News widely in circulation about shillings 40m each given to some NRMPs have drawn mixed reactions from the public with many expressing their grievances at what they describe as “greedy” legislators.
On Monday Transparency International Uganda, an international civil society organization became the latest non-state actor to castigate the insatiable appetite for money by Uganda’s Parliament.
At least, 317 MPs, most of whom supported the removal of the Presidential age limits from Uganda’s Law Book [Constitution] received shs40m from President Museveni. The cash in billions was wired through government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa.
In a press release to media houses on Monday, Peter Wandera, the executive director of Transparency International Uganda, wrote: “T I-U is calling upon the President and the NRM MPs to desist from sharing the alleged 40 million shillings at the time when the country is still struggling with raising enough funds to effectively manage the COVID-19.”
Mr Wandera says Transparency International Uganda strongly rebukes incidences where MPs continue to receive money with no justifications and called on government to be patriotic and instead redirect such resources where they are most needed.
He further regretted that the people of Uganda are going hungry yet others (MPs) are fulfilling their selfish desires and suggested that the shs40m given to each MPs seems to be a compensation for losing shs20m that they were asked to return to the national and district task forces.
But the Transparency International (U) boss says just like in other countries, Uganda has been doing its best under the leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to implement the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and national guidelines with the technical support from the Ministry of Health.
Meanwhile, some MPs including Lwemiyaga County MP, Theodore Sekikubo, Kumi Woman MP Monica Amoding, Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu and Ntungamo Municipality MP, Gerald Karuhanga have openly alleged that some 317 MPs are to receive shs100m each, again.
However, government Chief Whip Ms Ruth Nankabirwa has refuted the payment of shs40 million to the Legislatures, saying that those alleging the pay-out feel bad that Parliament recently applauded the President for his work towards the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.