The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has given the Gender, Labor and Social development committee of Parliament 10 days to scrutinize the National Social Security fund-NSSF Amendment Bill 2021.
The NSSF bill that had allowed for midterm access of savings by savers above the age of 45 or those who had saved for at least for 10 years was passed by Parliament but not assented to by the President at the time the 10th Parliament elapsed.
The president in his letter to the Speaker said that the commencement date of the Act needs to be amended so that it comes into force on the date of its publication in the gazette and also that only those who are 45 years old and have saved for over 10 years can access 20 percent of their savings as anything else would be unsustainable for the fund.
In regard to supervision of the Fund, the President says that the supervision of the Fund should remain under the Ministry of Finance.
Earlier, Oulanyah made all bills that were passed by the 10th Parliament and are pending Presidential assent and those returned by the President in accordance with Article 91 of the Constitution, but outside the term of the Tenth Parliament, to be considered business that lapsed and should be considered afresh.
They include the Sexual Offences Bill, Landlord and Tenant Bill 2018, National Local Content Bill, 2019, Succession Amendment Bill, 2018, National Health Insurance Scheme Bill, 2019, Marriage and Divorce Bill, the Opposition sponsored Constitutional Amendment Bill and others.
On Wednesday during plenary, Workers MP for Eastern Region Dominic Gidudu Mafabi reintroduced the bill on behalf of the Minister of Gender Betty Amongi. Speaker Oulanyah however guided that there have been discussions in the public on the bill and the President had raised concern on four clauses which have to be looked at and the bill is urgent.
Oulanyah said that since the bill is not entirely new and the committee had exhausted the matter, the gender committee should now expeditiously use 10 days to look at the President’s concerns so that it can be brought back to the house for consideration.
He says the committee should see if they agree or disagree with the concerns raised by the President.
Parliament also re-tabled the landlord and tenant bill that is supposed to regulate the relationship between landlords and tenants. It was passed by parliament in June 2019 with several amendments which relate to duties and rights of landlords and tenants in rented commercial and residential premises.
According to the bill, landlords and tenants must sign tenancy agreements for rental transactions of over 500,000 Shillings with clear terms and conditions. Also, tenancy disputes shall be handled in Local Council courts and other courts of law. It also states that the landlords can only evict tenants after securing court orders to do so.
Unlawful evictions according to the bill, attract a penalty of 5 million Shillings or a jail term of one year or both upon conviction.
*****
URN
