Macho taunts NUP MPs over EALA games attendance

In mid-November, a prominent Opposition MP with close ties to Speaker Anita Annet Among confided in me that Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu alias Bobi Wine the National Unity Platform (NUP) President, or ‘Principal’ as his followers often call him, had issued unofficial instructions discouraging lawmakers from attending The East African Legislative Assembly’s (EALA) Inter-Parliamentary Games scheduled for December 6 in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa.

The stocky lawmaker, speaking on his way to his office at Queen's Chambers, suggested he was eager to see whether Opposition MPs, who had previously boycotted the three-day regional sitting in Gulu back in late August, would comply with their leader’s directive or choose to futa nyayo (follow in the footsteps) as the Swahili would say. 

"Who doesn’t want those allowances, especially when everyone’s pockets are running dry?" he mused.

For inland oversight visits, MPs earn a per diem of sh400,000 per day, with trips typically spanning 3–5 days. Foreign trips are far more lucrative, offering $720 (approximately sh2.68 million) per MP per day and $400 (around sh1.5 million) per staff member per day, not to mention the additional costs of air tickets.

To political observers, boycotting the EAC Games would signal a heightened seriousness in opposition politics, but sceptics questioned its applicability. After all, even if some MPs chose not to travel, others including connected strangers, were more than willing to step in.

On December 4, as the Ugandan delegation was being flagged off, a former minister, who is a member of parliament (MP) from Eastern Uganda, lamented to us how he had been excluded from the team despite rigorous training. Instead, five enthusiastic vuvuzela blowers, none of whom were parliamentary staff, had been granted free rein to join the entourage.

Macho stings NUP

To many lawmakers, this was a contradiction they hoped would remain buried. However, during the plenary on Thursday, December 19, Geoffrey Macho (Busia Municipality, Indep) delivered a cynical jab that stung the opposition.

“I want to appreciate the parliamentary sports team that went to Mombasa of Gulu whereby my sister and good friend Gorett Namugga (Mawogola south, NUP), was one of the best players. In fact, I appreciate the LOP (Joel Ssenyonyi) for having allowed your people to go to Gulu to play in all the sports,” said Macho.

However, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, sensing a mix-up, clarified that the games were being held in Mombasa.

Responding, Macho quipped that the choice was deliberate, claiming Mombasa seemed closer and far more convenient for the opposition to travel to than Gulu.

Populist stunts

However, Opposition chief whip John Baptist Nambeshe (Manjiya county) who was representing Ssenyonyi accused Macho of playing to the gallery.

“Other than my good friend honourable Macho vulgarising these wonderful sports, it’s not merely about competition. It is about fostering unity, deepening and widening the integration and also nurturing talent,” Nambeshe roared.

Sports mood disrupts business

With the games underway, parliamentarians found themselves swept up in a sports euphoria. More so, the adjournment of the House sine die severely disrupted committee business, particularly in maintaining quorum.

Many of those who remained saw this lull as a window to visit their constituencies and forgot about their parliamentary work. Something, Tororo Woman MP warns that if unaddressed, could potentially bring the August House to a grinding halt.

“This is the fourteenth East Africa Legislative Assembly games and when games have been going on, parliament has been sitting. Because not all MPs actually participate. The majority of us remained here, over 300 MPs," Opendi stated.

"I am just requesting that as we move to the fifteenth EALA games, even when the games are going on, let business continue. Because we have issues, motions and we are going into elections. By next year April, you may not see members here. We have a lot of pending motions before you (Thomas Tayebwa) on your desk not yet handled,” she added.

Motion to downsize House

One of the pending issues that continues to infuriate Naome Kabasharira (Rushenyi county, Indep) is downsizing parliament to 200 members.

“Last year, I brought a motion to your office and you willingly received it. I was given a letter from your office that it was sent to the Attorney General (Kiryowa Kiwanuka) to guide because I was given a copy. We are closing Parliament today, the motion was to downsize this parliament. The procedure I am asking is how long does attorney general take to reply to such a small thing and it is the only one we can rely on?” Kabasharira ranted.

“It is now a year, downsizing, by the way, it will not be you people. It will be those who will be coming, so you will not be affected. But we need to downsize, we are too many for the country,” Kabasharira fumed.

However, during the sitting, Tayebwa engaged AG Fast forward, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa promised to liaise with AG Kiryowa Kiwanuka to this end.

“For clarification, we are not closing parliament. Parliament will remain open, we shall only adjourn. Number two, I will consult with the Attorney General and will ensure that he talks to you,” he assured.