President Museveni has broken his silence on the money given to each of the parliamentary commissioner in form of a service award by parliament.
In a May, 2 letter to the Attorney General, the president has questioned the rationale behind the service awards to the parliamentary commissioners.
He said he has been following the shs1.7 billion shared between former Leader of Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga and the NRM commissioners but it makes no sense to him.
“Were you aware of these ‘awards’? Or the Attorney General does not need to know about this? If you were aware, did you advise that it was legal? The Prime Minister and Finance Minister told me that they only learnt about it in the news, even when they are members of the Parliamentary Commission. The moral question is settled. Such conduct is contrary to the revolutionary principles of the NRM,” Museveni said.
He questioned why Parliamentary commissioners who earn more than other MPs would award themselves all that money.
“ What special services did they provide? Who approved the awards? I am told that it was never discussed by Parliament or the Committee on Legal Affairs. When we are struggling to find money for roads, electricity, and other sectors that bring value into our economy? However, conduct which is only immoral and not illegal may not be punished legally but politically.”
The president asked the Attorney General to advise on the legality of the service awards and whether they violated the Leadership Code or even the Anti-Corruption Act.
“ If they did, what have the IGG and the CID done? Has everyone involved recorded statements? Is there an ongoing investigation? What about the DPP? If there is no legal but only a moral question, what has the NRM Parliamentary Caucus done?”
