MP accuses colleagues of taking bribes

Jul 14, 2009

MP Beatrice Byenkya has accused some parliamentary committee chairpersons of being corrupt. Byenkya said some chairpersons take bribes to amend official positions and resolutions.

By Joel Ogwang

MP Beatrice Byenkya has accused some parliamentary committee chairpersons of being corrupt. Byenkya said some chairpersons take bribes to amend official positions and resolutions.

Byenkya, a born-again Christian, cited a case where an MP received a bribe of a house valued at sh2b, a car and sh100m in cash.

Byenkya was preaching at the Uganda Christian University in Mukono district on Tuesday under the theme, “Can God call people into the political field?”

Citing Joseph and Daniel in the Old Testament who assumed political power under God’s inspiration, she said principled born-again Christians were free to join politics.

“People say politics is a dirty game. For me, it is a clean and fair game. It is some of its players who make it dirty,” Byenkya, who has been an MP since 1996, said.

She noted that during her political career, amending Article 105 of the Constitution was her sternest test.

The controversial move that saw NRM MPs pocket sh5m each was widely interpreted as a bribe to remove the two five-year presidential term limits. It opened gates for President Yoweri Museveni to stand as many times as he wishes.

Appearing on WBS TV’s Kibazo on Friday, Museveni said he would retire when he makes 75 years in 2021.

In her testimony, Byenkya conceded to “letting down” Museveni when she chose to abstain from voting in favour of lifting term limits, adding that it was not easy for MPs to stand for the truth.

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