Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has placed a blanket ban on travel abroad by members of Parliament and civil servants to save money for other priority sectors.

While commissioning facilities on Saturday at Uganda Petroleum Institute-Kigumba (UPIK), a training facility for oil exploration, Mr Museveni said he was unhappy to learn that the institute was incomplete due to a lack of funds.

“Tell the civil servants, the MPs and all politicians to stop travelling abroad. Money is wasted on external travel and here Kigumba is crying for money. This is really poor planning,” the President said.

Uganda is expected to begin commercial oil production in 2025, with China considered to be one of the major funders among other oil companies.

The President also suggested freezing allowances.

Earlier, the Principal of UPIK, Bernard Ongodia, had reported that whereas the World Bank had financed construction of five modern workshops, multipurpose buildings, and a gatehouse, at a cost of $15.5 million, the institution needed a fence, a police post and to extend the ICT fibre network.

“We shall find funds for staff housing, ICT lab, and fence. You said that you are staying outside and the hyenas are coming and we shall hear one day that the hyena has taken one of the students. How shall we explain this? No please. What is the money needed? We shall look for it,” the President responded.

In response, the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija, said the government cannot ban all travel abroad.

“Some government officials who travel to get money like negotiating for loans need to travel among other important things,” Mr Kasaija said.

“President Museveni did not say we would ban all travel abroad. He said some travels and he asked us to prioritise,” he added.

Museveni visits UAE

Mr Museveni is in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a three-day official visit since Sunday.

He is expected to hold talks with Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi. 

The President will also attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Summit and hold discussions with government officials and the business community from the UAE. - DAILY MONITOR

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula should now settle down and conduct himself in the public eye as an impartial arbiter in the august House, not like an agent of the ruling coalition. 

As a Speaker, Mr Wetangula must be reminded that the office he holds as envisioned in the Constitution must be an independent arm of government, just like the Presidency and the Judiciary. 

Seeing him address two major presidential rallies over the weekend left me wondering whether he was speaking on behalf of the Parliament that he heads or as a Ford Kenya leader. 

He thanked Kenyans for voting for President William Ruto and the entire Kenya Kwanza, leadership forgetting that at the moment, he is the head of all MPs elected to the House from all political parties. 

He was even given the onus of inviting Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to speak, a responsibility that in a way implied he was miles below Mr Mudavadi.

Even if as per our constitution a Speaker must be fronted by a political wing, the moment one ascends to that office, he or she is expected to shed off the tag of party affiliation and be strictly be impartial and be seen to be impartial. 

It is obvious that any government will want to have a Speaker and a House it controls for easy passage of bills and budgets and rejection of unfriendly audit reports presented, but a speaker should not be a cheer leader in functions presided over by the ruling party. 

It is for impartiality reason that the law requires elected MPs to first resign before being voted for as Speakers to ensure the holder of the office doesn't get consumed in the interests of a constituency. 

For our democracy to grow, the Speaker must always remain an umpire who ensures all have equal opportunities once on the floor of the House. We should not have a situation where one feels the chair will eventually influence the outcome of a debate. 

I fear that at public rallies addressed by a popular president like Ruto is, a number of policy statements can easily be made.

Once made in the presence of a Speaker, chances are high that once brought to the House either through a bill or through a public petition the speaker can easily be swayed. 

His participation in almost all State functions compromises his impartiality as a speaker.  

Chief Justice Martha Koome appeared at a few functions graced by the president but ended up eliciting sharp criticism. The same should now apply to the National Assembly Speaker.  

It is notable that past Speakers, among them Justin Muturi, rarely attended rallies.

Wherever you go kindly carry the independence of that office with you. By Beuttah Omanga , The Standard

A family in Luwero district has abandoned their home following the murder of their eight-year-old son by an unknown assailant in a suspected ritual sacrifice.

Yasin Sserunga, a primary two pupil of Destiny primary school was killed on Sunday, January 8 in the garden at their home in Kisule Butanza village, Luwero and some of his body parts were cut off and taken away.

Sserunga’s torso was buried on Monday last week at Kasanga village in Nakasongola district. However, to date, Sserunga's head and other body parts are yet to be found. Allen Nabatanzi, the mother of the deceased, said after burying the remains of her son, they returned to their home and started experiencing nightmares.

According to Nabatanzi, she failed to get sleep because of the tragic murder of her son and is worried that the attacker may strike again and kill the other four children. Nabatanzi says that she has resolved to leave the house and seek solace at her sister’s home in a distant village together with her other four children

The minor's father, Yasin Sserunga says that his late son used to welcome him daily from work and they would play together something that he misses whenever returns home. He says that the family can only find peace and return home if the killer and the missing body parts are recovered by the Police.

Godfrey Kafeero, the LC I chairperson of Kisule Butanza village, says that the entire village is still in shock over the brutal murder of the minor and they have since advised residents to keep a close watch on their children since the killer as well as their motive remains unknown.

Sylvia Namutebi also known as Maama Fiina, the president of Uganda N’eddagala Lyayo, an umbrella body for traditional healers has asked the family to grieve the loss of the son while at their home till they recover from the shock. Namutebi has since directed the registration of all traditional healers in Luwero district to avoid cases of human sacrifice, especially by fake healers.

Savannah Regional police spokesperson, Patrick Lule said the search for the killers as well as missing body parts is still ongoing. - URN/The Observer