President Yoweri Museveni recently blasted MPs for being morally reprehensible during the Covid-19 crisis. President Museveni’s rage followed the Shs10 Billion MPs requested for facilitation to monitor the Covid-19 national task force activities. The President blasted: “It is morally reprehensible for MPs to give themselves money for personal use when the country is in such […]
President Yoweri Museveni recently blasted MPs for being morally reprehensible during the Covid-19 crisis.
President Museveni’s rage followed the Shs10 Billion MPs requested for facilitation to monitor the Covid-19 national task force activities.
The President blasted: “It is morally reprehensible for MPs to give themselves money for personal use when the country is in such a crisis; totally unacceptable to me and the NRM.”
A visibly angry Museveni slammed: “They have entered themselves into a trap and the best way out is to donate the money to the districts where they come from.”
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga in a media briefing charged back: “I’ve also complained about attacks on Parliament by the Judiciary and the Executive. It’s clear Parliament is under attack from the Executive and Judiciary. We are going to take appropriate action on that. Further, I’ve told MPs to only adhere to the guidelines that I gave them; on how to expend the 20m/- that each received.”
Kadaga stated: “This evening, I’ve held a press conference and complained about yesterday’s ruling by the judge in the 10bn/- case. Well as the two MPs had withdrawn it, he made orders; in a non existent case! Parliament and the Attorney General have written to the Registrar.”
She defended the house: “MPs have been spending a lot of money for a long period of time even before the supplementary budget came but no one talked about it until we got the Ushs 20m – Speaker Rebecca Kadaga as she defended Parliament’s supplementary budget of Ushs10 Billion.”
Kadaga recounted the Shs10 Billion meeting: “A meeting between the President, myself and the Prime Minister, yesterday, discussed the role of MPs in the fight against the Covid-19.”
The speaker said: “Pursuant to that the Parliamentary Commission has charted out the following guidelines: (1). MPs shall be incorporated in District task forces, Special interest group MPs will be incorporated in the National Task force. (2). An MP will spend the 20m/- only on interventions meant to support the national response; in respective districts. (3). MPs will agree with District Taskforces on what best to spend on; e.g food.”
In a bid to harmonize the house and the executive, Parliament assigned the Chief Whip Ruth Nankabirwa Ssentamu to meet the President.
The NRM caucus met Museveni Tuesday and were able to find a middle and working formula.
The President shared a statement confirming the meeting at State House in Entebbe.
He tweeted: “Meeting with a select committee of Members of NRM Parliamentary caucus at State House Entebbe. We agreed to form a constituency COVID-19 task force across the country for MPs to channel their support to their constituents. This is to avert pressure from individual leaders.”
However, as the meeting went on in Entebbe, Ssemujju Nganda did not stomach his anger towards the President.
Ssemujju moved: “If we allow the Head of State to start ordering me around like a shamber boy, tomorrow he will order me to donate my salary to a priest in my constituency. I will move formally that the Executive apologies to the House for what happened last week.”
The Kiira Municipality MP demanded: “The attack on the House by the President on the money allocated to Parliament for Covid-19, is unacceptable.”
The Speaker however, moved to calm things when he told members to only follow the guidelines issued by Parliament and not any other person or body in using the Shs20 Million given to each MP.
Award winning journalist and writer who has worked as a stringer for a couple of acclaimed South Africa based German journalists, covered 3 Ugandan elections, 2008 Kenya election crisis, with interests in business and sports reporting.
