Members of Parliament (MPs) leading the censure of four Commissioners involved in a 1.7 billion shilling Service Award scandal have announced a new strategy. They plan to conduct a nationwide tour to collect signatures from MPs who are currently in their constituencies and unable to come to Parliament during the recess period.
Theodore Ssekikubo, representing Lwemiyaga County, made this announcement while addressing journalists at Parliament. He emphasized that the team is committed to ensuring that the 167 signatures already collected will not be wasted.
Richard Muhumuza, representing Bwamba County, supported the decision to collect signatures across the country. He stressed the importance of MPs being accountable to the public, especially when it comes to the misuse of public resources.
“This is the House of Representatives of the people. The public expects us to act when public resources are mismanaged. We often summon public officers to account for their actions, and we cannot ignore our own responsibilities. People should come and account,” Muhumuza stated.
Muhumuza also clarified that the MPs involved in this exercise will not demand allowances. He explained, “We are not requesting the Clerk to Parliament to provide us with any allowances. In the two weeks we will be traveling across the country, we will cover our own expenses. All we are asking for is a Parliamentary bus with fuel, a driver, and security from Parliament. We don’t want to be misunderstood as seeking allowances. No, that is not our intention.”
The MPs are determined to make sure that those implicated in the misuse of the Service Award funds are held accountable, and they believe that collecting signatures nationwide is a crucial step in this process. This effort reflects their commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.
