A section of rebel MPs from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party, have joined their opposition counterparts, in demanding the immediate recall of Parliament from recess.
They want top parliamentary leaders to address allegations of corruption and abuse of office circulating on social media.
The group, led by rebel NRM MPs Theodore Ssekikuubo and Barnabas Tinkasimire, held a press briefing at Parliament on Wednesday to express their concerns.
They criticized Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja for instructing the Clerk to Parliament to cancel a planned plenary sitting.
Ssekikuubo questioned Nabbanja’s authority to countermand Parliament’s decisions, describing it as an unprecedented power grab by the executive branch. He also revealed that some members of the Parliamentary Commission, implicated in misappropriating funds for service awards, have gone into hiding.
“Where did Nabbanja get the power to counter-command Parliament? I know we don’t look good, but they shouldn’t take advantage of the vacuum where the Speaker and Deputy Speaker is in disarray,” Ssekikubo said
Adding that: “Why doesn’t someone come out and issue a statement and I have two options that I can give the Speaker, let her immediately reconvene Parliament, let a statement be issued, let it be debated because parliament can only act when Parliament is sitting,”
The MPs expressed frustration over the lack of accountability and called on parliamentary leaders to restore the institution’s credibility. They emphasized the negative public perception of lawmakers and urged swift action to address the allegations.
“We can’t now walk with our heads high on the streets of Kampala,” said Ssekikuubo. “We are all bundled up, nobody is giving answers.”
Parliament has been on the spot lately over allegations of financial mismanagement and misuse of funds within the system, following an online exhibition aimed at exposing corrupt tendencies in the Legislature.
Unsubstantiated reports indicate unexplained expenditures and questionable financial transactions allegedly occurring within the parliamentary framework suggesting irregularities in the allocation and utilization of funds earmarked for community outreach activities overseen by the Office of the Speaker.
On Monday, the Opposition Leader in Parliament Hon . Joel Ssenyonyi highlighted the need for transparency and accountability, through a thorough investigation into the allegations of financial impropriety.
Ssenyonyi called on the Speaker Anita Among to reconvene plenary sittings for discussions to ensure that answers are provided to financial querries being raised by the public.
He expressed particular concern over the lack of clarity regarding the use of funds allocated for community outreach initiatives, pointing to substantial sums transferred to staff accounts for activities purportedly carried out by the Speaker outside the parliamentary setting.
“There have also been allegations about community outreach by the Office of the Speaker, billions of shillings have been put on different accounts of staff members for activities by the Speaker in the field that the public would like to know. There is a need for an explanation because the Speaker has not been away for long, and most of the days indicated are questionable.” He stated
However, the Public Relations Officer at Parliament Chris Obore has since dismissed the accusations as baseless and a malicious campaign by a few individuals to smear the person of the Speaker and tarnish the image of Parliament.
He told journalists that it is untrue that tax payers money is being distributed by the Speaker’s office recklessly and in an abusive manner.
‘It is not true that parliament spends 2.6 billion per day, what they have done is to get the parliamentary budget for one year and divide it by 365 days and that is a very cheap interpretation of the budget. As you know a budget is not spent daily, it goes on development, projects, salaries are paid monthly. It is meant to annoy the public to think there is a lot of money in parliament and target the Speaker of Parliament. But let the public be given accurate information” said Obore
Obore said that Parliament will not dignify unsubstantiated claims without evidence. He said with the absence of credible documentation and evidence in addressing such serious accusations, the purported leaked documents are potentially doctored with malicious intent.
According to leaked reports and documents. Parliament, spends an average of Shs79 billion monthly, translating to Shs2.6 billion daily.
The draft budget for Parliament shows significant changes in allocations to key offices, with increases of Shs5 billion for the Speaker and Shs4 billion for the Deputy Speaker, while the Leader of Opposition’s allocation decreased by Shs800 million.
In the previous fiscal year, the Speaker’s Office had Shs8.2 billion, the Deputy Speaker’s Office had Shs7.4 billion, and the Leader of Opposition’s Office had Shs4.4 billion. Additionally, funds for the Office of the Leader of Government Business decreased by Shs1 billion to Shs2.9 billion.
The Parliamentary Commission oversees financial management, with notable changes in allocations for key offices, including increases for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, and a decrease for the Leader of Opposition.
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