Inside MPs’ plot to fight M7 over Shs10bn COVID money

By Richard Kintu

Following what they term as an affront on the Legislature, Ugandan Members of Parliament have devised a plot to fight for their individual survival and the sanctity of the august house.

The second opinion website has exclusively learnt that the legislators’ anger stems from the painful realization that president Museveni has since dumped them as they near the exit of their parliamentary tenure yet it is in this same term that he has used them to secure a couple of controversial milestones that have left the legislators naked before the electorate.

Of particular concern is the fact that the president recently decided to side with the wananchi regarding the now infamous Shs10bn Covid-19 Cash Bonanza Scandal that saw each individual MP smile to the bank Shs20m richer.

This saga was escalated after Kyadondo East MP led a couple of like-minded MPs who chose to distance themselves from this money and in fact rejected and/or returned it to the national coffers in apparent solidarity with the common Ugandan who barely has what to eat in the wake of the hardships occasioned by the Covid-19 lockdown.

Matters were heightened when President Museveni bashed the legislators’ “reprehensible” act of swimming in a cash bonanza at the expense of the wananchi. The president did this with the full knowledge that parliament had “sanitized” this money by revealing that it would help individual MPs extend much-needed assistance to their voters. It is however the president’s insistence that this money be returned to the national coffers that has angered a section of legislators who have since launched a mother of wars to save their political careers.

The second opinion has learnt that in the new war, the MPs want to ally behind the speaker, Rebecca Kadaga, who has already shown willingness to take on anyone who attempts to question parliament on matters regarding the money.

It should be noted that the Speaker already touched off this war when she tried to deflect people’s anger towards the executive and judiciary. In her response to the public backlash regarding the money, the speaker has already asked Ugandans to as well query other beneficiaries of what appears to be a covid-19 money bonanza.

Kadaga singled out a coupled of government institutions that include state house and the army that she said requisitioned for money meant for COVID-19 related activities despite the fact that they had just recently been given funds courtesy of a supplementary budget that was passed by parliament.

We have learnt that ahead of Tuesday’s parliamentary session, the MPs had formed themselves into a formidable force of fighters that are supposed to lead the battle to save the house’s pride from being eroded or encroached on by the other two arms of the state.

These cited the constitutional Principle of Separation of Powers as the guiding force for their fight to restore parliamentary independence.

It emerged that as a way of showing their support to Kadaga, they would triumphantly welcome her to the chair as a sign to their detractors that they are ready to support her throughout the full course of this battle.

“We want to give her a standing ovation so as to show our solidarity with her. It will be a big message to Museveni,” sources quoted one of the MPs as vowing.

Just like it happened in the run-up to the summoning of MP Bobi Wine to the parliamentary disciplinary committee (rules & privileges), several outspoken MPs have been lined up to tear into government so as to pile pressure on the executive to back off parliament.

In fact, emboldened by her legislators’ vote of confidence, Speaker Kadaga in Tuesday’s session reiterated her earlier call to MPs not to be cowed by returning the money to the district Covid-19 taskforces as was directed by court (judiciary) and the president (executive).

Kadaga told members to only follow guidelines issued by parliament and “not any other body” in using the Shs20m that was given to each MP.

The speaker’s directive would be echoed by Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda who, in a tweet quoted by parliament, said; “If we allow the head of state to start ordering me around like a shamba boy tomorrow he will order me to donate my salary to a priest in my constituency.

I will move formally that the executive apologises to the house for what happened last week.” It is worth noting that despite belonging to the opposition, Ssemujju was among the first legislators to berate his opposition counterpart Robert Kyagulanyi for returning the said money as if his constituency lacks poor people that could benefit from that money.

Ssemujju would be followed by remarks from Tororo North MP Annet Nyakecho who took off time to decry the human rights abuses in the country’s detention centres.

“Many people are in detention without trial and if an MP (referring to Francis Zaake) can be tortured like that what about an ordinary person?” she said. Much as Nyakecho’s concern can be treated as an individual opinion, it was not best timed as it lent weight to a fresh may 4, 2020 petition that opposition honchos Robert Kyagulanyi, Norbert Mao, Peter Walubiri, Asuman Basalirwa and Dr. Kizza Besigye wrote to the United Nations decrying the deteriorating human rights situation in Uganda.

In the letter written to Secretary general Antonio Gutierrez, the petitioners drew the international watchdog to Zaake’s arrest and torture as well as other violations stemming from the current Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and other prior events.

Nyakecho, however, was echoing Speaker Kadaga’s directive to the minister of internal affairs to explain Zaake’s torture and bring to book his tormentors. It is worth noting that Kadaga made the remarks having recently visited a bedridden Zaake who has since accused his torturers of battering his private parts in a bid to force him to swear allegiance to a future Muhoozi Presidency.

Busoga MPs spit Fire

Yesterday’s fight followed a strong-worded Monday presser in which Busoga MPs in a ‘bare knuckles’ attack, blasted President Yoweri Museveni for attacking parliament and the person of Speaker Kadaga.

The fuming legislators included: Waira Kiwalabye Majegere (Bunya East), Henry Kibalya (Bugabula North), Walyomu Moses (Kagoma County), Robert Ntende (Bunya South), Bagole Ngobi (Luuka County), Panadol Mugema (Iganga Municipality), and Nelson Lufafa (Butembe County).

In their remarks, the MPs demanded that Museveni quickly mends fences with the legislature lest Busoga repays him in the same currency with which he has paid Kadaga whom they described as their only gem (last matchstick)

The MPs further accused the President of using them to pass controversial legislation that is to his favour but which has left MPs fit for dumping having been hated by voters for the same pro-Museveni maneuvers like lifting the age limit.

They thus vowed not to return the Covid money unless directed by parliament; going ahead to question the president’s ability to lead Uganda while beyond 75 years.

They further took swipe at government for turning against MPS yet it earlier treated them as partners in the corona virus fight by borrowing their individual ambulances to address government’s shortfall.  

We have now learnt that as a last gasp measure, MPs are plotting to return the age limit act for review as a way of cowing the executive into feeling their relevance.

By press time it had emerged that the president has together with a select committee of NRM parliamentary caucus agreed to form a constituency covid-19 taskforce across the country to enable MPs channel their support to their constituents as a way of deflecting pressure from individual MPs.