Tensions erupted during a contentious argument between Speaker Anita Among and Lwemiyaga MP Theodore Ssekikubo during the plenary session of Parliament on October 3.
The confrontation started when Speaker Among went to the next item on the Order Paper and MP Ssekikubo tried to bring up a procedural issue.
As the Speaker called for the discussion of the amended agenda, MP Ssekikubo kept his position and insisted on addressing his procedural problem.
Ssekikubo was requested to move, but he persisted in standing at the podium to deliver his speech.
“Madam Speaker, this is a matter of procedure that needs to be addressed before we can move on. Parliament must operate within the bounds of our rules and regulations,” Ssekikubo argued.
Speaker Anita Among, who was clearly irritated, said that the meeting needed to move forward and that formalities were no longer relevant.
But Ssekikubo persisted, stressing the value of following protocol, and this caused a momentary stalemate between the two leaders.
This exchange revealed an ongoing issue in Parliament, where MPs often feel that their voices are not given adequate attention, especially when raising critical procedural concerns.
MP Ssekikubo forcefully conveyed to the Speaker his belief that this instance highlights the significance of making sure parliamentary business follows established procedures.
There was a brief halt as MP Ssekikubo insisted on continuing the session despite the Speaker’s attempts to do so, and the Speaker acknowledged the importance of procedural considerations.
Speaker Anita Among and MP Ssekikubo’s unusual public altercation highlights the fragile power dynamics in Parliament and the continuous battle among MPs to uphold correct protocol during debates.
