Parliament Swears in 11 Ex-Officios

Sheila Naturinda

7 June 2011

Eleven nominated Members of Parliament have on Tuesday at 9am taken oath, presided over by Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and her deputy Jacob Oulanyah in the Parliament chambers, ahead of this afternoon’s state of Nation address.

An ex-officio MP is one who is nominated to Parliament on the front bench by the President and such a person, according to the rules of procedure of Parliament doesn’t vote on any matter before the House.

They however participate in daily proceedings, and also get the emoluments due to MPs, and other allowances depending on their ministries.

The eleven are cabinet Ministers; Eriya Kategeya (First Deputy Premier), Ruhakana Rugunda (ICT), Maria Kiwanuka (Finance), Christine Ondoa (Health) and Ephraim Kamuntu (Tourism) Others are state ministers; Agnes Akiror Egunyu (Tourism), Richard Nduhura (Health), Baba James (Internal Affairs), Simon D’ujanga (Energy), James Mutende(Industry) and Gen Jeje Odong (Defence) The President is expected to address the Nation this afternoon and Ms Kadaga said the oath taken will enable them to be part of Parliament. Ms Kiwanuka, after taking her oath left immediately, probably to prepare for Wednesday’s budget reading, which will be her first.

The other ministers, led by Mr Kategaya also later told the speaker that they were hurrying for a cabinet meeting, before the State of Nation Address. At the same brief sitting, Leader of Opposition Nathan Nandala Mafabi also presented to the House his cabinet and later called them for a cabinet meeting.

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