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{
    "id": 1283975,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1283975/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 377,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Sen. Mumma",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "member and Member. Those are serious allegations and where such allegations have been made on sexual misconduct, they have to be taken seriously by the House. If it is found that the allegations are made in the air and for publicity, it is then important that we discourage such behaviour. World over, allegations of sexual harassment have brought down very powerful people. They are not tolerated anywhere. It is therefore imperative that when anyone comes up with allegations that so-and-so sexually harassed me, they must be able for the sake of the rights of whoever they are accusing, to substantiate whatever they are saying. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Report shows that allegations were made and those allegations were not substantiated. These allegations were not made at the back but in a forum where we all are. If you are fair human beings or judges, you know exactly what those allegations were. Unfortunately, the person who was being accused is a member of staff and we stand in power over that member of staff. They were therefore unable to respond to this anywhere or to anything at all. If this happened in the Executive, I am sure there would be defamation lawsuits in our courts that might yield a lot of damages. As we debate in this House, let us not trivialize this matter and let us remember that what we are doing now is the only recourse that members of staff have against allegations made against them. Are we condoning sexual harassment? No. if anyone engages in sexual harassment and we find them culpable, the House must deal with that issue. That is why when the matter went on and on, we suggested that the Committee on Powers and Privileges sits and calls the Senator involved to bring the evidence. The Report shows she was not able to do that. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I come from the women’s’ movement and as women, we are watching closely. I may have been the first person to say that if there were any allegations by the Senator on sexual harassment, they must be dealt with. A check through the WhatsApp should show that I insisted the matter be investigated. Out there, we have hundreds of girls and women who get harassed but are not able to access justice. Therefore, when women leaders weaponised gender, they actually harm the women’s movement. I will say this clearly knowing that the public is watching; we will defend all cases of sexual harassment but we will not allow gender to be weaponized in order to hurt the movement for women because we know that many women are hurting out there. Sexual harassment is not about a man against a woman. It can go either way. Those involved are human beings with rights. Mr. Nyegenye has a wife, a daughter and a son. I dare all of you to tell us how you would look if your daughter was told that you have harassed someone sexually!"
}