KAMPALA – The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has warned Legislators against heckling President Yoweri Museveni ahead of tomorrow’s state of Nation address that is to be held at Kampala Serena Hotel, saying when the freedom of speech borders disrespect, it ceases to be freedom but undermining the decorum expected of MPs.
Kadaga made the remarks while proroguing Parliament, marking the end of the third Session of the 10th Parliament as required by Article 95 (3) of the Constitution that provides that the Speaker may, after consultation with the President, prorogue Parliament by proclamation.
She said: “I know there is freedom of expression but if it borders to the disrespect we will be belittling the House.
Actually, my colleagues, the Speakers in the region were shocked that the President is heckled, the fighting can be within ourselves here but that is the occasion the Parliament and the President are accounting to the country, so I want to remind you about that so that we have a good function.”
While addressing the last sitting, Kadaga announced that Parliament had exceeded the record of legislation compared to other countries in the region and promised to give details of their legislative duty during tomorrow’s address.
The Speaker also asked the MPs to keep a timer and not try to make their way after the President has arrived saying;
“In the last State of the Nation address, I was quite embarrassed that when members arrived at the function after the head of state had arrived. We have been talking about decorum so please keep time and give his Excellency the due respect and courtesy he deserves as expected. I know sometimes people want to show what they are in public, we had a little bit of indiscipline, heckling the President at last state of the nation.”
