The Democratic Party (DP) spokesperson
in Kabarole district Mr. Mpoza Joseph on 21st August 2016 was hosted
alongside Mr. Kiwalabye Chris, a local citizen on Jubilee radio on an issue in
parliament of buying new cars for members of parliament.
“One hundred and fifty million shillings (150m) is to be spent to
purchase a single car for a member of parliament, but truthfully is a car a priority
now? Asked Mr. Mpoza Joseph. He said the money can do something else like improving services
in education, health, agriculture, creating jobs for the youths, more
construction of roads,etc, he said it is unfair for members of parliament to
get such sums of money yet our health facilities still luck key machines which
are not too expensive even.
Joseph added that, we have seen how the health
sector is sinking when you take a look at our health centers in the country for
example Nakaseke hospital has no X-ray and this has been on-going for the last
4 years yet they require only four
million shillings (4m) to repair the x-ray machine and save lives of citizens.
Let the money be used to improve the health sector in the country.
The weekly discussion program of
Sundays 8:00pm-10:00pm on Jubilee radio was joined by Mr. Kiwalabye Kulaisi, a
local citizen who said; ‘’The problem in
the country is that we elect leaders who are not ready to serve the citizens
and just aim at making themselves rich instead of advocating for improved
services in communities. Why can’t the cars they bought for members of the 9th
parliament serve the purpose after all some members lost in the recent
concluded elections, why can’t they return the cars to save on the planned
expenditure to the government?’’ Said Mr. Kiwalabye Kulaisi.
Kulaisi added that most roads
that were constructed and those being constructed in Uganda today are funded by
big loans borrowed from different banks, how then the government can secure
those big sums of money to buy new cars for members of parliament. Let members
of parliament use their own money to buy the cars they want because they earn a
lot of money.
During the 2 hours discussion listeners were
given time to participate through call- ins and Sms, about 30 people called in
and 15 sent sms; “Members of parliament
should be given medium cars which consume less fuel other than those proposed
posh cars that are imparting on the taxpayers money and use the remaining
balance to buy drugs and construct roads”. Said Hon. Muntu K. Willy a
caller from Ntoroko district, ’’the Government should buy for them cheap cars
and use the remaining money to buy cancer machines in our health centers in
different districts”. Said Jane Karungi,
a caller from Bugaki Sub County in Kyenjojo district, “Members
of parliament should stop being greedy what they need to do is to first see the
economy of the country before they request for expensive cars”, Said Mugume
through SMS.
We are grateful to SIDA, NED, SPIDER, ICT4DEM, CIPESA and
Jubilee radio as a partner for the financial and technical support
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