Former prime minister and candidate in the recent presidential election, John patrick Amama Mbabazi has protested the withdrawal of his official car and promised to petition government over the issue.
According to our sources, the black Pajero Registration Number UG 0534Z has been in Mr. Mbabazi’s possession since his time as prime minister, but on Wednesday government operatives impounded it from Mbabazi’s driver around Serena Hotel Kampala and whisked away.
“An official vehicle is one of Mr. Mbabazi’s emoluments as former prime minister according to the law,” Mbabazi’s spokesperson Josephine Mayanja-Nkangi said told Matooke Republic yesterday, adding that they will lodge a formal complaint with government and if nothing is done petition court because the action is illegal.
The Emoluments and Benefits of the President, Vice-President and Prime Minister Act 2010 stipulates that former occupants of those three big offices are entitled to pension, a fully furnished house, chauffeur-driven cars, fuel allowance, medical allowance, security guards and cash to cater for utility bills.
However, some government officials Matooke Republic talked to said that if Mbabazi was still in possession of the car he had as Prime Minister, it was wrong because he had to hand that car over to OPM and then go through the official procedures of getting the one he is entitled to as former PM.