We never gave any member of parliament Shs40 million - Parliament

Chris Obore, the Director Communication and Public Affairs of Parliament, says that the claims made by NUP are mere fabrications which should be dismissed in their entirety.

This rebuttal was contained in a letter written by Obore’s office.

“Parliament distances itself from the alleged payment as claimed by the NUP, and treats it as a deliberate and persistent smear campaign against the leadership of parliament,” Obore’s letter reads in part.

The letter goes on to place the onus of proof on NUP.

“Any payment to MPs by the Commission is charged on the Consolidated Account, and remitted to an individual MP’s account. If indeed there has been any such payment by parliament outside the known procedures as NUP claims, wouldn’t it have been the right thing for the party to interest the accountability committees, chaired by its Members, in the matter with evidence for action?” the letter continues.

Parliament's letter regarding the alleged payout Pulse

NUP’s allegations

The largest opposition party in parliament, National Unity Platform (NUP), ordered its members of parliament on Tuesday to return Shs40 million which it claims was advanced to them by Parliament for unknown reasons.

“It turned out that NRM members were receiving this money in cash from Parliament, while opposition and independent MPs were receiving it from the home of Anita Among, the speaker of Parliament,” NUP alleges.

Some MPs were reportedly told that this payout was a token of appreciation, while others were informed that it was to serve as an anchor in the high seas of tough economic times.

However, NUP said this money was mere backsheesh in the absence of any clear explanation about its source and purpose.

“Some Members were being told to go with boda-bodas or cars not belonging to them in order to disguise themselves,” NUP continued, in a statement while applauding those who did not take the bait and thereby refused the money.

“We established that a few NUP MPs had unfortunately picked this money, since everyone else was picking it. The party convened an emergency caucus meeting yesterday [Monday] and resolved that members belonging to NUP who had picked the money return it immediately because it was clearly a bribe,” said the party.

The party was rather pointed as to the nature of this money.

“How can public funds be handled in this manner? A quick summation of these funds shows that the regime is spending over Shs 20 billion on this illegal, immoral and corrupt venture,” added NUP.

The biggest opposition party in parliament said this most recent payout demonstrated without a shadow of doubt that President Museveni and his regime are indifferent to the plight of Ugandans in these tough economic times.