Members of Parliament of the ruling political party National Resistance Movement (NRM) will tomorrow Monday convene to express interest in committees of Parliament.
In a notice, the party’s Secretary General, Justine Kasule Lumumba, said the meeting will be held at Kololo independence grounds starting 2pm.
The meeting was scheduled for Wednesday last week but postponed to tomorrow to enable legislators complete their orientation ahead of the new parliamentary term.
“This is to notify all the NRM Parliamentary caucus members that the rescheduled consultative meeting will take place on Monday 7, June 2021 at Kololo Ceremonial grounds starting at 2:00pm prompt. Please attend in person,” writes Kasule Lumumba.
“The agenda remains the same (Committees of the 11th Parliament). Public transport has been arranged for the Honourable members to board by 1:00pm prompt,” she adds.
The legislators have consequently been asked to test for COVID-19 today Sunday at the party Secretariat in Kampala.
There are two categories of Committees of Parliament which include Standing and Sectoral. The Standing committees last two and half years and are set up at the start of a new term of Parliament and again after two and half years. They comprise about 30 members selected by party whips.
Standing committees include The Business Committee, The Appointments Committee, The Budget Committee, The Committee on Government Assurance and Implementation, The Committee on Equal Opportunities, The Committee on Public Accounts (Central Government) and The Committee of Public Accounts (Local Government).
Others are The Committee of Public Accounts (Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises), The Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline, The Committee on National Economy, The Committee on HIV/AIDS and Related Matters, The Committee on Human Rights and The Committee on Climate Change.
On the other hand, Sectoral Committees are departmentally related committees, whose composition is determined at the start of each new session and last one session.
They comprise about 30 members designated by Whips and approved by the House. Independent MPs can apply through the Clerk to Parliament to serve on committees of their choice.
Sectoral Committees include The Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, The Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, The Committee on East African Community Affairs, The Committee on Education and Sports, The Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development, The Committee on Foreign Affairs, The Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development and The Committee on Health.
Others are The Committee on Information, Communication Technology and National Guidance, The Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, The Committee on Natural Resources, The Committee on Physical Infrastructure, The Committee on Presidential Affairs, The Committee on Public Service and Local Government, The Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation and The Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry.
Last week, the NRM forwarded a list 22 MPs for Parliament’s Appointment Committee, that included the outgoing Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development Frank Tumwebaze, and health state minister Joyce Moriku Kaducu.
Others are Okullu Abuka, Betty Engola, Rose Akello, Dr Florence Assimwe, Sarah Mateke, Arinaitwe Rwakajara, Fred Kambale, Diana Mutansingwa, Sarah Najjuma, David Kabanda, Robinah Rwakojo, Cissy Namuju, James Kubeketeria, Denis Orone, Patrick Aeku, Irene Muloni, Fadil Twalla, Alex Ndezi, Benard Odoi and Catherine Mavenjina
The Appointments committee chaired by the Speaker of Parliament, vets and approves members appointed by the President.
The country is waiting for President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to make appointments of the cabinet including the Vice President and the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, last week, NUP, the most dominant opposition political party, constituted leadership in parliament where they appointed Nyendo Mukungwe lawmaker, Mathias Mpuuga as the leader of opposition.
Mangiya county MP, John Baptist Nambeshe was appointed the opposition chief whip and deputized by Jinja Woman MP, Kyebakutika Manjeri.
Mityana Municipality MP Francis Butebi Zaake was appointed a Commissioner of Parliament.
The Public Accounts Committee is led by Busiro East MP Medard Lubega Ssegona and deputized by Bugiri Municipality lawmaker, Asuman Basalirwa.
The party spokesperson, Joel Ssenyonyi who also doubles as the Nakawa West MP is the Chairperson of Committee of Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (Cosase) deputized by Lucy Akello (Woman MP Amuru District).
Government Assurances Committee is chaired by Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze Bakireke and deputized by Joseph Ssewungu from Kalungu West.
Former Gulu District Chairperson, Ojara Martin Mapenduzi who represents Bardeg-Layibi county is the head of Local Government Accounts Committee and deputized by Nakaseke South MP Luttamaguzi Ssemakula from the Democratic Party.