Laughter in Parliament
Raucous laughter ruled Tuesday afternoon during plenary in Parliament when Kira Municipality MP Ssemujju Nganda tickled Security Minister Muhwezi’s tail.
It began when Ssemujju raised a procedural matter in plenary, chaired by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Jacob Oulanyah. Ssemujju was criticising a proposal by President Yoweri Museveni, which seeks to deny bail to suspects arrested on capital offences.
In his submission, Ssemujju stated that the current proposal to reform bail terms is tantamount to overthrowing the constitution and intimidating the Judiciary system and its officers.
“The judiciary is going to be intimidated to work on the orders of the Head of State and tomorrow you are going to be a victim. I was in the same prison cell with Hon Jim Muhwezi, if you release people on bail you are in trouble. Then what shall we do if we find ourselves in such circumstances?” he argued.
Laughter in Parliament
Muhwezi immediately countered the submission by demanding that Ssemujju desists from dragging his hard-built name into irrelevant issues. He requested Speaker Oulanyah to instruct the vocal legislator to immediately withdraw his argument.
“Hon Ssemujju Nganda has made it a habit. I don’t know whether my name is sweet or if he is being paid to mention my name. Whether it is relevant or irrelevant, he must bring my name. Is it in order for him to refer to me when it is unnecessary. I never use his name even if I have all grounds to talk about him,” Muhwezi retorted.
Responding amidst uproarious laughter in the house, Speaker Oulanyah, said: “But Hon Minister, what has he said this time? He rose on a point of order and you expect me to rule him out of order?
Muhwezi responded to a cheerful house:;’’He has said nothing. He has mentioned my name when there is no point and my name is very important. I have worked so hard for it and it should be used only when there is important substance. Is he in order Rt Hon when he has nothing to say he to mention my name?’’
Ssemujju later explained to a house in stitches: ’’History is like that, there will be an episode that you don’t like. I was in Murchison Bay in Luzira B2. I was arrested for walking. When I arrived, they showed me where Prof Gilbert Bukenya used to sleep, Captain Mike Mukula used to sleep and where Hon Muhwezi used to sleep and they remember all the details. They said when people are released, they leave their belongings for others but you went back and picked a 2-inch mattress!”
Compiled by Zainab Ali
