Opinion: Ipads for MPs Volume 3

“UPDATE: Parliament has procured Ipads for all Members of Parliament to ease their work, Deputy Speaker Anita Among has announced” (Daily Monitor, 29.07.2021).

This isn’t new… it seems like every parliament since 2013 have gotten this. The Parliament have ordered, procured and delivered Ipads to all MPs. This means the 527 MPs will get each one. The MPs have also in the past gotten computer equipment as well. Therefore, don’t be shocked if they are getting everything they needs.

This is an issue since the 9^th Parliament. Where the same MPs haven’t even been willing to return the borrowed equipment, which they was only getting because they elected to represent and had as a part of the office. So, when they were leaving the office, the stuff needed for that should be returned.

The procurement of Ipads isn’t the biggest one. It is neither an essential either. This is a luxury for the MPs. Who are getting allowances, sitting fees, cars and whatnot. Including new Ipads as well. That is said to help the Parliament in its work and the plenary sessions, as the Ipads are instead of the documents the MPs need to form an argument and follow the minutes of the session. However, the MPs could have afforded this easily with their salaries and all the incentives they already have.

The Ipads just like the vehicles is a lack of priority. It shows that the expenses of the MPs is covered. These folks can easily eat and get luxurious items as a part of their office. For being the representatives of the people. They are getting electronics and vehicles. Huge salaries, allowances and all the other perks. Surely, we have heard MPs complained about the lunches and dinners provided to them in the past as well.

The MPs are used to get things for free and allowed to give themselves big raises. So, expect that to happen in the 11^th Parliament as well. They are just continuing with the same schemes and agreements. They are getting huge pay-offs and a big pay-day for their job. While the state cannot afford to do the basics. That’s why the public outrage over these expenses is reasonable. Peace.

11th Parliament First Pay-Off: Each MP get’s Ush. 312m for new cars!

“A total of 165 billion shillings is urgently needed by Ministry of Finance to procure new vehicles for the 527 newly elected MPs” (NTV Uganda, 26.01.2021).

It is estimated that each Member of Parliament (MP) is getting Ush. 312 million shillings or about $84,600 US Dollars. If you want a decent sedan in the Republic that costs about Ush. 50 million shillings or about $13,500 US Dollars. So, the MPs have an easy access to not only posh cars, but also ability to pocket the money too. Some could even pay-off campaign debts and other expenditure for the campaign period.

This is a clever way of compromising the MPs. We are also seeing the state is doubling the amount of money spent from one term to the next. As in 2016, the Ministry of Finance wanted Ush 85 billion shillings. Now in 2021 they want to double that plus some with 165 billions shillings.

In regard to that. The Parliament have grown substantially between the two terms. The 10^th Parliament had 459 MPs, but the 11^th Parliament will have 527 MPs. That is a stark rise in the amounts of Representatives in the August house. That is why all the costs of operation and expenditure of the state will grow. That is happening without any significant growth in the tax-base or domestic income for the state. This is adding the bill without a plan for how to pay it.

To give and make car expenditure such a big sum of funds. The MPs is getting a lavish payout and a huge envelope just after the elections. This is a giant pay.-off and a token of what’s to come. We expect funds for “suits” and whatnot too. The MPs already have perks, salaries and compensations, which is making them wealthy from the get-go.

The MPs have the ability to enrich themselves while in office. The state is funding their lives, but not compensating them for representing a constituency, but they are able to get wealth. The MPs can with the job get rich and live like successful businessmen. That is what they can. There is so many avenues and means of living large. That is created by them and they have plenty of ways to get paid.

The spending on the cars is just one out of various schemes to give the MPs money. That not to talk about the NRM MPs who can go to NRM Caucus before a favourable vote can get envelopes too. That has happened in the past and wouldn’t be shocking, if that happens in the 11^th Parliament too. That is the sort of game the General does. He compromise his MPs with “cheap” money to get his will. This will happen again and the MPs will be eaten by their greed.

The MPs will get a salary, allowances and whatnot. This is just the first one. The state does this and will continue to do so. Because, the “High Above” and the General is supporting this. Since this compromise them and get them in his pocket. Peace.