Parliament Plenary Sittings to Resume on Thursday

Parliament is set to resume its business on Thursday, two days after it was suspended following explosions at the IPS building, opposite Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA, and the quarter guard at CPS Kampala on Tuesday.

The Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige said that he had been directed by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among to inform MPs that there would not be sittings of Parliament.

On Wednesday, Mwesige confirmed the resumption of the House activities in a notice issued to Members of Parliament.

“This is to give notice that Parliament of Uganda will resume plenary sitting with effect from tomorrow Thursday, 18th November 2021, commencing at 2:00 pm. The Order Paper for the sitting will be uploaded on your iPads by close of business today to enable you to make appropriate preparations for the sitting,” reads the notice issued by Mwesige.

The IPS building where the second explosion went off is along Parliamentary Avenue, about 200 meters away from the main gate of parliament.

The blasts triggered panic in the parliament building where several committee sittings were scheduled to take place. Several MPs and parliament staff were seen exiting the main building as the police officers at the main gate of parliament restricted access to its precincts.

Restricted entrance continued on Wednesday with heightened security at the main gate of Parliament. All roads leading to Parliament from National Theatre, Dewinton road, the parliamentary avenue from the Jinja road junction, and the areas around City hall are still cordoned off.

At the spot of the bomb blast, between the IPS building and Queens Chambers, the wreckage of the five cars that got burnt and motorcycles are intact.

Security personnel are screening vehicles, bags, and luggage right from Uganda Railways grounds. All staff of parliament and journalists have to wear their identity cards before gaining access to the precincts of Parliament. Cleaners, service providers, and visitors among others have been restricted from entering parliament.

Inside Parliament, there was a handful of workers seen around the precincts of the house.

The Uganda flag, which is usually hoisted during plenary days was also missing.URN