Latest news with #AnitaAmong
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Parliaments Take Centre Stage in Africa's Peace and Security Agenda
As Africa contends with escalating insecurity, unconstitutional transitions, and protracted conflicts, parliamentary leaders are increasingly stepping into central roles in peace building and conflict resolution across the continent. The upcoming Extraordinary General Assembly of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL), scheduled for 19 to 20 July in Kampala, is expected to consolidate these efforts by providing a platform for Speakers to advance legislative-led responses to Africa's security challenges. Speaking during a special pre-conference briefing held on Thursday, 03 July 2025, at the Parliament of Uganda for diplomats of African countries accredited to Uganda, Hon. Geofrey Ekanya, the Member of Parliament for Tororo North County, delivered a statement on behalf of the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among. He described the conference as 'a crucial opportunity for African legislative leaders to come together and seek solutions to the myriad challenges affecting peace and security on the continent.' The summit builds on recent initiatives by the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR), including a fact-finding mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) led by Speakers from member states. Speaker Among and her Zambian counterpart, Rt Hon. Nelly Mutti, were part of the DRC mission. 'To further enrich their understanding of the conflict,' Among said, 'the team met H.E. the President of the Republic of Uganda, who shared with them the historical perspective of the conflict and possible opportunities to find a lasting solution.' The Speaker added that President Yoweri Museveni also offered insights into the causes of conflict in other African countries and ways these might be resolved. The findings from that mission were later adopted during the 15th Plenary Assembly of FP-ICGLR in Angola in April 2025. 'In the final communiqué of this Assembly under Resolution Number 15, it was agreed to request the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures to convene an extraordinary meeting to consider the proposals by FP-ICGLR to address matters of peace and security on DRC and the African continent at large,' Speaker Among said. The Government of Uganda accepted the request to host the event, which will take place at the Munonyo Commonwealth Resort, Kampala. 'This extraordinary conference provides a unique opportunity for Speakers and Presidents of African legislatures to convene, collaborate, and commit to actionable strategies for fostering peace and security on the continent,' she added. The conference will aim to deepen understanding of contemporary security threats such as terrorism, electoral violence, unconstitutional transitions, and organised crime. It will also focus on strengthening legislative oversight, promoting parliamentary diplomacy, sharing best practices, and fostering inter-parliamentary cooperation. 'The theme is intended to bring African legislatures at the centre of conflict resolution because of their representative role,' Among noted. Expected outcomes include a resolution calling for ceasefires in conflict-affected countries, support for regional peace efforts led by bodies like the African Union; ECOWAS; EAC; SADC; ICGLR; IGAD; and the Arab Maghreb Union and the establishment of a permanent African Speakers Centre on Peace and Security to be hosted in Uganda. 'The centre will serve as a permanent body for coordinating Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures' efforts across Africa in promoting peace, conflict resolution, and legislative actions,' she said. The Government of Uganda has committed to providing all necessary logistical support, including VIP immigration clearance, airport transfers, and security for delegates. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Zawya
13-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Uganda: Speaker cautions accounting officers on public resources
The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has called on accounting officers to ensure the prudent, efficient, and effective use of public resources in accordance the Public Finance Management Act, 2015. Speaker Among was speaking in Kololo where Parliament met to receive the national budget for the financial year 2025/2026 on Thursday, 12 June 2025. Among used the occasion to raise critical issues that emerged during Parliament's budget scrutiny process and reaffirmed the House's bipartisan commitment to national development. 'Much as politics and contestation go hand in hand, when it comes to matters of national development, this Parliament puts Uganda first regardless of political affiliation,' she said. She emphasized several priority areas that require immediate attention such as strengthening oversight and implementation of wealth creation initiatives such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Youth Livelihood Fund, Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP), and Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE). She also highlighted that enforcing implementation of high-impact projects under the fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) to achieve the country's strategic goals and enhancing budget discipline by compelling Accounting Officers to adhere strictly to approved budgets and work plans is crucial for Uganda's progress. She established that there is a need to reduce supplementary budget requests by adhering to requirements of the Public Finance Management Act, which limits them to unavoidable, unforeseeable, and absorbable expenditures Among further noted that the FY2025/2026 budget was passed by Parliament on 15th May 2025, in compliance with Section 14 of the Public Finance Management Act and Parliament's Rules of Procedure. She highlighted key milestones achieved in the budget process, including: · Approval of the National Budget Framework Paper (2025/2026 –2029/2030) on 30th January 2025. · Consideration of Ministerial Policy Statements between 9th and 16th April 2025. · Passage of seven revenue-related bills on 13th and 14th May 2025 to facilitate budget financing. She praised Parliament's efficiency, attributing it to cooperation among the Legislature, Executive, Judiciary, and civil society. 'Together, we met all legal and constitutional timelines and adequately scrutinized the budget,' she said. She urged continued civic engagement during the implementation and accountability phases, stressing the importance of public participation as a pillar of democracy and good governance. In a separate communication, the Speaker confirmed and named nine legislators who had switched from their original party. 'We wish these Members well as they exercise their right to freedom of association, as enshrined in article 29 of the constitution,' she said. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Zawya
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Uganda: 11th Parliament Begins Final Session with Spotlight on Legislative Legacy
The 11th Parliament on Thursday, 05 June, 2025 entered its final session, with Speaker Anita Among declaring the House a 'people-centred legislature' that will leave an indelible mark on the country's governance and development landscape. Speaking during the opening of the fifth session held at Kololo ceremonial grounds, Speaker Among delivered a message of resolve and pride, highlighting an ambitious legislative record and the Parliament's expanding role in national affairs. She said that Parliament will continue to prioritise the agenda of the Executive. 'Today marks the beginning of the final year of the 11th Parliament. I will state without any fear of contradiction that this Parliament has been the epitome of the people-cantered legislature,' she said. AUDIO: Speaker Anita Among In the past year alone, Parliament held 75 plenary sittings, passed 35 bills, concluded three petitions, adopted 53 reports, and passed 45 resolutions. Among described the output as 'outstanding,' noting its responsiveness, efficiency, and legislative weight. Among the bills passed were major reforms touching nearly every sector education, agriculture, infrastructure, labour, and tax policy. The Appropriation Bills 2024 and 2025, the Higher Education Students Financing (Amendment) Bill, and the Uganda People's Defence Forces (Amendment) Bill were singled out for their strategic national importance. 'These laws are intended to foster private sector growth, rationalise pension management and improve service delivery,' she said. Among also noted a symbolic moment of the 11th Parliament's term as being its historic regional sitting in Gulu City which she described as a landmark in civic engagement. 'During the fourth session, the Parliament of Uganda held its first ever regional sitting at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu City… We take this opportunity to thank you for gracing the opening of that historic sitting,' she said. The session addressed issues specific to Northern Uganda and involved direct community engagement, signalling a potential new model for inclusive governance. Among acknowledged turbulence along the way including the deaths of two sitting MPs, Hon. Sarah Mateke and Hon. Muhammad Ssegirinya. Speaker Among also announced that at least eight MPs had crossed party lines in recent months, most notably from the opposition National Unity Platform and Forum for Democratic Change to either the ruling National Resistance Movement or the newly formed Democratic Front. 'We wish the members well in the exercise of their freedom of association as prescribed in Article 29 of the Constitution of Uganda, which we so do uphold,' she noted, hinting at the pre-election realignments beginning to shape the political landscape. As Uganda prepares for general elections in 2026, the Speaker closed with a commitment to national transformation. 'We undertake that the fifth session will remain steadfast in effectively executing its mandate in furtherance to the national Vision 2040 that aims in transforming Uganda into a modern and prosperous nation within 30 years,' she said. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Zawya
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
President Launches Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) to Drive Uganda's Economic Transformation
President Yoweri Museveni has officially launched the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), a bold and strategic blueprint aimed at addressing Uganda's most pressing development challenges and propelling the country toward socio-economic transformation. The unveiling took place Kololo Ceremonial Grounds before he delivered the address on the State of the Nation on Thursday, 5 June 2025. In her remarks, Speaker Anita Among, described the plan approved by Parliament on January 9, 2025 as a national blueprint for transformation and sustainable development and a precursor to the National Budget Speech, scheduled to be delivered on June 12, 2025. 'I acknowledge the contributions of all stakeholders involved in the formulation of this plan,' Among said adding that 'I request that before you begin your address to Parliament and to the nation, you symbolically unveil NDP IV as the foundation for the upcoming budget speech.' In his address, President Museveni credited the NRM's leadership with laying the ideological and institutional foundations necessary for Uganda's modern development. These, he said, are anchored in four key principles: patriotism, Pan-Africanism, socio-economic transformation, and democracy. 'This ideology promotes the mass line—ensuring social uplift for all, not just a privileged elite,' the President said. 'Policies such as Universal Primary and Secondary Education, mass immunization campaigns, and wealth creation programmes like Operation Wealth Creation, the Parish Development Model, and Emyooga have significantly improved the quality of life in Uganda,' he added. Museveni further cited Uganda's rising life expectancy, now at 63 years compared to 45 in 1986 when the NRM assumed power. He also noted that the population has grown from 14 million in 1986 to 46 million today, according to the 2024 National Housing and Population Census—evidence, he said, that Ugandans are now living longer, healthier lives. The President further highlighted improvements in the literacy rate, which has increased from 43 percent in 1986 to 80 percent today. He also pointed out a dramatic shift in the economy where the percentage of Ugandans engaged in subsistence farming has dropped from 90 percent in 1986 to the current 33 percent. 'This transformation illustrates that mass line programmes are the most effective path to socio-economic change,' he said. In line with this philosophy, the President outlined priority areas for NDP IV: ensuring peace and security across the country; accelerating industrialization by establishing factories that use locally available raw materials; promoting exports and import substitution; strengthening the private sector; increasing market access; and skilling young people through industrial vocational hubs. Spanning the period from financial year 2025/2026 to financial year 2029/2030, NDP IV lays the foundation for inclusive growth and sustained wealth creation. The plan emphasizes sustainable industrialization, full economic monetization, and robust private sector growth. The NDP IV aims to achieve an increase in GDP growth rate by by financial year 2029/2030 and an increase in average monthly nominal household income. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Uganda: Private Member presents Bill to Regulate Political Party Funding
Parliament has begun scrutinizing the Political Parties and Organizations (Amendment) Bill, 2025, following its introduction by Napak District Woman MP Hon. Faith Nakut during a plenary sitting chaired by Speaker Anita Among on Wednesday, 14, May 2025. Hon. Nakut had, on Tuesday, 13 May 2025 , moved a motion under Rules 127 and 128 of the Rules of Procedure seeking leave to introduce the Private Member's Bill, which seeks to amend the Political Parties and Organizations Act, Cap. 178. The proposed legislation aims to formalize two organs within the National Consultative Forum: the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue (IPOD) and a Forum for Non-Represented Political Parties and Organizations. It also seeks to define IPOD's functions and streamline the criteria for public funding of political parties and organizations. Currently, the Act provides government funding to political parties represented in Parliament under Section 14. However, Nakut argued that the law does not require these parties to uphold democratic values such as tolerance, dialogue, and peaceful co-existence as conditions for accessing public resources. 'To strengthen the National Consultative Forum, we must establish organs that reflect the interests of both represented and non-represented political parties,' she stated. 'Promoting transparency, accountability, and equitable access to public funding requires that parties adhere to democratic principles before receiving public resources,' she said. According to the Bill's objective, the amendment would restrict government funding and access to other public resources to only those political parties and organizations that are members of the National Consultative Forum. The Bill prescribes functions of IPOD as: Promoting inter-party dialogue to strengthen democratic governance, Facilitating communication among political parties represented in Parliament, Advising government on policy matters and fostering a democratic environment, and; Providing a neutral platform for engagement among parties of differing ideologies. The Bill proposes that only political parties and organizations that choose to join IPOD be eligible for government funding and public resources. Speaker Among referred the Bill to the Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for further scrutiny. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
