Chris Obore, the Director of Communications at the Ugandan Parliament, inadvertently triggered a wave of controversy by attempting to provide evidence supporting the charitable activities of House Speaker Anita Among. The incident unfolded when Obore posted a receipt on X platform showcasing a donation of 450 million Ugandan Shillings to the Rotary Club, purportedly on behalf of Speaker Among.
In his post, Obore emphasized that Speaker Among intended to continue her philanthropic endeavors, stating, “Speaker will continue to donate. Nsambya hospital is not in Teso. Parliament will intervene in cases like this and many more. We are glad the Cancer Unit in Nsambya will serve all Ugandans.” However, the response from social media users was unexpected and overwhelmingly critical.
Upon seeing Obore’s post, various individuals took to social media to express their opinions and reactions. Jim Spire Ssentongo tweeted, “We are vindicated! This arbitrariness with taxpayers’ money!!!” Others, like William Saliba Parody, questioned the source of the donated funds, asking, “450m who is she to donate all that money is it from her businesses????” Mukurasi Brian humorously remarked, “😂😂😂😂😂you are making it worse for the speaker, just keep silent and eat your bread in peace.”
The online discourse surrounding Obore’s post predominantly criticized Speaker Among and the Parliament’s handling of public funds. Sharon Dr. Aine expressed concern over the allocation of resources, highlighting the plight of mothers in labor in impoverished health centers across the country. Similarly, Emukuny Martin questioned the justification of using taxpayers’ money to fund hospitals that charge exorbitant fees, suggesting that such facilities should rely on their own revenue for development.
Furthermore, social media users raised suspicions regarding the origins of Speaker Among’s donations. Questions arose regarding the transparency of the donation process, with some users speculating about potential financial impropriety. Isaac Muhumuza appreciated the gesture but questioned the impact of the donation on healthcare accessibility, suggesting that funds would be better allocated to public institutions like Mulago Hospital.
Additionally, concerns were raised about the allocation of public funds to private entities, such as the Rotary Club, instead of prioritizing struggling public hospitals. Loki pointed out the discrepancy in donating public funds to private organizations while public healthcare facilities remain underfunded. Owomugisha Arban clarified that the donation was deducted from MPs’ annual budgets rather than directly from the Speaker’s budget, further complicating the narrative.
