Parliament has Wednesday morning vetted and approved the reappointed Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, in an impromptu session that was called yesterday evening.
The motion to approve the 73 year old was tabled by the Government Chief Whip Hon Ruth Nankabirwa and seconded by MPs Odonga Otto (FDC) and Joseph Sewungu who is also Democratic Party’s Chief Whip.
A total of 280 members voted in favor of the reappointed VP, while 4 voted against and 9 abstained from the poll.
In a short speech after being approved, Ssekandi thanked members for putting their trust in him and also the President for seeing more potential in him.
Meanwhile, the sitting which was anticipated to approve the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Hon Matia Kasaija did not. The minister in a few hours is expected to read out the 2016/17 National Budget.
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija
Over the past couple of days, there has been anxiety on who is going to read out the budget if the Minister is not approved by Parliament to be in his office.
Nonetheless, Kasaija is still expected to read out the budget, since the constitution does not bar him.
The Constitution’s Article 155 vests the responsibility of causing the presentation of the National Budget to the President, who can delegate this function to any person, even a back bencher.