Radio One FM 90 Spectrum Talk show held on Thursday
Ex-Presidential Press Secretary and Former Member of parliament Amuria County Onapito Ekomoloit, Buliisa county MP Birahwa Mukitale and Bufumbira East MP Eddie Kwizera have called for a constitutional review stopping Members of parliament from becoming ministers. The three guests who appeared on the Spectrum Talk show on Radio one FM 90 on Thursday evening hosted by Edmond Kizito agreed that Members of Parliament shouldn’t be ministers.
According to Onapito he stated clearly that there should be separation of powers between the Executive and Parliament adding that when Members of Parliament double as ministers it becomes hard to check themselves and the president who wields a lot of power. Onapito who now works as the Corporate Affairs Manager Nile Breweries added that human beings are inherently selfish and that a minister who also doubles as a Member of Parliament cannot concentrate on other key issues.
Hon. Eddie Kwizera the Bufumbira East MP stated that it’s being selfish for an MP to also double as a minister. In his view he supported the idea to have the constitution amended to stop MP’s from becoming Ministers. He added that it becomes hard for an MP who is also a minister to concentrate on service delivery and performance in Parliament.
Hon. Mukitale Birahwa the Bullisa County MP also concurred with Onapito and Kwizera. In his view he called for a review of the constitution where the power of parliament, President, role of the military, state and cultural leaders is discussed.
Hon. Mukitale added that ministers who also double as MP’s take resources to their constituencies. In his view ministers should be thinking for the whole country while Members of Parliament should be legislating for the whole country. He explained that there was need to have a stronger parliament and cultural institutions where Kings are empowered economically to eradicate poverty in their respective Kingdoms. In his view Mukitale said that government should partner with faith-based institutions, he cited examples of schools like Kibuli S.S, which have been built and are properly managed by religious institutions.
Onapito who served in the sixth parliament said that during his days as MP he made it clear that a Member of Parliament who wanted to be a minister would have to first resign their seat. “Uganda doesn’t need politicians in cabinet; there should be less politics in Management of society”. Onapito stressed.
Kwizera argued that Ugandan ministers are doing more of politics than performance. “In cabinet there should be 80 percent performance and 20 percent politics” he stated. Kwizera continued that ministers should be appointed basing on their technical knowledge.
Birahwa argued that the role of experts shouldn’t be ignored. “Having experts in a functional public service will help layout policies and systems which are beneficial to the country while elected MP’s should compliment experts” he stated. He added that in a functional public service civil servants should be employed on contract basis.
Hon. Kwizera acknowledged that the cost of maintaining vehicles driven by ministers is high. “Let all the vehicles driven by ministers be sold to them so that they can maintain them than government bearing the whole cost” he stressed.
Hon. Birahwa also raised concerns as to why Jennifer Musisi’s driver was earning more money than a Judge. He stressed that having a small public sector is the core function of the state and Government should provide security to the private sector.
