Announcements
REBECCA Alitwala Kadaga was on Thursday elected Speaker of the Ninth Parliament. Moses Mulondo sounded her out on her motivation for contesting for the office of Speaker as well as the innovations she intends to bring to the office of Speaker.
What triggered your interest in the seat of Speaker for Uganda’s parliament?
Well, I am a Ugandan and an elected Member of Parliament. I have served in different capacities. I thought I can handle some issues which I couldn’t handle in lesser capacities.
What are some of these issues you intend to handle?
I would like to set up a new system of management of parliament business; for instance creating a parliament calendar which should be followed to the letter. I hope this calendar will guide us on what do and when. We had just moved from the Movement system to the multiparty system. In the last five years, I have studied the prospects and think there are many areas which could be improved.
What are those areas you want to improve?
Since Parliament is an oversight body, I would like to make a great improvement on the issue of gender equality. I want to introduce the certificate of gender equity and compliance so that in every action, we take into account the impact on the different sections of our society. I also have in mind the idea of introducing gender equality both in the composition and leadership of the committees of parliament. I would want to ensure that at least 30% of the leadership of the parliament committees goes to women and to ensure that all the committees are represented by at least 30% women.
In doing this, we shall also take into account the young and people with disabilities. Other areas are those of internal management which I don’t want to go into now.
From what you have said above, you sound as if your biggest driving force into the position of speaker is to fight for the women’s cause. Is that so?
No. I am simply driven by the need to fight for a more just and representative society and gender that takes into account men, not just women.
Talking of your commitment in fighting for a just society, what will you do about the opposition concerns over injustices like violation of their political rights?
I am not aware of any rights of the opposition politicians that are violated in Parliament. What violations are you talking about?
Like the violation of their freedom of assembly, expression and unfair elections in which they are robbed of victory?
I don’t think ensuring a free and fair election is my area as the Speaker of Parliament. That is for the Electoral Commission. As for the freedom of assembly and expression, we shall handle each case as it comes to Parliament. I promise I will be a neutral Speaker for both the NRM and the opposition and the independents.
After you have served your country, what legacy do you want to leave behind?
I think for the people of Uganda, I want to leave a legacy of ensuring that Ugandans get the value for money from their public funds. I want to make a big contribution to a better life for the people of Uganda.
What are some of the bills that were presented in the Eighth Parliament which you want to immediately pass in the Ninth Parliament?
The Domestic Relations Bill and others which have taken so long.
But the church leaders from across the Christian denominations presented their joint statement rejecting the Domestic Relations Bill, saying it defies Christian values. Is it still relevant?
They rejected certain aspects of the Bill. An opportunity should be given to the representatives of the people to debate all those issues and take the final decision.
A Speaker in a multiparty parliament is supposed to be neutral. Since you are a senior leader of the ruling NRM party, how will you strike the balance to remain fair to the opposition?
I belonged to the NRM even before I became Deputy Speaker of Parliament. Have you ever heard anyone doubting my impartiality? Everybody knows very well that I am impartial. By the way, even members of the opposition have been campaigning for me and they got excited when I became the Speaker of Parliament.
As the Speaker of Parliament, you will be presiding over and guiding the country’s decision-making process. What will be your guiding principle in executing that noble responsibility?
Ultimately, the best interest of the Uganda population will be my guiding principle and I will do my best to ensure that all MPs uphold the interests of the nation as most paramount in everything they’ll be doing.
What would you regard to be the major weaknesses of the previous Eighth parliament?
I would like to call them challenges. We had just transited into a multiparty parliament. So, parliamentary practice and procedures were new to us. Parliament has been under the multiparty system for only five years. All of us have been grappling with the adjustment from the individual merit to a multiparty system. We still had a big number of independents and that shows you that right from the population to Parliament, we still have to work towards entrenching the multiparty system in the country.
What is your philosophy on life?
I am a lawyer and since my childhood I have always believed in a just and equitable society and that has not changed.
How long do you see yourself in the position of Speaker of Parliament?
The tenure in Parliament is five years. Why do you want me to speculate on the future? That is not necessary now.
We had heard of rumours that you had been offered the post of Prime Minister and you refused. Wouldn’t that have positioned you better for the highest office in the land? Offered by who?
By the appointing authority.
I don’t know about that.
What is your dream in politics?
I will let you know when the time comes.
The Speaker of Parliament is the third highest political office in Uganda and many people are optimistic that having reached there, Uganda’s women have a lot of hope that you will be the first woman president. What do you say about that?
Well, I think the Constitution of Uganda allows all the people of Uganda to aspire for whatever office they are qualified for.
Do you intend to offer yourself for the presidency? Why are moving so fast?
I have just been elected as Speaker of Parliament. We shall take one step at a time.
Why do you think despite the various anti-corruption institutions put in place and other efforts by government to fight corruption, the vice keeps escalating?
I don’t know whether I have a direct answer to that. But I think it is the result of the moral decay that has engulfed Ugandans because corruption is at all the levels of our society.
What do you think should be done about it?
I think if the corrupt were identified and dealt with as an example, the rest would understand that it is dangerous to be corrupt. Maybe that is what will create a difference.
What is it that makes it had to identify the corrupt?
It is because corruption involves more than one person and if the people who are part of the equation are not willing to expose their counterparts, it becomes very hard to identify the culprits.
How were you able to secure the confidence/trust of the opposition MPs in Parliament?
I have been freely working with all the MPs of different political inclinations even in the course of serving as the Deputy Speaker. I talk to the opposition MPs and even attend functions in their constituencies.
What do you consider to be Uganda’s major governance problem?
Perhaps it is lack of self-confidence among leaders and the other one is that many people lack a level of patriotism required to do the right thing for the country.
What do you think of Uganda’s opposition, especially so in view of their rejection of the outcome of the previous presidential election?
They participated in it and had agents. They did not go to court because they did not have reasons to win the case. I advise them to forget the 2011 presidential election which they lost and focus on that of 2016. Let them keep marketing their ideas as they plan for the next general elections.
We are told that sometime back you got born again. What is the difference between the old Kadaga and the born-again Kadaga?
No. I am not born again. I am just a good Christian and I have been so all my life.
How will you address the challenge of absenteeism and lack of quorum in the House?
The rules of procedure provide for what to do. I will try to meet the Members of Parliament probably in the conference hall to evaluate ourselves so that we determine to recommit ourselves to the national cause and I also hope the whips will work vigorously to ensure the presence of the members.
Your good working relationship with the opposition makes some NRM members afraid that you might disappoint them. What do you say on that?
Disappoint them regarding individual interests or national interests? I will not accept to sacrifice national interests for the sake of the individual interests of some NRM members. They should not expect my help in that area. I will not accept compromise from the NRM because I will be a Speaker for all.
The country observed with keen interest the way you aggressively launched your campaign for Speaker of Parliament, what would you have done if you had lost the race?
I would be a backbencher because I am also an elected Member of Parliament.
What new thing are you going to bring to the office of the Speaker of Parliament?
Aware that the Ninth Parliament will be the second multiparty parliament, I am looking at making a few reforms to foster a better management of the second multiparty parliament.
Do you have any special message for the nation?
I want to tell Ugandans that we need to focus on what is important for the common good of all of us as Ugandans and try to make this country better for all in everything that we shall be do.
What would you regard to be the major challenges of the ruling NRM party?
No. I am not here to evaluate my party. My role is to be a Speaker for Parliament and this is not a partisan role. What I can perhaps say is that like any other party, NRM still has challenges of growing and developing into a properly functioning party and this is because it is a young party of only five years old.
How were you able to secure the confidence/trust of the opposition MPs in Parliament?
I have been freely working with all the MPs of different political inclinations even in the course of serving as the Deputy Speaker. I talk to the opposition MPs and even attend functions in their constituencies.
What do you consider to be Uganda’s major governance problem?
Perhaps it is lack of self-confidence among leaders and the other one is that many people lack a level of patriotism required to do the right thing for the country.
What do you think of Uganda’s opposition, especially so in view of their rejection of the outcome of the previous presidential election?
They participated in it and had agents. They did not go to court because they did not have reasons to win the case. I advise them to forget the 2011 presidential election which they lost and focus on that of 2016. Let them keep marketing their ideas as they plan for the next general elections.
We are told that sometime back you got born again. What is the difference between the old Kadaga and the born-again Kadaga?
No. I am not born again. I am just a good Christian and I have been so all my life.
How will you address the challenge of absenteeism and lack of quorum in the House?
The rules of procedure provide for what to do. I will try to meet the Members of Parliament probably in the conference hall to evaluate ourselves so that we determine to recommit ourselves to the national cause and I also hope the whips will work vigorously to ensure the presence of the members.
Your good working relationship with the opposition makes some NRM members afraid that you might disappoint them. What do you say on that?
Disappoint them regarding individual interests or national interests? I will not accept to sacrifice national interests for the sake of the individual interests of some NRM members. They should not expect my help in that area. I will not accept compromise from the NRM because I will be a Speaker for all.
The country observed with keen interest the way you aggressively launched your campaign for Speaker of Parliament, what would you have done if you had lost the race?
I would be a backbencher because I am also an elected Member of Parliament.
What new thing are you going to bring to the office of the Speaker of Parliament?
Aware that the Ninth Parliament will be the second multiparty parliament, I am looking at making a few reforms to foster a better management of the second multiparty parliament.
Do you have any special message for the nation?
I want to tell Ugandans that we need to focus on what is important for the common good of all of us as Ugandans and try to make this country better for all in everything that we shall be do.
What would you regard to be the major challenges of the ruling NRM party?
No. I am not here to evaluate my party. My role is to be a Speaker for Parliament and this is not a partisan role. What I can perhaps say is that like any other party, NRM still has challenges of growing and developing into a properly functioning party and this is because it is a young party of only five years old.