Busoga has a total of 41 members representing the subregion in the August House where resources are appropriated. And as you may be aware, people get the leaders they deserve and deserve the leaders they get. Therefore by informing you how your constituency MP performed, we are simply reminding you what you deserve.
According to the Hansard, the official record of Parliament, legislators like Bugiri Municipality’s Asuman Basalirwa and Jinja South Division West legislator, Dr Timothy Lusala Batuwa have continued top the list of performing MPs from Kyabazinga-land when it comes to contribution on the floor as well as committee seatings.
But Busoga also has MPs who have remained tight-lipped in Parliament even though they continue to draw the hefty salaries accrued to legislators.
The scorecard reveals that Hon Basalirwa tops Busoga MPs with a contribution of 348 times and he is closely followed by NRM’s Solomon Silwany who has spoken 306 times in the two-and-a half`years.
Bunya West’s Aggrey Bagiire holds the flag of silence with zero contribution on the floor of Parliament and zero contribution in the committees.
“We are 549 legislators and everybody is given two minutes, it becomes difficult for one to get the eye of the Speaker. I think it would be better to consider attendance instead of the number of times an MP speaks on the floor,” James Kubeketerya, the Bunya East legislator is quotted to have said.
According to the Hansard, Kubeketerya has spoken nine times in the 11th Parliament.
Bugabula South MP, Henry Maurice Kibalya, says there are legislators who naturally fear the microphone because they don’t trust their English.
“There are people who fear to speak for fear of the public laughing at them. They don’t trust their English and prefer to save their egos by keeping quiet. I am sure you also had such students in class,” Hon Kibalya says.
Kibalya, according to the Hansard records has spoken 81 times in the two-and a half years of the 11th Parliament.
Namayingo South MP, Micheal Wanyama Odwori and Budiope West’s Ibrahim Kyoto have only spoken once in the more the close to three years of the 11th Parliament.
Former journalist, David Agha Isabirye of Jinja North and Busiki North’s Yona Kayogera have spoken only twice since joining Parliament.
“We are over 500 legislators and you don’t just talk in Parliament, you have to be selected. About 20 people speak on the plenary on daily people and if you take a keen look, it is the same people who are selected,” Agha said while calling for a change in the rules of procedure to solve the problem.
Alex Brandon Kintu (Kagoma North), Baroda Kayanga (Kamuli Municipality), Luke Kyobe Inyensiko (Luuka North) and Abdu Adidwa (Bukooli south) spoke thrice since 2021 while Jinja district Woman MP Loy Katali has managed to speak only four times.
Others with better performance are Rukia Isanga Nakadama (205), Timothy Batuwa (165), Abdu Katuntu (146), Moses Magogo (102), Milton Muwuma Kalulu (68), David Livingstone Zijjan (50), Iddi Isabirye (38), John Teira (27) and Agnes Taaka (19).
Hon Kibalya says some leaders are not interested in leadership and are, therefore, not bothered with decisions that may negatively affect their constituents.
Presided over by Speaker Annet Anita Among, the 11th Parliament houses 549 MPs, including directly elected members, representatives of the elderly, Ex-officials and Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) representatives.
