Kadaga warns youth MP over rampant absenteeism

The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has directed the Eastern Youth legislator Ismael Mafabi to attend the next parliamentary sitting, warning that he will lose his seat over rampant absenteeism.

Chairing the Thursday sitting, Kadaga announced said Mafabi has been absent without official leave for more than 15 consecutive Parliamentary sittings, which contravenes the rules of procedure of the House.

She said Mafabi has only attended one sitting since his entry into the 10th Parliament.

According to records, the legislator last attended the parliamentary sitting on the 20th of December 2017 during the voting on the controversial Constitutional Amendment Bill 2017 where he voted in favour of the removal of the presidential age limit.

Kadaga said Mafabi had absconded from attending committee proceedings and other activities of parliament.

She said she will not tolerate such indiscipline amongst legislators.

According to rule 111(6) of the rules of procedure, except with the permission of the speaker, a member of Parliament shall not absent himself or herself from 15 or more sittings of the House during any period when the House is continuously sitting.

Mafabi told The Nile Post that he will settle the matter.

"I will go to the speaker's office and tender in my apology," he said.

Some of the legislators who have lost their seats for dodging parliamentary sittings on more than 15 times are Tony Kipoi the former legislator for Bubulo west and Gen. David Sejusa aka Tinyefunza after he fled to the United Kingdom in 2013.