KAMPALA – The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has quelled criticism over the large fleet the institution acquired during the recently concluded 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) saying the cars will be used by other government agencies.
The Speaker made the remarks during today’s live tweet chat organised to give clarifications for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).
Asked if the vehicles bought are part of the Parliament fleet and how big the Parliament fleet has been and what the required number of vehicles for the institution to operate effectively is, Kadaga said, “I cannot tell you the number of vehicles bought because I am yet to receive an official report from the Clerk Jane Kibirige and she will be coming to report to the Commission about what was procured. But I’m happy to say that the cars will become part of not only the Parliament Fleet but it is part of the national stock of official motor vehicles which can be used for different activities.”
The Speaker provided an over view of the CPC recommendations and those that are key for Uganda arguing that there were about 12 meetings that happened simultaneously and promised that a detailed report would be issued noting that in the Group Executive Committee, a number of decisions including reinstating the primacy of the General Assembly as a top decision-making organ of the CPA were made.
Kadaga revealed that the Secretary General of the CPA was sent on forced leave until the end of the year when his contract ends, “We saw that for him not to attend the highest body was something unacceptable, so we sent him on leave.”
She said that the CPA would continue to pursue the need for change of status of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association from a charity organisation to an International organisation.
“This is because as member countries we contribute money to the CPA coffers but the structure of the association is that it is registered in the United Kingdom and in the event of a dissolution, whatever has been saved will go to the charity of the United Kingdom, it cannot come to Uganda, go to Nigeria, Canada, or Scotland and we have to work hard to ensure that this is settled,” she said.
