Activists fighting to block MPs pension
Aug 08, 2003
CIVIL society organisations have launched a massive campaign aimed at blocking a proposed bill in which Members of Parliament intend to award themselves hefty pensions on quitting politics, reports <b>John Eremu.</b>
CIVIL society organisations have launched a massive campaign aimed at blocking a proposed bill in which Members of Parliament intend to award themselves hefty pensions on quitting politics, reports John Eremu.
The MPs are split over the scheme that will cost the taxpayers over sh570m a year if passed into law.
In a charged public dialogue at the International conference Centre on Thursday the MPs came under fire for being insensitive to Uganda’s impoverished economy with the Uganda Debt Network (UDN) and the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), which warned of court action should the Bill be passed.
UDN co-ordinator, Zie Gariyo, said they were mobilising up to one million signatures to petition against the bill. He said MPs earn sh5.4m a month including a monthly gratuity of sh400,000. He said they were already getting their pension and it was obnoxious of them to demand for pension when out of Parliament.
UWONET co-ordinator, Jacqueline Asiimwe, outlined public officers entitled to pension as stipulated in both the 1995 Constitution and the Pensions Act and MPs were not part of them.
Ends
The MPs are split over the scheme that will cost the taxpayers over sh570m a year if passed into law.
In a charged public dialogue at the International conference Centre on Thursday the MPs came under fire for being insensitive to Uganda’s impoverished economy with the Uganda Debt Network (UDN) and the Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), which warned of court action should the Bill be passed.
UDN co-ordinator, Zie Gariyo, said they were mobilising up to one million signatures to petition against the bill. He said MPs earn sh5.4m a month including a monthly gratuity of sh400,000. He said they were already getting their pension and it was obnoxious of them to demand for pension when out of Parliament.
UWONET co-ordinator, Jacqueline Asiimwe, outlined public officers entitled to pension as stipulated in both the 1995 Constitution and the Pensions Act and MPs were not part of them.
Ends