Journalists thrown out of Parliament
JOURNALISTS were yesterday thrown out of the plenary as MPs were briefed about a proposal to review their emoluments.
By Milton Olupot and Catherine Bekunda
JOURNALISTS were yesterday thrown out of the plenary as MPs were briefed about a proposal to review their emoluments.
A source in Parliament last evening said the proposal to revise the emoluments of the legislators was initiated by the 8th Parliament, but was not concluded by the time it was dissolved.
The MPs were reportedly briefed by the former parliamentary commissioner, Kasule Lumumba.
Although Kasule did not talk about the proposal, his colleague, Stephen Tashobya, told the MPs that by the time the last parliament was dissolved the parliamentary commission was in talks with the Government to revise their remuneration.
Tashobya reportedly said the matter had been discussed during a meeting at State House in Entebbe, which was also attended by finance minister Syda Bbumba.
Tashobya noted that it was up to the new parliamentary commission to follow up the matter when a new Cabinet is constituted.
No details were given on the proposal and no questions were raised over it.
There were also no finance ministers in the House to make any clarifications. An opposition MP later said if the matter of raising MPs’ pay had come up, they would have opposed it.
The proposition to send journalists out was first raised by Elijah Okupa (Kasilo), who also suggested that the cameras that record the proceedings be switched off.
He also said the proceedings should not be captured in the Hansard (a record of Parliament’s proceedings).
The Speaker, Rebbeca Kadaga, then ordered that the cameras be turned off but did not rule on the journalists.
Rose Namayanja (NRM), however, insisted that journalists be thrown out, to which Kadaga agreed.
Ibrahim Ssemuju (FDC), a former journalist with The Observer, said chasing out journalists would portray Parliament as ‘conspiring against the countryâ€, but Kadaga quickly retorted: “Remember you are here as an MP not a journalist.â€
Kadaga also ruled that journalists be thrown out from the conference hall, where the MPs convene to discuss ‘in–House matters.â€
Following the ruling, the technical department switched on Big Brother Africa, a social reality TV show on the parliamentary screens in the lobby and various offices.
MPs in the last Parliament received a net salary of sh1.5m per month, constituency allowance of sh3.22m, gratuity of 30% of their salaries. They were also entitled to mileage allowances depending on the distance with the maximum being sh11.7m and minimum of sh4m.
Besides this, the MPs also got sh1.06m allowances for town run and subsistence of sh4.4m to enable them meet accommodation costs since most of them come from up country. They were also given a committee allowance of between sh15,000 and 25,000 per sitting.
On average, the least paid MP gets sh14.5m, while the highest gets sh21m per month. Compared to other East African countries, Ugandan MPs earn slightly less than their Kenyan counterparts, who earn about sh16.5m on average.
The Government also gives MPs money to acquire new motor vehicles at the start of a new term.
Kadaga later told journalists outside the House that the MPs were receiving messages offering them loans. “We are cautioning them not to take those loans until they understand the terms.â€
JOURNALISTS were yesterday thrown out of the plenary as MPs were briefed about a proposal to review their emoluments.
A source in Parliament last evening said the proposal to revise the emoluments of the legislators was initiated by the 8th Parliament, but was not concluded by the time it was dissolved.
The MPs were reportedly briefed by the former parliamentary commissioner, Kasule Lumumba.
Although Kasule did not talk about the proposal, his colleague, Stephen Tashobya, told the MPs that by the time the last parliament was dissolved the parliamentary commission was in talks with the Government to revise their remuneration.
Tashobya reportedly said the matter had been discussed during a meeting at State House in Entebbe, which was also attended by finance minister Syda Bbumba.
Tashobya noted that it was up to the new parliamentary commission to follow up the matter when a new Cabinet is constituted.
No details were given on the proposal and no questions were raised over it.
There were also no finance ministers in the House to make any clarifications. An opposition MP later said if the matter of raising MPs’ pay had come up, they would have opposed it.
The proposition to send journalists out was first raised by Elijah Okupa (Kasilo), who also suggested that the cameras that record the proceedings be switched off.
He also said the proceedings should not be captured in the Hansard (a record of Parliament’s proceedings).
The Speaker, Rebbeca Kadaga, then ordered that the cameras be turned off but did not rule on the journalists.
Rose Namayanja (NRM), however, insisted that journalists be thrown out, to which Kadaga agreed.
Ibrahim Ssemuju (FDC), a former journalist with The Observer, said chasing out journalists would portray Parliament as ‘conspiring against the countryâ€, but Kadaga quickly retorted: “Remember you are here as an MP not a journalist.â€
Kadaga also ruled that journalists be thrown out from the conference hall, where the MPs convene to discuss ‘in–House matters.â€
Following the ruling, the technical department switched on Big Brother Africa, a social reality TV show on the parliamentary screens in the lobby and various offices.
MPs in the last Parliament received a net salary of sh1.5m per month, constituency allowance of sh3.22m, gratuity of 30% of their salaries. They were also entitled to mileage allowances depending on the distance with the maximum being sh11.7m and minimum of sh4m.
Besides this, the MPs also got sh1.06m allowances for town run and subsistence of sh4.4m to enable them meet accommodation costs since most of them come from up country. They were also given a committee allowance of between sh15,000 and 25,000 per sitting.
On average, the least paid MP gets sh14.5m, while the highest gets sh21m per month. Compared to other East African countries, Ugandan MPs earn slightly less than their Kenyan counterparts, who earn about sh16.5m on average.
The Government also gives MPs money to acquire new motor vehicles at the start of a new term.
Kadaga later told journalists outside the House that the MPs were receiving messages offering them loans. “We are cautioning them not to take those loans until they understand the terms.â€