KAMPALA – Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga and Erute North MP Jonathan Odur have petitioned the Civil Division of the High Court seeking to block Shs10bn allocated to MPs to help them fight the spread of COVID-19 in their respective constituencies.
The legislators’ petition was received by High Court registrar Sarah Langa on Monday, April 20.
The legislators, who are represented by A.F Mpanga and Company Advocates, argue that Parliament was wrong and selfish to allocate money to themselves.
They also argue that the Budget committee sneaked into the budget the allocation for Parliament.
Court has not yet allocated a judge to hear the case.
Opposition leader Dr Kizza Besigye recently criticized Members of Parliament for allocating themselves Shs10 billion of the budget meant for fighting coronavirus.
According to Dr Besigye, whereas leaders in other countries are contributing to the government in this period, those in Uganda are taking away from the state.
“Surely, what’s wrong with Uganda’s leaders? Everywhere in the world, leaders are donating their earnings to help the COVID19 fight,” he said on Wednesday.
“Uganda’s leaders see an opportunity to increase their “benefits”! MPs getting more than $5,000- each to help them fight Covid19!
Stop this habit,” Dr Besigye added.
He then shared screenshots of stories in Kenya and Ghana where senior officials have forfeited their salaries to contribute to the fight against coronavirus.