No money for securing Parliament parking

By Umaru Kashaka

THE sh30b parliamentary parking is to remain idle until next financial year because the Treasury does not have sh16.3b to in-stall security equipment in the multi-storey parking lot. 

Finance state minister Fred Omach revealed this as he sought approval of the parliamentary budget committee for a sh237b supplementary expenditure. 

“That money (sh16.3b) is not available and it’s not in this supplementary request. But it will be provided in the next financial year,” Omach told the committee chaired by Pian county MP Remigio Achia.

However, the MPs threatened to refuse to pass the supplementary request. 

“You must find this money now or else we shall not approve this budget because our security is paramount,” the committee members said.

The money is for CCTV cameras and access cards for legislators to the 500 vehicles’ underground parking lot. The two original parking spaces at the North and South wings of Parliament take only 173 vehicles.

The car park was formally opened by President Yoweri Museveni in November last year. 

The Parliament Commission pays $50 (about sh125,000) a month for each of the 100 MPs’ cars that Park at Bauman House private parking lot across from Parliamentary. 

The Clerk to Parliament, Jane Kibirige, told New Vision that Parliament is negotiating with the finance ministry to provide at least half of the money.

“We are still hopeful that we shall at least get some money to start with. And as you know with security, you cannot wait,” she said.