Henry Waiswa Appointed Interim Clerk to Parliament

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has appointed Henry Waiswa, the Deputy Clerk Corporate Affairs to take charge of Parliament following the retirement of the former Clerk to Parliament Jane Kibirige.

Kibirige was retired by President Yoweri Museveni in public interest and replaced with former Minister of Defence, Adolf Mwesige. But Among informed parliament Wednesday afternoon that Waisswa had in the interim been appointed to handle the duties of a Clerk to Parliament due to incomplete formalities regarding Mwesige’s appointment.

However, Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu wondered why Kibirige had been retired and demanded that the Deputy Speaker explains the crimes she had committed and the circumstances under which she was retired.

“I have been a member of an accountability committee in parliament and what we heard from the President is that she is retiring in public interest.

“The little law I know, if someone retires in public interest, they must have committed some offences. Could this be the fact?” Ssewungu asked.

However, Among said that she had no powers to respond to the question which can only be answered by the appointing authority.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker also named a vetting committee that will verify candidates for the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) by-election.

The by-election to replace Mathias Kasamba, the former representative at the Assembly is scheduled for July, 26 2021.

The verification Committee will be chaired by West Budama North East MP, Fox Odoi Oywelowo. The other members are Kabula County MP Ssemwanga Gyaviira, Gomba Woman MP Sylvia Nayebare, Ik County MP Hilary Lokwang, Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa, and Erute County MP Jonathan Odur among others.

This team is expected to report back to parliament on July 23, ahead of voting.

The NRM Party Parliamentary Caucus last week endorsed former Kabula County MP James Kakooza for the position.

Meanwhile, the Government Chief Whip, Thomas Tayebwa appealed to the NRM caucus members to ensure that the position is maintained when Parliament conducts the elections.