MPs’ welfare: Uganda’s poor continues to writhe from high commodities prices, diseases, and poor health services in the government hospitals and health centers.
By Milton Emmy Akwam
Kole – June 22, 2022: Last week, each Member of Parliament was reported to have received the controversial money after approving the supplementary budget.
According to multiple social media and mainstream media reports, each of the 529 MPs received shs40m.
Ugandans, after hearing the development became wild, and some started demanding to know ‘why’. One of the MPs from Lango sub-region came out to deny receiving the said money.
Through his lawyers at Kaliku Mutima and Co. Advocates, the Kole North MP, Dr Opio Samuel Acuti wants an apology from the Daily Monitor for its story “indicating that each MP received 40m to approve a supplementary request”.
“We act for and on behalf of Hon Samuel Opio Acuti, a Member of Parliament for Kole North Constituency on whose instructions we address you as hereunder,” the law firm wrote to the Editor In Chief of the Daily Monitor.
“We draw your attention to the false and misleading headline story that was run in the Daily Monitor Newspaper dated 15th June 2022 titled, ‘MPs get 40m each in a fresh budget deal.’ The article states that Parliament dished out money to each of the 529 lawmakers to approve a supplementary budget request,” the legal firm added.
“Our client categorically states that he has never received the above-mentioned money. Thus, your article is false and misleading. The said publication was understood by his constituents to mean that he is unethical and in the habit of receiving bribes which is unjust enrichment.”
“As a result of your publication, our client has been shunned, subjected to hatred, contempt, and ridicule by his constituents who have always held him in high regard. This has greatly infringed on his inherent right to reputation and has caused him to suffer severe mental anguish.”
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“This kind of reporting is unfortunate, speculative, and unacceptable and vulgarizes the best standards and practices of reporting. We hereby “DEMAND” that you provide our client with a written apology for the false and misleading publication on the front page as a headline within two (2) working days.”
“The said apology should run for 4 days. In the event that you do not comply with this demand, be informed that we have instructions to institute legal proceedings against you at your own cost and peril.”
After the debate on the said money was getting wilder, Parliament came out to deny that no MP was given money.
However, some sources say [told this publication] that nearly 99 percent of the MPs got “the money”.
Uganda’s poor continues to writhe from high commodities prices, diseases, and poor health services in the government hospitals and health centers. Ugandans pay their MPs well, although reports have started coming out that the lawmakers want an enhanced “package”.