Latest news with #AnitaAmong
Zawya
5 days ago
- 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
5 days ago
- 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.
Zawya
17-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Africa losing US$88 billion in illicit financial flows
Speaker Anita Among has called for a fight against illicit financial flows that see Africa lose an estimated US$88 billion annually. The Speaker made this call while presiding at the African Organisation of Public Accounts Committee (AFROPAC) Conference and Fifth Annual General Meeting at Golden Tulip Hotel, Kampala on Monday, 17 March 2025. 'The impact of this loss has and continues to be felt by our citizenry through foregone health facilities and services, schools, roads, rural electrification and development of natural resources,' Among said. The meeting that will run until Friday, 21 March 2025 is being held under the theme, 'Strengthening Legislative Action to Combat Illicit Financial Flows and Foster Public Financial Resilience'. She commended public accounts committees (PACs) for their contribution towards addressing economic and fiscal mismanagement but called for transparency, good governance and strong institutions, saying these will promote accountability in Africa. Speaker Among added that the Association of African Parliament Speakers will advocate for increased funding to AFROPAC. 'We will take it up and we will support AFROPAC to grow so that we are able to save the money we have as Africa,' she said. AFROPAC's Chairperson who is also the Chairperson, PAC (Central Government) of Parliament of Uganda, Hon. Medard Sseggona underscored the importance of forming collaborations in the fight against illicit financial flows. He commended the African Union, South African Development Community Organisation of PAC (SADCOPAC), West African Association of Public Accounts Committees and East African Association of Public Accounts Committees for their support. 'By collaborating, we can create a united front against those who aim to illegally drain Africa's common wealth and resources. We want to thank the incoming partner, the Global Fund for accepting to work with AFROPAC,' he said. He said that AFROPAC is dedicated to promoting regional and continental cooperation to establish harmonised policies and take joint action. He also urged African parliaments to take bold action against illicit financial flows, calling on governments to increase funding to AFROPAC. 'By the time we conclude this conference, we should have actionable resolutions that will strengthen and enhance public financial oversight and equip our countries with tools needed to effectively combat illicit financial flows,' said Sseggona. The Secretary General of AFROPAC, Hon. Mark Botomani said that ensuring that PAC recommendations are implemented by governments remains a challenge in promoting accountability in Africa. 'The fight against illicit financial flows includes ensuring that public resources are harnessed to sustainable development, economic growth and wellbeing of the citizenry,' Botomani added. AFROPAC, established in 2013, is a Pan-African network of parliamentary oversight committees aiming to promote good governance, accountability, and transparency in public resource management and government operations across the African continent. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Zawya
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Improved school infrastructure key for new curriculum
Government is urged to invest in Information Communication Technology (ICT) and science laboratories to improve student output and performance under the new lower secondary school curriculum. While responding to a statement by the Minister for Education and Sports on the new grading system for the new curriculum, the Shadow Minister for Education and Sports, Hon. Joseph Ssewungu said that lack of ICT infrastructure constrained the ability of schools to timely submit credit assessment scores to UNEB. Ssewungu presented his statement to the House chaired by Speaker Anita Among on Wednesday, 26 February 2025. Ssewungu alluded to a statement from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) Director which indicated the challenges of shortages of school laboratories. 'The new curriculum, being skills-based, requires that science labaratories and workshops are well-equipped to give the learners enough chance to create new knowledge through self-learning. Unfortunately, many rural and private schools lack these and are also short of science teachers,' Ssewungu said. He added that the new curriculum's emphasis on practical application raised questions about the relevance of theoretical subjects like history, C.R.E and geography to real-life problem-solving. Ssewungu urged UNEB to improve on supervision of the assessment of the 20 per cent awarded to learners, noting that project work is not supervised, which raises questions about the credibility of the results. Ssewungu urged government to prioritise teacher training and recruitment especially in languages like Kiswahili. Hon. Robert Migadde (NRM, Buvuma Islands County) said schools in villages did not compete favourably in the first assessment under the new curriculum in 2024, citing lack of access to key facilities to support project work. 'Seed schools lack computer labaratories and many of them to do not have access to stable electricity, yet these are examinable courses,' said Migadde. Speaker Anita Among, emphasised the need to improve necessary infrastructure in schools to enable project-work assignments under the new lower secondary school curriculum. 'Most of these problems are in government-aided schools. The issue of infrastructure is very crucial. It may not be under ICT or laboratories alone, but the ministry must also consider libraries,' Among said. The Speaker tasked the Minister for Finance to provide funding for extension of electricity across the country. 'What would it cost us if we handled the Rural Electricity Authority (REA) projects that were not completed, in a similar manner like we handled roads, by giving each district Shs1 billion to finalise the electricity projects? This should be in the corrigenda for the coming budget,' Among said. The State Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi promised to provide feedback when he presents a report on the implementation of the National Development Plan IV within the proposed budget. Hon. Emmanuel Ongiertho (FDC, Jonathan County) made a proposal that topics on project work done by students should be based on day-to-day skills training, adding that the new curriculum should have been initiated from primary level, to enable students acclimatise easily. Katikamu County South MP, Hon. Hassan Kirumira urged the Ministry of Education to sensitise parents on the new lower secondary school curriculum. 'Our parents are more inclined to knowing marks and how their children have performed after school which drives them away from the whole point of the new curriculum that is based on learner assessment,' said Kirumira. Nwoya East County MP, Hon. Geofrey Okello observed that many teachers are not conversant with the curriculum's competence based model of teaching. 'There were regional trainings for trainers of teachers however, they were never facilitated to extend the knowledge. Many teachers are not knowledgeable about what is being examined,' Okello said. Luuka District Woman Representative, Hon. Esther Mbayo urged the Ministry of Finance to expedite the process of releasing money to facilitate the training of teachers under the new curriculum. 'A new term has started and we have many teachers who are not well versed with the new curriculum. Making the funds for training available will enable the trainers of teachers to help those supposed to implement the curriculum, to do their work well,' Mbayo said. Hon. Stella Atyang noted that students have lost confidence in their teachers, and she stressed the need for adequate training in giving lessons under the new curriculum. 'Learners have expressed that teachers do not know what they are translating to them. Students are asked to buy textbooks but teachers are teaching and explaining different things from those expected in the curriculum,' Atyang said. The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi tasked the Ministry of Education and Sports to give continuous updates to Parliament on the progress of the new lower secondary school curriculum, and implementation of the proposed new A-Level curriculum. The State Minister for Primary Education, Hon. Joyce Moriku appreciated proposals made by MPs adding that the reviewed curriculum produce a competitive generation Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
