Museveni rejects MPs’ pension plan

Nov 29, 2006

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has refused to assent to the Parliamentary Pensions Bill, 2006 and the Excise Tariff (Amendment) Bill, 2006

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has refused to assent to the Parliamentary Pensions Bill, 2006 and the Excise Tariff (Amendment) Bill, 2006, report Milton Olupot and Joyce Namutebi.

At Parliament’s first sitting yesterday after two months of recess, the Speaker, Edward Ssekandi, read the President’s communication, explaining why he had returned the two Bills without assenting to them.

The Parliamentary Pensions Bill, 2006 seeks provisions for the establishment of a contributory pension scheme for MPs.

The Bill proposed that under the scheme, MPs would contribute 5% of their monthly basic salary while Government pays 10% of each MP’s basic salary into the fund.

But MPs had amended the Bill and proposed that the Government contributes 30%, while each of them contributes 15%.

Museveni asked Parliament to reconsider the provision, saying there was no money to meet the government contribution of 30%.

He proposed that the government’s contribution be reduced to 10% and that of MPs to 5%.

Museveni said the reduction of excise duty on landlines and public pay phones, cement and Eagle Lager beer would cause a shortfall of over sh10b revenue.

He said the reduction of excise duty on the beer from 30% to 20% would create a shortfall of sh4.2b.

The tax cut on landlines and public pay phones from 5% to 3% would lead to a shortfall of sh1.2b revenue while the reduction on cement would cause a shortfall of sh7.6b.

Ssekandi referred the Bills to the relevant committees for further scrutiny to make reports for the House for debate.

Somalia troops
At the same sitting Kasilo MP Elijah Okupa wanted an explanation of reports that the Government had deployed troops in Somalia. Ssekandi said the defence minister would make a statement on the matter today.

Global Fund
The Prime Minister, Prof. Apolo Nsibambi, said Cabinet had concluded yesterday, discussions on the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the mismanagement of the Global Fund on TB, HIV/AIDS and malaria.

He said a report would be passed on to the President and the public would access it.

His statement followed concerns by Dr. Francis Epetait (Ngora) and Alice Alaso (Soroti) about the fate of the report and whether patients would access ARVs following suspension of the Global Fund.

Makerere University
In a ministerial statement, education and sports minister Namirembe Bitamazire said the Government was working around the clock to ensure that Makerere University opens soon.

She apologised to all the stakeholders affected by the closure and to those affected by the looting and destruction of property done by rioting students.

Bitamazire said doors were still open for further negotiation between the Government and academic staff of the university.

“The Government has always been and willing to hold discussions with the academic staff to find solutions. The communication channels are still open for further negotiations and consultations with stakeholders to resolve the current crisis at Makerere and other public universities,” Bitamazire said.

She said she expects a report from the inter-ministerial/departmental committee recently set up to study the issue of staff salary enhancement and harmonisation by December 10.

Bitamazire, who gave details regarding funds released by the Government to all public universities since the 2004/2005 financial year, said there had been a continuous payrise to the academic staff at Makerere.

The university was closed following a strike by the academic staff.

There was jubilation as Yokasi Bwambale Bihande (FDC) was sworn in as the new MP for Bukonzo East.

Bihande defeated Apolinari Kithende in a by-election on November 13.

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