MPs cars: Parliament to go ahead with payment

The commissioner of the Ugandan parliament Peter Ogwang has said that parliament will go ahead with the payment of sh150m to every MP to buy a car regardless of a court petition seeking to block the process.

This comes after a member of the public, Wilson Mwesigye, petitioned the Constitutional Court seeking an injunction against the payment.

He claims it is an unconstitutional move.

But Ogwang has insisted that while it is Mwesigye's right to seek court action, it will not stop parliament from going ahead with the payment for vehicles.

He said that lawmakers need ample facilitation by government in order to serve their constituents well.

"I want to go on record. It cannot stop us from going ahead to give Members of Parliament money (...). When money is available definitely the commission will have to go ahead and pay Members of Parliament money for cars," he said.

"He [Mwesigye] has his right to go to court but I only want to appeal to the public, as a commissioner of parliament, that we Members of Parliament are elected to do four cardinal roles. I should be facilitated to do the above roles."

In the suit filed against the parliamentary commission and the Attorney General, Mwesigye notes that the payment is illegal and will affect the country's resources.