Women Killings: Parliament Suspended, Demands Statement from Gov’t

Members of Parliament have Tuesday passed a motion suspending the Plenary until the Ministry of Internal Affairs presents a statement on killings of women around Entebbe, Katabi and Nansana in Wakiso district.

The motion was moved by Aruu South MP Odonga Otto after the leader of the opposition Winfred Kiiza raised a procedural issue on the absence of the ministers for Internal Affairs and Security.

The issue was raised as a matter of national importance by Lira woman MP Joy Ongom.

The Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah later ruled that a statement must be made on Thursday this week in response to Kiiza’s issue and insistence.

“Is it procedurally correct to discuss these serious matters when the said Ministers are not in the House. I am aware that communication shall go from the clerk’s office but they needed to see the feelings of Ministers and the mood in which MPs are discussing these matters, we are tired as mothers and Ugandans of the killings which are rampant and nobody seems to be in control or caring,” Kiiza said.

Despite a statement by the minister for local government, Tom Butime to the effect that line ministries will present a statement since investigations are going on, Kiiza and MPs from all sides of the house were not satisfied by his response.

Otto interjected Butime by moving a motion without notice in relation to rule 16 of Parliament’s rules of procedure saying that the house can discuss the other items on the order paper including mudslides in Budadiri, illegal eviction of Mubende artisanal miners after the issue of killings is resolved.

The Minister for state for primary education who is also the Wakiso woman MP supported Otto’s motion urging her colleagues in the executive to present a statement urgently.

“We are just from holidays and the whole world wants to know why women are dying. The Speaker has been very linient to the executive but we are not seeing any statement coming nor any minister running to parliament.  I want to move a motion that this house be adjourned until such a time that government is ready to present a statement,” Otto moved.

The motion received overwhelming support when it was put to a vote and members voted in its favor. The House has thus been adjourned sine die.

About 20 women have been killed in Wakiso in recent weeks. The first killings were reported in May this year.