The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Annet Among, has refused to apologize to Buganda kingidom and the Baganda people until documentary evidence is tabled before Parliament proving that she made discriminatory remarks targeting Baganda during the heated debate on the National Coffee Amendment Bill, 2024.
The Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, Wednesday asked Among to recuse herself from the consideration of the National Coffee Bill, due to the conflict of interest, a request Among declined to honour, saying the rule on Conflict of interest only refers to MPs but not Presiding Officer.
“From the onset, I wish to state that I was quoted out of context. In any event, this House is a House of record, and being the custodian of the Rules of procedure and being the House of Record, and if anybody feels that I mentioned what the Leader of Opposition mentioned, I want to urge that Member, to bring documentary evidence and lay on table and once it is true that I said what he said, then, I will be able to apologize to this country and the persons who were affected. But before that is done, because it isn’t true, I will not do it,” she said.
“We must note that Rule 94 on conflict of interest refers to a Member and not the Speaker or the Presiding Officer. By whatever name called, a Member is defined under Rule 2 of the Rules of Procedure, as a Member of Parliament. A Speaker, on the other hand is independently defined as the Speaker of Parliament and includes the Deputy Speaker.
It is imperative to note that by command of Rule 77, the Speaker shall not be part of the debate, but may give guidance to the House, on the matter before the House. In the circumstance therefore, the cited Rule is therefore inapplicable. I am not conflicted in any way. He (Ssenyonyi) cited a wrong Rule, I don’t vote and I don’t debate,”
“In the circumstance therefore, the cited Rule is therefore inapplicable. I am not conflicted in any way. He (Hon. Ssenyonyi) cited a wrong Rule, I don’t vote and I don’t debate,” she added.
