{UAH} PARLIAMENT IS TO BLAME FOR THE HAM/DTB SAGA

PARLIAMENT IS TO BLAME FOR THE HAM/DTB SAGA

By Shafir Hakeem Yiga 

The Ham/DTB saga has dominated our timelines this weekend. We couldn't even enjoy our Independence Day as we kept pondering about the decision. Who messed up where? That's the question that has been running through most people's minds. For 9 years, someone out there was not doing their job. The Uganda Bankers Association (UBA) came out emotionally lashing at the courts. By the way, that letter was reckless. You need to do better. Hire a Public Relations Officer or if you have one let them do their job. 

The government institutions have come in to give assurances to their lenders that they shall adhere to the contracts. All this coming at a time when we are celebrating our independence. Was it even necessary? It was a case between two private legal persons. It was not a massacre. Or, may be it was! But, I can't say much about this institutional naivety. It was uncalled for. There have been decisions that have affected government in many ways. But there has never been an instance where government comes in to give a commitment of this caliber. But, BOU please hire a public relations office and if you have one please let them do their job. Unless of course, that's the job they did. But that's not the point. 

You see, as letters and notices fly all over the social virtual space, there is the big fat institution that is to blame for all this mess. That's the mighty parliament. They have kept quiet like this is not their problem. Well, they are the reason that we are here. These folks spend a lot of time making political laws. Everything is political to them. We know that they have some handicaps in decision making but they have extended this handicap to every damn law out there. Big corporate institutions have lobbied their way through their house and they have given them what they want. They have given banks the lee way to levy uncontrollable interest rates, they have given unregulated authority for certain government authorities and regulators, they have created corporate and regulatory beasts. 

Most importantly, they have left the courts to come to the people's rescue to determine what these corporate and regulatory beasts can eat and what they can't eat. But, what can we expect of them? They set the bar so low so that they can get a place on the table. Senior 6 vacation is all you need to join the August house. It matters not what you studied - you will make laws about syndicated loans and interest rates and 30% deposit to be paid before one is heard. It's a surreal situation of fish climbing a tree. 

So as we sit here throwing tantrums for either side. As we nurse the bitter taste in our mouths about this decision. Let's remember that it's parliament's fault for not making good laws that make all this clear to everyone. They have made some good laws. But, what's good is relative. The question is good to who? They have failed to pass laws protecting consumers; they have failed to pass laws protecting or prioritizing women giving birth; they have failed to pass laws for fair competition; these folks are so bad they have even failed to pass laws to guarantee the expected (good) benefits of a president that leaves power. 

Well, on this Independence Day, if there is anything we may remember, it is that we may not be able to change our history but we can change our future. At a time when we have a chance to vote incompetent legislators out of parliament we MUST vote them out. We must replace them with those that have gone beyond the S6 vacation. We must vote those that understand the law, economics, psychology, medicine, social sciences, education, taxation, insurance etc. we must desist from being sentimental about this. And when it comes to WOMEN MPs let's vote for the WOMEN that are ready to fight for our WOMEN and GIRLS. How in 2020 can we still be debating whether a pregnant girl can go and sit her exams? How is it that Covid guidelines were set and reset and reset and reset and still our pregnant sisters were unrepresented. There was something for them of course but no law was discussed or tabled. 

Well, there is too much to be said and too much to be done. Remember that a law can only protect those it's designed to protect. In this HAM/DTB saga, parliament is protecting no one. Not because they made a bad law, but because they made none. Sometimes, you make a law by making none. You just don't make a law stopping something wrong. So, this is just the beginning of what is going to be a long battle. But as you enjoy the thrill, remember that parliament is to blame for it all and vote wisely.

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