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    MPs Are Poorly Paid Compared To Other Gov’t Officials – MP Sseggona Blasts Voters Blackmailing Legislators….

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    Busiro East legislator Medard Lubega Sseggona

    Controversial Busiro East legislator Medard Lubega Sseggona has revealed that Members of Parliament (MP) are the most poorly paid government workers.

    He said that each legislator takes home a monthly salary of Shs.6m compared to other government officials who are paid up to Shs.50m.

    “I have seen a tweet from a malicious government official that there is a lot of traffic jam at parliament. He claimed that MPs pick up Shs.40m, but he didn’t have evidence.

    “But that government official who posted such lies is given a government car, a driver paid by the government, fuel, and his car is serviced by the government. He attacked a Member of Parliament who is given just one car in five years without a driver like other government officials,” Sseggona defended himself.

    It should be noted that Uganda Media Center boss, Ofwono Opondo was the first to post on his twitter account that legislators were picking a lot of money from parliament.

    Sseggona explained that the other money they get, which many people use as a weapon to attack them, is given to them through allowances which are legally recognised.

    Sseggona turned guns on voters whom he accused of being dishonest.

    He challenged voters to attack their legislators after increasing their salaries since they always frequent their homes and offices asking for money for school fees, introduction ceremonies, burials and others.

    He insisted that of all government institutions, parliament is the only one which is frugal.

    He gave an example of parliamentary committees which are working on a budget of Shs.30m a month yet they have to travel, eat and drink while doing public assignments not their private work.

    He was supported by Chris Obore, the Director for Communication at parliament who accused the 1986 bush war veterans of being behind the attack on the institution of parliament and Anita Among, the speaker of parliament.

    He revealed that there are government officials who up to now have never accepted that Among, a young girl, who just recently crossed from opposition to the ruling NRM party is the Speaker of parliament and number three in the leadership of the country.

    Bardege-Layibi Division legislator Martin Mapenduzi Ojara cheered Sseggona on UBC TV’s Behind the Headline talk show and insisted that there is a planned move to blackmail the institution of parliament and these attacks are fueled by other government officials.

    He warned that if the attackers do not put down their weapons, they (MPs) are ready to revenge against them.

    It should be remembered that recently, there was a war of words between Kasambya County legislator David Kabanda and some media outlets which ran stories castigating legislators for trying to allocate themselves extra allowances in these hard economic times.

    Kabanda disclosed that some individuals in the Ministry of Finance are maligning Parliament through media.

    “I know it’s the 86bn disguised under construction of a conventional centre & 319bn for Lubowa that you wanted to eat is causing this. You (were) pained by the fact that we blocked it. We shall expose you more when we resume,” Kabanda tweeted.

    He added, “We cut 900b for fiscal space which at 16% was registering interest of about 210b. Ministry of Finance wanted to steal close to 600bn which the budget committee realised.”

    Kabanda called upon the leadership of Parliament to aggressively oppose propaganda against MPs.

    “MPs earn a gross salary of Shs.11m and after tax it comes to 6.2m net.  This is the salary an MP’s pension & gratuity is computed. The additional allowances are for fuel. I don’t know fuel given to other leaders, civil servants & CEOs like Wanyama Don is counted as salary.

    “Anyone who thinks there is money in Parliament please look for former MPs and assess their state. I know most of those making noise have been trying several times to become MPs but failed or have ambitions,” he noted

     

    By Sengooba Alirabaki

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    M7 Urges Ugandans To Study European History

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    President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Ugandans to study European history in order to gain relevant knowledge to develop the country.

    Museveni, who was represented by Vice President Jessica Alupo, made the statement at a symposium to address the role of universities in responding to Africa’s problems and development needs. The symposium was held on March 30th at Makerere University.

    Museveni told Ugandans to study European history and get exposed to the world.

    “Have seen some people saying what is the use of studying European History. It is very important to study European History cause when you know about the world, it is like a laboratory. You can know how the world is and how society evolves,” he said.

    Museveni said Africans should borrow good ideas from the Europeans and have them implemented in their own countries.

    He also expressed his dismay with colonial influence that is washing away the African culture and values. He said Africans are buying ‘acids’ to bleach themselves due to colonial influence.

    Museveni further said that University education must help Africas regain their confidence.

    “The education system or university education must put confidence back into the African people,” he said.

    The president also urged universities to incorporate integration in the scope of what they teach to students. He said universities should not teach economics without integration or political science without regional integration.

    Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, Makerere University’s vice chancellor urged the government to prioritise postgraduate studies, saying that these help countries transform faster.

    “Economies of countries are transformed much faster if you have a mass of PhD and masters’ graduates,” he said.

    According to Nawangwe, postgraduate students are able to conduct research that leads to national transformation.

    Makerere University will in the next academic year cut the number of undergraduate students to create space for postgraduate and PhD students.

    The institution has also called upon government to increase sponsorship slots for postgraduate students. This is aimed at turning Makerere University into a research led institution.

    By Nickson Maberi

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    Karamoja Iron Sheets Protest: Eight Remanded To Luzira Prison

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    Court has remanded a total of eight youths to Luzira prison who were involved in a protest on Tuesday calling for the arrest of ministers involved in the Karamoja iron sheets scandal.

    The eight were arrested along Ben Kiwanuka Street as they called for the arrest and persecution of those involved in the Karamoja Iron Sheets Scandal.

    These include Kawooya Sharif, Ssegawa Shafik, Bukenya Moses, Ndyasiima Nelson, Matanda Augustine, Nayebare Gilbert, Najjume Sanyu and Ssemakula Teddy.

    The eight, who allege to be victims of torture, were arraigned before court and remanded to Luzira prison till April 12th, 2023. The group is accused of assaulting a police officer ASP Flavia Musimenta.

    Police on Monday said it was concluding investigations of ministers involved in the Karamoja iron sheets scandal.

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    Minister Rusoke Endorses ‘Jajja Tova Ku Main’ Campaign

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    The Minister of State for Local Government Hon. Rusoke Victoria has endorsed the ‘Jajja Tova Ku Main’ campaign and urged Ugandans to rally behind president Museveni and make him president again in 2026.

    Rusoke said during the launch of the disbursement of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds to beneficiaries in Lwengo District that Museveni is the only leader that has shown love to the people of Uganda.

    Rusoke told Lwengo residents that by voting Museveni again in 2026, they will make it possible for him to continue with the implementation of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) manifesto.
    The beneficiaries were selected from 43 out of 45 Parishes in Lwengo District.

    The ‘Jajja Tova Ku Main’ is a campaign manned by youth across the country with an aim of promoting Museveni’s 2026 Presidential candidature.

    Mr Kitatta Ibrahim Almalik, the Lwengo District LCV Chairman hailed the regime for remaining truthful to its core Ideological principles of Nationalism, Pan Africanism, Social Economic Transformation and Democracy.

    Kitatta said the Parish Development Model will help households overcome poverty through establishing income generating projects using the PDM funds.

     

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