UGANDA IS A SAD STORY

Wafula Oguttu sets off storm in Parliament

Several MPs have tasked the Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Mr Wafula Oguttu to produce evidence on claims that some of them received shs110m each, from the president to clear their debts. Cartoon by Chrisogon 

By Our Reporter

Posted  Monday, August 18  2014 at  14:36

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Claims by Opposition chief, Mr Wafula Oguttu that MPs received or are receiving in excess of Shs100m, presumably to clear off their debts, did not go down well with some House authorities and his colleagues.

Last week Ms Kasule Lumumba, the NRM chief whip, who is said to be doling out the cash, vowed to present the Bukhooli Central MP before the House Disciplinary Committee if he does not back up his claims with evidence.

An irritated Lumumba also threatened to release chits she claims to have been received from Mr Oguttu.
“What if I reveal all the chits he has sent me,” the Bugiri Woman MP was overheard saying.

Earlier in the week, she had opined that a leaked chit which triggered the controversy was referring to money to put up an electricity line in Namayingo - and not cash for MPs to clear debts?

Ajuri MP Hamson Obua, while demanding that the Parliamentary Commission rein in the LoP, used rather interesting language to express his unhappiness at Wafula’s revelations.

“It was vexatious, derogatory, unjust and political blackmail. The LoP must show why he should not be punished,” Mr Obua said.

Issues of decorum in the House could also be seen when Kajara MP Stephen Tashobya found himself in an exchange with Isingiro North MP Alex Byarugaba after the former accused him of being “disorderly”. “You have used bad language, that is not parliamentary language,” Mr Byarugaba shot back.