ENTEBBE – The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah has directed the Minister in Charge of Presidency, Esther Mbayo to explain why some presidential advisors have gone three years without pay despite President Yoweri Museveni appointing them in 2016.
Oulanyah’s directive followed a complaint raised by Elijah Okupa (Kasilo County) who wondered why Parliament was duped into believing that these presidential advisors had been paid, yet the group hasn’t received any penny.
Okupa said that despite raising the same matter in July that the presidential advisors who were appointed on September 19th 2016 haven’t paid, paid their salaries and allowances.
“The Minister of Finance after we passed the budget gave a guarantee that actually the money had been provided for and said they would be paid, to date they haven’t been paid any single coin. It is embarrassing that such senior members of society who were appointed by the President can be treated to this level,” said Okupa.
It should be recalled that President Museveni announced a number of new presidential advisors including former Makerere University Chancellor Prof. Mondo Kagonyera who was named presidential advisor on Kigezi Affairs.
The other people to benefit from the appointments were; Dr.Nathan Kalema, Dr.David Kazungu, Lt Anthony Kyakabale, Col William Omaria, Bishop Likode Masokile, Victor Kodel, Henry Makmot, Ogwang Ochwo, Mayimuna Juma Yusuf, Patrick Lajul, Consy Oboma, Ann Mary Kabasinde who died before receiving her appointment, Jane Francis Kagayi among others.
Okupa asked the Executive to start respecting the presidential directives noting, “If the Minister has anything useful, he may pass this information to the citizens. It is embarrassing, it was the head of state that appointed these people, put signature to paper and they keep coming to our offices begging. Enough is enough, let the Government respect the signature of the President.”
In response, Ruth Nankabirwa Government Chief Whip told Parliament that the President had been informed about the plight of his advisors saying, “I want to assure you that the President was informed, the Ministry of Presidency will tell us what the President responded.”
The development comes at the time Museveni appointed singers Mark Bugembe aka Buchman as presidential adviser on Ghetto affairs and Catherine Kusasira as Presidential Advisors on Kampala Affairs after meeting with the group of ghetto youths in Kibuye, Kampala in October 2019.