By Gloria Gwitabinji
Parliament is scheduled to handle a packed legislative agenda on Wednesday, April 1, with tax amendment bills, the national budget estimates and several major pieces of legislation lined up for consideration.
According to the order paper for the Fifth Sitting of the Third Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 11th Parliament, the House will begin at 2:00 p.m.
Top on the agenda is the first reading of a raft of government bills linked to the 2026 budget. These include the Excise Duty Amendment Bill, the Value Added Tax Amendment Bill, the Tax Procedures Code Amendment Bill, the Income Tax Amendment Bill, the Lotteries and Gaming Amendment Bill, the External Trade Amendment Bill, the Stamp Duty Amendment Bill, the Traffic and Road Safety Amendment Bill, and the Appropriation Bill, 2026.
Finance Ministerial papers are also expected to be laid before the House, including the annual budget estimates for the financial year 2026/27 and a request for parliamentary approval to write off non-tax revenue owed by Kilembe Mines Limited.
Parliament will also consider the Forensic and Scientific Analytical Services Bill, 2025 at second and third reading. The Bill is being handled by the Minister of Internal Affairs.
Also scheduled is the Marriage Bill, 2024, which will go through second reading, committee stage, adoption of the committee report and third reading. The Bill is being steered by Tororo Woman MP Sarah Achieng Opendi.
Another key item on the order paper is the Constitution Amendment Bill, 2024, which is also set for second reading, committee stage, adoption and third reading under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs.
