Newly elected Members of Parliament affiliated to NRM have rejected a proposal to reduce international travels in the name of reducing government expenditure.
While at the closing day of their retreat at Ngoma in Nakaseke District, the newly elected MPs opposed the proposal saying though in these COVID-19 times its good for government to cut down its expenditure to save the much-needed funds that can be diverted to other development areas, the MP trips abroad are also very necessary as learn and lobby a lot for their areas.
The Chairman of the NRM party, President Yoweri Museveni intervened saying parliament is not the one that runs Uganda as the proposal will be put to a referendum.
According to an ISO report, State House spends over Shs56 billion on travels on average, while parliament spends over Shs21billion on average.
Museveni accused the current parliament of frustrating government efforts by failing to approve required funds for implementation of government programs.
He said he would not lobby or beg anymore but use his authority to ensure that no one slows down government programs in his new term.