Should MPs get pay rise?
Jul 19, 2005
Last week, MPs voted to increase their daily subsistence allowance from sh104,000 to sh150,000. This puts their monthly subsistence at sh4.5m up from the current sh3.12m.
Last week, MPs voted to increase their daily subsistence allowance from sh104,000 to sh150,000. This puts their monthly subsistence at sh4.5m up from the current sh3.12m. The MPs also earn a monthly salary of sh1,461,000, gratuity of sh438,300, a mileage allowance depending on where a member comes from, and a medical insurance of sh2.5m. In June, President Yoweri Museveni promised them sh10m constituency development fund per year. They are also to receive pension. Joshua Kato sought people’s views about the issue:
Abu Kawenja, CBS radio presenter: We should stop electing people who go there and think of their stomachs first. The masses should be focused this time when electing their MPs because they have seen how they are behaving now. Let us halt sending potato growers to Parliament and, instead, send people who could articulate issues properly.
John Mukisa, photograper, Mukono: People are lacking drugs in hospitals and we need good roads in the districts. We send these people to Parliament to us views but they turn around and start catering for their needs forgetting us.
Sam Kakande, self-employed: People are dying of poverty and these MPs are just filling their stomachs. This money should be used to build schools and stock health centres with drugs in rural areas. MPs have exhibited the highest order of corruption. After pocketing sh5m during the kisanja debate, now they want more money.
Patrick Kazibwe, self-employed, Kampala: We need to ensure that the population is not strained too much through collecting taxes to cater for MPs.
Johnson Ssenyonga, Mukono Mayor: I am not happy with the increment. For instance, under local government, mayors cover and govern places but they are paid less than sh1m yet these MPs who cover only small constituencies want more than sh6m. The increment shows our MPs have lost track and they are just after money.
Isa Kikungwe (Kyadondo North): If a member of parliament works like any other Ugandan, it is not very bad to get pension and a good salary. I don’t think the public should have trouble with this. However, the trouble is that members of parliament have failed to behave exemplary. When the public gets information that MPs receive money as a bribe, the public is right to question the MPs monetary benefits. Once MPs are exemplary in conduct, I don’t think the public will question all these things.
Jerimiah Enyagu, MD, New Generation Video Library, Mukono:
What is the essence of MPs increasing their emolunments yet the Government recently reduced the number of government-sponsored students at Makerere University. It is better more students are catered for at the university.
Paul Ssetaala, MUK: In real monetary terms, Ugandan members of parliament earn less than their Kenyan or Tanzanian counterparts, but in GDP percentage terms, they earn much more than Kenyans or Tanzanians. They should not bring the issue of Tanzania and Kenya here.
Reagan Kizito, student, Kyambogo University: I do not support them at all and they should halt increasing their money exorbitantly.
Donald Karimba businessman, Mukono town: President Museveni should come out and protect us from these MPs who are interested in only drying our national treasury.
Latif Ssebagala (Kawempe North): We need to reduce the number of MPs. I was happy with the Ssempebwa Commission’s recommendation of at least 120 members of parliament. Once the number of MPs goes down, it will be affordable. They will be paid well without necessarily stretching the budget.
Martin Wandera, workers MP: It should not be misinterpreted that I am opposed to the idea of an increment or pension. My conflict is with the timing of this debate. Just as the lifting of term limits is linked to President Museveni, so is this debate. Even if it is a principle, the public will look at it as if we are out to enrich ourselves. I think it should have waited until the next Parliament.
Badru Kazibwe, student, Muk: I don’t support the increment because it would affect our National Budget. When the MPs’ emoluments are high, the funds that would go to districts for roads and schools are reduced, to cater for them. And most of them have failed to contribute to debates in the House.
Douglas Lutaaya, student, Kampala International University:
I think they should not be paid that money because they are not doing a lot of work.
Abu Kawenja, CBS radio presenter: We should stop electing people who go there and think of their stomachs first. The masses should be focused this time when electing their MPs because they have seen how they are behaving now. Let us halt sending potato growers to Parliament and, instead, send people who could articulate issues properly.
John Mukisa, photograper, Mukono: People are lacking drugs in hospitals and we need good roads in the districts. We send these people to Parliament to us views but they turn around and start catering for their needs forgetting us.
Sam Kakande, self-employed: People are dying of poverty and these MPs are just filling their stomachs. This money should be used to build schools and stock health centres with drugs in rural areas. MPs have exhibited the highest order of corruption. After pocketing sh5m during the kisanja debate, now they want more money.
Patrick Kazibwe, self-employed, Kampala: We need to ensure that the population is not strained too much through collecting taxes to cater for MPs.
Johnson Ssenyonga, Mukono Mayor: I am not happy with the increment. For instance, under local government, mayors cover and govern places but they are paid less than sh1m yet these MPs who cover only small constituencies want more than sh6m. The increment shows our MPs have lost track and they are just after money.
Isa Kikungwe (Kyadondo North): If a member of parliament works like any other Ugandan, it is not very bad to get pension and a good salary. I don’t think the public should have trouble with this. However, the trouble is that members of parliament have failed to behave exemplary. When the public gets information that MPs receive money as a bribe, the public is right to question the MPs monetary benefits. Once MPs are exemplary in conduct, I don’t think the public will question all these things.
Jerimiah Enyagu, MD, New Generation Video Library, Mukono:
What is the essence of MPs increasing their emolunments yet the Government recently reduced the number of government-sponsored students at Makerere University. It is better more students are catered for at the university.
Paul Ssetaala, MUK: In real monetary terms, Ugandan members of parliament earn less than their Kenyan or Tanzanian counterparts, but in GDP percentage terms, they earn much more than Kenyans or Tanzanians. They should not bring the issue of Tanzania and Kenya here.
Reagan Kizito, student, Kyambogo University: I do not support them at all and they should halt increasing their money exorbitantly.
Donald Karimba businessman, Mukono town: President Museveni should come out and protect us from these MPs who are interested in only drying our national treasury.
Latif Ssebagala (Kawempe North): We need to reduce the number of MPs. I was happy with the Ssempebwa Commission’s recommendation of at least 120 members of parliament. Once the number of MPs goes down, it will be affordable. They will be paid well without necessarily stretching the budget.
Martin Wandera, workers MP: It should not be misinterpreted that I am opposed to the idea of an increment or pension. My conflict is with the timing of this debate. Just as the lifting of term limits is linked to President Museveni, so is this debate. Even if it is a principle, the public will look at it as if we are out to enrich ourselves. I think it should have waited until the next Parliament.
Badru Kazibwe, student, Muk: I don’t support the increment because it would affect our National Budget. When the MPs’ emoluments are high, the funds that would go to districts for roads and schools are reduced, to cater for them. And most of them have failed to contribute to debates in the House.
Douglas Lutaaya, student, Kampala International University:
I think they should not be paid that money because they are not doing a lot of work.