Aruu County MP, Odonga Otto has vowed to boycott all parliamentary sittings chaired by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah accusing him of bias while chairing debate on the report on torture and detention of legislators in Gulu.
In a letter to the Deputy Speaker, Otto expressed absolute and utmost displeasure on his conduct during the parliamentary proceedings of the 4th and 5th September when Parliament was discussing the subject matter that “pertains the life and safety of MPs Robert Kyagulanyi and Francis Zaake.”
“Your gross irregularities, outright bias is typical of NRM political party mobilizers and not that of the presiding officer which was wanting in a number of areas.”
Otto accused Oulanyah of participating in parliamentary debate contrary to rules of procedure saying that the entire Hansard of 4th and the record of debate is majorly full of the presiding officer, Elly Tumwine, Col. Fred Mwesigye.
“This is deplorable and laughable as you reduced a national parliament to a cultural gala,” Otto noted.
He accused Oulanyah of appointing members not willing or even standing up to talk in the debate on the 5th citing that he shamelessly opted to again appoint Hon. Elly Tumwine who was not even standing up to contribute leaving MPs who were standing.
“In the circumstances, given your obvious biases, direct political leanings, routine and casual sycophancy, I bring to your attention that I will not be attending any session of Parliament you Hon. Oulanyah Jacob will be chairing till the end of this Parliament in 2021,” Otto said.
“I wish to reiterate that your continued stay in that chair is disgrace to yourself, tax payers, Parliament and the country at large.”
Otto prayed that one day the constitution will be amended to allow a non-partisan speaker at a stature of a High Court Judge or Justices of peace to be in the chair.
