Transparency International Uganda (TPIU) and Anti Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU) officials are protesting the proposed move by Parliament to up the emoluments of Mps in the 10th Parliament.
Last week the the parliamentary commission tabled a proposal for Mps allowance increment before the Committee on legal and parliamentary affairs.
These include 2m for Lunch and Tea and 3m monthly housing allowance for each mp.
Reliable sources have also told us that there are also plans to Increase the Mps vehicle allowance from 103M to 130m each.
According to transparency international Uganda executive director Peter Wandera this is very unfortunate.
“This is extremely obnoxious, myopic and unsustainable for the Ugandan tax payer. Already a Ugandan Mp is one of the most paid compared to the GDP, this move should be aborted” says Peter Wandera.
This during a joint media briefing with officials from the Anti corruption coalition Uganda while at Transparency International Uganda (TPIU) offices in Ntinda on Monday morning.
Similarly the Anti corruption coalition executive director Cisy Kagaba describes the proposed increment as a huge burden to the Ugandan tax payer.
She has explained that unfortunately the Mps earning such monies are most of the time absent from parliament which grossly affects parliamentary business.
“Our MPs should recall that the constitutional court in 2015 in a petition filled by Wilson Mwesigye ruled that it is illegal for Mps to determine their own emoluments.Such money should be channeled into other useful sectors like the rotten health sector ” said Cisy Kagaba.
she says this a clear manifestation of how greedy the mp’s are instead of prioritizing service to the people.
“We propose that all necessary amendments be made in the rules of parliament to allow the Salaries and Renumerations Board to determine the Mp’s salary” Kagaba explains.
Currently each Mp bags 25M, an official car valued at 103 million, an Ipad, and many other sitting allowances for committees and plenary perdiems for inland and abroad travels.
According to Radio Simba’s Senior parliamentary reporter David Turyatemba the emoluments proposal is being pushed through secretly by Senior Mps who have served in parliament for some time together with some cabinet ministers.
He says this however like the case has been at the beginning of every parliament will be supported by most Mp’s including opposition leaning Mp’s because it favors them all.
“It is hard for any mp to genuinely reject the proposal to increase their pay because most of them take parliament as work and many resigned their office jobs to become mps and a swell spent millions to influence voters to vote for them, so this will be an opportunity for them” said our reporter.
In 2011 after the 9th Parliament also increased their salaries amidst some sharp protest from Mp’s like Kyadondo East Mp and Jospeh Sewungu Kalungu West but when the money was wired to their accounts none made noise again about it.
By Joshua Mutale