The Speaker of Rebecca Kadaga (pictured) has announced a set of guidelines that MPs must follow while utilising the Shs20M that has been given to fight Coronovirus in their districts.
“MPs will spend funds only on those interventions of COVID19 in the districts. Needs of districts aren’t homogenous and each district will determine its needs. Accountability shall be made to the Accounting Officer of Parliament and copied to the Chief Administrative Officer,” Kadaga said i her Communication during today’s plenary sitting.
She revealed that Parliamentary Commission on 17th April 2020 disbursed to each MP funds to enable them carry out oversight of Government programs and this was followed up with a meeting held with President Museveni, Speaker and Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda where the trio agreed on how best activities of Parliament can be incorporated within those being implemented by Government structures.
The Parliamentary Commission also ordered MPs to adhere strictly to the Government guidelines and shall not personally get involved in distribution of food and materials.
“MPs shall not organise meetings in breach of national guidelines,” Kadaga said.
In a related development, Kadaga rejected the advice of the Attorney General, William Byaruhanga to have all MPs to stay the spending of Shs20M that was part of the Shs10bn allocated to Parliament for activities aimed at containing Coronavirus spread in Uganda.
During yesterday’s plenary, Kadaga requested the Attorney General to guide Parliament on how to implement a court order stopping the disbursement of Shs10bn allocated to the legislature through the parliamentary commission, until High Court disposes of a case filed seeking to bar Parliament move to spend money.
While executing his duties today, Attorney General, Byaruhanga, the principal legal advisor of Government told Parliament that the interim court order was binding to the individual members of parliament hence spending the money tantamount to contempt of court.
However, Kadaga rejected the legal advice describing it as interference of the work of parliament by the Judiciary, which is against the democratic principle of separation of powers between the three arms of government; Judiciary and the Executive.
“We look at this as an attempt to suffocate the work of Parliament, to deminish powers of Parliament. I want to warn the Banks not to interfere with MPs accounts. You will be sued. The MPs you’re disturbing have no judgment against them, so what’s the stupidity anyway,” said Kadaga.
