Deputy Speaker Bans Committee Sittings During Plenary Sessions

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has issued a firm directive prohibiting parliamentary committees from conducting business concurrently with plenary sessions. This move aims to enhance attendance and discipline within the House, with a specific focus on ensuring the presence of both Members of Parliament and ministers during afternoon plenary.

Chairing a recent plenary sitting, Tayebwa announced that committee activities must be confined to the mornings, reserving afternoons exclusively for the main parliamentary assembly. “With immediate effect, no committee will sit when we are in plenary. Mornings are for committees, afternoons are for plenary. And I expect all Hon. Members and Hon. Ministers to be here,” he stated.

The decision was prompted by concerns raised by legislators regarding the persistent absence of ministers from plenary sessions. Reports indicated that some ministers claimed to be attending committee meetings scheduled at the same time, thereby hindering crucial parliamentary oversight.

Tayebwa emphasized that ministers should prioritize plenary sittings, as it serves as the primary platform for government scrutiny and policy debates. “If you are a Minister, your primary place in the afternoon is here in plenary. Committees can and should plan their work in the morning,” he asserted, noting that an “almost empty House” due to concurrent committee meetings was unacceptable.

The Deputy Speaker warned that this practice was negatively impacting Parliament’s productivity and public image. He instructed the Clerk to Parliament and committee chairpersons to adjust their schedules accordingly and cautioned that any committee proceedings held during plenary sessions would be invalidated.

This new arrangement, which separates committee and plenary schedules with committees meeting in the morning and plenary taking precedence in the afternoon, has been welcomed by several MPs who believe it will allow for more focused attention on government business and legislative matters. The implementation of the revised schedule is expected to commence next week.

Source: Nile Post