The Uganda opposition political parties have petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga over the Members of Parliament’s demand for increment of their salaries.
Some members of the opposition who went to parliament on May 30 in a group of about 100 people and handed the petition to the Leader of Opposition, Nandala Mabafi after a struggle with police who denied them to enter parliament and directly hand it to the Speaker.
The petitioners, lead by the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), Anne Mugisha say that it is unfair when Ugandans are suffering with high prices of commodities and no medicine in public hospitals then MPs come up with luxurious selfish demands.
Mugisha says it is unfortunate MPs asking for an increment of salary in the 9th parliament’s first sitting saying that it has shown a poor first impression for the parliament we are going to have for five years.
She adds that it is not worthwhile MPs to ask for the increase of their salaries instead of asking for government subsidies on commodities to help their malnourished constituents who cannot afford to buy food due to high prices.
The Members of Parliament currently earn 15 million shillings as monthly salary and they want it increased to 19 million shillings.
MPs also demand for 50 million shillings advance and the tax break on their new vehicles they will get on loans.
The opposition ask the government to mind the majority citizens (taxpayers) than the politicians and administrators whose aim is to rob taxpayers’ money.
By Issa Asuman