Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has handed over five new fleets to the former presiding officers of the August House commending them for the strong contribution that Parliament was built on.
However, Speaker Among also added that the previous leadership of Parliament did not prioritize remembering the former presiding officers who sacrificed for the country while at the helm of the second arm of government.
She commended the strong contribution of all former officers of the Ugandan Parliament, who she says provided a strong foundation for the August House.
The former Speakers and deputy Speakers of Parliament who received the new vehicles include; Al Haji Moses Kigongo, Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, Rebecca Kadaga and Prof. Edward Rugumayo.
While handing over the vehicles, Among revealed that Parliament will be giving the former Speakers new cars every 5 years and the cost of fuel, maintenance and salaries of the drivers of the vehicles will be paid by Ugandan taxpayers.
“You will be required to bring your own driver, who we will recruit as Parliamentary staff, Parliament will pay that driver of yours. The car remains the property of the Government of Uganda. Parliament will maintain and fuel these cars. But Parliament will after every 5 years be giving you a new car. Or in between when the car gets a problem, you will bring it back and we give you a new car. You are property of the Government of Uganda, so we are supposed to look after you,” said Among.
She also noted that the recent enactment of the Parliamentary Pensions Act expanded the beneficiaries to include all Speakers who served Uganda since 1979 and thus entitling; President Museveni, Chairman of NRC 1896-1996, Edward Rugumayo Speaker and Chairman NCC from 1979-19 80, Francis Butagira 1980-1985, Al Haji Moses Kigongo, Vice Chairman NRC 1986-1996, Edward Ssekandi 1998-2001 Deputy Speaker and Speaker of 7th and 8th Parliament, to these cars every five years.
“It is always good to appreciate people when they are still alive, you did a lot for this country and continue to do a lot for this country. You have contributed a lot to this country. We don’t want the time when you are no more, everybody is paying tribute and saying all the good things about you. As the 11th Parliament, we thought it wise to appreciate you when you are still alive,” added.
Prof. Edward Rugumayo was the Speaker of the National Consultative Council which was the Third Parliament of Uganda after Independence, Rt. Hon. Amb. Francis Butagira was Speaker of the Fourth Parliament of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Alhaji Moses Kigongo was Deputy Speaker of the National Resistance Council which was the Fifth Parliament of Uganda while Rt. Hon. HE Edward Ssekandi was Speaker of the Seventh and Eighth Parliaments of Uganda and former Vice President of Uganda.
“We would have loved to receive all our former Speakers without exception but some have passed on in retirement while others passed on in office. Parliament of Uganda in 2007, passed the Parliamentary Pensions Act which conferred some retirement benefits to retired Speakers effective from the date of assent of the Act in 2007. The retired Speakers were entitled to Pension, Gratuity, chauffeur-driven car, medical care, security, and domestic staff. However, the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of Parliaments prior to 2007, were left out. This was unfair to other Speakers who had served the country prior to 2007,” said Among.
She went on: “In my view, the generation of Speakers who served the country after the 1979 and the 1986, Liberation wars worked under the most difficult circumstances. In spite of those circumstances, they succeeded in building a foundation for the thriving democracy which we all enjoy today. This explains why the Parliamentary Commission which I am honoured to Chair took a bold decision to initiate an amendment to the Parliamentary Pensions Act 2022 to extend pension benefits to all our retired Speakers effective the year 1980.”
However, some members of the public have criticised the move, terming it a “wastage of public resources given the challenges we are facing as a country”.
“@GovUganda can’t be asking Parliament to borrow 2.7bn to Supervise a hospital and the same @pwatchug is spending 3.5Bn on Non-Performing Officers whose emoluments were met at the time and Pensions are still running,” said the deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Rubaga Division, Herbert Anderson Burora, on X.
He added: “How do we tell taxpayers that they are short of services, that is why they can’t ably have good roads with such pompous legislation that legalizes vulgarity of this kind? Why would a former speaker, without National obligation be rewarded such a car to do what?”
