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{
    "id": 821012,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/821012/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 450,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Funyula, ODM",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Dr.) Wilberforce Oundo",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13331,
        "legal_name": "Wilberforce Ojiambo Oundo",
        "slug": "wilberforce-ojiambo-oundo-2"
    },
    "content": " Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, the Leader of the Majority Party does not have the benefit of my opening remarks. He got me in between. He might not have understood what I said initially and what other colleagues have talked before we reached here. We have said we are representatives of the people. I am a representative of Funyula. The various amendments touch on the lives and daily activities of the people of Funyula. You cannot interrogate the 59 Acts being amended here. It is not practically possible to interrogate 59 Acts in less than 10 minutes. Nevertheless, I will try my best to pick a few here and there so that I can make reasonable comments. However, we still urge that in future, please, give us an omnibus amendment that allows us to interrogate within the 10 minutes we have been given. Quite a number of the Acts of Parliament being amended through this miscellaneous amendment Bill generally are so fundamental that they alter the structure of the particular Acts. I want to give an example of the Higher Education Loans Board Act. It changes the composition of the board and qualifications of the executive officer. I do not think that is a miscellaneous or minor amendment. Fundamentally, the requirements limiting the term for a Vice Chancellor of a university to only one term of five years, again, is a fundamental change that requires to be considered. Generally other positions in various government agencies have an option of renewal for a further term. Limiting to only one term is specifically unfair. On the Industrial Property Act of 2001, the amendments being done are just so many. Thirty-five sections are being amended yet you want to call those miscellaneous amendments. I beg to differ. When you look at the Anti-Counterfeit Act, the intention is clear. In view of the very many counterfeit and contraband goods in the market, changing it from an agency to an authority is most welcome. It is long overdue. It is hoped it will give them enough power to rein in cases of contraband and related counterfeit goods and services in the country. However, expanding the mandate of the Anti-Counterfeit Authority for its inspectors to have the same powers as those donated by officers under the East African Community Customs Management Act 2015 – that is an amendment to Section 32 – generally makes it difficult to believe that these are minor amendments. There are other amendments that require serious discussions. I am not so sure whether we have it right. The Registration of Persons Act Cap 107 makes interesting amendments. I think a colleague has raised the same. For example, there is a provision that you can identify somebody by the physical forms that one can see and touch. I find it very hilarious. How many more will you touch to identify the physical form? It is against some cultures and traditional religions to touch someone who does not belong to you, so I do not know how you will touch. One of the 10 Commandments is explicitly clear - thou shall not covet. Imagining that you can see and touch sounds and looks hilarious and I find it very interesting. I thought some of those provisions should have been subjected to some serious interrogation in view of our culture, religion and general practice. On the same Registration of Persons Act, I completely agree that the time is nigh for us to have an integrated registration system. I have different numbers for my ID, NHIF, (NSSF) and The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}