PARLIAMENT – Thomas Tayebwa MP(Ruhinda North) has asked Parliament Commission to clarify on how the directive by President Yoweri Museveni to provide pick-up trucks and sharp shooters for MPs, saying that other Legislators would prefer to have the funds to be diverted into purchase of beds in their health centers.
It should be recalled that yesterday, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga informed MPs that letters had been put inside the pigeon holes of all MPs and in his letter, the ordered the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija to procure a fleet of four wheel drive pickups as well as provide Sharp shooters from the army to enhance the security of MPs.
However, Tayebwa raised concerns over Museveni’s letter saying it falls short of clarification on which MPs are to receive the security.
Tayebwa said: “I have never asked for such security, but I saw in my name, a pick up is going to be acquired with sharp shooters, I don’t know to shoot who. The clarification I need is, are they buying for each and every MP? We know we have our colleagues who might need security, it is up to me to determine whether I need extra security or not and I appreciate the President for being concerned.”
Instead, Tayebwa wants the MPs interested in Museveni’s security to register with clerk to Parliament, Jane Kibirige and have their cars procured, instead of wasting resources on MPs not interested in the scheme.
“In case we have MPs who need extra security and sharp shooters, those MPs they should register themselves with the Clerk to Parliament you get their list, before the procurement of cars is done, you submit it to the Ministry of Finance and they get it for only those cars and sharp shooters for MPs,” Tayebwa said.
However, Kadaga wondered why Tayebwa is feigning ignorance about the security details yet it was the MPs who lamented to Parliament how their lives are at risk, following the death of Ibrahim Abiriga in June 2018.
Kadaga fired back: “On the 27th June, upon your request, we had a meeting with the President and you are the ones that raised those issues. It was an all party caucus. I will arrange a meeting with the Commission because all we did yesterday was to give you the letter. I will study the letter and get back to you.”