The Director for Communications at Parliament, Chris Obore has confirmed to theGrapevine in a WhatsApp message that it is true they inducted new staff.

“I unapologetically confirm that the daughter of the Chief Justice, Owiny Dollo and the son of the late Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah are among them,” he confirmed.

Obore added that the two are qualified and are Ugandans too who were not recruited by their parents but by the Parliamentary Commission which is vested with that authority through an Act of Parliament.

“We have looked through the entire list and cross checked with Ministry of Internal Affairs and found out that all the new staff are Ugandan citizens,” he added.

This is after journalist, Agather Atuhaire questioned the regime os the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Anita Among for inducting 49 new members into the Parliamentary staff yet there was no advert for these jobs anywhere.

“They include the daughter of CJ Owinyi Dollo (the one she is always saying she is happy to give work), the son of Late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, the wife of former Minister of State for Tourism Godfrey Kiwanda, two other relatives of Parliamentary Commissioner and Zombo woman MP Esther Afoyo-Chan (who already had 5 siblings employed in Parliament), among others.”

The journalist adduced that there has been an increase of over 200 members of staff (both on contract, Permanent and pensionable) since she assumed office.

She revealed, “Some of these people are on the payroll without doing any work while others have literally no work to do. An acquaintance recently said he never knew that someone can earn so much for so little work.

“Then there are people she doesn’t like but she cannot fire who are on “katebe” but also earning of course. They include directors and staff at other levels.”

Atuhaire was joined by opposition  Forum for Democratic Party (FDC) who disclosed that NRM mafias are rewarding their families, favoured relatives and cronies.

“(President) Museveni and his sleeping cabinet and institutions, none can publish a known process regarding recruitment. The ethical process will only happen when Ugandans unite to subdue the junta that is holding power.”

Four-time presidential candidate, Dr. Kizza Besigye however revealed that government is to borrow US$ 464 million from ‘money lenders’ to support, among others, opulent State House expenditure of Shs.2 billion per day.

“This is during Uganda’s worst Failure To Thrive crisis. These are the National Economy Committee members to approve it.”

Besigye complained further that they are borrowing huge amounts from ‘money lenders’ to pay for all the sleaze.

“Meanwhile, kids are out of school for lack of fees, healthcare in total shambles, some parts totally inaccessible due to broken/lack of bridges and bad roads.”

It should be remembered that a few days ago, government proposed to borrow €455.03 million (about Shs 1.7 trillion) from Standard Chartered Bank to finance the country’s development and infrastructure budget for the FY 2022/23.

By Kalamira Hope