By: Ismael Kasooha
Prime minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja on Thursday 20th January 2022 met a delegation of Members of Parliament from Ghana who are in the country to bench mark on how parliamentary business is conducted in Uganda.
While welcoming the delegation, Nabbanja said that Uganda and Ghana, enjoy strong cordial historical ties that have been growing from strength to strength and can learn from one another.
Nabbanja said that unlike in Ghana where they have had several presidents in the last 30 years, Uganda has enjoyed and continue to enjoy the leadership of the National Resistance movement (NRM) under the President Yoweri Museveni that has enabled the country to grow and be stable both economically and politically.
“The president who also doubles as the NRM chairman is attached to the people and Ugandans love him and he knows what needs to be done to transform the country into a middle income status,” says Nabbanja.
The Prime Minister informed the delegation that Uganda is a multi-party democracy and in Parliamentary practice the Ruling Party – The National Resistance Movement, NRM is led by the Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business, whereas other parties are led by the Leader of the Opposition (LOP) who is at the level of Cabinet Minister.
“It is the mandate of the Office of Leader of Government Business to coordinate and Provide Government’s legislative agenda, which is submitted to the President to be included in the State of the Nation Address at the beginning of every Parliamentary session,” said Nabbanja.
She explained that rule 28 of Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Uganda stipulates that the Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in Parliament tables Business for succeeding week every Thursday.
This comprises Bills for First Reading, Motions, Statements from different Ministries and responses to matters of National importance raised by Members of Parliament.
In Addition, Rule 41, of our Rules of Procedure establishes what is called the Prime Minister’s Time. This is where the Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business responds to questions raised by Members of Parliament on policy issues and general performance of Government every Thursday for 45 Minutes.
The Office of Leader of Government Business enhances accountability of the Executive to Parliament through providing an Annual Action Taken Report on resolutions and recommendations of Parliament as per Rule 220 of the Rules of Procedure.
This report shows Government’s implementation of the resolutions and recommendations of Parliament.
The delegation was led by Hon. Frank Annoh -Dompreh, Majority Chief Whip in Ghanaian Parliament who commended Uganda for the warm welcome accorded to them.
Annoh said that the interaction with thw Prime Minister and other ministers and technocrats had enriched them with knowledge which will be very useful to them as a country.
The other members of the delegation were Hon. Mohammed-Mubarak, Minority Chief Whip, Hon. Mama Hawa Koomson, Minister for Fisheries among others.
Uganda and Ghana have many things in common especially the mixed presidential and parliamentary system of government.