Ex-Minister Gangs Up Against MPs’ Shs20m COVID-19 cash

By Henry Mulindwa
Former state minister for internal affairs, also former woman MP for Rakai District Sarah Kiyingi has kicked started a process aimed at forcing MPs return COVID-19 money.The MPs a few days ago secretly awarded themselves with a cash bonanza worth Shs20m each purportedly to help in carrying out supervision and advocacy against the spread of Corona virus.However, the money has since generated public uproar with some sections of the public terming it as betrayal on the side of members of Parliament.As such, Kiyingi is currently leading a crusade aimed at forcing this money’s return so that it can be used to enhance allowances and salaries for medics.She says so far, the process has received huge welcome by the public with several of them signing this online petition.”The petition with over 16000 signatures will be printed out and submitted to the president, vice president, speaker of parliament and the prime minister. The only challenge now is this lockdown. Personally, I don’t have permission to move out of my own compound. I have no printer in the house. So, I can’t it neither can I deliver it physically. It’s an online petition. So, over 10000 people have expressed displeasure about this Shs20m” she says.However, like other people who try to challenge MPs’cash awards face difficulties, Kiyingi is also headed for an uphill task to sail through. Already, the victims (MPs) are up in arms against her for her intended act. Some are even warning that should she dare present the petition with signatures, she would be arrested and charged with attempted murder.”How did the Honorable recieve those signatures during this lockdown? Door to door? That’s attempted murder. You will be arrested on the day of submission of those signatures” warns MP Lokii Abrahams (NRM) adding that ‘these signatures will be dumped in the same file as those of age limit’Another member Odonga Otto even even accused the lead petitioner of spreading Corona virus.”She’s spreading Corona virus in that paper of 16000 people. However, it’s good. It will keep you (Kiyingi) busy for a while for nothing though” he says.Other members argue that this money is needed in their areas. Robert Migadde (NRM) says already district Taskforce has a budget of shs165m. Therefore, the 20m will boast this budget to shs185m if taken by MPs.”My people are excited to receive it if it can come” he says. “Unfortunately, the vulnerable can’t afford being online. So, those who need food are out of this category that can sign online” another member argues.However, to other pro-petition members like Ibi Florence who’s former woman MP for Kaberamaido, it is in bad act that MPs are ganging up against Kiyingi.”Why are MPs ganging up against Kiyingi? Let’s give the lady a chance. She’s a free Ugandan to take a position like any other person. This is an online petition for anyone to ask how she got signatures” she says.On her part, Kiyingi insists that the petition whether adopted or not, will achieve certain steps.For example, it would make the voters form proper opinion about their current MPs.”I think it is a very unwise thing for politicians to ignore the voices of the people. Secondly, if they go ahead and get this money, they will be tightening the noose around their political necks” she says.