MPs propose Extended Debate Time

A group of Members of Parliament is advocating for an increase in the time allotted for debates during plenary sessions, aiming to extend the current two-minute limit to between five and seven minutes per MP.

This proposal seeks to address concerns that the brief time currently given is insufficient for thorough research and authoritative debate.

The proposal was introduced by Charles Onen, MP for Laroo-Pece Division, during a recent meeting of Parliament's Rules Committee, which is reviewing the Rules and Procedures of Parliament.

Onen’s suggestion came in response to a proposal by Lulume Bayiga, MP for Buikwe South, who had called for the Speaker, Anita Among, to allocate time for MPs from all political parties to contribute to debates.

Lulume’s proposal, which was supported by MPs Peter Okot (Toochi County) and Nicholas Kamara (Kabale Municipality), aims to amend Rule 70, which governs the Time and Manner of Speaking.

The proposed amendment suggests substituting sub-rule 70(1)(c) to ensure that each party represented in Parliament receives time to debate each motion or House business.

 Lulume argues that this amendment would provide equitable time allocation, enhance MPs' participation, and improve the quality of debate.

However, Onen contends that this proposal does not adequately address the issue of specific time allocation for MPs. He believes that merely providing time for parties without specifying individual MPs' time could still leave some members with insufficient opportunity to contribute meaningfully.

Concerns have also raised by Alex Ndeezi, MP for the Central Region representing persons with disabilities. Ndeezi questions how the proposal would handle situations where MPs from smaller parties, such as JEEMA and the People’s Progressive Party, who each have only one MP, might be absent. He expresses uncertainty about whether these parties would still be allocated time in such cases, highlighting potential issues with the proposed approach.

Yusuf Mutembuli, MP for Bunyole East, criticizes the proposal as redundant, suggesting that the current practice already allows for balanced debate across the House. He noted that the Speaker typically ensures fair distribution of time among different sides of the House, making additional regulations unnecessary.

As the Rules Committee continues its review, these discussions reflect ongoing efforts to refine parliamentary procedures and enhance the effectiveness of legislative debates.