Uganda: MoDVA – Supplementary Expenditure Schedule No. 3 for the FY 2017/18 Budget (22.05.2018)

Greed 101: The 10th Parliament MPs are doubling their own salaries!

“They have plundered the world, stripping naked the land in their hunger… they are driven by greed, if their enemy be rich; by ambition, if poor… They ravage, they slaughter, they seize by false pretenses, and all of this they hail as the construction of empire. And when in their wake nothing remains but a desert, they call that peace.” – Tacitus

These Members of Parliament is are the definition of greed. They already have cars paid by the government, and then not some off-back neck-in-the-woods ones, but something with 4 Wheel Drive and usually a SUV. These same MPs got tax exempt in 2016, that gotten suits, foods and other benefits in their salaries, they are so caked up with funds for themselves, it isn’t funny. And comparing these fellow brothers and sisters to average salary rate in the Republic. Would be an insult to salary rate in the Republic.

They are now in 2018 trying to get their salary doubled from 11 million shillings to 24 shillings. When they are already paid hefty sums for the cars, the monthly gratuity, medical expenses covered through insurance, wardrobe grants, furnished offices, mileage facilitation, constituency facilitations, sitting fees, allowances for plenary sittings and airtime allowances as well. There is nothing that is already covered, expect for the side-dish allowance, so if they have a man or woman on the side, the state will cover that too!

Because this is an insult to the state, the whole republic. They are already the special class who has a salary, which is tax-exempt, that they fixed for themselves in 2016. They have added and added for every Parliament, added more perks and more covering of their expenses, while their own salary has sky-rocketed.

It is a reason why they are unaccountable and not trusted, its because they are eating, while so many and plenty are living hand to mouth. While the state is figuring out more loans and added debt, these people are topping off on the loads of cash borrowed or donated. They are taking the aid and donations, the squeezing of every buck from the Republic as God-given right. They continue to do so.

So these subject isn’t new, at every twist and turn, these MPs are trying to hash out more funds from the public. Because of any reason within here and the moon. Let’s just be clear, this isn’t fair salary, this is a theft of a nation and the MPs are the embodiment of it. If they weren’t thieving like this, they are still getting kickbacks, grabbing land and also getting paid to vote in favour of the Presidents bills. That is known as the handshakes and “suits” has been given in the past for favourable bills.

This is the National Resistance Movement paradigm, we eat and the rest of you starve, because we need everything and deserve everything. We liberated you so we could eat off your plate and everyone else too. Because we deserve that, while the rest of you fork-up the money, so we can represent you. That is what they are saying and continue saying, without showing any signs of accountability or responsibility to their constituents, because they don’t matter anyway.

As long as they are paid, and paid-in-full. Peace.

10th Parliament MPs is extra greedy as they are eating another Shs. 100m. each!

You know there is something special, you know there is something out of bound and something compelling, when the Members of Parliament (MPs) who has no quarrels with eating without taxation, without thinking of their salaries compered to the ones who they represent. The constituency of the MP must feel betrayed as their allowances and their benefits are enormous, to say it at least, they are gigantic! But take a look at the latest big payment for the MPs!

“Parliament — MPs are smiling all the way to the bank after the government authorised the release of an extra Shs45b to Parliament, with each of the 449 lawmakers set to get an additional Shs100m, ostensibly to buy cars for constituency travels” (…) “In a June 13 letter titled: ‘Additional cash limit of Shs45.8b for the Parliamentary Commission’, Mr Keith Muhakanizi, the Secretary to the Treasury, authorised Ms Jane Kibirige, the Clerk to Parliament, to spend the cash as part of non-wage recurrent budget in the fourth quarter of the Financial Year 2016/2017. The clearance comes barely two weeks to the end of the Financial Year” (Arinaitwe & Manzil, 2017).

So the Members of Parliament are clearly getting another pay-day without passing to much legislation or any sort of consideration of the proposed budget or pledges they had for the financial year 2017/2018. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and the NRM Caucus have clearly made together with the Parliamentary Commission to make a new pay-day for the MPs, yet again!

The National Resistance Movement and their MPs clearly like to get extra brown-envelopes without any considerations of the state of the budget or the way the funds are raised. It is not shocking, it seems like an ordinary event at this point. Not like it is the first time, the MPs uses their Noble place in the august house to enrich themselves and add cost to the state. Therefore, the added debt and interest payments should be feared by the MPs. Instead, they are adding debt and creating more interest without concern of the citizens.

The citizens are going to pay extra for this, they are the ones that are ripped off at broad-daylight. They are eating directly of the state reserve and does it with impunity. Also worth noticing, President Museveni is not sanctioning against it, since he can do as pleases. Since he is eating directly and misuse s it whenever he wants. Peace.

Reference:

Arinaitwe, Solomon & Manzil, Ibrahim – ‘Uganda: MPs Get Extra Shs100 Million Each for Cars’ (17.06.2017) link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201706190735.html?utm_campaign=allafrica%3Ainternal&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=promote%3Aaans%3Aabafbt

The Calvary tried to block “My Life, My Land” Campaign rally in Semuto Town in Nakaseke District!

In Nakaseke District. The Uganda Police Force have been preoccupied with blocking meetings with Dr. Kizza Besigye and the Forum for Democratic Change, as their national campaigns continues. As this was happening when they we’re traveling to Semuto, where the Party and FDC leadership held rallies. While the Police Force and District Police Commander Justus Asiimwe were prepared with roadblocks around the town and also police officers in the town center. There we’re also Armored Personnel Carriers (APC). The Police did what they could do to block. But when he did enter the town and held the rally for “My land, My life” campaign.

Certainly, the FDC have been holding campaigns in Mubende and Luweero where they have recently met the same hostile Police Force, as they are all trying to silence and stop the gatherings. As the people shows up when the People’s President and his FDC comes to town.

Yesterday the AIGP Asan Kasingye issued this statement relating to the public meetings of the FDC: “We wish to appeal to the members of the public to desist from attending their unlawful assemblies and to ignore the messages of incitement and disobedience from the above members of the party” (Uganda Police Force, 05.05.2017).

So the Police Force are calling it an unlawful assembly in Nakaseke District, this will not be last place that the FDC and their campaign team will meet hostile security forces. This is because the Police Force has decided to silence and stop the opposition party from campaigning for their cause. This was written by Erias Lukwago: “I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to the people of Nakaseke District for their firm stance and resilience in the face of brutality and mayhem unleashed by the Police in Ssemuto town this afternoon” (Erias Lukwago, 06.05.2017).

So the intimidation and harassment continues and the FDC are under-fire where they go, where the police are following, monitoring and blocking where Besigye goes. Instead of stopping violent crime and the insecurity that appears on this sort of activity.

While the Red Repper reported this:

“Police unleash all the might on Besigye in Luweero Triangle as criminals ravage the city and entire country. Three businessmen were murdered last week in Masaka. Hardware tycoon kidnapped and murdered in Bushenyi this week. Two more kidnappings were reported yesterday in Mbarara and Bushenyi districts. Two businessmen were in past three weeks shot dead in Makindye, a Kampala suburb” (Red Pepper Uganda, 06.05.2017).

So there are certainly mismanagement in the Police Force, they are more keen on being involved in politics, than actually fighting crime and solving them. Since there seem to be problems that the Police has to solve, but isn’t fit to carry out. The reports from Red Pepper is really worrying. Doesn’t seem like the Police are occupied with that, more with if the FDC are campaigning or having public meetings, which should be seen as misuse of the public resources. Peace.

The UPF Statement on unlawful assembly of the FDC in Kyankwanzi (05.05.2017)

My letter to the 10th Parliament on their reckless behaviour!

Dear Members of Parliament!

I know by now that you doesn’t’ care much about the National Economy or about Transparency as you excluded yourself from the citizens you represented when you gave yourself a giant tax-break with no-income tax. That is the way you are I guess, reckless misbehaving children who are creating havoc in the candy store pointing at all the different kinds of treats and wants them all, even if it make them sick of sugar; they still want it all!

You guys, ladies and gentleman, the so called nobles, the so-called honourable citizens of the Republic have no totally forgotten your place and your reason for co-existing in the Republic. You might think that your above the people, the citizens, the one that you represent exist because of. Even if you think you exists and breathes eats and have pleasure because of President Yoweri Museveni, let’s be clear he is just using you!

I am not mad that you want to have air-conditioner in the North or the Eastern Building of the Parliament, it’s hot and you guys doesn’t want to turn into hot-air or Wokoloso. I know that, you want to peaceful creatures, which doesn’t kill Kasese or support arms for the rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo. You want to keep cool and be great support of the Republic.

I am furious over you wish to grand yourself 4 station wagons for whatever purpose of trading socks at Kololo Airstrip or having secretaries to drive some of you around on your shopping spree at Game or Garden City. That is all up to you and the use of the Station Wagons that you acquire to Parliament. You already have a massive fortune in Car money and doling it out when you started your terms as MPs because your official duty needs that the public offer you luxurious transport. Not take Taxis, Specials or boda-boda’s to Parliament Avenue, which is beneath you. You just like eating the monies of the public who would so!

I understand that the Parliament isn’t built for nor have the facilities for all the MPs now. Since you’re Executive, the chief of Rwakitura and the whole nation has let the nation sore with districts and parishes since his dire beginning of power in the 80s. It was nearly any districts when he entered the building as a Defence Minister under Dr. Milton Obote, now it is more than pages in the Kampala Eye and whatnot Tourist Information brochures that are delivered at Entebbe International Airport. Therefore the amount of MPs has soured with the amount of districts; a cow hasn’t been butchered as many ways the districts in Uganda has been during the last decades under Museveni.

So that the MPs needs office space and rebuild their accommodations is responsible acts of the Parliament, though costly because the share amount of MPs created under the President all of his terms. The MPs are in this one reacting with sense, but they should question the need for all of their services, even if it means giving up their wealthy new acquired lifestyle in the Capital.

What makes doesn’t make sense to me, in a nation where the state doesn’t have enough funds to allocate for the Presidential Jet or Helicopter of the farmer of Rwakitura. So when the current reflection of that in mind, the 10^th Parliament are allocating funds and finding ways of giving Speaker Rebecca Kadaga and Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah. Because these noble creatures and honourable minds needs to take into air and land wherever. Since their roles in Parliament is damn important that they need to follow the Presidential Jet and Helicopter that the State House cannot allocate enough funds too. So they can all stand still at the Helicopter Landing-sites in Kampala. At the Merry for the Kadaga and Oulanyah who dearly need them for their service of the country. They need to be mosquitos who can travel in the air and suck funds out the taxpayers coffers like the mosquito suck blood of their pray. If the Speaker and Deputy Speaker are lucky they will give the nation malaria as of the purchase and maintenance so the inflation keeps rising and the dwindling economy needs more debt to feed the fiscal imbalance of the state budget. The same state budget the Parliament allocated funds to their helicopters. Their needed helicopter that they will silence the MPs and show their way in Parliament; the Parliament will controlled by the waving wings of silence and the blood sucking drones the Speakers have become.

If you don’t understand the spending is of the chain, when the Mulago Hospital still lacks needed equipment, when other state institutions is depleted and civil servants not getting salaries. At that moment of time… the Speakers doesn’t need more perks, they need to be fiscal responsible and show the Executive just ways, since he is not caring about the Bank of Uganda’s hard work to stagger Inflation and the running debt rate. So when they are using public funds as their playground, these runs rapid wild in spending to be sure they can play all the cool games and be spoiled kids. That is what the Parliament and MPs are right now. Time to stop, rehash ideas and think of accountability, transparency and being fiscal responsible! Peace.

Written

By the Writer of this Blog!

Misappropriate funds instead of feeding the hungry in the districts; 10th Parliament greedy MPs only see their bellies and not that they represent the ones that are starving!

Something is just wrong, something is seriously wrong, as the misappropriated funds and public coffers in Uganda; there is something sinister going on. It is okay that a government and administration cannot make it rain or make sun shine, but they can make sure the people together with public gathering technics make sure when there is plenty of water. It’s in tanks and other barrels until needed for the crops and enough for drinking. This is practices mankind has done since the Roman Empire. It’s not spectacular, but convenient.

On the other hand, since Roman Time, there has always been corruption, and men has always been corrupted by gold, silver and sparkly things. So as the citizens are hungry, the starvation isn’t only in Isingiro, where the starvation is dangerously high, there are other districts severely hit by the draught and the lack of rain.

Hunger in the districts:

“Already, 1.3 million Ugandans, the minister said, need urgent food aid and so far, 600kgs of maize flour and 300 kilogrames of beans have been sent to Isingiro Districts where some people have starved to death” (…) “According to Mr Kibazanga, 65 per cent of people in Karamoja sub region have one meal or half a meal in a day as opposed to three meals while 35 per cent of the population in the districts of Katakwi, Amuria, Kumi, Bukedea, parts of Serere and Kaberamaido are in the same phase with Karamoja sub-region” (…) “Mr Kibazanga also revealed that 50 per cent of the people of Koboko, Yumbe, Moyo, Maracha, Arua, Zombo, Nebbi, Adjumani, Amuru, Nyoya, Gulu, Pader, Lamwo, Kitgum, Agago, Soroti, Ngora, Amolatar, Pallisa, Butaleja, Rakai, Isingiro and Tororo have access to a meal a day. The districts of Oyam, Apac, Kiryandongo, Masindi, Bulisa, Kyankwanzi, Nakaseke, Kiboga, Mubende, Luwero, Kyegegwa, Sembabule, Kiruhura, Lwengo, Ntugamo, Kamuli and Kibuuku are in a minimal phase of food insecurity, meaning the people can still afford all meals though stocks are running low” (Tajuba, 2016).

So when the Government knows about that and they continue with their inappropriate idea of giving new cars for the Members of Parliament, something that the 10^th Parliament MPs have been waiting for. It is in their duty and now getting a free-ride for their services; this they do while districts upon districts lack food and water, while they are starving… the reckless thieving of state coffers instead of supplying needed food from the budgets !

New Cars for the MPs:

“Parliament has received a release of Shs25 billion for payment of vehicle grant to members of parliament. The money will cater for at least 250 MPs out of 431. According to parliament’s director of communcations Chris Obore, the Parliamentary Commission will first pay new MPs. The new MPs to get first are those without election petitions in court. The old MPs will be paid when the Commission gets a new release. It emerged recently that each Member of Parliament will bag Shs200m instead of Shs150m as had earlier been budgeted by the Parliamentary Commission. This means Parliament will spend more than Shs85 billion on all the legislators” (the Insider, 2016).

As much as there are money in the system for unnecessary expenditure from the 10^th Parliament, that with no thought or consideration thinks about the consequences for the once they are supposed to represent. They apparently wish to become greedy like the former EX-MPs who we’re taken to court and charged with massive thieving, though where the money really went nobody knows. They surely pocketed some of it, but the where it we’re supposed to go, is not hard to know. Because the pay-outs we’re to ghosts, ghosts are invisible creatures not of the living.

Pension Scam:

“Anti Corruption Court in Kampala has found three former top employees of ministry of public service including Jimmy Lwamafa, the ex-permanent secretary guilty of all the ten charges slapped against them by the state.  Presiding judge, Lawrence Gidudu summarised in his ruling that the fraud to steal the Shs88.2 billion was hatched in the public service, smoothened in finance ministry and executed in Cairo bank where the money was finally paid out to ghost pensioners” (Ndagire & Wesaka, 2016).

So the living in the districts are either this days getting screwed by their own representatives of the 10^th Parliament, as they are more keen on perks and riches than helping the citizens they represent, that is what their President Museveni has been teaching for three decades now. So the people are starving and not getting valuable food or needed water for their daily life, while the MPs are riding in flash, posh cars in Kampala. That is happening while their predecessors are being detained for thieving from coffers to bail-out ghost pensioners, while the results of the matter are not told where the money went.

We can wonder since it is not told, that somebody did their bidding and stole the monies for the bigger plan of their President, and when they we’re not needed to do their service they gotten taken to court. That wouldn’t be surprising as that has happen before in the times udner the Executive Museveni. It’s just new names who done similar things in the past. The billions of shillings are levels of stealing while the hunger is running rapid is worrying; together with the wishes of lavish lifestyle by the men who supposed to represent them. Instead they represent themselves and not using their powers and reach to service the famine ridden districts, because they only see their own tummy. Peace.

Reference:

Ndagire, Betty & Wesaka, Anthony – ‘Court finds Lwamafa, Obey, Kunsa guilty of fraud’ (11.09.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Court-Lwamafa-Obey-pension-scam-Kunsa-guilty-fraud/688334-3448762-n2qb3oz/index.html

The Insider – ‘NEWS MPs receive Shs25 billion for cars’ (08.11.2016) link: http://www.theinsider.ug/mps-receive-shs25-billion-for-cars/#.WCindPnhDIU

Tajuba, Paul – ‘Millions of Ugandans in 45 districts starving, says govt’ (04.11.2016) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Millions-of-Ugandans-in-45-districts-starving–says-govt/688334-3440478-8uj0buz/index.html

Press Statement on the Post Election Environment in the in Rwenzori Region (29.02.2016)

Rwenzori Consortium for Civic Competence (RWECO) & the members: Kali, Good Hope Foundation for Rural Development, Ride Africa and RICNET ere accredited as election observers during the Presidential and Parliamentary  on 18^th Feb, 2016 & local council elections on 24^th Feb. 2016. RWECO and her members deployed a team of 150 as short term observers and long term observers in Bundibugyo, Ntoroko, Kabarole, Kyenjojo, Kyegegwa, Kamwenge and Kasese districts of Western Uganda. RWECO also deployed online platform where comments from observers were remitted through  SMS and plotted on  http://hrcp.or.ug/main. From 17^th Feb, to 28^th Feb, 2016, 164 messages were verified and viewed on the online platform. We commend the Electoral commission that accredited RWECO and her members during the elections.

However, as Ruwenzori region based observers, we note with concern the post -election violence that ensured during and after the elections on 18^th and 24^th Feb. 2016.  RWECO condemns the post- election violence that were reported  between   18^th -19^th  Feb, 2016 at Kasese district Electoral Commission tally center at Kasese district Multi-purpose Hall, located in Nyakasanga, Kasese-Fort Portal Road.  RWECO also condemns the post- election violence that was observed and reported in Bundibugyo District between 24^th -27^th Feb, 2016 after the election of district chairpersons and district councilors. These acts are either driven by personal egos and not accepting the outcome of the elections. Uganda is a democratic country for which we embrace both national and international standards of election observations and democratic processes for which citizens should welcome the out- come of the electoral process.

We wish therefore to state that:

1. All acts of post- election violence be condemned by all actors and Uganda Police take the necessary steps to ensure that peace prevails  in the region and country at large;
2. RWECO and her members also appeals to the candidates who lost the elections to use peaceful and lawful means to address their demands not by inciting  violence in the community;
3. We also appeal to all stakeholders including, Police, state organs, Religious leaders, Cultural leaders and the media to join hands and give the citizens a message of hope that beyond elections, there is a life to live;
4. Police bring the perpetrators of post- election violence to face the law of the land.

Thank you

Jimmy Baluku Odyek
Coordinator

DPC Tubonane warned about traffic to get rid of the rally in the town today for Dr. Besigye in Hapuyo in Kyegegwa district (and didn’t succeed!)

I haven’t written much about the FDC rallies and People’s President Journey through the election even if he has gone from crowd to crowds in any district. He has come in by-passing because of the main events. Even if I am genuine admire of his politics and his swagger in public eye.  That’s because it been peaceful. Though the crowds and speeches deserves coverage, though my last piece was about his visit to Abim Hospital that also made the government look naked. A real power move by the Presidential Candidate; if not for that piece he has not been in main focus because Musveni and Mbabazi campaign trail has made more fuzz or more noise. Though it might not be as fruitful I still have felt the importance of it, even if it isn’t justified with the momentum that Dr. Kizza Besigye have for the moment.

Today I will talk about one report and what happen in Hapuyo Trading Center in Kyegegwa district where the District Police Commander Joel Tubonane claimed to the public and organizers that the venue and rally was disturbing the Trading Center and wanted the rally out of the road. He commanded them to stop the rally. The people answered him with chasing him away. So that Dr. Kizza Besigye holds his rally in Hapuyo. The ironic part of the statement of the DPC was that there were no visible cars in the road or traffic to interfere with the rally in the town.

The great issue about this is that FDC has given the Electoral Commission and Uganda Police Force its Campaign rallies plan and harmonized it after the laws that they have at their disposal, this has given way for the FDC to have rallies in the areas as they have accepted by the EC and UPF. Which should in effect give way for the FDC to do as they have already complied to the law to have these events, this is also into the famous Elections Roads Map that is the guideline that IGP Kale Kayihura spends time dreaming about when he crashes a event claiming it is not entitle in it It seems that the DPC Tubonane has the same ability, though not the same power or man-power in his district to do something about it. If he did he would violate the words of his boss and make him a hypocrite; that wouldn’t be surprising looking at the outcome of Amama Mbabazi rally in Ntungamo yesterday. That is in the same Election Road Map. I wrote about it yesterday, will not spend more on it, until the numbers and actual violence get more painted on the canvas I can’t describe it no more. Though I will say yesterday was unjustified actions from the NRM, period.

What happen today was a reaction to the reactionary DPC who thought by his mere presence would dissolve and abolish the planned rally of the FDC. Like on man and his words would do so. He would by that violate the higher powers that have for some reasons allowed them to do it. That’s the like Dr. Badru M. Kiggundu and IGP Kale Kayihura, the last one his boss. Instead of trying to force them away from the trading district he should have facilitated the planned rally. Not that he would do so, they doesn’t feed him like the loyal crony who hired him for the DPC position IGP Kayihura. Therefore his loyalty is to the NRM, even if the Police is supposed to be as the ARMY a units who are not participating in political activities, even if the latter has Parliamentary Members. That is just me commenting on the foolish reasoning of non-partisan army, which the UPDF is not, so why should the UPF not be loyal to their leader IGP Kayihura who gladly takes parts of great NRM events like recent ones on Kololo in November, and then we know that he will not judge against his own. That is why IGP Kayihura uses the Public Order Management Act to justify actions against opposition parties and activities in every turn that the Police throw tear-gas and tear up venues where the FDC and Go-Forward shows up.

This did not happen today, it is just to prove their viciousness. The actions of the normal police activity; it’s a reason why I am so blunt about it. That the DPC Tubonane in Hapuyo Trading Center was acting as the mouthpiece of his peers. And for those who have followed the UPF and their actions it’s like a déjà vu. We have heard it all before and it was expected.

What was unexpected was the reaction to the Police Commanders wishes of skirmishing the venue and street on his own; because the people reacted to his ways and got him away. That gave way for the FDC to have a rally in the town as planned. Though I wished he walked away freely instead of being chased away. They still proved some humility by not doing anything more. And the DPC Tubonane could have gotten his fellow comrades and retaliated and instead didn’t put up his equipment. That is something we also could have for-seen but that didn’t occur today and we can be happy about that since there been enough innocent people who has been hurt in rallies and consultant meeting in 2015 alone by the powers of UPF.

We could have seen more violence today if the DPC Tubonane had acted against the people who sent him away after threating to close the rally in the trading center. He could have gone and made hazard. Instead nothing happen and silent ordinary rally happen in town where Dr. Kizza Besigye held his speech and travelled on to the next district of the day. We can be happy about that, though sad that the DPC had to go to these ways to prove his power, though he lost it when the people of the town weren’t buying it. We can be grateful for their resilience and really living by the force of defiance against the governmental forces that are holding them in invisible chains, by the long-serving NRM-Regime. Surely not the reports Mzee want to hear in his ear in Saudi Arabia, well, he can’t always be pleased. Peace.