Parliament blocks opposition leaders meeting

The leader of the opposition in parliament Betty Aol Ochan has been left crying foul after the Clerk to Parliament blocked a meeting she had scheduled with leaders of political parties to find a common ground on how to proceed with different legislations now before parliament.

In a loose minute notice to the director in the office of the Leader of the Opposition, the clerk Jane Kibirige wrote, "This is to inform you that the parliament of Uganda will be hosting the Bank of Uganda officials in an exit meeting with COSASE as indicated by the committee chairperson on Friday. We will not be able to handle both groups at the same time."

The loose minute concluded, "I advise that you contact the office of the Prime Minister to use their conference hall for convenience."

Aol would later write a protest note accusing the clerk of embarrassing her and blocking her visitors. Aol's response read in part, "I am very disappointed that my attempt to talk to you on your office and mobile telephones to resolve the matter in time failed. I even sent your staff to you but you could not get back to me. You therefore chose to unilaterally block my visitors , an act of huge sense of impunity."

The leaders of the political parties had met on Wednesday last week to build concenusus on the administration of parliament bill that seeks to among others make the office of the leader of opposition elective and the constitutional amendments bill of Wilfred Niwagaba that seeks to introduce a number of radical reforms in the constitution including kicking out the army from parliament

Last week's meeting generated action points that were to be ratified by structures of the different parties and the team was to meet again to form a united voice

While the parties supported the Niwagaba bill , they oppose the Second bill that seeks to introduce reforms in how the leader of opposition and chief opposition whips are elected.