Deputy Speaker Anita Among orders Parliamentary Commission Secretariat Director out of office; Jacob Oulanyah’s Private Secretary takes over

Parliament of Uganda Deputy Speaker Anita Annet Among has ordered Parliamentary Commission Secretariat Director Benson Oniz Masereka out of office.

Among wrote to outgoing clerk to Parliament Jane Kibirige communicating that Masereka be removed from office.

In a July 15 letter titled ‘Tansfer of Mr Masereka Benson Oniz from the Commission Secretariat,’ Among directs that Masereka hands over office to Robinson Kawesa, the Principal Private Secretary to Speaker Jacob Oulanyah.

“You are here by directed to transfer the services of Mr Benson Masereka Oniz, director, Commission Secretariat, from his current posting,” Deputy Speaker Among wrote to Kibirige on the day President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni retired her, as clerk to Parliament, in public interest.

“In the meantime, Mr Robinson Kaweesa, the Principal Private Secretary to the Rt Hon Speaker shall, in addition to his current duties, take charge of the Commission Secretariat.”

With Among’s directive taking immediate effect, Masereka is expected to return to the office of the clerk to Parliament, where former Defence Minister Adolf Mwesige will soon take over from Kibirige.

It is not clear what informed the decision to transfer Masereka.

Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Commission, has been out of office for weeks amidst speculation on his health condition.

The Parliamentary Commission is the top most decision making organ in the administration of the legislative arm of government.

Besides the speaker and deputy speaker, other members of the Parliamentary Commission are: leader of government business, leader of opposition, finance minister and four backbencher MPs.