Opposition Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC) has advised its Members of Parliament (MPs) to exercise their individual rights while electing the next Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the 10th Parliament.
The UPC mouthpiece, Michael Osinde Orachi told ChimpReports on Wednesday that the party has given liberty to its members to choose a candidate of their choice without restricting them to a single a candidate since they are in the best position to determine who can serve the interests of the country.
“We have no problem with caucusing within parties so as to come up with a single candidate but in this situation, this disfranchises members of their right to choice,” Osinde observed.
“The current contest for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Parliament is a matter that must be handled well to protect the image and integrity of house; UPC urges the newly elected MPs to follow the Constitution as a guiding document in this process,” Osinde said.
Osinde quoted the former UPC president, Dr. Apollo Milton Obote who said, “This chamber is a symbol of our determination to establish a strong, united and stable nation. In this house, members strive not for separate causes, but for the oneness of Uganda, her prosperity and tranquility and her cordial relations with other states. Our aspiration is to forge unity through government by discussion and co-operation, and to live up to our National Motto.”
Meanwhile, the party appealed to the ruling government to speed up the enactment of the Minimum Wage law to save the Ugandan worker from being exploited by employers.
“UPC being a party of peasants, workers and youths strives to achieve better working conditions for all workers and the development of the nation; the party is of the view that the 1985 Minimum wage Act, its policy and regulations be enforced and that there should be a periodic review of salaries of everyone whether in the public or private sector.”
Osinde remarked that during the first and second UPC Governments, there was a deliberate effort to ensure that the work force was treated fairly and with decorum, as evidenced by the 1970 Minimum wage Act and the 1985 Minimum wage Act.