The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has declined to relieve Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality) of his position as Whip for FDC in Parliament.
Among says the decision follows a petition by some FDC MPs asking her to halt the changes.
She says in the petition, the MPs accused the party Secretary General, Nathan Nandala Mafabi, of taking the decision without consulting the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Early this month, Mafabi in a communication to the Speaker, dropped Ssemujju as the FDC Chief Whip in Parliament. He appointed Mawokota North MP Yusuf Nsibambi.
Although the issue in context is a party matter, Among explained that they affect the harmony, cohesion and operation of Parliament.
She asserted that the MPs say the decision communicated by Mafabi was not in compliance with the internal party processes as there was no decision from the National Executive Committee, National Council or National Delegates Conference upon which such a decision would be taken.
She explained that the petition she received is essentially “telling me that the party did not sit, through its organs, to take a decision to withdraw and replace the current whip. I also note that unlike in the past, on this occasion, no meeting of a Party organ has been mentioned in your communication as having taken this decision and yet it has serious consequences on the workings of the legislature”.
“I am therefore unable to effect your communication until the matters raised by the petitioners have been resolved and a communication made to that effect to avoid legal consequences of the same and disruption of Parliamentary,” the Speaker noted.