peter Ibanda Municipality Ibanda NRM 21. Ahebwa Wilber Manyisa Nakaseke North County Nakaseke NRM 22. Akello Beatrice Akori District Woman Representative Agago NRM 23. Aine Godfrey Kaguta Mawogola North County Ssembabule NRM 24. Akello Lucy District Woman Representative Amuru FDC 25. Akello Rose Lilly District Woman Representative Karenga NRM 26. Akol Anthony Kilak North County Amuru NRM 27. Akorikin Francis Kapelebyong County Kapelebyon NRM 28. Aguti Sarah District Woman Representative Dokolo UPC 29. Akugizibwe Aled Ronald Buruli County Masindi NRM 30. Akumu Catherine Mavenjina Older Persons Representative Northern NRM 31. Alenyo Marshall Godfrey Jonam County Pakwach Independent 32. Alioni Yorke Odria Aringa South County Yumbe NRM 33. Among Anita Annet District Woman Representative Bukedea NRM 34. Magogo Moses Hassim Budiope East County Buyende NRM 35. Opolot Isiagi Patrick Kachumbala County Bukedea NRM 36. Okwere David Beecham Bukedea County Bukedea NRM 37. Namulondo Sarah District Woman Representative Buyende NRM 38. Pedun Josephine District Woman Representative Ngora NRM 39. Aeku Patrick Soroti County Soroti NRM 40. Alyela Denis Omodi Lira East Division Lira City NRM 41. Akifeza Grace Ngabirano District Woman Representative Kisoro NRM 42. Akugizibwe Lawrence Mwenge County North Kyenjojo NRM 43. Amanya Cohen Kyampene Igara County West Bushenyi NRM 44. Achia Cathy District Woman Representative Kaabong NRM 45. Acom Esther District Woman Representative Serere Independent 46. Amaniyo Draville Sheilah District Woman Representative Mukono NUP 47. Aceng Jane Ruth District Woman Representative Lira City NRM 48. Ajilo Maria Gorretti Elogu District Woman Representative Kalaki NRM 49. Adome Francis Lorika Moroto Municipality Moroto NRM 50. Ameede Agnes District Woman Representative Butebo NRM 51. Amongin Jane Frances Okili District Woman Representative Kaberamaido NRM 52. Angura Fredrick Tororo South County Tororo NRM 53. Angwech Colline Kioga County Amolatar UPC 54. Anifa Bangirana Mawogola West County Ssembabule NRM 55. Anyakun Esther Davinia District Woman Representative Nakapiripirit NRM 56. Acheng Sandra District Woman Representative Kole NRM

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

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I stand here to support the motion. The southern part of Lake Kyoga lacks infrastructure to connect to the northern part of the lake. I am here to support it because this is one of the roads we have been advocating for in the physical infrastructure committee for the past 10 to 15 years. I am pleased that today this has reached what it is. Mr Speaker, additionally, the people of Serere – Kasilo – Kaberamaido and Kalaki will be beneficiaries of this project. It will improve the connectivity between the northern part and the southern part of Lake Kyoga. Needless to add, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should also look into adding a stop in Nakasongola to Galiraya, so that if you are coming from Masindi, you do not have to go to Kampala. You can connect from Masindi, Nakasongola, Kayunga, Isimba Dam, then to Kamuli, Kaliro, and finally to Pallisa. The other two roads that the minister for finance needs to look into are: Kamuli to Irundu and then Kaliro to Irundu. Once you do those roads on the southern part of Lake Kyoga, you would have improved the connectivity between the northern and the southern parts of the country. Definitely, with the ferries that are already operating and those that we are proposing to introduce on Lake Kyoga, you would reduce the time that we spend getting to Kampala. I could sleep in Kasilo and come here; within two hours, I would be in Kampala from Kasilo, rather than spending five hours. On that note, Mr Speaker, I stand here to support this loan for the construction of this road. Thank you.

Is it seconded? Okay, it is seconded by Hon. Asuman Basalirwa, Hon. Muwuma, Hon. Acrobert Kiiza, Hon. Col Dr Nekesa, Hon. Acon, public service minister, the MP from Luuka, Hon. Minister Rwamirama, Hon. Taaka, Hon. Chemonges, the Member for Isingiro, Hon. Basil Bataringaya, Hon. Hope Grania Nakazibwe, Hon. Emely Kugonza, Hon. Florence Asiimwe Akiiki, Hon. Stephen, Hon. Avur Pacuto, Hon. David, Hon. Akifesa, Hon. Dr Ayume, Hon. Josephine Bebona. Hon. Katusabe and the deputy prime minister, go and sort out your issues. There is also Hon. Veronica Nanyondo, Hon. Hanifa Nabukeera, Hon. Brenda Nabukenya, Hon. Elijah Okupa, Hon. John Baptist Nambeshe, Dr Apea Atim, Hon. Aguti, Hon. Helen, and the MP from Pallisa. Please speak to your motion.

Let me go to the piecemeal rehabilitation of general hospitals. The committee noted, with concerns, the piecemeal and adhoc nature with which government was coming up with the rehabilitation, expansion, and equipping of this general hospital, yet many of the old general hospitals across the country were in dire need for rehabilitation, expansion, and equipping, with the exception of a few general hospitals recently renovated, such as Kayunga, Kiryandongo, Yumbe, and Kawolo general hospitals. The Government, through the minister responsible for finance, intimated to the committee that it plans, in the medium term, to prioritise, among others, the construction and rehabilitation of more health infrastructure and the provision of medical equipment to improve quality of care, and the provision of specialised health care services. These include, among others, completion and refurbishment and the equipping of general hospitals that include Abim, Apac, Atutur, Bundibugyo, Kiboga, Kagadi, Kitagata, Kitgum, Pallisa, Itojo, and Masindi. Members noted the need to come up with a project model funding targeting all old and dilapidated general hospitals for rehabilitation. It is recommended that Government designs a comprehensive project model for the rehabilitation, expansion, and equipping of general hospitals across the country in a systematic way as opposed to carrying out piecemeal arrangements. This help us to match the current practices and technologies which were adopted in the new National Standards Designed for health centre facilities 2012. In conclusion, Madam Speaker, the committee has noted the Government efforts to address health systems bottlenecks and improve the effectiveness of the health sector. This project aims to enhance the quality of care in Bugiri General Hospital by upgrading and equipping it with the modern medical equipment and [Mr Ikojo] RESOLUTION TO BORROW

17708 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT that the roads we are doing are resilient to the environmental changes. Of course, it is a big challenge because, as you can see, it is unpredictable. I think you saw what happened in Texas recently. Within 45 minutes, things had changed. However, we have ESIA in all the projects which we do. Hon. Ssewungu, your road. I can bet with you that we can go and see the progress of the bridge on Upper Katonga. It is being done by a company called Rodo. Even as I leave here, I can give you their contact and you can check with them. They have done some work. They have now put up the pillars and are now doing the box culverts for relief. So, the two bridges are being done concurrently; the bridge downstream and the bridge upstream. (Interjections) The tarmacking may come later. (Laughter) Bobi-Iceme-Corner Aboke-Corner Ayer That road is under the AFCON project. Yes, it is under the AFCON project and we hope to do it together with Gulu Airport, which is going to be expanded. AFCON is planning to use Akii Bua Stadium, which is being done. We think that if they land in Gulu, they can drive shortly through Bobi-Iceme-Corner Aboke to Lira. It will be a faster movement. Training of operators and maintenance team Madam Speaker, we have established a training centre, again, with the assistance of JICA and the Japanese Government at Luweero and the centre is called the Mechanical Engineering Training and Advisory Centre (METRAC). This is where we are going to train operators and maintenance teams for our machines. It will be useless for us to keep buying machines if we cannot maintain them properly. They will not last. Therefore, we have that being done. We are also working with the National Council for Higher Education so that the people trained there can have certified certificates and they can be able to work anywhere within East Africa. Kitgum-Palabek-Lagoro, I talked about that. Iganga-Bulopa-Luuka The contractor who has now been identified for that role is Arab Contractors, the one who did Tirinyi-Pallisa-Kumi-Kamonkoli Road. He is going to be on site by the end of September to start setting. This time, the equipment will not walk away (Laughter) -(Interjections) – the railway to Masaka - good thought. I think we will think about it. There are a number of things we have been thinking about; how to link Masaka, including developing ports like Bukakata Port and Lambu Port and the bridge to Kalangala. (Interjections) - Yes, I have not yet promised that, but it is something we are investigating. Yes. (Laughter) Kyegegwa-Hapuyo-Kakumiro This is the road which is commonly known as the Liberation Road. It starts all the way from Kazo to Kabogole, Kyegegwa through Hapuyo to Kakumiro up to Kisiita - (Interjections) - Yes, it has been earmarked for tarmacking, but I am not sure whether we shall be able to do it in National Development Plan (NDP) IV. However, we are going to maintain it as good murram. Rescue Centres Yes, we have established the rescue centres. In Misonzi, we had a challenge because there was over-flooding and we could not put the - and when we got the contractor, he did not measure up and so we stopped him. We are re-engaging a new contractor. We had another site at Mwena, but we could not also work at Mwena because of the rising of the lake. However, the rescue centres are now functional. I agree with you that we need to mark the lake, but we are having a project under East Africa because, as you appreciate, Lake Victoria is an East African facility. It is for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Therefore, working with our partners, we have moved and also convinced the African Development Bank, which is supporting the

17543 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 12 JNUE 2025 the victims of corruption. The population that is deprived of these services are the victims of the corruption. In the 1960s, we would go to the people. They had all the information. The big changes that are happening in Uganda are being led by the following actors: 1. The National Resistance Army (UPDF) that liberated the country and has been ensuring peace ever since. 2. The wealth creators in the four sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT; 3. The Government scientists who make innovations, and 4. The members of the political class are responsible for supporting the NRM programmes. It is, therefore, not fair for some actors to spoil these successes. Some people say that they give bribes because Mr Museveni is giving the khaki envelope to members of the population – mureke okutaha amizi ne byondo. (Do not draw water mixed with mud.) Do not mix up issues. The brown envelopes I give are part of the ancient tradition here. It is called Okurongora . It is the king who does that, to the singers or wrestlers, etc. The President is the modern king. (Laughter) You are not kings. I have a budget for that; I do not sell my cows to get money for the Okurongora singers. Mulekerawo omwenkanonkano. This is a Luganda word. It summarises the whole thing – omwenkanonkano. Stop trying to be like the one who is bigger than you. Tell those people that Museveni gives the envelope because he has a Budget for it. He is the President. Why do you want -? Fundraising was and is premature. The healthy fundraising is okusonda whereby you make small equal contributions but by many contributors. In the 1950s, Mzee Kaguta, sometimes, would participate in okusondera to contribute to enzoga , which is a potful of banana alcohol. At that time, enzoga , a potful was Shs 5. Five people would contribute Shs 1 each. That is the okusonda (fundraising). You contribute equal small amounts that you can afford. What is happening now with the rampant fundraising is that the MPs carry the whole burden. It is really extortion but it was instigated by the MPs who created the impression that they had that type of money when they did not have. Church leaders and other elders should ask those young mistake-makers the following question: “ Naye mwana wange, sente ezo zona ozijawa?” That is what I would ask my people, if I saw young people throwing around money. That is what a responsible parent should ask a son or daughter or a muzukulu (a grandchild), if he or she sees him or her throwing around money. The translation of that question is: “My child, where are you getting all this money that you are throwing around?” Responsible parents should not accept stolen gifts or mabanja from their children. This is what I wanted to comment on regarding the issue of political corruption and other corruption. Now, I am getting information about obutalondola (not supervising Government work). I keep hearing, for instance, of bad feeder roads – that feeder roads in some areas are not good. Yesterday, I was in Kakumiro, and the feeder road I rode on looked good when I was going to Kagadi. It was a short one, but it was good. The other time I was in Obongi and the feeder roads there were very good and we rode on them. The other time I was in the Bugweri area of Budaka, Pallisa, from the cassava factory – I think we were going to Kamonkoli; the feeder roads looked good but when I drove from Busunju to Mityana, the murram road there was bad and also the other road connecting to the tarmac road, but that one is being worked on. And when we were in Bunyangabu, this issue came up. The question is; what are the districts doing with the Shs 1.3 billion we are sending to them? What is happening? I am going to quietly send my spies to check on some of these roads and once I find that the road is not worked on and yet the Government people

Seconded? (Members rose_) It is seconded by Hon. Kankunda, Hon. Moses, honourable member from Karamoja, Hon. Bahati, honourable member for veterans, Hon. Alanyo, Hon. Nekesa, Hon. Omara, Hon. Patience, Hon. Annette, Hon. Nathan, Hon. Betty, Hon. Jennifer, Hon. Faith, Hon. Ezama Siraji, honourable member for Koboko, Hon. Enos, honourable member for Alebtong, Hon. Sam, honourable member from Pallisa, honourable member for Hoima and Hon. Goli. Speak to your motion.

Mr Speaker, I take this opportunity to thank you, first of all, for accepting our leaders from Pallisa, especially Agule County. These are the pillars who are doing a lot of work for the NRM government. (Applause) We have not only come to Parliament but we have visited some villages within Buganda Subregion to appreciate how Emyooga and the Parish Development Model are operating. This is because the President has often come to our area in Pallisa, and said –

17124 BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR THE FY 2025/2026 [Mr Awany] cargo has on the country’s national roads, and consequently recommends that the ministry be allocated additional funding to the tune of Shs 4 billion to enable it to complete the first phase of the project. The committee also urges the Government of Uganda to always honour its commitment to counterpart funding. Rural Bridges Infrastructure Development The committee was informed that the ministry is implementing a Rural Bridges Infrastructure Development project intending to enhance rural connectivity and access to essential services, focusing on trail bridges, for safe passage in areas where traditional bridges were lacking. The committee was further informed that in the Financial Year 2024/25, the ministry had planned to carry out various bridge constructions in the districts of Bundibugyo, that is, Nyahuka-Mirambi Bridge, Bulambuli-/ Bukedea-Taja Bridge, Pallisa-Aleles Bridge, Kasese-Karujumba Bridge, Sironko- Bujibundi-Buna-Dasa Bridge-

Mr Speaker, I rise on three issues. First, I appreciate the committee chairperson. On page 37, he reports that the Aleles Bridge is complete. I am here to report and also inform the minister that the Aleles Bridge is still not passable. It is wrong to report that it is complete. That is connecting Pallisa to Ngora. Secondly, Tirinyi-Pallisa-Mukongoro-Kumi Road. On Saturday, the 12 th of this month, I was travelling back to Kampala and three people were knocked dead at the junction of Mukongoro to Ngora. I add my voice to that of the area Member of Parliament that we need speed limit checks or humps - the minister knows the language very well. Lastly, Mukongoro-Ngora-Kapiri-Soroti Road needs to be upgraded because it is a Central Government road. I beg to submit.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I also thank the chairperson of the committee for the report. In the committee’s observations and recommendations, they pointed out, in number five, health centres II that were upgraded to health centres III. However, I would like to report that some of those health centres, which have already been upgraded from health centres II to health centres III, are still operating on the budgets of the health centres II. They do not get the PHC non-wage – it is not upgraded. They are entitled to result-based funding. A case in point is Oladot Health Centre III in Pallisa District. They are not getting this funding. I would like to know from the Minister of Health, when they are going to upgrade funding for these health centres III. Two, Hon. Ochai has just mentioned that Bukedi Subregion faces challenges. We have Pallisa General Hospital, which apparently serves about six districts. Up to now, it has not been renovated and not fully equipped. We have been asking that it be upgraded to a regional referral hospital or a hybrid of sorts. Honourable minister, we have raised this issue to the health inspection team that came to Pallisa and the other areas in 2024. Up to now, we do not seem to see the plan to attend to these very pertinent areas. Finally, our people are suffering because there is a high demand for health services. However, in these district general hospitals, for simple

Seconded by Hon. Huda, Hon. Okumu, Lt Col Alanyo, Col Dr Nekesa, Hon. Ricky, Hon. Mutembuli, honourable member for Aruu, Hon. Joan, Hon. Isaac, Hon. Basil, Hon. Peter, Honourable member for Mitooma, Hon. Ogwang, Hon. Annet, Hon. Noah, Hon. Mourine, Hon. Max, Honourable member for Pallisa, Honourable member for Gogonyo, Honourable member for Kumi, Hon. John, Honourable member for Kyankwanzi, Hon. Acan, Honourable member for Ibanda, Honourable member for Dokolo, Honourable member for Sheema, Hon. Feta, Hon. Jessica, Honourable member for Ibanda, Dr Mushemeza, Hon. Acrobert Kiiza, Hon. Omoding and honourable member for Abim. Would you like to speak to your motion?

Rt Hon. Prime Minister, whereas we appreciate the Government for the construction of Tirinyi-Pallisa-Kumi and Pallisa-Kamonkoli roads, there are outstanding issues where many Project-Affected Persons (PAPs) along the Pallisa-Kamonkoli road were valued, disclosed, and many of them were not paid. They have become a problem when I go for my holiday weekend; they are ever in my compound and ringing me. It is a bigger issue, especially when they hear that the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) is no more. Can you clarify where they can go? They are already listening in to hear from you on how you can guide them. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I have remembered that the President, while chairing the Cabinet meeting on Monday - I was not well informed whether he was from Pallisa or elsewhere - he allowed the former IGP to receive an official burial with the honours of police. And when they talk about an official burial-

Honourable member for Kumi and honourable member for Pallisa.

15820 STANDING COMMITTEE R E PORT should at least amount to the value of a cow. A top-up of Shs 1,050,000, which is a unit cost per cow, was made for all claimants and beneficiaries who had received less than the unit cost. In Financial Year 2023/2024, the above claimants and beneficiaries in the affected districts of Agago, Pallisa, Kitgum, Serere and Kaberamaido were given a top-up amount of Shs 307 million on top of the district’s allocated amount of Shs 1.7 billion. The committee in clause 3.4 on page 14 of its report observed that according to the Attorney-General, the outstanding liability for compensation claims, as at 30 June 2024, was at Shs 472 billion. However, upon the analysis of the same, they arrived at an outstanding liability of Shs 208 billion, leaving a variance of Shs 264 billion from the original liability, as was reported by the Attorney-General to the committee. Further, it is reported that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has so far paid out Shs 119.2 billion, while the committee discovered that the Ministry of Justice had actually paid out Shs 114.7 billion, leaving an unexplained variance of Shs 4.4 billion. Here, below, is an extract of Table 3 from pages 14 and 15 of the committee report. In response to that, we have observed that the committee, in its report, considered Financial Year 2023/2024 partially and only extracted payments and outstanding liability assessed at 50 cows, owing to the threshold set by the ministry of paying at least a minimum of one cow and not more than 50 cows for the first phase, leaving out the total claim in excess of amounts payable or assessed at 50 cows and the information relating to the claimants’/ beneficiaries’ entire claim. Mr Speaker, had the committee extracted the entire information presented to it by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, they would have arrived at the outstanding liability of Shs 472.72 billion as shown in the sample table below. The sample table is there – (Interruption)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. In the greater Pallisa, the raids were mostly attributed to the insurgency in Teso. People lost property and lives. My

My question is: Kumi Municipality has been lucky to receive quality tarmac under the NRM Government. We are celebrating you, Rt Hon. Prime Minister, in particular. You gave a directive and it worked. I now call upon you to direct on the issue of giving us traffic lights because there are several accidents happening there. (Interjections) Yes, there are several accidents between Tirinyi, Pallisa and Kumi. In town, over six trucks got [Mr Okot] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

Madam Speaker and honourable members, we got a question from Hon. Byakatonda Abdul (Workers’ MP) and his question are that; One, what is the current status of the project to establish a referral hospital in Pallisa? The second one was that what are the reasons for the delay in the implementation of the promise to establish a referral hospital in Pallisa?

Madam Speaker, I believe that was a light moment. My responses to Hon. Byakatonda Abdul’s questions is as follows: The Government is not aware of any specific project aimed at establishing a referral hospital in Pallisa. Currently - Madam Speaker, this time, my responses are voluminous. So, I request that you allow me to summarise.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Last weekend, I was in my district and I had two patients in our district hospital who I visited. To my dismay, I found out that because of overwhelming numbers in the hospital, males, females and children sleep in the same ward. It is not good. My question to the Rt Hon. Prime Minister is: what is the plan for building new wards for district hospitals, especially Pallisa General Hospital, being an old district with very old wards since Obote’s time? We do not have new wards. I would like to ask the Rt Hon. Prime Minister on the way forward. Mr Speaker, Pallisa General Hospital houses – (Member timed out.)

Mr Speaker, I take the concern of the Member. I was an RDC in Pallisa so I know the hospital – (Interjection) – Yes, I have been around for some time. Like most of you Members, I am part of Pallisa. Therefore, Hon. Kaala, I request that we team up and come up with a strategy to make sure that the health ministry provides some funding so that we work on your ward.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Madam Prime Minister, I would like to appreciate you. The people of Uganda are enjoying the road between Tirinyi, Pallisa and Kumi and we are happy. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) government has performed. The question is now about the humps. The Members of Parliament from the region have consistently asked the same question. We know you for directing and people acting. What are we going to do about this issue? Lives are being lost on this road. We need humps. Secondly, we need traffic lights in Kumi Town. The town looks beautiful with the new road but the accidents are many. When are you acting Rt Hon. Prime Minister?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I appreciate my sister, Kevin Kaala, for appreciating the UPC government for having built Pallisa Hospital. However, Mr Speaker, the water levels are rising on Lake Victoria and they have affected lakes like Lake Kwania and Lake Kyoga. Most of our districts, mostly from Lango Subregion – including Kwania, Dokolo, Apac and Amolatar – have been flooded. Most of the roads have been submerged, schools have been submerged, people’s gardens have been submerged and even people have been displaced from their homes. My question is: what plan does the Government have for the people who are facing such a disaster? Thank you so much.

s/N Hospltal Name Dlstrict 32. Kyenjojo General Hospital Kyenioio 33. Kalisizo General Hospital Kyotera 34. Luwero General Hospital Luwero 35. Lyantonde General Hospital Lyantonde 36. Masindi General Hospital Masindi 37. Mityana General Hospital Mityana 38. Moyo General Hospital Moyo 39. Mukono General Hospital Mukono 40. Nakaseke General Hospital Nakaseke 4t. Nebbi General Hospital Nebbi 42. Itojo General Hospital Ntungamo 43. Anaka General Hospital Nwoya 44. Pallisa General Hospital Paltsa 45. Rakai General Hospital Rakai 46. Kitagata General Hospital Sheema 47. Tororo Qeneral Hospital Tororo 20

13758 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT Phase III Rollout districts. This was at the procurement process for 145 road chokes spread over 487.7 km. It was at contract signing and site handover by then. Mr Speaker, in the third phase, Lira District was part of it but up to now the constructed roads have no bridges. The bridges were done in a shoddy way, and the heavy rain swept the bridges, yet it was stretching, crossing from Lira to Oyama. Substandard and wrong machinery The committee observed that most grantees were small and medium scale, where pilot projects were established at lower local government structures and levels to bring together farmers’ communities to add value to their farm produce. The committee discovered that the machinery at various grantees’ sites was inadequate and out of capacity to process high-value farm produce. The committee further noted that the machinery was devoid of complete design specification requirements to handle farm produce across the complete value chain, thereby rendering some machines meant for value addition idle because of assembling and installation. The machines were also noted to have visible signs of gradual depreciation. The committee was informed by the members of the Oturukuru Produce Dealers and Farmers Association in Kumi District that they had envisaged the installation of machines with complete value chain specifications and therefore expected the machine to hurl, sort, winnow, and package rice to market standard. This was frustrating. The committee was informed by some grantee members in the district that the district focal point person - because the ministry had allocated each focal point person at the district level, was not guiding, and did not support the procurement of the machinery, meaning that they went blindly and some procured machinery beyond their capacity, others did not have knowledge on how to operate it. The committee further observed that there was a general lack of technical support and guidance as stated in the earlier submission, and this was exacerbated by inadequate budget allocation and release for procurement of machines with requisite complete value chain specification. For example, incomplete and poor workmanship was seen in some facilities that we visited in Kalungu and Rakai districts. Two, non-functional facilities due to lack of electricity in Bugweri - three, government issues in Kole District; there were fights. Non-compatibility of machines in Pakwach, Pallisa, and Nebbi District - these all hindered the well-intended objectives of the project. Recommendation The committee recommends that the Government, through the relevant ministry, especially the Ministries of Finance Agriculture, Local Government, Energy, and Mineral Development, should collaborate to offer guidance and support to grantees to procure machinery with a complete value chain of production. Matching Grants Mr Speaker, the committee found out that some of the projects in some districts that had been constructed as a result of the matching grants were complete and functional. The investment items under this component include offices, storage facilities, shelter for hullers, guardhouses, fences, ventilated improved pit latrines, weighing scales, moisture metres, and a power extension. The committee was impressed by some of the successful groups like the Katwaniza Women Farmers’ in Hoima, Abongo Women Group in Pakwach, and Kasaali Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Kyotera, among others. [Ms Auma] SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT

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

13525 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 2 JULY 2024 Makerere University gender equality project, Shs 1.2 billion. Uganda Tourism Board was given Shs 1.8 billion. National Citizenship and Immigration Control Shs 10 billion for border posts, technology and so on. National Animal Genetic Resource Centre and Data Bank (NAGRIC&DB), an additional Shs 10 billion, to kick start a demonstration farm in Bukedea District - (Interjection) - That one, yes. I also come from there, that is my district, honourable colleagues. Vote 410 - Mbale Regional Referral Hospital. It has been struggling to construct a surgical complex for about five years. It is not going far and they need Shs 5 billion to complete it. Mbale region covers a big area; that is Pallisa, Bukedea - Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB), Shs 4 billion. Uganda Microfinance Regulation Authority, Shs 3 billion. Uganda Export Promotions Board in order to participate in Expo 2025, Osaka, Shs 4 billion. Kisoro District was allocated Shs 1.3 billion for construction of Kanyamatekye Bridge, and rehabilitation of Buhoozi Health Centre III, Shs 350 million, Nyarusiza Health Centre III Shs 350 million. Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital. Ever since that hospital was upgraded from a district hospital to a regional referral hospital, the budget stayed constant. We had allocated an additional Shs 3 billion to Entebbe regional referral hospital. Uganda consulate in Mombasa, Kenya. They are supposed to host the Uganda-Kenya Coast Tourism Conference Centre in Kampala, November 2024. We had allocated Shs 1 billion. Vote 609 - Mbarara City, Shs 5.2 billion had been allocated for construction of Katete Bridge in Mbarara City that is going to connect to Isingiro and others. 1. St Helen Primary School refurbishment, Shs 100 million, 2. Kakoba Muslim Primary School, Shs 100 million, 3. Kagaga Primary School, Shs 100 million, 4. Nyamitanga Secondary School Shs 100 million, 5. Nyamityobora Health Centre II Shs 400 million. Sheema Municipal Council -

13463 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 13 JUNE 2024 v. The planned 60,000 barrels per day refinery in Kabaale, Kikuube District, is progressing very well. The land for the project sites and associated terminal has already been acquired by the Government. Technical designs for the project are ready. The Government is working with Alpha MBM Investments from the United Arab Emirates to build the refinery; vi. The Government enforcement of the national content policy has ensured that up to 93 per cent of the jobs in the oil and the gas sector go to Ugandans. A total of 13,607 jobs have, so far, been given; and vii. In addition, the companies investing in the oil and gas sector are contracting locally. Since 2021, contracts worth $1.796 billion have been awarded to Ugandan companies out of the total contract investment of $7.162 billion. Madam Speaker, in a bid to ensure the security of supply of petroleum products, Uganda National Oil Company Limited (UNOC), in partnership with the private sector, will commence the importation of all our petroleum products beginning in the first week of July this year – which is near. Madam Speaker, next financial year, I have provided Shs 920.86 billion for the oil and gas sector to prioritise the following: i. Development of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline hub in Tanga; ii. Continued construction of the EACOP, including the necessary infrastructure to facilitate adherence to high-quality environmental standards; iii. Procurement and dissemination of the 57,000 liquefied petroleum gas cylinders to promote clean cooking; iv. Establishment of petroleum geoscience laboratory; and v. Equity contribution for the refinery. Integrated Transport Infrastructure and Services Madam Speaker, a total of 205 kilometres was added to the paved network during Financial Year 2023/2024, increasing the total paved national road network to 6,338 kilometres, representing over 30 per cent of the national road network. The following roads were completed during the financial year: Atiak-Laropi (66 kilometres); Masindi-Biiso, Hohwa- Nyairongo-Kyarusheesha-Butoole and Kabaale-Kiziranfumbi Road (97 kilometres); Moroto-Lokitanyala (42 kilometres); Rukungiri- Kihihi-Ishasha/Kanungu (78.5 kilometres); Kapchorwa-Suam (73 kilometres); and Masindi Park Junction and Tangi Junctions- Para-Buliisa roads (159 kilometres). In addition, three bridges were completed and construction of 36 critical strategic bridges is ongoing. The completed bridges are: i) Kampala Flyover and road upgrading; ii) Lugogo Bridge connecting Nakasongola District and Ngoma in Nakaseke, via Kasozi; and iii) Saaka Swamp crossing in Pallisa. With regard to air transport, the following were accomplished during the year we are talking about: i) Ninety per cent completion of Kabalega International Airport in Hoima. The remaining 10 per cent comprises critical air navigation, meteorological communication and airport operational facilities; ii) Ninety per cent completion of the expansion and rehabilitation of Entebbe International Airport, including modernisation of the departures and arrival areas of the terminal building; and

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

Or a city, because Kaliro is very strategic, now that Saaka Bridge has been completed. Now, people from Pallisa, Madam Speaker, this is where you pass when you are heading to Buyende. It is a very strategic town but there is no hospital. When the Minister of Health came to Kaliro District, she assured the people that Bumanya Health Centre IV, which the President promised; he pledged that it would be a general hospital - the minister committed that every financial year there would be some infrastructural improvement. However, this year, I have not seen any allocation for that very hospital. That is why I see that this is a disadvantage because Kaliro is very strategic. When you go to Bumanya Health Centre IV, our health workers are so specialised and committed. That is why we get patients from all districts that are neighbouring Kaliro. Therefore, I really want the minister to clarify, and commit herself that what was mentioned last financial year, you will continue with that commitment, but –

Actually, it is on that same road – honourable minister, because of the failure of that hospital, Hon. Katuntu’s brother got an accident on that same road last week, he could not be saved. He had to be taken back to Pallisa because the road is very good. Hon. Linda-

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, Mr Speaker. I thank the committee for the report and also thank colleagues for the informative discussion. As you have rightly mentioned, Mr Speaker, not all suffocated employees in this country may succeed in raising petitions to Parliament. Speaking as a lawyer, we have established, under the Employment Act, the Industrial Court - And now that the Attorney-General is around, we need to be briefed. The last time I checked, the Industrial Court, out of the five would-be judges, had only two with one or two registrars and it is positioned in one place; Ntinda. The same Industrial Court must serve a country called Uganda with hundreds of districts. When you look at its enabling provisions being supported by labour officers, most of them do not exist in some regions and even for those regions where we have labour officers, their operational procedure and transaction is not regulated. They are very slow – someone can lodge a complaint and it takes five to 10 years without receiving attention whereas the provisions of the Industrial Court require that the majority of the petitions are referred by labour officers. We must deal with the challenges of employees and employers in a broader way. We need to be briefed by the Attorney-General and the Government: what undertaking are they making to empower the operations of the Industrial Court in line with labour disputes? As we speak, many other employees are struggling with petitions and complaints within labour offices across the country. The Industrial Court is located in Ntinda. How will someone in Pallisa or Kotido travel to the Industrial Court? Where is that empowerment to offer justice to these complainants? We need to interrogate this matter thoroughly and Parliament must be briefed so that we have a conclusive solution. Thank you.

Mr Speaker, I have been to Iganga like five times, the issue is that we have been giving them little money. That is why they have been clamouring to be upgraded to a referral so that their budget can go up. The same applies to Mityana, Gombe and many other hospitals. The machines that we give them consume a lot of power and so, the money we give them is not enough. Secondly, I think we need to come up with a way of paying electricity directly. From the Central Bank to the – because once it goes to these corners, it passes through many hands. I was of the view that if you give me time, I will handle this matter together with the ministries concerned so that Gombe Hospital, Mityana Hospital, Iganga and even Bugiri. I have been to Bugiri and they are also complaining about the same. I have not been to Pallisa though I was there as a Resident District Commissioner (RDC). However, Masafu Hospital in Busia is suffering in the same way. Whenever they put on the machines, the electricity takes all the money. I think that we need to redesign and make sure that we give these people enough money that can run those machines. (Applause)

11582 THE CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2023 Kamwenge, Katakwi, Kasese, Kibaale, Kiboga, Kyenjojo, Mbale, Masindi, Mayuge, Mukono, Namalemba, Nakapiripirit – I am trying to remember Namalemba; my apologies – Pallisa, Rukungiri, Sironko, Wakiso and Soroti. Policy and control measures in place Our policy on FMD is for the Government to avail vaccines to farmers as a public good for reasons explained earlier. For many years, I think since during colonial times, the Government of Uganda through the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has been providing a budget item for procuring vaccines. This, however, has been insufficient and only covers 1.1 Per cent of the susceptible domestic animal population, contrary to the recommended at-least 80 per cent coverage, leaving the rest of the herd vulnerable. This explains why the country experiences repeated outbreaks. Although the Animal Diseases Act, CAP. 38, empowers the Commissioner of Animal Health to order for the destruction of affected animals under the “test and slaughter” approach, the country cannot afford to implement this provision of the law due to high compensation budget requirements. Mr Speaker, with the budget limitations alluded to above, our ministry adopted the ring vaccination methodology, targeting the locations with animals at high risk. When we buy a few vaccines annually, the budget we get gives us, on average, half a million doses. We distribute them to district veterinary officers of the most prone districts and those with outbreaks to carry out ring vaccination around the infected herds or kraals. We also institute quarantine and other measures in the affected and susceptible districts to prevent spread or disrupt transmission. Mr Speaker, our total susceptible animal herd that requires FMD vaccination, as per current estimates, is 44 million cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. This, therefore, requires an annual vaccine stock of 88 million doses for the bi- annual vaccination requirement at a cost of $2 per dose. The financial implication for this translates into $ 176 million. The Government has been studying this financial implication and notes the financial stress it would impose on the national Budget, if the requirement for the bi-annual mass vaccination is to be achieved. Accordingly, and with the guidance of the President, a Cabinet Paper is scheduled for discussion at the next Cabinet sitting on Monday, 5 February 2024 to consider a number of policy options, including cost-sharing by the farmer, since the cost per dose is affordable by most livestock farmers. I will revert to this House and the country on the final position adopted by Cabinet. In the meantime, my ministry has repurposed some of the budget you gave us, under the development budget, and managed to avail 2.56 million doses to the country through the district veterinary officers of 94 districts last year. The list is attached to this brief. It shows which district veterinary officers took what. Under the same arrangement, we have ordered for 2.3 million doses, expected in a few months to come. Mr Speaker, another challenge associated with procuring FMD vaccines is that they cannot be bought off-shelf, since they are biological; live organisms with a short shelf life. You order and they manufacture for you. This explains the delay in their supply chain. In the circumstances, it becomes inevitable for the Commissioner of Animal Health, who is the commander of the animal disease control chain in the country, to order or impose animal movement restrictions or what you know as quarantine in affected districts. Quarantines are unpopular and an inconvenience to people’s livelihoods yet again, inevitable as temporary measures to control further spread to alarming and uncontrollable epidemic levels. We can lose the whole herd, if we do not become strict. If the stakeholders can be disciplined and comply with the quarantine protocols, the MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS [Mr Tumwebaze]

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise on a matter of national importance affecting my district. First of all, I thank the Government of Uganda for constructing for us a first-class tarmac road; that is the Tirinyi - Pallisa, Pallisa - Kumi, Pallisa - Kamonkoli. However, this road has now turned into a death trap for our people. That highway does not have any humps anywhere. The road is very good. People cruise on it. Most of the ministers pass there; Our Members of Parliament, our uncles and aunties from Karamoja pass there cruising. They do not even stop. (Laughter) I bring to the attention of the House that our people are dying. We are losing people on a daily basis because the highway lacks humps. On commissioning of that road - by the way, it was commissioned by the Rt Hon. Prime Minister - we noticed that the road did not have humps and we foresaw the problem. We brought it to the attention of the Prime Minister and she promised to direct the Minister of Works and Transport to build humps, especially along the trading centres. Similarly, one of my colleagues here raised the same issue last year. We personally went with my colleagues to the Office of the Minister of State for Works and Transport and he promised to work on the road. However, up to now, the road has no humps. People are dying. We are burying people every day. People have also got permanent injuries and they are nursing them. My prayers, Madam Speaker –

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I take this opportunity to congratulate you and welcome you to the table of Nnalongos . On 11 November 2023, in Katengeto Village, one life was lost and two people were critically injured due to a conflict arising from the fishing community of Koidike and Gogonyo; that is in Ngora and Pallisa districts. Madam Speaker, in 2019, a similar incident happened and lives were lost. I am worried that if no action is taken by the Government, this may result in retaliatory attacks and I fear the situation may spiral out of control. My prayers are that: 1. This House directs the Minister, Office of the President (Security) and Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to go on the ground and meet with the leaders from the two antagonistic parties and get a permanent cure to avert further loss of lives. 2. The Government supports the families that lost their loved ones with finances, just like it has been done in other parts of the country. (Ms Namukuta rose_) - Information allowed. (Laughter)

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity and thank you, Hon. Achayo, for allowing me to give you information. Allow me to use this opportunity, on behalf of the people of Kaliro District and the Balamogi of Uganda, to congratulate you upon the double blessing. Congratulations upon becoming a Nnalongo . It is very special in our society and we cannot take it for granted. We thank God for the double blessing. I would like to give information because I am from a neighbouring district to Pallisa and Ngora. We share Lake Kyoga and we are always facing similar challenges. In Kaliro, it is now three years consecutively that we have faced a similar challenge where fishermen kill each other. As leaders, it is a big problem for us in such societies. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries got some money to buy fertilisers for the rice- growing districts of eastern and Northern Uganda and the ministry has embarked on the exercise. Mr Speaker, it is to our surprise and dismay that the districts famously known for rice growing, especially in North Bukedi and others like Budaka, Pallisa, Kibuku and Butebo were not considered. The people are complaining. We want to know, as area leaders, what the criteria were. Can you reconsider the decision so that those districts also benefit from those fertilizers? Those are my simple prayers. Thank you.

10546 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT actually workshops, like many other Members mentioned. These are mechanical parking yards. I went to Bugembe, where honourable members talked about, to interact with those guys. The tools that are there are not tools for the workshop. They are tools that demoralise somebody who is an engineer to completely do the job. I asked them, “Where is the problem?” They told me the problem is that even if they made the requisition, it would take years for them to get the tool. So, they sometimes end up getting their own personal tools to do the Government job. When they make a requisition of the spare parts that they want, they never get them. So, at the end of the day, they blame them. However, when you also look at the workshop, the morale of the staff is completely not there; you have killed it. So, we need to work hard to make sure the morale of the staff comes back. When you go to the district, it is another big issue. You have gone into stealing the Shs 1 million by saying you use five per cent for repairing the equipment. It is okay, but you have already deducted the money that is supposed to be used for road maintenance. Even if you look at this five per cent – like when Pallisa is trying to fidget around and see how this money is used – the five per cent still cannot repair all the equipment in the district, and yet, in actual sense, these roads are supposed to be worked upon. So, at the end of the day, we end up saying, “Let us just work on what we can, and then we shall see the rest later.” What does that really mean? We are not going to do a good quality job on the roads, as far as the equipment is concerned. Now, my - (Member timed out.)

9622 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME impairments. His prayer is that I update the House on the matter. Madam Speaker, Section 15(A) of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2020, provides for deployment, training and use of sign language, and tactile sign language interpreters in all public institutions, and this includes the courts of law. The revised National Policy on Persons with Disabilities, 2023, under priority area 2(ii), of the strategies and actions, enhancement of communication in different formats is emphasised, and sign language is explicitly mentioned. The Judiciary has got one sign language interpreter deployed at Buganda Road Court, Kampala. The sign language interpreter was recruited purposely to assist persons with hearing impairments. Since the cases involving persons with hearing impairments are very few, the sign language interpreter is facilitated to go to any other court where there are such cases, to assist as required and there are no complaints. Apart from sign language interpreters, the Judiciary employs more than 348 court interpreters who are deployed in various courts across the country, to assist interpretation of court proceedings. For example, the Family Division Court, Buganda Road Court, Mityana Chief Magistrates Court, Mbarara High Court, Koboko Chief Magistrates Court, Moyo Chief Magistrates Court, Kasese Chief Magistrates Court, etcetera. Number two, Hon. Kevin Kaala, the District Woman Representative, Pallisa, raised a concern on the heavy downpour on Thursday, 28 April 2022 in Pallisa District that led to floods that washed away Kaboloi, Ometai and Otuti Bridges that link Pallisa to Ngora District. She asked: “Can the Prime Minister inform the House on interventions instituted by the Government to remedy the situation?” Madam Speaker, the Government, through the Ministry of Works and Transport, on 4 August 2022 provided Pallisa District with 32 meters of length and 2.1 meters of diameter metal culverts wide and 40 pieces of gabion boxes two by one by one (two meters wide, one- meter-deep and one-meter width). The ministry also advised the district to write to the Uganda Road Fund for emergency funding to allow maintenance works on Kaboloi Bridge. The Ministry on 26 April 2023 held a meeting with the honourable Members of Parliament for Gogonyo and Kibaale Counties after the temporary intervention by the district. As a result, on 4 May 2023, the ministry inspected Kaboloi Bridge with a view of carrying out major works to restore connectivity. Madam Speaker and colleagues, the ministry undertook to install the metal culverts to restore connectivity. The provision of Shs 40 million was made in fourth quota of the Financial Year 2022/2023 under project number 1558 for intervention, particularly, installation of culverts as a means of restoring connectivity. These works are expected to commence in July this year. This financial year, Government has prioritised rural bridges under infrastructure development to enable the ministry to reconstruct dilapidated bridges and construct new bridges that are currently timber-made - temporary bridges in the districts, urban and community access roads network across the country that are estimated to be 1,636 bridges. Hon. Musherure Shartsi Nayebare Kutesa, Member of Parliament Mawogola – (Interruption)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I appreciate your communication in relation to accidents and humps. I respect your ruling, but on the issue of Tirinyi-Pallisa-Kumi Road -

First check the First Schedule. Let us resolve one issue at a time. The First Schedule has Kampala and districts of Uganda. Bundibugyo and Kasese are in Rwenzori; Busia, Butaleja, Pallisa and Tororo in Bukedi and Abim, Kaabong, Kotido and Moroto in Karamoja. Mbale, Sironko and Manafwa are in Bugisu, Bukwo and Kapchorwa in Sebei while Adjumani and Moyo are in Madi - Should I read all?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. This callous act by the administrator of the health centre IV is not an isolated case. There are many medical workers, even in referral hospitals, where patients expect to be accorded free health care services extort money from patients or expectant mothers in order to perform those caesarean sections. A case in point is what happened in Pallisa Hospital this year in January. The doctor who was supposed to perform a caesarean section put a serious condition that unless the person produced Shs 200,000, he would not conduct any surgical operation. The husband ran around and still failed to secure the money until he rushed to the RDC. Thanks to that RDC - even if he is also very notorious for funny conduct - this time round, he acted swiftly and the doctor was arrested. What is disheartening is that this doctor was eventually released and of course, he is enjoying his constitutional right of bail. Yet, his services were transferred elsewhere to another hospital and he has not been charged. This broadly speaks to the state of health care services in Uganda. They are on drip – (Interruption)

Mr Speaker and colleagues, Hon. Kamugo Pamela Nasiyo, Budaka District says that there was an eviction of farmers from wetlands in the country in Bukedi and Namatala wetlands, which is a source of livelihood for her people. Her prayer is that I update this House on how the Government is going to handle evictions on a case by case basis to introduce alternative activity as a source of income and compensate the farmers before eviction. My response In respect to the management of wetlands in Bukedi, Busoga and Kigezi subregions, a technical paper was prepared under the coordination of the Office of the President with support from a technical team composed of officials from the Ministry of Water and Environment, the Solicitor-General, the Ministry Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to provide guidance on wetlands ownership in three regions. The paper provides guidance on the eligibility of compensation, the need to promote only regulated activities in the wetlands and the promotion of economically viable livelihood options like skilling of our youth, men, women and the vulnerable people for sustainable livelihoods. The paper was presented to a subcommittee of Cabinet involving ministers for approval. We are going to present it to Cabinet for further guidance. Mr Speaker, interventions have been made to address the issue of alternatives to crop farming in wetland areas and these are being promoted in Eastern and South-western regions of Uganda. Specific actions for promotion of alternative livelihoods have been promoted in Bukedi subregion in the districts of Pallisa along Limoto and Papayo wetlands and Kibuku along Ssala wetland. The interventions include the following: i) Mini irrigation for high-value crops such as tomatoes, onions, cabbages, watermelons in the catchment areas near the wetlands not in the wetlands; ii) Fish farming along wetland edges; iii) Provision of livestock like turkeys, goats, heifers, pigs to households that have voluntarily left the wetlands based on the household’s preferences; iv) Promotion of soil and water conservation practices to rehabilitate degraded catchment areas; v) Improving skills for promoting different income generating activities such as carpentry and tailoring. This has been done for 2,000 youth, men, women and vulnerable people. Mr Speaker, restoration of wetlands would increase water storage and its availability to communities through micro and mini irrigation. Adding necessary nutrients to the soil increases productivity and enterprises that add monetary value and livelihoods to the communities and this reduce the pressure to encroach on wetlands. The honourable Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, said that on 8 February 2023, NEMA instituted express penalties in respect to various environmental breaches ranging between Shs 3,000,000 and Shs 100,000,000. He stated that the fines are not only unrealistic but also inequitable and therefore, should be clarified at least for the benefit of the Ugandans. His prayer is that while we take cognisance of the negative impact of improper waste management of the ecosystem, we need to

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Madam Prime Minister, my question is brief. On the day we met in Pallisa while commissioning the Tirinyi-Pallisa-Kumi Road, you clearly promised the people of Kumi Municipality that the tarmac for the roads would soon come. They have been waiting, and I think they are arranging to petition your office in Kampala. I only asked them to wait because I was going back with the right answer. (Laughter) Madam Prime Minister, what answer should I deliver to the people?

Mr Speaker, when we commissioned the roads of Pallisa-Kamonkoli and the one from Pallisa to Kumi, there are a number of kilometres of roads, and I think these are the ones we are talking about - Kumi was promised 12.5 kilometres while Pallisa was promised 7 kilometres. The challenge we had is that there was suppression in that financial year. However, this financial year, the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), under the Ministry of Works and Transport has been given some money and the contractor; the Arab contractors have also been directed to go and work on your roads, and also, go and prepare - remember there was a problem around Bulangira; I do not know whether the Member of Parliament for that area is here. Bulangira is in Kibuku District. Due to the accidents that have been happening there, we are also going to widen that area. So, be patient.

7849 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 4 APRIL 2 023 In Pallisa, for example, we have a total of nine parishes that are not included. In Agule there are two; Ariet and Kachinga. In Kibaale - I have been to the minister’s office for three years, but they have failed to correct this problem. One subcounty has only one parish yet they subdi - vided it into four parishes. They have a coun - cil, but the ministry has failed to address this problem. The other thing is that we are crying about money in this country. The Government claims to have sent – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the committee for finally bringing this report. However, justice delayed is justice denied. I presented this as a matter of national importance on the 6 th of July. This report is now being presented on the 24 th of January, over six months after the exercise, yet this was an urgent matter. Therefore, Mr Speaker, the issue that I presented has been overtaken by events. However, I am glad that the report brought out the issues that I did raise. The issue of extortion has not been denied. The second issue – Mr Speaker, for me, I have never interfered with any recruitment in my district. I often tell my people, who approach me for support, that all the people that turn up for that exercise are my voters, so, go and ensure that you meet the requirements and if you are lucky, you will be taken. However, this time, the complaints came from the leaders who were present at the recruitment exercise - the leaders themselves – that the person who was supposed to be in charge of the exercise did not allow any of the leaders to look at the final list that he generated. The leaders even asked to verify those purported letters from the local council chairpersons, but they were not allowed to look at them. That was the gist of the matter and that is why I had to raise it here. Fortunately, we had a roads committee meeting just around the same time and the minister for defence was there. Most of the LCs, after this matter was aired on radio, denied ever recommending those people although they were being mentioned as having recommended. What has not been denied is that there were letters of recommendation that were forged. It is possible that the LC letters, purportedly recommending some of these people, could have been printed from Nasser Road. After all, we do not know the signatures of all our LC 1 chairpersons. We do not have many of these complaints when the police or prisons are recruiting. There was even a young man who emerged, I think he was the third - you know, they make them run. This person ran and finished third, but he was not on the list. He had all the requirements. He was told to board and follow them, I think to Pallisa or somewhere there. That is where he, finally, got recruited. The lists you are seeing here, the 195 people, they could have been people who followed them to the other side. However, because they have the national ID reading “Tororo” now they are saying they are from Tororo. - Therefore, Mr Speaker, moving forward, when we bring such petitions here, they should be time-bound and handled immediately so that justice is dispensed. Now seven months down the road. These are all Ugandans. Let them complete, but the next time the UPDF is recruiting, allow the local leaders, who know who the LCs I are and who may have some information, to guide. The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) Act, section 3 states very clearly that there shall be an armed force known as the Uganda People’s Defence Forces. And this shall be nonpartisan and national in character. The word “national in character” is the reason why they give every district a particular number so that the UPDF is “national in character” and does not belong to one particular group. When you leave an officer to particularly handle this exercise and finally, people run, then he generates the list and nobody looks at that list; we are being told that GISOs have signed. But under what circumstances did they sign this? There is corruption in this country. The report talks about extortion; it talks about corruption. Mr Speaker, while the committee was supposed to meet the district officials from

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity. I would like to bring it to the attention of this House that I have a bridge called Saaka Bridge that is being worked on and the project is going to take 30 months. My prayer is that as they work on the bridge – they are going to tarmac the bridge but Kaliro has no single tarmac in the whole district. My prayer is to request the minister to tarmac – at least to connect from the bridge to Pallisa, then to connect from the bridge to Kaliro town. It is my humble prayer. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The burial is slated for tomorrow. I want to update the House that the body has safely arrived in Soroti at the Iteso Cultural Centre, which is just 17 kilometers to the home of the late. Tomorrow, there will be transport at Parliament. Those who will use group transport should be here at 6.00 a.m. The Director, Transport, Administration and Logistics, Mr Opata, is coordinating this. For those who may drive their cars, you can go through Pallisa - as it is shorter - to Kumi, Ngora and then, to the place of burial in Ochapa Town Council. If you go up to Soroti Town, take the Soroti-Serere Road. It is 17 miles to Serere and just about three kilometers from Serere District headquarters. If you are flying, you will land in Olio Primary School, which is a more secure place that has been secured for those who will be flying. I got a request from some colleagues who were saying they may fly in a chopper; that is the place where you can land. Mr Speaker, we would like to invite you all to Serere to say farewell to our brother. However, like I said yesterday, I think the Ministry of Internal Affairs needs to come up with a full report about the incident. Please, ask the Ministry of Internal Affairs to follow it up because it is something that is raising some issues.

6697 Thursday, 22 December 2022 people of Teso, and for the country at large, when we woke up to the sudden news of the passing on of Hon. Okabe, who was a Member of Parliament of Serere County. He was also a bishop. He passed on in a fatal accident, with his wife Christine Okabe, in Budaka, early morning that day. Today, we are gathered in this House, in a special sitting, with grief and sorrow to send off a distinguished colleague. I can assure you, the new Members of Parliament, that you may not have known Hon. Okabe because he was a quiet, peaceful person. He was not cantankerous like some people can mean to be. (Laughter) The Hon. Okabe that we are talking about and who is going to lie in front of you, was a bishop and a God-fearing legislator. In most cases, we do not get so many legislators who are God fearing. Now we had somebody who was a bishop. Instead, we get people who knock heads in these kinds of places. The person we are talking about was God-fearing. He had so many churches; he was a very peaceful legislator who never wanted conflicts. That is the Patrick Okabe that we have lost. Patrick Okabe is leaving a legacy. He has so many churches in Soroti, Busole, Mbale, Pallisa, even in Kampala here. That is the peacemaker that we are talking about; a voice of reason and a remarkable leader that we have lost. In just two weeks, we have had two bodies in this House. I think we need to pray to God that IN THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA Official Report of the Proceedings of Parliament SECOND SESSION - 16TH SITTING - SECOND MEETING Parliament met at 11.59 a.m. in Parliament House, Kampala. PRAYERS (The Speaker, Ms Anita Among, in the Chair.) The House was called to order. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

6725 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 23 DECEMBER 2022 information and I called you and you acted immediately. I even had to post in the groups yet the first person who got the information was afraid to post. One thing I want to thank Papa Bishop for is, when I went for a by-election, he was one of the people who sent me Shs 5 million. I want to thank him for the good heart. Papa also inspired me to join politics as well as to open a radio station in Pallisa. Papa, rest in peace. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The body will leave Kampala today and will spend the night in Mbale. Then, tomorrow, there will be prayers at Impact Ministries in Mbale up to 11.00 a.m., when the body will leave. Depending on availability of time, it will either leave directly for Serere or it will leave via Soroti where the Iteso Cultural Union wants to have one hour with the body. Then, it goes to Serere, where there will be a council sitting to pay tribute to our fallen comrade. On Saturday, service will begin at 10.00 a.m. with viewing of the body and later on in the afternoon, the interment of the remains of our brother. That will be on Saturday, 24 December 2022 in Serere. Like Hon. Elijah Okupa has guided you - I do not know why Hon. Elijah did not talk about the road from Mukongoro because I use that all the time. It is also a shortcut. After Oladot, which is the swamp via Pallisa - you cross Oladot Swamp then the next town is Mukongoro. Right from Mukongoro, you drive to the left and that road will take you straight to Ngora and then to Serere. Actually, it is the most direct access to Ocaapa from Kampala. Therefore, we welcome you all to Serere on Saturday. The programme begins at 10.00 a.m. and hopefully by 4.00 p.m., we will be done. Thank you very much. The East African Community Anthem. The National Anthem. Exit of the body of the late Hon. Patrick Okabe.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to pay tribute to a fallen hero, Dr Paul Ssemogerere. I remember that in 1995, around November – when I was a young man in the company of Hon. Cecilia Ogwal, the late Adonia Tiberondwa, the late Yona Kanyomozi and the late Patrick Mwondha, who used to call himself “a political bullet of Busoga” – I was presented to Dr Ssemogerere by Hon. Rainer Kafire, who was a former Member of Parliament. Dr Ssemogerere had said during the Inter- Political Forces Cooperation that if he became President, he would still be a minister for truth and reconciliation. Therefore, he was a conciliator. He wanted to form a ministry for truth and reconciliation. Because of the speech I made as a youth, the group headed by Hon. Cecilia Ogwal, who was the deputy by then, appointed me as District Reconciliation Officer of Pallisa, if we won -

Hon. Charles, you can count biologically. You do not have to count mathematically. (Laughter) Now, Hon. Charles, you are legislating in anticipation. You do not know what report the Attorney-General has. He is coming with a report. First of all, when a Bill is signed, it is addressed to me. I am the one to give you a response on whether the Bill has been assented to or not. So, why don’t you wait? You are acting in anticipation. Next item. LAYING OF PAPERS REPORT OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL ON TIRINYI-PALLISA-KUMI- KAMONKOLI ROAD PROJECT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2022

Madam Speaker, I beg to lay the report of the Auditor- General on Tirinyi-Pallisa-Kumi-Kamonkoli Road project for the period ended 30 June 2022.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would also like to interest our Minister of Works and Transport in investing more in road signage than the road humps because many of our boda boda s tend to dodge the road humps, and end up either falling off the road or ramming into cars. They should also invest more in the rumble strips because we already have an example of Pallisa Road, which has the rumble strips. These rumble strips warn you when you are getting off road and they alert you that your driving speed needs to be reduced. Therefore, I would like to interest you in investing more in the road signs. We have humps whereby today you are passing on this road –(Member timed out.)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the honourable colleague for raising this issue and I also thank my honourable senior colleague. The honourable member from Butaleja is right. In our statistics here, Butaleja has the highest number of malaria cases, but the deaths he has reported are higher than what we have – unless people are dying in homes. However, for those who die in health centres, we always record. Since this year started, I remember in May, we raised a red flag over the upsurge of malaria cases in many districts. It has come down though, from 65 per cent to about 30 per cent. The places, which are really badly hit are Bukedi, Teso, Lango, Busoga, Karamoja and Acholi. When we raised the red flag, it was in western Uganda, especially Ankole and Toro. Right now, we have Budaka, Busia, Butaleja, Butebo, Kibuku, Pallisa and Tororo – but Butaleja has the highest number of cases. Nonetheless, the National Medical Stores has been going around, giving out mosquito nets. Also, the ministry - together with partners – has been putting out a lot of adverts for people to sleep under mosquito nets and to close their houses a little early so that we can, together, fight this malaria. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to know from the Rt Hon. Prime Minister; there is a new road that she recently launched that passes Pallisa-Mukongoro- Kanyum up to Kumi. That road is finishing my voters. It does not take a week without somebody being killed by over-speeding vehicles. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, when are you putting humps, especially along trading centres and corners? This is the fourth time I am talking about this issue.

The answer is that it is illegal. Hon. Aisha Kabanda is aware that I was in Gombe Hospital and you are aware that I have been to Pallisa. Colleagues, I would like to appeal to you that during your time in your constituencies, try to reach these hospitals because it is our role to oversee them. Where you find such issues, please, report such that our people can be assisted.

I will now go to works and transport. The committee could not easily move from Ibanda to Buhweju districts due to the bad road network. We had to travel back to Mbarara in order to connect to Buhweju. Roads in such areas with very poor road network should be improved. This is something that we have complained about before. In Ngora District, the road to Pallisa is also a menace. It is not accessible due to the bad state of the bridges that need upgrading. In Napak District, the roads are also very bad, and are worse during the rainy season because they become impassable. This hindered our oversight visit to those districts. We, therefore, recommend that: 1. The Ministry of Works and Transport should evaluate the state of all the major roads and establish a redevelopment strategy so as to improve accessibility and livelihood; and 2. Government should devote resources to the improvement of roads in the mentioned districts. This is a pre-condition for the movement of people, goods and services and meaningful engagement in production. The Water and Environment Sector The committee observed that other areas in the country lack clean water. Access to clean water is not easy in Buhweju District, where women move long distances to access clean water. In Napak District, there is need to dig deep wells, because access to clean water is a major problem in that area. We realised that water distribution is not balanced in all the communities, such as in Apac where 146 villages do not have any water sources. They obtain their water from ponds, and it is not very clean; and they move very long distances to access this water. The committee further observed that latrine coverage in Napak was at 37 per cent and most of the community members still practice open defaecation and the district has very high levels of poverty. Recommendations 1. The Ministry of Water and Environment should make a detailed assessment of the water scarcity in hard-to-areas and provide possible solutions to that effect; and 2. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries should support the marginalised groups with improved seedlings and farming tools. The Youth Livelihood Programme This is a programme we also considered as affirmative action given to the communities. Our findings and observations are on page 17. It was noted that there were no funds under the Youth Livelihood Fund at the district STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT [Mr Alyek]