Development partners under the Democracy and Good Governance Group (PDG) have raised concern over pending business in the 10th Parliament, key among which is the controversial Marriage and Divorce Bill 2009.
Led by Susan Eckey, the Norwegian Ambassador to Uganda, the partners presented their concerns to the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga at Parliament on Monday.
During the meeting, the ambassador asked Kadaga also to respond to parliament's plans on development issues; health and education; electoral reforms; public accounts committee; media freedom and participation of women in parliament.
In her response, Kadaga told the partners that 19 bills are yet to be passed by the 10th Parliament, but also passed the buck onto government, which provides main business in the House.
Some of the pending bills include the Persons with Disabilities Bill 2014, Indigenous and Complementary Medicine Bill 2015, Mental Health Bill 2014, KCCA Amendment Bill 2015, Human Rights Enforcement Bill 2015, Law Revision Penalties in Criminal Matters Amendment 2015, Uganda Forestry Association Bill 2015, Anti-Counterfeit bill 2015 and Sexual Offences Bill 2015.
Others are the Sale of Goods and Services Bill 2015, Anti Money Laundering Amendment Bill, Data Protection Privacy Bill, Uganda Communications Amendment Bill, Insurance Bill 2016, Marriage and Divorce Bill 2009, National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill 2012, Retirement Benefits Sector Liberalization Bill, Income Tax Bill 2016 and Minimum Wage Bill 2015.
Discussions on media freedom and participation of women in Parliament were discussed in camera, as journalists were asked to leave the meeting. On the issue of electoral reforms, Kadaga explained that Parliament will impress upon government to table reforms soon.
The meeting was attended by parliamentary committee chairpersons. Some of the ambassadors present included U.S Ambassador, Deborah Malac, Kristian Schmidt, head of the European Union delegation in Uganda and the Swedish Ambassador, Per Lindgärde.
