Sh20m haunts opposition MPs
Jun 03, 2011
DETAILS emerging from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) inner circles indicate that several contenders in the race for opposition leader were thrown out because they had not refunded the sh20m given to them by the Government for monitoring agricultural programmes.
By John Semakula
DETAILS emerging from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) inner circles indicate that several contenders in the race for opposition leader were thrown out because they had not refunded the sh20m given to them by the Government for monitoring agricultural programmes.
Apparently, several officials, including party president Dr. Kizza Besigye, were concerned that a number of FDC legislators had only criticised the Government for depositing the money on their accounts, but did not take it back.
The money was deposited in all MPs’ accounts in January, weeks before the presidential elections. Whereas the money was for monitoring the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programmes, the opposition argued that it was bribery.
Beatrice Anywar, who was the first legislator to refund the money, said at one of the top management meetings, those who did not return the money were considered as having been compromised.
“Members who were in the meeting asked how people who were seeking leadership positions could be compromised,†Anywar said.
Out of the six candidates who were eyeing the seat, only Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi and Soroti Woman MP Alice Alaso had refunded the money.
Others, including Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal, Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu and Terego County MP Kasiano Wadiri, had not.
Although FDC spokesperson Wafula Oguttu said he was not aware of the meeting that Anywar was talking about, he said the party considers the sh20m a bribe, which party members must return.
“Some legislators are still giving excuses for not refunding the money, but as the party, we want them to refund it.â€
To-date, most FDC legislators have ignored party secretary general Alice Alaso’s instruction to refund the money. Out of 35 FDC legislators in the 8th Parliament, only six have refunded the money.
But the Parliament spokesperson, Hellen Kawesa, said refunding the money was not mandatory and that no MP should be forced to refund it. The money that was refunded, according to her, was returned to Bank of Uganda.
Besides Alaso and Mafabi, others who refunded the money were Beti Kamya, Betty Nambooze, Ssebuliba Mutumba, Nabilah Naggayi, Latif Ssebaggala, Suzan Nampijja, Jack Wamai, and Oduman Okello. Records show that none of the NRM MPs refunded the money.
DETAILS emerging from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) inner circles indicate that several contenders in the race for opposition leader were thrown out because they had not refunded the sh20m given to them by the Government for monitoring agricultural programmes.
Apparently, several officials, including party president Dr. Kizza Besigye, were concerned that a number of FDC legislators had only criticised the Government for depositing the money on their accounts, but did not take it back.
The money was deposited in all MPs’ accounts in January, weeks before the presidential elections. Whereas the money was for monitoring the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programmes, the opposition argued that it was bribery.
Beatrice Anywar, who was the first legislator to refund the money, said at one of the top management meetings, those who did not return the money were considered as having been compromised.
“Members who were in the meeting asked how people who were seeking leadership positions could be compromised,†Anywar said.
Out of the six candidates who were eyeing the seat, only Budadiri West MP Nandala Mafabi and Soroti Woman MP Alice Alaso had refunded the money.
Others, including Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal, Bugweri County MP Abdu Katuntu and Terego County MP Kasiano Wadiri, had not.
Although FDC spokesperson Wafula Oguttu said he was not aware of the meeting that Anywar was talking about, he said the party considers the sh20m a bribe, which party members must return.
“Some legislators are still giving excuses for not refunding the money, but as the party, we want them to refund it.â€
To-date, most FDC legislators have ignored party secretary general Alice Alaso’s instruction to refund the money. Out of 35 FDC legislators in the 8th Parliament, only six have refunded the money.
But the Parliament spokesperson, Hellen Kawesa, said refunding the money was not mandatory and that no MP should be forced to refund it. The money that was refunded, according to her, was returned to Bank of Uganda.
Besides Alaso and Mafabi, others who refunded the money were Beti Kamya, Betty Nambooze, Ssebuliba Mutumba, Nabilah Naggayi, Latif Ssebaggala, Suzan Nampijja, Jack Wamai, and Oduman Okello. Records show that none of the NRM MPs refunded the money.