Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, recently disclosed to the media that he has repaid the excess funds allocated for his trip to Nairobi, Kenya. The purpose of the visit was to check on the health of Muhammad Ssengirinya, a member of Parliament for Kawmepe North, who is currently receiving medical treatment in Nairobi.
In February, Ssenyonyi, along with other opposition leaders, traveled to Nairobi to visit Ssengirinya, who is battling various health issues, including skin cancer and gastrointestinal complications. Ssengirinya’s health deteriorated rapidly, prompting his urgent transfer to the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi on January 9th.
Initially allocated approximately Shs 36 million Ugandan for the trip, Ssenyonyi clarified that he had planned to stay for only one night in Nairobi. However, due to administrative processing, the funds were disbursed for the entire anticipated duration of their stay, which was five days.
Upon realizing the discrepancy, Ssenyonyi promptly addressed the matter during a media briefing in Kampala. He stressed the importance of accountability among leaders and acknowledged the existence of an accountability office in Parliament responsible for deducting any surplus expenses from their emoluments in subsequent months.
Ssenyonyi emphasized that he had submitted the excess funds for deduction from his March emoluments. However, due to delays in the process, he decided to reimburse the amount himself to expedite the resolution. He deemed it unacceptable to wait until April for the deductions to take effect.
To ensure a swift resolution, Ssenyonyi withdrew the funds from his account and deposited them into the accountability office. He underscored the importance of prioritizing accountability in leadership and urged his colleagues to uphold similar standards.
In conclusion, Ssenyonyi’s proactive approach to addressing the surplus funds issue demonstrates his commitment to transparency and accountability in public service.