KAMPALA – The Parliamentary Commission has requested for additional funding totaling Shs249.52 billion to procure 13 vehicles for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, and Parliament Directors and their Assistants.
This is contained in a report submitted to government by the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee. The committee has asked the government to avail Sh5.4b for the purchase of new vehicles for the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and directors.
For the Speaker and the Deputy, each will have four vehicles, and the rest will be used by the directors and their deputies.
“The committee observed that Parliament will need to procure 13 vehicles, including those for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, their lead and backup cars and the entitled directors and assistant directors. This has a shortfall of Sh5.4b,” the report notes in part.
This comes as the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija is hunting for sh165bn to avail Parliament a budget for MPs motor vehicle allowances in the 11th Parliament. Divided by about 520 MPs, each is expected to pocket closet to sh320million in vehicle allowances.
“The committee observed that MPs are entitled to a car of Shs200m.No provision has been made amounting to Shs165b for FY 2021/22.The committee further noted that government intends to raise these resources from tax revenue measures,” the committee report reads.
It adds: ‘The committee recommends that a provision of Shs165b be made in the recurrent non-wage budget to enable Parliament facilitate MPs in the execution of their mandate.”
