President Yoweri Museveni has issued a warning to Parliament about misusing budgets saying legislative Committees should be funded but in small numbers.
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa, president of Uganda, has issued a warning against improper use of parliamentary budgets, saying small numbers of committees should be funded.
Museveni made the remarks on Thursday in a meeting with members of the Parliamentary Commission led by the Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anita Among and her Deputy Thomas Tayebwa.
He said a Parliamentarian has to serve his people and not him or herself. As a result, he suggested this should be visible by stopping the idea of issuing exaggerated budgets to run their committee activities.
“When you have a leadership role you are a trustee, so you should know that the country does not belong to Members of Parliament. It belongs to the people and other workers of the country,” Museveni said.
“I would like to warn them against misusing budgets. Committees should be funded but in small numbers. The issue of increasing salaries for parliament staff should wait. All others (teachers, army, medical workers) are getting low salaries, handle their welfare first.”
He, in addition, suggested they should extend priority to issues affecting Ugandans. Museveni who was quick to bring up the issue of load shedding in 2005 said the electricity shortage was caused by parliament at that time because it refused to give a go-ahead to projects involving the construction of dams.
Museveni mentioned that when the NRM party took over rulings, Uganda was generating 60 megawatts and selling 30 to Kenya and he raised a proposal to have more power dams, but parliament at that time blocked it.
“This was a betrayal of that parliament. When we won in 2006, I came back and met the cabinet. This time, I was ready for a showdown. I told them that I beg you, we must put more money in two areas of roads and electricity. Cabinet agreed and called the caucus and they agreed.”
That’s how you can see all these roads constructed and we got out of that problem caused by the misuse of parliament. I am very glad that this parliament has moved well. I want to congratulate you,” Museveni mentioned.
He, however, commended those in the 11th Parliament for being complaint citizens about issues that benefit the country. He raised his excitement that they (Parliament) recently also welcomed the Parish Development Model (PDM), an initiative from the government.
“In the past, people used parliament to set up a parallel authorities to fight government programs. I have seen that this parliament is not involved in those mistakes,” Museveni commended.
“I want to thank parliament; you have started well. I thank the entire leadership of parliament for the good way you have started and working well as a government; the executive, legislature and judiciary.”
In her words, however, the Speaker Among thanked the President for always being supportive of the works of Parliament. She indicated that the 11th Parliament has been successful in passing 12 bills out of the 20 presented in the last year.
Similarly, she said they have also passed 64 resolutions out of 78 and presented 31 committee reports.
“We wish to extend our sincere thanks for your continued support. Thanks for the support for our late speaker. Your personal interest in the leadership of parliament has not been in vain and we shall never disappoint you. We shall work together to ensure good governance,” Among said.
