The initiation of the Parliament Election 2024, led by activist Agatha Atuheire and Dr Jim Spire Ssentongo, known for organizing online exhibitions like the Kampala Pothole Expo, has uncovered significant revelations about the financial workings of parliament.
Notably, the parliamentary Expo exposed how former Leader of Opposition Mathias Mpuuga and three other commissioners shared a substantial sum of Shs1.7bn as service awards.Alarming figures have emerged regarding the expenditure habits of Speaker Anita Among and her subordinates, including reported spending on non-existent activities.
Recent revelations highlighted a hefty per diem of $4000 (Shs.15m) for Speaker Anita Among. Complaints prompted the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Betty Kamya, to announce investigations into parliament officials and their financial practices.
The Auditor General’s report for the financial year ending June 2023 revealed irregularities in the payroll, with some staff receiving large payments without proper verification. A diversion of Shs1.2bn was flagged, having been used for unauthorized activities. The report also pointed out difficulties in verifying 39 staff employed by the commission led by Speaker Anita Among.
He red-flagged a diversion of Shs1.2b “irregularly diverted from the activities on which they were budgeted and spent on other activities”. The auditors, according to the report were unable to verify 39 staff employed by the commission headed by Speaker Anita Among.
“Out of 577 employees on the Parliamentary Commission May 2023 permanent salary payroll, a total of 556 (96.4 percent) were fully verified, while 21 (3.6 percent) did not show up. Out of 121 employees on the parliamentary commission May 2023 contract salary payroll, a total of 113 (93.4 percent) were fully verified, while 8 (6.6 percent) did not show up”-the report reads in part.
Further, records indicate a reduction of Shs1bn in the budget allocated to the Office of the Leader of Government Business. With a budget of Shs945.5bn for the current financial year, the Parliament, responsible for legislating, representation, and oversight, spends an average of Shs79bn monthly.
During an Agora Discourse X (formerly Twitter) space, parliament’s Director of Communications, Chis Obore, acknowledged that some junior staff received money on behalf of Speaker Anita Among for corporate social responsibility (CSR). Obore defended the spending, emphasizing the importance of considering how the funds were used for community benefit.
“Parliament is a public organ which carries out corporate social responsibility (CSR) and this money was channeled into individual accounts to cater for these CSRs, The question should be what the money for and how was it spent. Instead of just attacking, let us be fair. I don’t want to condemn Anita for investing in her community yet there are other leaders who have looted government more but did nothing”-he said.
By interpretation of Chris Obore’s words, it’s okay for Anita Among to loot and divert cash to her constituency as long as she does some thing for her people than those who steal and don’t give back to the community.
In response to these revelations, Lubaga Division Residential City Commissioner Anderson Herbert Burora called for Speaker Anita Among to step aside, advocating for an audit into the parliament’s financial affairs.
According to Burora, Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) recently sent some businessmen and women to jail over tax non-compliance but it’s painful that the taxes which are making citizens to be jailed over non-compliance are spent lavishly, shamelessly and recklessly by individuals who are meant to ensure that they are well spent.
A Statement where someone strongly stands to defend fake and bad acts that it’s okay to steal as long as you give back to the community is among the people who still advicate for corruption, embezzlement and bribery in our nation. Let the responsible body handle and if the speaker is found guilty, let the law act on her accordingly. I rest my case