Pay MPs per sitting – CSOs
The seats Opposition MPs occupy were empty last week
Civil Society Organizations have proposed to Parliament to peg the pay of Members of Parliament on attendance so as to curb absenteeism.
The Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda, in a petition to Parliament on Wednesday, 8th July 2015, expressed concern over reports that some MPs miss sittings of the House.
Cissy Kagaba, the Executive Director Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda in a petition received by Parliament Commissioner, Hon. Akol Rose Okullu and the Chair Committee on Rules, Discipline and Privileges, Hon. Jacob Oboth Oboth, urged Parliament to deduct payments from MPs for sittings they have missed.
“MPs should only be paid for sittings they have attended, and for those who miss sittings, the money should be deducted and given to the constituency to fund projects that benefit the masses,” Kagaba proposed.
Commissioner Akol thanked the Coalition for their petition and informed them that Parliament hopes to borrow a leaf from the Parliament of Ghana where the Order Paper includes an attendance list for each sitting.
“As a Commission we have benchmarked other Parliaments and we shall in future amend our rules to provide for publication of the attendance register together with the Order Paper,” she said.
Hon. Akol however, clarified that sometimes MPs miss sittings because of duties assigned to them outside the Chamber of Parliament.
“There are those that are absent in plenary but present on duty. Sometimes Members are outside doing parliamentary work, others might be on sick leave and others might have travelled on official duty,” She explained.
The Chairperson of the Rules Committee, Hon. Jacob Oboth Oboth, said Parliament will consider the petition as soon as it is referred to them by the House.
He added that absenteeism was a challenge that the Parliament wants to find a solution to.
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