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{
    "id": 1055249,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1055249/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 32,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kipipiri, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Amos Kimunya",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 174,
        "legal_name": "Amos Muhinga Kimunya",
        "slug": "amos-kimunya"
    },
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I beg to move the following Motion: THAT, pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 28(4), this House resolves to alter its Calendar (2021- Regular Sessions) by varying the period of the short recess with respect to the first part of the session, so that; (a) the short recess commences on Friday, 12th March 2021 and ends on Monday, 22nd March 2021; and, (b) the House resumes on Tuesday, 23rd March 2021 to continue with the First Part of the Session. Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, we discussed this matter in the House Business Committee (HBC) based on the business we anticipate the House to undertake between now and the end of the month. This is mainly on the very important matter of the constitutional amendment that is sponsored by the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and which is currently receiving public participation. Our joint Committee of Justice and Legal Affairs in both the Senate and the National Assembly is engaged in that exercise. As a Parliament, we made the decision that the matter should be processed simultaneously in the two Houses. It is important that we then synchronise the tabling and the discussion of that debate in the two Houses. Currently, the Senate is in recess and comes back on 23rd March. We were scheduled to go on recess next week and come back on 5th April. So, if we were to follow the two divergent calendars, it would mean that on 23rd March, the Senate would be considering the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill, while the National Assembly would not have the opportunity until 5th April to consider the same. We do not want to feel that the National Assembly is considering a matter after the Senate. It has to be simultaneous. So, when we discussed the matter, we thought it would be easier we plead with Members to take the recess one week earlier, forego one week which we will know how to compensate with another week at some point as we alter the calendar in future. But we should synchronise that, so that on Tuesday, 23rd March within that week, as the debate begins in the Senate, it also begins in this House. It is important so that this House is not seen to be playing second fiddle to the Senate. So, we basically are driven by that need to ensure that the debate can move on simultaneously and the two Houses can finish the matter together. That will mean that our break is shortened a bit and brought forward. Fortunately, looking at the tensions that have come as a result of the by-elections, we also looked at the need for Members to have an earlier break so that we bring down the temperatures as we embark on this new exercise so that we do not continue in such situations. So, we will have an early break and an early come back. The most important thing is to ensure that we will prioritise what we need to do within the Division of Revenue Bill which we can finish and give to the Senate. When we come back, we process it and finish with it because we will need to finalise that before we can go on to the Printed Estimates. The most important thing is that it would look very odd and unfair to the Members of the National Assembly to be seen to be debating a matter that is supposed to be simultaneous in both Houses after one House has already concluded. I believe we owe the membership of this House that protection to ensure that our status will never be put to test by being made subservient to another House. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}