Five former speakers of parliament Prof Edward Rugumayo of the third parliament, Amb Francis Butagira of the fourth parliament, Alhaji Moses Kigongo of the fifth parliament, former vice president Edward Ssekandi of the seventh and eighth parliaments, and Rebecca Kadaga of the ninth and 10th parliaments have received posh SUVs, each estimated at nearly Shs650m. The cars is for the comfort of these former speakers – and perhaps to shield them from potholed roads government is struggling to fix.
And that’s not all. As she handed over the cars, whose value could have fixed potholes in Kampala or improved bed capacity for sick health facilities, Speaker Anita Among told the elderly ex-speakers to expect more: new cars every five years, fuel, maintenance and salaries of their drivers paid by Ugandan taxpayers.
“You will be required to bring your own driver, who we will recruit as Parliamentary staff, Parliament will pay that driver of yours. The car remains a property of Government of Uganda,” said Among.
“Parliament will maintain and fuel these cars. Parliament will after every five years be giving you a new car, or in between when the car gets a problem, you will bring it back and we give you a new car. You are property of Government of Uganda, so we are supposed to look after you.”
Some of these former speakers served in the National Resistance Council (NRC) and National Consultative Council (NCC) and are beneficiaries of the Parliamentary Pensions Act, according to which all speakers and deputy speakers beginning from 1979 are entitled to cars and other benefits every five years.
According to Speaker Among, these former speakers have done a lot for Uganda and the taxpayers should reward them with such huge benefits while they are still living.
“It is always good to appreciate people when they are still alive, you did a lot for this country and continuing to do a lot for this country. You have contributed a lot to this country,” she said.
“We don’t want at the time when you are no more; everybody is paying tribute and talking all the good things about you. As the 11th Parliament, we thought it wise to appreciate you when you are still alive.”
Profiles of Former Speakers of Parliament are HERE.
Ugandan politicians live large. For example, the president and his family spend billions of tax payers’ money every week. (See Details Here, There and Over There).
Former speaker Kadaga was given the posh SUV a day after she complained about potholes in Kampala. (Read Story Here).
