The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Speaker of Parliament Jacob Oulanyah has warned the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to stop funding activities of committees. Oulanyah says that this undermines the independence and authority of Parliament.
Oulanyah made the directive during his communication to Members of Parliament on Tuesday.
“It has come to my attention, that some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government are making arrangements with our committees and financing them to do certain work. If you want your mandate, authority and independence eroded, let somebody else…other than parliament finance your activities. He, who pays the piper, calls the tune,” said the Speaker.
He warned MPs to take his communication seriously since they committed to the people that they would be serious and will avoid certain things that bring the image of this institution in disrupt.
Oulanyah directed all MDAs to cease forthwith, from these dealings that undermine the institution’s independence.
He also cautioned Committee Chairpersons, Vice-Chairpersons, MPs and Clerks to Committees to take serious his directive.
Cecilia Ogwal, the Dokolo Woman MP said that MDAs facilitating MPs can be done directly or indirectly and that one of the ways in arranging meetings, seminars, conferences in a hotel or retreat for several days.
“Now, in that situation…how do we handle? I miss a couple of them because I would prefer government agencies to use parliamentary agencies. I find it difficult for us to hold a meeting in the boardrooms of either URA or whatever it is when we have our humble conference hall,” she said.
Ogwal asked the Speaker to clarify the matter. However, the Speaker did not respond to MPs Ogwal’s inquiry.
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