The Golden Jubilee awards to former Members of Parliament are taking place at the Kampala Serena Hotel today. The awards are intended to recognize their contribution to the democratization of the country, Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, has said.
“Each Parliament had its unique contributions and challenges. Those of the Parliament in 1958 were different from the Parliament in 2016,” said Kadaga adding that, “these awards are meant to recognize former legislators for work done in building democracy in Uganda.”
Parliament in conjunction with the Presidential Awards Committee is decorating about 1,400 legislators who have served in the House since Uganda’s Independence with the Golden Jubilee Medal.
The President is expected to preside over the ceremony where current MPs who served in previous parliaments, will also be honored.
Kadaga said that the awards were not her creation but fell under the National Honors and Awards Act, 2001. She said that the reported negative perception by sections of the public about the awards may be because MPs’ contributions have not been well explained.
Kadaga explained that initially Members of the 9th Parliament were due to be recognized in 2013 in Tororo, but that the function did not take off.
“Because of instability in the country in the past, some MPs left without any recognition at the end of their term,” said Kadaga.
The Speaker said that Office of the President had procured the medals in 2012 and that Parliament would only hire the venue of the event, to host the ceremony.
