KAMPALA —Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine and Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi are part of 100 lawmakers listed as perpetual absentees of Parliament meetings held between July 2017 and May 2018.
According to the list, there were 815 meetings split between Standing and Sectoral committees’ during the period under review.
However, most members shunned the meetings.
MPs who never attended any of the committee meetings include National Youth MP Sarah Babirye Kityo, Jie County MP, Moses Bilbad Adome, Workers MP Sam Lyomoki, Mukono Woman MP Peace Kusasira Mubiru, Kyamuswa County MP Caroline Birungi Nanyondo, Otuke County MP Julius Acon, Mr Magyezi, Tororo North MP Annet Nyaketcho, Dakabela County MP Cosmas Elotu, Lutseshe County Godfrey Watenga Nabutanyi, Kabarole Woman MP Sylvia Rwabwogo and Kibanda North MP Taban Amin.
The others are, Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu who missed the 39 meetings held by the Presidential Affairs Committee during the year, Apac Woman MP Betty Awor Engola, Omoro Woman MP Catherine Lamwaka, who missed all the 23 meetings of the Public Accounts Committee, Aruu County MP Samuel Odonga Otto, who missed all the 53 meetings of the Budget Committee, as well as Nakawa Division MP Michael Kabaziguruka and Kakumiro Woman MP, Robinah Nabbanja who skipped all the 16 meetings of the Rules Committee.
The rate of absenteeism was highest in the Committee on HIV/AIDS and Related Matters where at least eight members of the committee dodged all the ten meetings planned during the year. Other committees with a high absenteeism rate include Human Rights, Health, Public Accounts, Government Assurances and Rules, Discipline and Privileges
However, Ngora Woman MP Jacqueline Amongin, who attended nine out of 39 meetings of the Presidential Affairs Committee, attributed her poor attendance to her deployment to the South African based Pan African Parliament.
In his explanation, Dr Lyomoki said that he attended four of the 47 health committee meetings and none of those for the HIV/AIDS committee because he only attends meetings where he can make valuable contributions.
