By Mbabazi Hanning Gonzaga
Lwemiyaga Constituency legislator Theodore Ssekikubo has returned the controversial Shs 20m to Sembabule District Covid-19 Task Force.
Hon. Ssekikubo accompanied by a group of his supporters on Monday May, 18, 2020 handled over the said amount to Mr Bataringaya Nicholas the District Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
Upon handing over money, Ssekikubo said, he took the decision because he believes it was controversially appropriated and confusing.
“Why is the President confusing us? Where is the goodwill in this country? If indeed the Shs 20m was immoral and reprehensible, and moreover, that money was to the effect that take it to the people, at the end of the day account, but this Shs 40m – you go and eat. Eat, eat! Take and eat, eat the elephant has fallen. Bring back the Shs 20m and take the Shs 40m. But also the discrimination, if it is given, unlike the other Shs 20m that was wired to all MPs. But nonetheless, we call on MPs, we call on the public, where is the bottom line on this? We’re in the middle of COVI D. You can’t pay members to come and you rehabilitate your image. That they are paying tribute and before the ink can dry, they are paying Shs 40m.”
Ssekikubo further tasked government to look into the welfare of it’s people especially those in rural areas..
“I’ve been in my Lwemiyaga Constituency but there’s nothing like government intervention to my starving people in Ntuusi Town Council, the same to Kyeera, Bulongo, Nabitanga, and Lwemiyaga. We have youths who had acquired Tugende Bodabodas on loan, Government have not addressed all these issues. We task government to be genuine to all of us,” the legislator explained.
Bataringaya applauded the legislator for having chosen to bring money to the District than returning it to Bank of Uganda or Parliamentary Commission.
“I thank you for having chosen the option of bringing this money to your district and I believe, subject to further guidance, this money will be used to the benefit of people of Sembabule and I believe Lwemiyaga in particular,” Bataringaya Said.
The High Court on April 29 ordered MPs to return the controversial Shs20m they received on their private bank accounts to government for public use.
The court order for the refund followed a consent agreement between Ntungamo Municipality MP Gerald Karuhanga, the petitioner, and state lawyers from the Attorney General’s chambers and Parliamentary Commission.