The Speaker of Parliament Anitah Among informed Parliament that she was misquoted regarding the alleged discriminatory comments aimed at the Buganda Kingdom.
She asserted that she would not issue an apology to the Buganda until documentary evidence is presented to Parliament that substantiates claims of her making such remarks during the contentious debate on the National Coffee Amendment Bill, 2024.
Her comments were made in response to concerns previously expressed by the Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi.
Ssenyonyi had requested that the Speaker withdraw from the deliberation on the National Coffee Bill due to a perceived conflict of interest, a request that Among rejected, stating that the rules concerning conflict of interest apply only to Members of Parliament and not to the Presiding Officer.
“We must note that Rule 94 on conflict of interest refers to a Member and not the Speaker or the Presiding Officer. By whatever name is called, a Member is defined under Rule 2 of the Rules of Procedure, as a Member of Parliament. A Speaker, on the other hand, is independently defined as the Speaker of Parliament and includes the Deputy Speaker. It is imperative to note that by command of Rule 77, the Speaker shall not be part of the debate, but may give guidance to the House, on the matter before the House. In the circumstance therefore, the cited Rule is therefore inapplicable. I am not conflicted in any way. He (Ssenyonyi) cited a wrong Rule, “I don’t vote and I don’t debate,” Among noted.
She added: “From the onset, I wish to state that I was quoted out of context. In any event, this House is a House of record, and being the custodian of the Rules of procedure and being the House of Record, and if anybody feels that I mentioned what the Leader of Opposition mentioned, I want to urge that Member, to bring documentary evidence and lay on table and once it is true that I said what he said, then, I will be able to apologize to this country and the persons who were affected. But before that is done, because it isn’t true, I will not do it,” she said.
The Speaker stressed that no amount of intimidation can move her.
“When we are debating in this House, let us debate with logic not politics. And I want to assure members, no amount of intimidation can ever move me from where I am. I will remain the n/smiling me and now that Trump has won, the sanctions are gone,” said Among
