By Peter Ssebulime
Acholi Parliamentary Group (APG) has issued a statement suspending 5 members from the group for allegedly supporting the amendment of article 102(b)
In a statement issued by Hon. Odonga Otto – MP Aruu County and signed by the APG Secretary General Hon. Olanya Gilbert – MP Kilak,
It was stated that, “the suspended MPs betrayed the trust of the Acholi people and voted YES to delete Article 102(b) from the Constitution contrary to the views of the Acholi people… we cannot transact any meaningful business for Acholi people in the presence of the “Yes” MPs. ”
Part of the statement read in Acholi that, “lok tyelo dong pe loke ka joni tye, joni cato kaka woko”, loosely translated that the suspended MPs are traitors.
The suspended MPs are:
1.Hon Beatrice Anywar-MP Kitgum municipality.
2.Hon. Otto Edward Makmot – MP Agago.
3.Hon. Lamwaka Catherine- Woman MP Omoro district.
4.Hon. Molly Lanyero –Â Woman MP Lamwo.
5.Hon. Margaret Odwa- Woman MP Kitgum District.
The group however exonerated the two Ministers who voted YES Hon. Oryem Okello-Foreign Affairs and Hon. Onek Hillary – Disaster Preparedness, who were bound by collective cabinet responsibility.
The Deputy Speaker, also Omoro County MP, was applauded in the statement for leaving the house to the Speaker Kadaga to chair.
The group stated, they where not able to assertain the position of the Youth MP Hon. Oscar Otema and PWD MP Hon. William Nokrach since their constituencies are diverse for the group to sample.
The suspension takes immediate effect said Hon. Odonga Otto.