The controversial Shs20 billion given to each Member of Parliament to combat the deadly coronavirus has raised public eyebrows but some MPs are not willing to reject the money.
Kira Municipality legislator Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has joined those who will not be returning the money. Appearing on the Capital Gang radio show this morning, Ssemujju revealed how the act of returning the money has not helped in the past because most MPs don’t return it, and offence is put against them.
“I have to make a personal decision; balancing morality and people who are starving. I have returned money twice during my time in Parliament. This particular one, I shall not return; it is not even enough,” Ssemujju said.
Semujju said as an MP in an urban area, he provides food for many people in his constituency; children and pregnant mothers among others.
Ssemujju’s comments come two days after Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga stopped MPs from talking about the controversial money.
“I want to appeal to the honourable members of the house that the issue of the shs10 billion is an issue of the Parliamentary Commission. Members should not continue talking about it because you don’t know about it,” Kadaga said.
The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) Spokesperson also cautioned government’s decision not to involve MPs in the distribution of food relief. He said it is the reason for the slow distribution.
“We (MPs) interact with the people in our constituencies. I know who sleeps in a taxi, who the genuine LCs are, etc. If you gave me Kira, I would be able to distribute food in a few days. You might have security infrastructure but you don’t have political infrastructure,” he said.