Finance ministry permanent secretary Ramathan Ggoobi says Parliament leadership recently promised him that they would not purchase new vehicles.

The move, according to Ggoobi, who is also the Secretary to the Treasury, is aimed at enabling the Government to reduce consumptive expenditure.

He made the remarks during a morning talk show on one of the local TV stations in Kampala on Thursday, March 28, 2024.

“I told you here on TV that we are not buying cars. A week later, Parliament was parading cars of former Speakers. I told Parliament [that] it is a statutory institution and I respect it so much. They said they will never do that again,” he said.

While reading the national budget in June last year at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, finance minister Matia Kasaija said there would be no purchase of new vehicles for political leaders and public officers, except for hospital ambulances, medical supplies or distribution, agricultural extension services, security and revenue mobilisation in a move which analysts said aimed at ensuring a 6% economic growth.

In December last year, Speaker of Parliament and Bukedea Woman MP Anita Among handed over vehicles to former Speakers at the Parliamentary Building in Kampala.

The recipients included former Vice-President Edward Ssekandi (Speaker from 2001 to 2011) and Francis Butagira, who served as Speaker from December 1980 to 1985.

The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, who was Speaker from 2011-2021), was also among the beneficiaries but she never turned up that day to receive the car from Among.

“It is always good to appreciate people when they are still alive and that is why I’m telling you that you did a lot for this country and you continue to do a lot for this country,” Among said.

“We don’t want to appreciate you when you are no more and when everybody is paying tribute and saying good things about you, but as the 11th parliament, we thought it wise to appreciate you when you are still alive,” she added.

Among also disclosed that Parliament would be giving the former Speakers new cars every five years, and the cost of fuel, maintenance and salaries of their drivers would be covered by the Parliamentary Commission.