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.

Opinion: If you cannot manage it in 5, you will not manage it in 7

Today Pastor Martin Ssempa wrote a piece for the Daily Monitor called ‘Why MPs need seven-year term to serve the country’. This is happening as the Constitutional Amendment is up for prolonging and making the Parliamentary Terms longer from the current 5 years to 7 years.

His arguments are artificial at best. They are the supposed sugar-coated flattery attempt to seal the deal on a third date. This isn’t the sort of arguments that hold any water in true argument.

The Members of Parliament have 5 years and its been a prefixed time for years. He uses the costs for running and the debt the MPs are getting for running their campaigns. So, it is a better investment for them, if they get 7 years instead of 5 years. He also says its a better investment to let them ride the same paid vehicle they are getting for that long instead of the now 5 years.

There are more simple way of stopping those expenses, right?

The first you can do. Is to revise the laws and make it less expensive to run as a candidate. The current MPs can ensure the costs of being an MP goes down. Have less allowances and have less perks. The MPs can usher in legislation that stops the commercialization of politics and the campaigns. Alas, that isn’t even in consideration in his argument. Which shows how flawed it is. When there are dire and very easy steps to undermine the costs for the taxpayer and for the state in concern with the MPs.

That would be cheaper for the citizens or taxpayers by the blink of an eye. If the MPs had less allowances, perks and other stipulated pay-incentives, which they happen to have today. The argument he has… they will be even more paid and have more time to settle in and get accustomed with wealth the office provides. A pastor is maybe not the ones to talk about greed, but that is “virtue” in the circles of power an influence. Therefore, the ability to stay longer. Might even trigger more entitlement and a more will to find new measures to enrich themselves. Not the opposite…

He also speaks of training and the time to serve. However, even the most seasoned and the ones who has been on several terms as a legislator or an MP. Haven’t necessarily done much in their time in office. This is not discussed in his piece. Neither the service delivery in general. Just the blunt idea that if given time. The ones becoming MPs will turn into seasoned Statesmen. If it was so… then the ones being in office since the early 1990s and early 2000s would have a better track-record and would be known for their legislation. Alas, that isn’t always the case and therefore… his idea is flawed.

The final stroke of genius is the biblical aspect of 7 years instead of 5 years. My counter to that. If you need two more years than what they have already had. Why do they need that and why couldn’t it suffice to do something earlier? Are the five first years barren years with no results and suddenly a yield comes in the magical sixth year before they campaign again on the seventh?

Well, this wasn’t cutting it for me. There was no substantial reason for me. Only a change of this kind will make the ones going for a monetary gain even more hardened. As they will benefit even more and they cannot be voted out. These will linger for longer time and their scandals might even be forgotten between elections. It is made for a one party control state. To keep their loyalist MPs and have their way. This isn’t to secure accountability or transparency, but give them a longer time to earn on their role as a representative.

The Pastor isn’t giving a remedy or a flair of hope. No, his polishing a path with good intent straight to hell. This here will not bring any of the good spirited intentions he might have. 7 years will only prolong the agony and the possible misuse of office. This here will not be for better educating or creating more profound knowledge of developing the state. The end-game is a grift and a hustle. Not a joyful ride to development and better institutions. That will be a lie and we’re not eating it. 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.

Opinion: 536 MPs in the 11th Parliament [means an additional 217 MPs since 2006]

In the 10^th Parliament there is 459 MPs, out of them 77 MPs are above 60 years older. Today, these people added 5 MPs for elderly, so there are for the UPDF, People with Disabilities (PWDs) and Youth. The elderly is for the ones who are above 60 years old. That is 17% of the Parliament.

Maybe it could be less in the 11^th Parliament, but the growth of the Parliament is now going up to 536 MPs after the recent calculation by Parliament Watch. That is an addition of 77 MPs between one term to another. From 2016 to 2021. The 2021 will be a free for all. This because of the 46 new counties, 5 cities and newly created districts in the Republic.

In 8^th Parliament there was 319 MPs (2006-2011) to 11^th Parliament with 536 MPs (2021-2026), which is 217 MPs added since 2006. That is an addition of 21 MPs on average, each year since 2006. This is an astonishing feat by the MPs to make this many seats within the reach of time.

We cannot make this up, the amount of carved out districts and counties. The makings of counties into districts and sub-counties into counties. Which in the end makes the representation for smaller groups of population and gives areas so many MPs. While they are not delivering more services or more needed local government.

This has been shown that some districts has more MPs than doctors and specialized treatments for its citizens. That is just proving a point of how the state is using funds on salaries, emoluments, allowances and other perks they have.

Now, there will be 5 MPs for elderly there, as there isn’t enough with VP, Prime Minister and President of advanced age. All people who could easily gotten pensions from NSSF. The same MPs abolished the age limit, so that the President can be from the stone age and been a buddy with Fred Flintstones.

This is why the recent addition is foolish, as there are plenty of people who are old enough to represent this group. Soon there need to be MPs for newborns and albino. Just to ensure everyone is included and every seat is filled on Nile Avenue. This is just bamboozling the Republic.

The citizens deserves representation, but this is just additional costs without consideration of the revenue. This is just using their role as representatives for selfish reasons and securing another term. All of these additions this term is just to finalize an opportunity to control the next parliament.

To make the 11^th Parliament so big that the National Resistance Movement (NRM) can have overreaching manpower and gerrymander it to make it easy to rig another election. That is why the districts and counties are squeezed to pieces just months ahead of elections, while parties are working to find flag-bearers for everywhere. You just got scrap together candidates in the last minute before the campaigning starts, as there are new places to campaign with no second to prepare.

This is all game for the NRM to prepare. They are not minding the bill, they hope some foreign backer or multi-national will foot that. These people are hoping a loan will pay their salaries in the next term.

2021 cannot come quickly enough. The amount of MPs are growing every week and we are at 537 MPs. Could it become about 550 by next week? Why not? Maybe some snoozefest people in Kabalagala is forgotten and doesn’t have a proper MP. Peace.

Opinion: Nsereko MP is right, but there is no need for more MPs

“How can a district with [30000] thirty thousand people have six MPs and whereas in Kampala and Wakiso areas counties are populated yet they are not considered in this new move of creating counties, he questions the yardstick used by government to create new counties…” – Muhammad Nsereko (30.07.2020 in Parliament).

As there is new cities, 46 counties and new woman representatives coming to the 11^th Parliament. The capital is clearly left behind. As there are a lack of representation in consideration to how other districts and counties are carved up. That is easy to see and not quell over.

Nsereko MP is right in his argument, but is this how things needs to be? A republic that has added 208 MPs in Parliament since 2006 and will have 527 MPs in the 11^th Parliament from 2021. So, there is managed stretch of representation from various parts of the Republic. Where some are so have plenty more MPs than others.

That Kampala is left behind isn’t shocking, neither would it be in Mukono or in Wakiso too. If you look at population and amount of MPs it is easy math. As there are smaller constituencies and not as populated as some divisions and wards in Kampala. That is all natural, but are a simple reason for it too.

The opposition are usually supreme in Kampala. The opposition have a stronghold here and the President and the Movement would be reluctant to give more power to the opposition in Parliament. They rather carve out districts and counties where they would get more MPs themselves. This is why Kampala also is left behind.

National Resistance Movement are doing this all in areas where they know they can get MPs and more representation. They are not willing to do this. If you remember back in 2016, in the general election. The Electoral Commission and polls was later in the capital, even postponed a day, as the voting material was not delivered in time to the polling stations. So, its not like the state is doing the capital any favours.

We can anticipate the similar fashion in 2021. Sure, if the capital had similar representation as some smaller constituencies. It would have like 20 or 25 MPs or even more. As it has 9 in total today and Nakawa carved in two, making it an even 10 MPs from Kampala. With 15 more MPs, the Parliament would be at the extra-ordinary number of 542 MPs. This shows why this is a foolish game and just toying with expenditure of the state. Where they are just adding additional expenses without any added revenue. The amount of additions to the next Parliament is ridiculous.

Like I stated and I understand the argument of Nsereko MP. His right in his statement and there is no redemption there towards the ones who carved out the other counties to add MPs. However, the state doesn’t need another 15 MPs from Kampala either. No one wins on that. Yes, you create more seats and some people get a bigger voice in Parliament. However, the Parliament is already overstretched and this will just be an added burden.

I don’t see anything positive with the additions already made and clearly will see that with adding MPs from Kampala too. There is a need for restructuring, but not carving out more and making constituencies smaller everywhere. This is also true in regard to Kampala. The whole system needs new tools and this way is only ceasing to make sense and creating make-belief counties to get “men of honour” elected to Parliament. Peace.

Opinion: 527 MPs in the 11th Parliament [means an additional 208 MPs since 2006]

There been a rise in the amounts of MPs in the Republic. A such spiralling rise, that its epic. It is such a booming industry. That you would think the National Resistance Movement (NRM) had found the one way to get rich scheme. Ensure that everyone who wants to become MPs can be and ensure that the incumbents can win by making new counties to every single election.

First in the early years of this regime, there 38 NRA/NRM historicals members who ran the National Resistance Council. That was done between 1986 to 1996 and is called the 5^th Parliament. By the time of the 8^th Parliament (2006-2011) there was 319 MPs. In the 9^th Parliament (2011-2016) there was 375 MPs.

In the 10^th Parliament, the current day, its 459 MPs (2016-2021).

While the new legislation today with the new 46 counties, new cities and districts, plus the 5 elders MPs the amount of MPs in the 11^th Parliament (2021-2026) the amount of MPs is up to 527.

So within the years of 2011 to 2021 the skyrocketing business of expansion in the Parliament went from 375 to 527. That is 152 new MPs since 2011.

If you look between the 2006 to 2021, the numbers goes even more insane. The Parliament went from 319 to 527, which means there was an addition of 208 MPs.

This means from 2006 until 2021 the Republic has made constituencies for 208 MPs, some special reserved seat and some Woman Representatives. However, the amount of adding this much people to be representatives in the August House must be redundant. Just like no government needs the amount of cabinet or Presidential Advisors. Which are all made in favours of the President.

Imagine, the Republic have created 208 seats in 15 years. It is a reason why they have to restructure and rebuild the Parliament. There is no office space, no halls to hold plenary sessions and so fourth. There are too many who has to show up and the building wasn’t built for that amount MPs.

This here is gerrymandering and carving out counties to secure weak MPs and ensure safe passage into Parliament. To also secure more friendly MPs of the regime. Have more cronies paid and lackeys covered in Parliament.

Your ensuring a costly parliament, MPs who is paid and covered with allocated funds, allowances and cars. Sitting fees and everything else. These people are paid millions upon shillings, while people living in a gig economy.

To create these much counties and MPs is only securing loyalty from the top. This is not to better the Republic. Only creating more expenses without adding any revenue. Peace.

Kenya: Governor Alfred Mutua letter to IGP Hilary Mutyambai – Re: Treats to me by DP William Ruto, Aden Duale and Kipchumba Murkomen (16.12.2019)

Council of Governors: Jamhuri Day Message (12.12.2019)

Kenya: MLK LLP letter to Chairman Kirogo – Ref: Request for Information on Dennis Njue Itumbi (09.12.2019)

Opinion: Kenyatta’s Week of Anger

It seems like its been a week of anger in concern of President Uhuru Kenyatta. It is hard to know why he suddenly gotten so mad. Maybe the fuzz of the beers or whatever he drinks doesn’t work anymore. Maybe some international organizations doesn’t want to borrow money without to many strings anymore. Who knows? But certainly, his not the happy, go lucky President of the past.

Kenyatta has gone after the ones claiming he was silent. He has targeted the ones who commented on the BBI Report before it was published. Uhuru has addressed the Tanga Tanga and Ruto allies. But not in friendliness, but straight forward attacks.

First with the silent quote, before the carrying own cross!

“They see me silent and think ‘he is just there and knows nothing. There is nothing I do not know and when the time comes, I know those who speak and they are not those who are speaking now. When the time comes, we will come and we will speak to you about what we will do. Mwaka mpya, we are with you. Let’s just first listen to their lectures. We are with you” – Uhuru Kenyatta on the 4^th December 2019

“Please let us not politicize the war on corruption. When an individual is stealing public resources he doesn’t do so on behalf of his family or community. Therefore, anyone who is implicated should carry their own cross” – Uhuru Kenyatta on the 8^th December 2019

With this he shows that his made and furious. Not that Kenyatta haven’t shown that before. He has whined before in public about his war on corruption. Not that its believable, because his closest cronies and known grand corruption scandals, which are not touched or have had any consequences. They have just gotten appointed elsewhere or gotten away scotch-free.

That is why his anger and frustration only seems forced. That the President only says this things, because he knows this is the right thing to say. However, his actions and his state of affairs is saying otherwise. That is why its not believable.

It is a mirage, that the President think he can create on his own. He thinks he can build it and make the image of it into reality. When its only a creation of his own imagination. The President can continue with his harsh words, warn and talk of sanctions. The President can continue to assault one part of the political elite or professions, but that wouldn’t change anything.

Kenyatta can act mad, can act sad or even glad. Nevertheless, the real actions are shown with what he borrows, the debt-ratio he leaves behind, the state deficit and the lack of good results from his time in office. That Kenyatta have little to show compared to the Big Four promise or the other pledges. Is because the state has been busy doing other things and securing their time to eat. The President has accepted it too, because he has eaten too.

That is why, the current outcry and stable battle against corruption goes old. When it really isn’t targeting the ones on the top, but the small fringe players and the ones whose has their turns. That is why Kenyatta can play and think PR speeches will save his behind. However, it will not. It is a lot of noise, but no real action. Peace.