The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga has called upon the general public to disregard reports that legislators are hatching plans to have their monthly salary increased in the financial year 2018/2019.
According to media reports, Parliament intends to raise the salaries of legislators from Shs 11 million to Shs 24 million.
Kadaga’s submissions came after Dokolo North Member of Parliament, Paul Amoru complained about reports in the media indicating that salaries of MPs are to be increased in the next financial year. He said that such reports portray the legislators in bad light.
But in response, Kadaga informed him that she is the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Commission and there has been no attempt to increase the salaries of MPs.
“The budget process started in March, everything we have done is clear and known. There has been no attempt to increase or adjust the salary of legislators,” Kadaga said.
Kadaga asked Members of Parliament and the general public to ignore the reports saying they are fake.
“That is a lie and I request members of the general public to ignore that story, it is not true,” Kadaga said.
The issue of legislators enjoying the discretion to determine how much they earn and increasing it at their will has been contentious for a long time, with many Ugandans continuously condemning them (MPs) for acting selfishly.
The latest speculation comes at a time when different groups of public servants including medics, teachers and prosecutors have been at loggerheads with government over what they term as meagre salaries.