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Ssekandi accused of taking sides. The plot to hurriedly pass the controversial Land Bill was executed by the Speaker, Edward Ssekandi, the Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, and Security Minister, Amama Mbabazi, during a special meeting in the Speaker’s lobby on Thursday, after the Bill was passed for the second reading, The Observer has learnt.
The trio was later joined by ministers: Omara Atubo and Asuman Kiyingi, as well as Oyam North MP, Ben Wacha. Ben Wacha, a vastly experienced legislator, had moments earlier abstained from voting on the Bill when it was tabled for the second reading. We have learnt that during this morning meeting, it was decided that the Bill must be passed that very day, much as some MPs had expressed concerns about the speed at which the Bill was being pushed. In the Speaker’s lobby, Nsibambi, Ssekandi and Mbabazi, according to our sources, resolved that since President Museveni wanted the Bill passed, it was proper for the Speaker to do as the chairman of the party wished. Earlier, Masaka Municipality legislator, John Baptist Kawanga, had suggested that Parliament sleeps over the proposed amendments as there was no need to rush such a sensitive Bill. “People in this country will never forgive us for rushing this Bill,” he warned. Bukoto South MP, Mathias Nsubuga, added his voice: “We know you have defeated us but what we want is more time to debate these amendments during the committee stage. We are looking for consensus.”
But Nsibambi countered that the debate should proceed. At this juncture, Ssekandi was stuck between a rock and a hard place. MPs began yelling at each other, with Trade and Industry minister, Kahinda Otafiire, shouting at opposition MPs. “Keep quiet, we are not here to pass time but to pass the Bill,” he shouted. As the shouting match continued, Ssekandi picked Bugiri Woman MP, Justine Kasule Lumumba, who moved a motion for the Bill to progress to committee stage. But the Opposition Chief Whip and Terego County MP, Kassiano Wadri, re-echoed Kawanga’s caution, pleading for more time. “Stay the Bill so that we can complete it in harmony,” he said. Ssekandi decided to break off for 30 minutes. He told legislators that after the 30-minute break, they would forge a way forward. But the Speaker returned a changed man. When the Bill was tabled for the second reading, those in support of the Bill easily won the voting exercise done by show of hands. SSEKANDI CHALLENGED As Speaker of Parliament, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi is supposed to be impartial when handling contentious issues before Parliament, and perhaps build consensus on national matters. But during debate on the controversial Land (Amendment) Bill 2007, Ssekandi who is a member of the ruling NRM party often betrayed his partisan side instead of guiding the debate. On many occasions, the Speaker acted like an interested party and at times appeared to be rooting for certain provisions of the Bill. For example, when Nakasongola Woman MP, Grace Tubwita, wondered why tenants must seek the consent of landlords, some of whom are unknown, before they sell their interests in the land, Ssekandi had a curt answer: “We are not talking about absentee landlords; can we move on?” Tubwita had argued that some landlords were either dead or have since migrated elsewhere and are not easy to trace. And when Lwemiyaga MP, Theodore Ssekikubo, stood up to oppose the deletion of clause 32b of the Bill which deals with administration of customary land, his microphone was switched off at the urging of Ssekandi. The Speaker was also quick to overrule Makindye West MP, Hussein Kyanjo’s request that debate on the Bill be postponed to allow Muslim MPs prepare for Idd Aduha prayers. Yet it was this heated exchange with Makindye East MP, Michael Mabikke, that left even some NRM MPs wondering whether it was necessary for a Speaker to shout down a legislator. Mabikke had stood up to complain that Ssekandi was eating up a lot of debating time by interjecting the presentation of MPs, especially those opposed to the Bill. Each MP had been allocated seven minutes. “Look at me. Do I look stupid?” Ssekandi hit at Mabikke. In the early days of the debate, Ssekandi exchanged words with Kampala Central MP, Erias Lukwago, to the bewilderment of other legislators. Ssekandi’s handling of contentious issues in Parliament is not much different from the one exhibited by his predecessor, the late Francis Ayume, who went ahead to sanction the passing of the Referendum and other Provisions Act, 1999 well knowing that the House lacked quorum. It has also rekindled the debate on whether one should resign his/her parliamentary seat upon being elected speaker so that such persons can operate objectively without being bound by party interests. THE VOTE In a vote described by Ssekandi as 99.9% transparent, the winners had 112 votes against the losers’ 55. Three MPs: Samuel Odonga Otto (Aruu County/FDC), Ben Wacha (Oyam North\Independent), and Otada Owor Amooti (Kibanda County\NRM) abstained.
Butambala County legislator, Ibrahim Lubega Kadunabbi, Claver Peter Mutuluza (Mawokota North) and Rebecca Lukwago (Luweero Woman) voted against the Bill. However, all their Buganda NRM colleagues endorsed it, including the Caucus chairperson, Rose Namayanja (Nakaseke Woman). The Bill now awaits President Museveni’s endorsement.
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