Closer scrutiny of debate in parliament over the last seven months shows that first-time MPs spoke more than their more experienced, old colleagues.
According to the Hansard, parliament’s official record, out of 431 MPs, at least 260 are inexperienced first- timers. Ordinarily, the new MPs spent the first months finding their bearing and learning etiquette, but the Hansard shows many new MPs learned on the job pretty fast.
An independent analysis of debate captured by the Hansard found that at least 191 of the 260 new MPs contributed to debate throughout the 37 plenary sittings last year.
In all, at least 349 of the 431 MPs spoke in parliament. About 82 didn’t say a word. Since 2006, Aboud Kitatta has represented Bukoto West constituency and is rated among the most experienced parliamentarians.
With a high MPs’ attrition rate, Kitatta is among the 171 old MPs who returned to the 10th parliament though he is among the 82 who didn’t say a word since the 10th parliament started in June.
On the score card, Manjiya MP, John Baptist Nambeshe (NRM), was the most outspoken new MP. He spoke 34 times, seven more than Gen Moses Ali, the first deputy prime minister and deputy leader of government business in the House.
Nambeshe spent 10 years as Bududa LC-V chairman. Interviewed about his performance on Tuesday, Nambeshe said: “Being in government for the last decade before I joined parliament nurtured my debating and people-to-people skills; it has given me an edge over my colleagues.”
Nambeshe is followed by FDC’s Godfrey Atkins Katusabe (Bukonzo West) who was catapulted into the national spotlight by last November’s clashes in Kasese that led to the arrest and detention of Rwenzururu king Charles Wesley Mumbere.
Since he was trapped in Mumbere’s palace during the army raid, Katusabe was given plenty of time in parliament to give his eye-witness account.
His American English accent also endeared him to his colleagues. In all, he spoke 31 times.
Katusabe ties with James Kaberuka Niringiyemana (NRM), a former LC-V councilor for Kihiihi town council in the Kanungu district council.
Kaberuka replaced former prime minister Amama Mbabazi as Kinkiizi West MP. The youthful MP was a promoter of Mbabazi’s presidential bid.
Katusabe and Kaberuka spoke the same number of times as old-timers such as finance minister Matia Kasaija (Buyanja), shadow attorney general Wilfred Niwagaba (Ndorwa East), Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee chairman Jacob Oboth-Oboth (West Budama South), Samuel Odonga Otto (Aruu), Jacqueline Amongin (Ngora Woman), Joshua Anywarach (Padyere) and Moses Kasibante (Lubaga North).
Other active first-time MPs include Mbwatekamwa Gaffa (Kasambya – 20 times), Silas Aogon (Kumi Municipality – 23), David Abala (Ngora – 19), Abbas Agaba (Kitagwenda – 17) and Jackson Kafuuzi (Kyaka South – 17).
The most active new woman is Moyo Woman MP Joyce Moriku (20 times), followed by Doreen Amule (Amolatar Woman – 12) and Juliet Kyinyamatama (Rakai Woman – 12).
STRATEGIC
Interviewed for comments, some mute MPs blamed their failure to speak on the floor of parliament to their not-so strategic sitting positions that made it difficult for the speaker to notice their raised hands.
Since the existing parliamentary chamber was designed to accommodate 62 MPs, the assumption is, it is too small and too crowded for the speaker to easily see an MP in a sea of 431 lawmakers.
Nonetheless, some MPs such as Gaffa Mbwatekamwa (Kasambya) and Abbas Agaba (Kitagwenda) chose strategic seats opposite the speaker’s chair.
They sit with about 10 other MPs right in front of the table where the mace (the Speaker’s symbol of authority) rests between the two sides of the House.
It is here that Speaker Rebecca Kadaga in the 9th parliament placed MPs Niwagaba, Theodore Ssekikubo (Lwemiyaga), Barnabas Tinkasiimire (Buyaga West), and Muhammad Nsereko (Kampala Central) following their 2013 expulsion from NRM.
“One’s sitting strategy is very important. I cannot move from [that] spot because I am directly opposite the Speaker, who sees me clearly. Other times, I stand up for a while, in a stubborn way until I am noticed,” Mbwatekamwa said.
His Ngora county counterpart David Abala said he stands up every time he wants to speak so that the speaker can see him.
“We are so many; so, you have to struggle for attention. Sometimes, I use sign language by raising my hands and waiving them so that I am picked to speak. I also make sure I stand up several times during the sitting,” Abala said.
Abala spoke 19 times, largely about issues affecting his constituency. For instance on September 15, he rose to voice his dissatisfaction with government’s failure to support Kobwin Senior Secondary School, which, for 25 years, has limped on with only seven teachers.
SUBSTANCE
For Nambeshe, catching the speaker’s eye doesn’t require extra effort. He said an MP must remain relevant and should be able to contribute to any debate.
But Amule disagrees. “Personally, I pick out topics of interest and also focus on matters concerning my constituency. I make sure the contribution is relevant,” Amule said.
Kumi municipality’s Silas Aogon said some MPs are not picked by the speaker because they don’t think beyond their constituencies.
“The major pointer is to be vibrant and people-centered during debate. Once you have it as your vision, you will move debate in the House,” Aogon said.
NRM CAUCUS
Some NRM MPs, however, said they are over-whipped into silence by the NRM caucus leadership.
“This song of party cohesion has been sung for MPs and it has made them reluctant to freely air out their views on pertinent issues. Even though I am an NRM member, I have defied these positions sometimes for the national good,” Mbwatekamwa said.
But the caucus’ publicity secretary, Solomon Silwany (Bukooli Central), said MPs shouldn’t use the NRM caucus as a scapegoat.
“They should not hide their incompetence behind claims of being over whipped,” Silwany said on Tuesday.
“We are operating under a multiparty dispensation, and a party position generated with consensus must be respected but a member has a right to disagree with a position as long as it is in the caucus,” Silwany added.
Citing the example of Tinkasiimire who disagreed with President Museveni’s push to expand cabinet from the constitutional 42 ministers to the current 81, Silwany said NRM respects individual views.
“Hon Tinkasiimire disagreed during the caucus meeting and even on the floor of parliament and it was okay with everyone because he had made his position clear. What we don’t want is for one to pretend in the caucus to support a position and then oppose it on the floor of parliament,” Silwany said.
sadabkk@observer.ug