By Spy Uganda
Rt. Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the Speaker of Parliament, has urged Members of Parliament to spend on the Shs20m Coronavirus ( COVID-19) which was given to all legislators to help them in the fight against the pandemic in their constituencies.
In a tweet she posted, Kadaga told MPs to “use the money” deposited on their bank accounts appropriately, despite a high court injunction prohibiting the same and contrary to the Attorney General’s advice.
“I and most MPs have disagreed with the Attorney General’s view that none of the lawmakers can use the Shs20m on their bank accounts,” Kadaga tweeted.
The Speaker also assured MPs that from a legal perspective, none of them were party to the suit and therefore, they can go on and spend the money.
She also told MPs that no one will attempt to withdraw or block the legislators’ bank accounts since it was not part of the applicants’ prayers in court. She said any bank that dares touch MPs accounts will be sued.
“I want to warn the banks that are interfering with the accounts of MPs. You will be sued.” the Speaker warned.
It should be noted that each of the 452 MPs received Shs20M in their personal bank accounts on Tuesday from the Parliamentary Commission, as facilitation to fight Coronavirus in their respective constituencies and sensitise masses about the pandemic.
But the money was released on the heels of a pending petition in the High Court filed by MPs Gerald Karuhanga and Jonathan Odur, challenging the process through which the money was controversially allocated to the MPs.
As a result of the controversy surrounding the money, the Attorney General advised parliament that even if the money had been released, legislators should not spend money until the main suit is disposed of, something Kadaga has since vetoed.
However, some MPs, among them Robert Kyagulanyi of Kyadondo East, Francis Zaake, of Mityana Municipality and others have since opted to reject the the money and sent it back to the Central Bank.
The controversy started when Parliament quietly allocated itself Shs10Bn from the COVID-19 supplementary budget, to purportedly facilitate MPs to join national activities in the fight against the pandemic.
But the money has since attracted public criticisms with a section of the public accusing parliament of being insensitive and inconsiderate about the needs of Ugandans, many of who are suffering in dire poverty because of the COVID-19 lockdown.
