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{
    "id": 997191,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/997191/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 141,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Speaker",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "slots in committees in the Parliament of Uganda with respect to members elected through political parties is pegged on parties represented in Parliament without any thresholds being set. For Independent Members, the Standing Orders have assigned the responsibility to the Speaker in mandatory terms. A practice has also emerged where Independent Members elect one of them as the “Dean of Independents” who liaises with the Speaker in allocating seats to Independent Members. In terms of discharge from select committees, the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Uganda vest the power to discharge party-sponsored members in the sponsoring parties, provided that the Member so discharged is relocated to another committee. It is noteworthy that, just like those of the National Assembly of Kenya, the Standing Orders of the Parliament of Uganda are silent on the discharge procedure for Independent Members. It is also good to appreciate that there are lessons that this House may draw from the Parliament of Uganda, particularly on the matter of ensuring fairness and equity in access to slots in select committees for all Members, irrespective of them belonging to a parliamentary party, political party other than a parliamentary party or independently elected. Hon. Members, in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, the Members of a select committee, other than a chair elected by the House, are appointed by way of a Motion in the House. Motions in respect of most select committees are made on behalf of the Committee of Selection. The House of Commons has endorsed a principle that, in proposing nominations for select committee membership for the Committee of Selection or the Government to put to the House, parties should elect members of select committees in a secret ballot or whichever other transparent and democratic method they choose. On the other hand, in the House of Commons of Canada, it is the House, and the House alone, that appoints the members and associate members to its committees, as well as the members who will represent it on joint committees. The Speaker has ruled that this is a fundamental right of the House. The committees themselves have no powers at all in this regard. In the vast majority of cases, the House sets the number, or the maximum number, of Members of each committee. The number of members to be selected from each of the recognized parties is subject to negotiation among the parties at the beginning of each Parliament. The resulting agreement is not set down in the Standing Orders, but reflected in the composition of each committee, which generally reflects the proportions of the various parties represented in the House. In the National Assembly of Zambia, the mechanism for establishing select committees is anchored in Standing Order No.135. In a radical departure from the practice here and across jurisdictions, selection of members to select committees is domiciled in the Office of the Speaker. Standing Order 135 provides that: ‘(1) Unless otherwise directed by the Standing Orders Committee, the Speaker shall determine the number of, and nominate, the members to serve in a select committee.’ Hon. Members, let me be clear that I have no intention of moving this House to domicile nomination of Members to serve on select committees to the speakership. What I am deducing from the said provision and that of Parliament of Uganda is that the mechanism for selecting members to serve in select committees is designed in a manner to afford every Member a fair opportunity to discharge their constitutional roles through committees, just as they do in the plenary. I can only urge the House to embrace that spirit and propose a mechanism to actualize it. Hon. Members, turning to the question of appropriate remedy, there is need to review part of our Standing Orders relating to criteria for nomination to select committees and discharge of Members from committees. The review should not weaken the grip – and mark my words – that 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."
}