Allowances To Be Slashed For Absentee MPs

Posted by: Kyeyune Andrew Jonathan in Uganda news July 13, 2023

Parliament has reached advanced stages in decision to slash allowances for legislators who persistently dodge plenary sessions. This will affect those who keep on dodging plenary sessions without the knowledge and clearance of the speaker herself.

Speaker Anita Among revealed that the office of her deputy, Mr Thomas Tayebwa will also clear legislators who have to miss the sittings.

According to the Speaker, the move will cultivate sanity back into the parliament which works for ordinary people. It will also compel MPs to respect the voters and tax payers’ money from which their salaries are drawn.

On the other hand, the speaker said the decision will be subject to review before it can be voted upon for a final decision. The parliament’s business committee which she chairs will be the one to make the final decision.

The 11th parliament has a sum of 526 Members of Parliament but on a sad note, less than half of these attend the plenary sessions.

“Members must know that they have to attend House, short of that, we will make a decision as a business committee on what should be done. Let’s not waste taxpayers’ money,” Speaker Among said.

On top of the monthly payment, MPs receive Shs50,000 for every committee sitting that is attended. These are consolidated together with allowances for for plenary sittings consolidated with their monthly payment.

A number of MPs who talked to reporters said they are happy with the suggestion. According to them, the proposal was timely since most of their colleagues skip plenary sessions with unclear excuses.

This is not the first time the Speaker of Parliament is threatening to block allowances for MPs. Back in 2014, former speaker Ms Rebecca Kadaga threatened to block allowances for all MPs who skip plenary sessions.

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