President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda
Ugandan legislators have each pocketed 29 million Ugandan shillings
($8,000) as a payout for consultations on legislation to extend the
president's rule, a parliamentary spokesman said on Tuesday, a move
opponents denounced as a bribe.
The bill would scrap a constitutional age cap preventing President
Yoweri Museveni, 73 and in power for 31 years, from standing in the next
election. It is likely to pass, given the ruling party's majority, when
it is voted on later this year.
A staunch ally of Western powers, Museveni is widely seen as an
anchor of stability in the often volatile Great Lakes region after
decades of violent Ugandan dictators. Critics say he has evolved into
just another African strongman using corrupt and ruthless tactics to
retain power for life.
Parliamentary spokesman Chris Obore said the one-off payment had been released to the legislators' bank accounts this week.
"It's to help them to consult with their constituents on this bill," he told Reuters.
MPs are among Uganda's best-paid public servants; their monthly
remuneration of about $5,900 already includes expenses for regular
travel to their constituencies to consult with voters.
But low-paid public employees like teachers, police and health
workers often do not see their salaries paid on time - typical delays
can run to three months. Public hospitals are often missing important
drugs.
Public anger over waste and corruption is growing, and protests
have erupted in different parts of Uganda gainst the bill. Security
forces have responded by using tear gas and live bullets to suppress the
demonstrations.
Dozens of people have been arrested and two have died in the protests.
At the moment, Museveni cannot run for re-election in 2021 because
the existing constitution bars candidates aged above 75 years of age. He
backs the private member's bill, introduced in parliament last month,
that seeks to scrap the age cap.
The amendment, which critics say will clear the way for Museveni to
rule for the rest of his life, has met broad resistance from some
ruling party supporters, opposition, religious leaders and rights
activists.
"This is an outright bribe," John Baptist Nambeshe, one of the MPs opposed to the bill, told Reuters. "To claim that it's a normal parliamentary facilitation - it defeats logic."
In total, the East African country is spending about 13 billion
shillings ($3.55 million) to facilitate consultations on the bill by 445
legislators, Obore said.
In 2005, MPs were also offered a one-off payment of five million
shillings to consult on a draft bill that removed a two-term cap on
incumbency from the constitution, allowing Museveni to stand again. Each
term is five years.
That was the only other occasion MPs have been paid to consult on a
specific bill, and it also attracted wide criticism as a
thinly-disguised bribe. The bill was passed.
-Reuters
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