Some opposition Members of Parliament have returned the Shs29 million each they received starting yesterday for consultations on the ‘age limit’ bill describing it as attempts to “sanitise bribery of Members of Parliament”.
The Bill would scrap a constitutional age cap preventing President Yoweri Museveni, 73 and in power for 31 years, from standing in the next election. It is likely to pass, given the ruling party’s majority, when it is voted on later this year.
The opposition MPs led by Kiira Municipality legislator and Opposition Chief Whip Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda accuse Mr. Museveni of offering a bribe to influence their thinking into accepting the controversial age limit bill thus opting to return the money to Parliament.
Though, Chris Obore, Parliament’s director of communications said in total, the MPs will be given Shs 13 billion, MP Nganda said that was unlawful and called on the Inspector General of Government Irene Mulyagonja and the office of the Auditor General, Uganda (Supreme Audit Institution) to prove the source of money.
“We want the IGG and Auditor General to prove source of money. We didn’t budget for it as Parliament,” Mr. Nganda said.
The money has been got from the MPs’ emoluments and will be reimbursed by Ministry of Finance, a source at Parliament revealed.
“Public thinks leaders must obtain money and bring it to them and a good leader must bring hard, earned money not dirty money from the Museveni regime,” said Butambala MP Muwanga Kivumbi
But Hon. Betty Aol Ochan, Woman MP Gulu District who also is FDC National Secretary for education said she was confused by the money and how to handle it.
“I am divided,” Aol said. “I will go with what my bosses at Parliament say, but have to also consult my people about the money.”
The reallocation was reportedly allowed by Finance minister Matia Kasaija after NRM MPs told President Museveni that they did not have money to facilitate their consultations on the Raphael Magyezi bill. The bill is currently before the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs committee.
In 2005, MPs were also offered a one-off payment of Ush5 million to consult on a draft Bill that removed a two-term cap on incumbency from the Constitution, allowing Mr Museveni to stand again.
He stands to benefit from the scrapping of the age limit to rule for life.
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