SPEAKER RACE CASH BONANZA! NRM Mps allegedly receive Shs5M for voting Among, Tayebwa
A section of MPs subscribing to the National Resistance Movement (NRM) are said to have received Shs5M each as appreciation for the united front in voting Speaker Anita Among and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa in the just concluded speakership race.
It all started as rumour in the corridors of Parliament with many NRM MPs declining to comment about the issue, until Cissy Namujju (DWR Lwengo) confirmed receiving the money although she said there was no reason given for the payment and neither were they required to sign anywhere for accountability purposes.
Namujju said: “I received the money. In this parliament I am always among the first people to get such money. In this parliament full of over 500 MPs never ask for anything regarding money. I am always among the first ten to get the money and I was among the first ten because it isn’t the first time that I am getting money from Anita Among’s office, I always get money from there.”
She doubled down on her confirmation saying the money was given out on Tuesday and was shocked by the currency the money was paid in because usually, she had been receiving dollars.
“Actually I am surprised today I didn’t receive the money in dollars because she has always been giving me dollars but this time it was Uganda currency. For me I don’t see it as news that Speaker Among is giving money to MPs because she does that to whoever comes before her presence,” said Namujju.
However, the other NRM MPs denied receiving the money. Herbert Kinobele (Kibuku County) who also doubles as NRM Caucus Vice Chairperson denied any knowledge of the money saying the ruling party didn’t give MPs money to appreciate them for voting the two Speakers but instead, the money the NRM Lawmakers received was part of their savings with the Party SACCO.
“What I know is that as caucus, members save their money just like any other party, so when members save their money and they get their money they save with the party someone shouldn’t attach it to the recent by-election we had,” said Kinobero.
He didn’t waste time playing the feigning emotional pain for the loss of former Speaker Oulanyah and denied any candidate in the race gave out money during the campaign for speakership.
Kinobero said: “These by-elections we had them in pain. It was to fulfill the constitutional obligation, otherwise we wouldn’t have had the elections. So we don’t want someone to attach election to the money they had. It depends on how much you save because others got Shs1M, so someone saying MPs got Shs5M that isn’t true, we get according to what we save.”
While commenting about the development, Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu East) confirmed that his colleagues in NRM received the money but refuted allegations that the money was given by the speakers, rather saying the speakership bonanza came from State House.
“I don’t want to say the money was given by the speakers, that money came from State House and it was given to them as thanks for voting the two speakers with each receiving Shs5M and they all received it. The money was distributed regionally. But such practices taint the image of parliament because you have the majority number if Parliament why the need for money? Do you want to spoil the new speakers you have voted?,” asked Ssewungu rhetorically.
Solomon Silwany (Bukhooli Central) denied seeing the money and asked journalists to direct him where the money is being dished out so he benefits from the bonanza.
“I haven’t personally seen the Shs5M you are talking about, actually I am hearing it for the first time. So if there is any Shs5M it is you people telling me, you should tell me where it is, is it for every member, am I also entitled?” said Silwany.
Asked to respond to allegations he was the one in charge of distributing money to the NRM MPs in busoga region, Silwany said he had gotten accustomed to such allegations.
“Whenever there are allegations of money, it isn’t the first time in parliament, people always point a finger towards me but it isn’t true that there is any money distributed anywhere. We are in the moods of mourning, let them not provoke us, let them leave us to mourn quietly,” said Silwany.
Sources well placed with the bonanza said some NRM MPs who are close to former Speaker Kadaga were not given the money and these included Maurice Kibalya (Bugabula South County) who never misses reminding people in his introductions how Kadaga is his MP, Mariam Naigaga (Namutumba DWR), Brenda Namukuta (Kaliro DWR) and Paul Akamba (Busiki County).
It should be recalled that NRM has 334 members and if each is paid Shs5M, it means this group alone walked away with Shs1.670Bn.
However, it should be recalled that there are some independent MPs who are NRM leaning and UPDF Representatives who also have voting rights.
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