Speaker rejects re-designation of Mapenduzi as PAC chairperson

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has declined the re-designation of Martin Ojara Mapenduzi by the Opposition, as chairperson of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee-PAC Local Government.

On Tuesday, Mathias Mpuuga, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament reshuffled some members of the Shadow Cabinet including the re-designation of Gilbert Olanya of Kilak South County to replace Mapenduzi.

On Wednesday during plenary, Among told MPs that she had received a letter from the Opposition Chief Whip, John Baptist Nambeshe re-designating Olanya as the next Chairperson of PAC Local Government to replace Mapenduzi, the Bardege-Layibi Division MP in Gulu City.

Among explained that currently, PAC-Local Government under Mapenduzi is yet to finalize a crucial report into their findings following the Auditor General’s report for FY 2020/2021. She declined the re-designation and directed a formal motion for the re-designation of Mapenduzi which shall then be subject to voting in the House.

Mpuuga disputed the Speaker’s directive arguing that different political parties through their whips have the discretion to re-designate their members in pursuance of the principles of multi-party dispensation in the country.

Section 196 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament state that a Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson of a Committee may be re-designated at any time of his or her tenure by the relevant whip, with the approval of the House.

Mapenduzi contested under the independent ticket for the Bardege-Layibi Division parliamentary sit in Gulu City after he denounced the Forum for Democratic Change-FDC party. He was appointed to the position on May 28th, 2021.

In February, Mapenduzi locked horns with the leadership of the National Unity Platform-NUP, the main opposition party in Parliament after he filed a motion to censure Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake for insulting the integrity of the Speaker.

When contacted, Mapenduzi welcomed the changes but said he has not yet received formal communication to that effect.

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