Several media platforms are awash with stories about how some Members of Parliament have rejected a presidential “handshake” worth 100 million shillings, purportedly awarded for patriotic service to the country.
The president himself has affirmed that this money was given to each MP. Technically, this is clean money from a known source, and it can be considered a good incentive in the absence of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
Without delving into the merits of these payments—whether it was justified to award Members of Parliament 100 million shillings for doing nothing, or whether it was a contribution toward running their constituencies due to the scrapping of the CDF—I would simply suggest the following: those MPs whose consciences do not allow them to receive and use this money should consider donating it to needy learners in their constituencies.
Research indicates that about 30% of Ugandan university students fail to complete their courses due to an inability to pay tuition fees. MPs who unknowingly received the money in their accounts and feel they haven’t earned it should identify bright but needy students in their constituencies and support them—whether through tuition, feeding, or scholastic materials. Alternatively, they could contribute to service delivery in their areas, such as repairing roads or supporting SACCOs.
The reasoning behind this suggestion is simple: if such funds are returned to the central pool, the ordinary person in constituency X may miss out. Perhaps the money is intended to help MPs respond to the ever-increasing demands in their constituencies.
Since the Constituency Development Fund was scrapped 14 years ago, Members of Parliament have lacked a solid financial base to meet the pressing needs of their constituents.
Steven Masiga is a researcher from Mbale.
