A section of Members of Parliament has expressed strong opposition to the Regional Parliamentary sittings, citing the Shs20 billion budget as a wasteful expenditure of taxpayers’ money.
Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi revealed that each sitting is expected to cost around Shs5 billion, which he described as “total wastage.”
“We understand that about Shs5 billion is going to be spent on each of these sittings, not all of them, each of these sittings. The first one being in Gulu, then there will be another in Mbarara, then another in Mbale, and one in one of the Central Uganda districts. This expenditure is difficult for us to explain to the public and the people we represent. It is total wastage,” he said.
Ssenyonyi accused the top leadership of Parliament of misusing taxpayers’ money on a process that lacks logical and financial sense, especially considering the country’s current challenges.
He questioned why the funds weren’t being allocated to Committees for oversight roles, which would allow them to engage with communities and produce reports for Parliament.
“We have Committees of Parliament and these Committees go and work on behalf of Parliament. Why don’t we empower committees? Many times, committees complain that they aren’t able to go out to the field. Why don’t we empower committees as opposed to doing it this way?” he noted.
Ssenyonyi warned that continued wastage of taxpayers’ money will fuel public anger and perceptions of corruption and abuse of office within Parliament.
In light of these concerns, some Opposition MPs have chosen to distance themselves from the Regional Parliamentary sittings, citing the need for more transparent and accountable use of taxpayers’ money.
