Spare the money for public good!

Jan 21, 2007

Letter of the day<br><br>SIR — It is quite unfair to Ugandans for MPs to reach the extent of threatening to abandon work because of government’s failure to provide expensive cars for them. I side with the clergy that the MPs’ attitude is very selfish considering that the MPs are our represe

Letter of the day

SIR — It is quite unfair to Ugandans for MPs to reach the extent of threatening to abandon work because of government’s failure to provide expensive cars for them. I side with the clergy that the MPs’ attitude is very selfish considering that the MPs are our representatives.

I would like to know which MP walks to Parliament. From just their monthly salary which is sh6.8 on average and considering their various and hefty untaxed allowances it is inconceivable why they can’t buy themselves cars of their choice.

We hear of the constituency development fund of sh10m per MP but who knows apart from the MPs what exactly that money does?

The sh60m, the MPs want is approximately sh20b. With this amount, government can sponsor 666 projects for citizens with good project plans to develop the nation economically and socially.

From these projects, a minimum of sh6.6b in income tax and other legal fees levied on companies can be realised. this would not only create jobs for many unemployed Ugandans but also help the Government fund other projects.

Many Ugandans, especially the youth, have bright ideas which can improve the general standards of living. Giving MPs sh60m for personal cars or giving them Government vehicles is condemning the majority of Ugandans to perpetual poverty so as to service the interests of a tiny parasitic group.

Abdul Wahid Semakula
kampala


SIR — I felt deep compassion for Helen Kawesa when I read her letter “Cartoon was in bad taste” published on Friday. The Public Relations manager of Parliament valiantly tried to defend the indefensible and her only argument is that MPs deserve sh60m because they are ‘entitled’.

What the caroon depicted can be compared to a mirror. Can you break a mirror for reflecting your ugly face? The cartoon represents public opinion.

But I sympathise with Kawesa because the poor woman must earn a living.

After all, she is also being fleeced by the same MPs like the rest of us.

But I wouldn’t do her job for all the diamonds in Kimberly! I hear MPs like Sam Lyomoki (Workers) and Justine Lumumba (Bugiri) are over the moon that the Government has opted to give the MPs four-wheel-drive vehicles at Government expense!

For how long must this kind of exploitation go on and how can public funds be gambled away like this?

Stella Maris Agwang
Gulu

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