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MPs having a light moment after legislation
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By Our Writer
Out of 557 Members of Parliament (MPs), only 380 attended the first-ever regional parliamentary sitting in Gulu city last week. According to Parliament’s Director for Communication and Public Affairs, Chris Obore, the 177 MPs who were absent, including some ministers, will be required to refund the sh1.6 million per diem paid to them for the session. The Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, will deduct this amount from their next monthly salaries.
The Gulu sitting, which commenced on August 28, aimed to bring Parliament closer to the people. Speaker Anita Among noted during the first session that 310 MPs were physically present. The following day, 380 MPs were registered.
MPs attending sessions in Gulu
Despite its success in terms of legislation and attendance, the session faced opposition from MPs led by Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the Opposition. Ssenyonyi and his colleagues boycotted the sitting, arguing it was a waste of taxpayers' money, claiming it would cost sh5 billion per session, totaling sh20 billion across four planned regional sittings. However, Obore dismissed these claims as "propaganda," stating that there was no special budget for the Gulu sitting, and each department used its existing budget to facilitate the event.
MPs received sh400,000 per day for feeding and accommodation during the four-day session, amounting to sh891.2 million in total for all members. Despite the boycott, opposition MPs also received the per diem, as attending the Gulu sitting was considered part of their official duties.
As Parliament plans additional regional sittings, the controversy over costs and attendance continues. If the same allowances are maintained for the remaining regions, the total per diem could reach sh3.56 billion for all MPs. The Clerk to Parliament confirmed that allowances for regional sittings are the same as those provided for sittings in Kampala.
Torch Media Africa
