Bukenya to Gov't: I don't need your money

Jul 30, 2014

The ex-VP says he does not need any money from the Government as he has enough money to look after his family.

By Henry Sekanjako

Former Vice President, Gilbert Bukenya, has said he does not need any money from the Government saying he has enough money to look after his family.

The Busiro North MP has also maintained that he has never got sh500m from Government. Bukenya’s reaction follows public service minister’s submission to Parliament on Tuesday.

 “I don’t need this money. I have got enough money to eat and run my businesses. I also have enough cars .In fact I have nine vehicles parked in my garage,” said Bukenya.

The visibly angry Bukenya who was addressing journalists at his parliamentary office was reacting to media reports that Government has so spent sh500m on Bukenya’s upkeep.

Appearing before the parliament’s committee on public service and local government on Tuesday, state minister for public service Mbaguta, told MPs that government has been paying monthly entitlements to Bukenya ever since he was dropped as vice-president in May 2011.

However, according to Bukenya, government has paid him only sh150m in the last three years which money he said is being used to pay workers including his office assistants, driver and domestic workers.

“What is being said by government is a total lie; they have never given me any money.

"The only money which I get is sh4.6m per month which amounts to sh50m per year totaling to sh150m in three years. I use this money to pay my office administrators, gardeners and chef,” explained Bukenya.

To prove that he has never got the sh500m as alleged by Mbaguta, Bukenya has instructed his bankers (Standard Charted bank, Stanbic  bank and Post bank ) to furnish him with  copies of his bank statements for the last four years.

'It's a lie'

Bukenya said he was not so desperate for money boating that being an educated Ugandan, he had many opportunities abroad where he lectures and gets paid handsomely.

“This is unacceptable, to say that government spends sh500m on me. It is a lie. It spends zero shillings on me. May be the money spent on people to spy on me, may be that is the money,” wondered Bukenya.

Under the Emoluments and Benefits of the President, Vice President and Prime Minister Act 2010, former vice presidents are entitled to a monthly pay equivalent to 60 per cent of a sitting vice president’s gross salary.

They are also entitled to s 300m (house purchase fund), a car and driver, medical care, two government paid security guards, a personal assistant and a sh700,000 monthly allowance to cater for electricity, water and telephone bills.

A former VP is also entitled to two domestic staff, sh10m for furniture plus another sh5m for replacement of old furniture every after five years. 

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