KAMPALA- The deputy speaker of parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has warned MPs against involving parliament in the ongoing financial donations allegedly from the president. The deputy speaker described the 100 million shillings allegedly given to members of parliament as street talk.
His reaction followed the matter raised by Butambala County MP Muwanga kivumbi, who wanted the deputy speaker to shed light on the alleged donation of 100 million to each MP. Bitter Kivumbi said that Parliament never approved any expenditure for the president to donate to members of parliament.
Cu e in…………… Kivumbi on money
Tayebwa warned a section of members of Parliament who were blackmailing others that they received the money outside parliament’s known payment procedures to stop such baseless allegation.
He said that if there is any matter regarding this issue, MP can write to the speaker and request investigation into the matter instead of alarming and tarnishing Parliament’s image.
Cue in……………..Tayebwa on money
The government chief whip, Hamson Obua, said that whoever alleges that MPs got donations from the president should prove it by producing evidence.
Cue in………………….Obua on proof
The allegations were made by Leader of Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, who took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to accuse both NRM MPs and a select group of opposition MPs of receiving monetary rewards for supporting the bill.
In his post, Ssenyonyi claimed that there was a secretive exchange of money within Parliament, suggesting that each NRM MP and a few handpicked opposition MPs were being given Shs 100 million as an appreciation for their role in passing the coffee bill.
He further alleged that the money was also linked to the upcoming amendment to the UPDF Act, which seeks to allow civilians to be tried in the Court Martial, despite the Supreme Court ruling against such a measure.
“We’ve learnt that there is money which is surreptitiously exchanging hands in Parliament. Information reaching us is that they are giving each NRM MP (and a few selected opposition MPs) 100m shs each, as appreciation for the coffee bill that was passed, and also in readiness for the proposed amendment to the UPDF Act which will seek to cement the trial of civilians in the Court Martial in spite of the Supreme Court ruling. Our Country needs a reboot,” Ssenyonyi wrote.
In response, Parliament dismissed these claims, stating that no such payments had been processed.
The statement from Parliament clarified that the Clerk of Parliament had not authorized or processed any payments to MPs in relation to the coffee bill.
“There are claims on social media regarding alleged payments of Shs 100 million to MPs. The public is advised that Parliament makes statutory payments to MPs processed by the Clerk to Parliament and reflected on their individual payslips. The Clerk has not processed any such payments.”
