President Museveni signs five bills into law
He has reminded the president to also assent to the minimum wage bill to protect Ugandans from employers who pay them little money for the work done.
By Our Reporter
Kampala: President Yoweri Museveni has assented to some bills to facilitate the smooth running of government business.
In his communication to parliament on Tuesday, the deputy speaker of parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, informed the house that five bills had been approved by President Yoweri Museveni.
The bills include the Civil Aviation Amendment Act 2024, the Judicature Amendment Act 2023, the Explosives Act 2023, the Competition Act 2023, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 2023.
The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act 2023 was reintroduced by the government after the constitutional court had earlier nullified it due to a lack of quorum at the time parliament passed it into law.
It seeks to criminalize the use, farming, supply, and trading of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
The Judicature (Amendment) Bill, 2023, will see an increase in the number of judges on both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.
The Explosives Act 2023 is meant to streamline the licensing of explosives and their use in the mining sector, repeal the existing Explosives Act 1936, and create the position of Chief Explosives Inspector, among others.
The law defines explosives and seeks to steer clear of explosives imported for use as war material by security agencies, restricting itself to explosives used in mining and other related undertakings.
Clause 28 is meant to severely punish the unlicensed use or possession of explosives, suggesting that offenders should suffer a fine of Shs10 billion, a 10-year jail term, or both such imprisonment and fine.
In clause 29, the procedure for obtaining a license for purposes of importing or using explosives is proposed, with the Minister of Internal Affairs given possible sweeping powers in even determining the licensing fees.
Tayebwa has also asked the minister of trade and cooperatives to work on the consumer protection and management bill to protect consumers against fraud and dishonesty in commercial dealings.
Nakaseke south county member of parliament Semakula Lutamaguzi has remained the president to also assent to the minimum wage bill to protect Ugandans from employers who pay them little money for the work done.
Do you have a story about your community or an opinion to share with us? Email us at theugreports@gmail.com.
