What kind of leaders are our MPs?
Mar 13, 2007
SIR — I read both <i>the New Vision</i> and <i>The daily Monitor</i> everyday. I never read any story more than once. l have had to re-read the story of Ugandan MPs in debts that story since Saturday night.
SIR — I read both the New Vision and The daily Monitor everyday. I never read any story more than once. However, the lead story in the Sunday Vision of march 11 caught my eye and I have lost count of the number of times l have had to re-read that story since Saturday night (when l got the Sunday edition) up to now! The story was not only shocking but heart-rending as well.
Ugandan MPs owe commercial banks a colossal sh46b! I cannot put it better than in Monday’s cartoon in The New Vision where MPs are struggling in the sea of debt with their hands stuck out for ‘Corruption’ to save them while others are drowning! One fundamental question to ask here is: where do MPs put all this money? Isn’t it a question of living beyond one’s means?
On average, they earn between sh6 to sh10m monthly. They are the most highly paid people in the country. Is it not a paradox that the most highly paid people are also the most highly indebted? I am confused here! It was shocking to learn that some MPs’ take home a net pay of a miserable sh20,000 after bank deductions!
Some MPs are so indebted they now buy food on credit!
Are these people fit to be called leaders?
The whole thing takes us to another fundamental problem in the election process in Uganda — commercialisation of politics!
It should be noted that some people sell everything they own in order to buy their way to parliament! Those who have nothing to sell borrow from banks and money lenders. Voters have now mastered the art of fleecing candidates during elections.
Unless we make the post of an MP less attractive so that people are driven to provide a service instead of amassing wealth, this country, once called the ‘pearl of Africa’, is doomed!
No one should expect quality legislation or service from a person who buys food on credit due to excessive indebtness! My last prayer and appeal is that the Sunday Vision should publish their names so that in 2011 Ugandan voters simply pass to them a vote of no confidence.
Ntegye Asiimwe
Mbarara University
SIR — The revelation that our dear MPs are indebted to the tune of sh46b is as shocking as it is scaring.
There is no way such people can make rational decisions especially when it comes to matters concerning public funds.
I thank The Sunday Vision for bringing this news out because it puts to rest all the arguments the MPs were advancing about their cars. They are chocking with debts and cannot resist any temptation that involves money. I think that graphically explains why the ‘third term’ project could not fail.
Perhaps Plato was right when he argued that the poor should never be leaders.
We are besieged! It is refreshing at least to learn that Prime Minister Nsibambi and Vice president Gilbert Bukenya are not part of the circus. It would have been a double jeopardy!
Jeniffer Akol
Soroti
Ugandan MPs owe commercial banks a colossal sh46b! I cannot put it better than in Monday’s cartoon in The New Vision where MPs are struggling in the sea of debt with their hands stuck out for ‘Corruption’ to save them while others are drowning! One fundamental question to ask here is: where do MPs put all this money? Isn’t it a question of living beyond one’s means?
On average, they earn between sh6 to sh10m monthly. They are the most highly paid people in the country. Is it not a paradox that the most highly paid people are also the most highly indebted? I am confused here! It was shocking to learn that some MPs’ take home a net pay of a miserable sh20,000 after bank deductions!
Some MPs are so indebted they now buy food on credit!
Are these people fit to be called leaders?
The whole thing takes us to another fundamental problem in the election process in Uganda — commercialisation of politics!
It should be noted that some people sell everything they own in order to buy their way to parliament! Those who have nothing to sell borrow from banks and money lenders. Voters have now mastered the art of fleecing candidates during elections.
Unless we make the post of an MP less attractive so that people are driven to provide a service instead of amassing wealth, this country, once called the ‘pearl of Africa’, is doomed!
No one should expect quality legislation or service from a person who buys food on credit due to excessive indebtness! My last prayer and appeal is that the Sunday Vision should publish their names so that in 2011 Ugandan voters simply pass to them a vote of no confidence.
Ntegye Asiimwe
Mbarara University
SIR — The revelation that our dear MPs are indebted to the tune of sh46b is as shocking as it is scaring.
There is no way such people can make rational decisions especially when it comes to matters concerning public funds.
I thank The Sunday Vision for bringing this news out because it puts to rest all the arguments the MPs were advancing about their cars. They are chocking with debts and cannot resist any temptation that involves money. I think that graphically explains why the ‘third term’ project could not fail.
Perhaps Plato was right when he argued that the poor should never be leaders.
We are besieged! It is refreshing at least to learn that Prime Minister Nsibambi and Vice president Gilbert Bukenya are not part of the circus. It would have been a double jeopardy!
Jeniffer Akol
Soroti