Lukyamuzi, EC in heated spat over alleged withheld political party funds
“That money came to the electoral commission, we were told. The electoral commission never told us that we had received that money. Some good Samaritan whispered to us that your money is there," Lukyamuzi alleged.
Conservative Party (CP) President John Ken Lukyamuzi. (File photo)
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Electoral Commission’s (EC) Stephen Tashobya and Conservative Party (CP) President John Ken Lukyamuzi on Thursday, December 11, were involved in a public spat.
The exchange played out on Thursday during a Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) event at Mestil Hotel in Nsambya- Kampala.
It all started after Lukyamuzi, alias "the man", took to the microphone during the question time, accusing the body of denying them their share of political party funds they received from the time they had representation in parliament. Even when he refused to disclose the exact amount and timelines to New Vision when contacted later.
“That money came to the electoral commission, we were told. The electoral commission never told us that we had received that money. Some good Samaritan whispered to us that your money is there. Then, two thieves wanted to steal that money, and we asked the electoral commission not to give that money to the thieves. Electoral Commission never arrested the thieves. We went to court, which is in accordance with the Public Finance and Management Act, and argued our case,” Lukyamuzi alleged.
“The magistrate feared to release judgment and went into oblivion. Up to now, we don’t know where he is. We are saying to the Electoral Commission that it is the right of the Conservative Party to receive that money. The money is not from the Presidency; it is from the taxpayers. If you can not release that money, we advise you to invoke the contents of Article 126 (2) (e) to clear the technicality standing in our way to participate in the elections,” he added.
Before summing, “We are participating in the parliamentary and also presidential elections. You are denying us that access to that money. Why? We are annoyed, something must be done.”
EC responds
However, while responding, Electoral Commission’s Stephen Tashobya denied knowledge of the said funds.
“Honourable Lukyamuzi talked about his money. Honourable Lukyamuzi, you were a lawmaker, a senior leader. You know how the money that is appropriated by Parliament, the way it is appropriated and I am sure you know that the money is paid proportionally to the representation in Parliament. I am not aware of how many members CP had in the last parliament,” Tashobya wondered.
“Maybe it didn’t have a member of parliament, that’s the reason you didn’t get the money. But as it were, it is all about the law, the law can be amended to take care of the concerns of every party getting a portion of that money, which is public money,” he added.
Political party’s share
Apparently, seven political parties namely; National Resistance Movement (NRM), Democratic Party (DP), Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC), Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), National Unity Platform (NUP), Justice Forum (JEEMA) and People’s Progressive Party (PPP), constitute parliament.
Wholesomely, these are allocated sh44.9 billion per financial year. Official records indicate that in the 2022/23 Financial Year (FY), NRM pocketed sh34b, NUP sh5.7b, FDC sh3b, while DP and UPC each got Sh908 million. JEEMA and PPP, which have one MP each, got sh100m.