Former presiding officers at Parliament were presented with brand new Toyota Land Cruisers on Monday, a gesture facilitated by the recent enactment of the Parliamentary Pensions Act. The handover took place at Parliament’s South Parking lot, with Speaker Anita Among expressing gratitude to those responsible for the inclusion of speakers from 1979 in the Act.
Ms. Among handed over vehicles to notable figures, including Mr. Edward Ssekandi (Speaker from 2001 to 2011), Mr. Edward Rugumayo (Chairman of the National Consultative Council-NCC, from 1979 to 1980), Mr. Francis Butagira (Speaker from 1980 to 1985), and Hajj Moses Kigongo (Vice chairman of NRC, 1986 to 1996). Ms. Rebecca Kadaga, the Speaker of the 9th and 10th Parliament from 2011 to 2021, was also among the beneficiaries.
The vehicles, amounting to a total estimated value of Shs3 billion, are considered government property and will be maintained by Parliament. Ms. Among outlined that Parliament will provide drivers and fuel for the cars, with replacements scheduled every five years or when issues arise with the vehicles.
Notably absent from the ceremony was Ms. Rebecca Kadaga, and it remains unclear whether she delegated someone to collect the car on her behalf.
While the exact price of each vehicle was not disclosed, similar models of brand-new Toyota Land Cruisers in the open market are valued between Shs600 million and Shs700 million.
It was mentioned in Ms. Among’s remarks that the Act considered “His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,” who served as the chairman of the National Resistance Council (NRC) from 1986 to 1996. However, there was no car reserved for President Museveni at the handover ceremony.
Additionally, the families of the late speakers James Wapakabulo, Francis Ayume, and Alexander Waibale, who passed away before the enactment of the 2007 Parliamentary Pensions Act, will also be recognized and respected by the House.
