SHILLINGS 10B SAGA; MPs Advised, As Speaker Of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga Quashes Attorney General Byaruhanga's Court Orders Haulting Shillings 20M for Each MP To Fight Covid-19.

After Meeting Museveni, Kadaga Orders MPs to Spend Shs 20M on National Response to Covid-19.

Members of Parliament (MPs) have been directed to spend the sum of Shs20m advanced to them by the Parliament Commission to only interventions meant to support National Response to COVID-19 in their respective districts.

The directive was issued by the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga while reading out new guidelines to legislators on how to spend the money that was advanced to them off the Shs10bn allocations to Parliament in the fight against COVID-19.

Kadaga said that the new guidelines follow a meeting that was held yesterday, between the President, Speaker and the Prime Minister and it was agreed that MPs be incorporated in the activities implemented by the National structures.

The Speaker said that hence forth, MPs have been incorporated within the respective District COVID-19 task forces as members though the structure and leadership of the district force shall remain as it is.

Kadaga noted that MPs representing Special Interest groups, National Workers MP, National Female Youth MP, PWD will be absorbed in the National task forces where the interventions will be coordinated.

“The MP shall spend the funds advanced by the Commission for the COVID pandemic only on those interventions meant to support the National response to COVID in their respective districts. As you appreciate, our districts are not homogeneous, the needs of one district may not be the needs of another district each district will determine how best to utilise the funds,” Kadaga said.

Kadaga reminded MPs that is not only the Shs20m of the MPs funds that have been given out but a total of Shs163m has been sent to the districts for the same activity as well as Shs55m given to RDCs.

“The members on the taskforce will agree on the best interventions depending on the priorities but may include food, medical and emergency supplies, or emergency relief. Accountabilities for this money will be made to the Parliament Accounting Officer with a copy to the CAO of the district where the district applies,” Kadaga said.

She reminded MPs to adhere strictly to the government of Uganda guidelines on COVID-19 pandemic and shall not personally get involved in the distribution of food or materials.

“For avoidance of doubt, a member shall not organise meetings in his or her constituency in bleach of the National guidelines especially on social distancing among others. Each MP shall use his or her ID issued by Parliament for purposes of travelling to join the taskforces and participate in the activities as will be designed by the district task forces,” Kadaga added.

Reacting to the communication to the Speaker, Kampala Central MP, Mohammed Nsereko requested for Legislators to as well send relief to their constituents in terms of cash through Mobile Money which the Speaker granted.