Nabbanja questions opposition’s absence in Parliament

KAMPALA - For some time now, ministers and members of the front bench have faced mounting criticism from Opposition lawmakers and presiding officers for their habitual absenteeism during plenary sessions.

A case in point being on July 12, 2023, when Speaker Anita Annet Among vowed to clip the pay of Members of Parliament (MPs), particularly ministers, who persistently abscond from House duties.

“Yesterday, I saw the momentum had gained and I am very happy when I was entering, the sergeant at arms was saying that you know what you were talking about, of payment deduction stopped in the 7th Parliament, but we can still resume it. So, members must know that they have to attend the House, short of that, we will make a decision as the business committee on what should be done,” Among stated then.

“Let us not waste taxpayers’ money, we are here and we only have one Minister. The Minister is welcome with the shadow minister. Honourable members, this is a very serious and I wonder why we would come at 2:00pm and other people come at 4:00pm. I thought 2:00pm was 2:00pm. We agreed to work for the people, that this is a people centered parliament,” she added.

According to Section 50 of the Rules of Procedure, ministers are obligated to attend parliamentary sessions to respond to questions and address issues under their docket. Section 50(4) further stipulates that failure by a minister to respond to a listed question without the Speaker’s leave constitutes disorderly conduct.

Speaker Anita Annet Among

PM aims dig at Opposition

In a twist of irony, during plenary on Thursday, July 31, 2025, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja attempted to turn the tables, asking where the Opposition’s front bench members were.

Even when she was aware that many of the Opposition’s firebrands hailing from the central region were at Kibuli Mosque for Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi’s 32nd coronation anniversary celebrations.

“My procedural matter is that today, the front bench of the Opposition is empty. Is it procedurally okay, Rt. Hon. Speaker for us to move when the front bench is not here?” Nabbanja moved. 

Only to be stopped in her tracks by Speaker Anita Annet Among.

“The front bench has only one minister that is the Opposition chief whip (John Baptist Nambeshe), we have the chairperson of COSASE, the able chairperson of Government chairperson of Government's assurances committee. For now, since they asked for permission to be away, they have gone to celebrate the Kabaka's coronation, we can continue without them," Among argued.