Gloria Orwoba re-admitted to Senate after swallowing humble pie, reading prescribed apology

Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba on Thursday afternoon secured her chance to resume her duties at the Senate after reading the prescribed apology that was drafted by the plenary.

This is the second time that Orwoba returned to the Senate after serving her month-long suspension for breaching the Parliamentary Code of Conduct.

Barely 24 hours earlier, Orwoba declined to read the prescribed apology, citing that it was self-incriminating and would jeopardise her in an ongoing court case.

Moments before walking out of the Senate, she audaciously claimed that she was ready to face the consequences rather than place herself in a precarious situation.

During the Thursday proceedings however, Orwoba read the prescribed apology verbatim, as required by law, and indicated that she sought counsel before resuming to the chamber. 

"I sought counsel within the House and outside and I will read the apology without omission and I will do so as that is the procedure of the House," she said.

Further, the Senator issued a disclaimer citing: “These are not my words and in no way does it infer a confession or any admission whatsoever of liability on my part and it shall not prejudice my case in court whereby I have been sued by Jeremiah Nyegenye, the Clerk of the Senate."

After reading the prescribed apology, Kingi ordered her to resume her duties. 

"Senator Gloria, you are hereby readmitted to the chamber," Kingi ordered. 

Orwoba was suspended for gross misconduct after publishing on her social media allegations that a senior senate official resorted to harassing her.

Following her allegations, a committee led by Speaker Amason Kingi launched investigations on whether her conduct breached the Parliamentary code of conduct. The committee later recommended her suspension.