Kyadondo East legislator Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine has today directed his bankers to return the Shs29 million ‘facilitation for consultations’ that was credited on his account by the Parliamentary Commission on October 24.
On Tuesday parliament received Shs13 billion from the ministry of finance, and started disbursing the money to every legislator’s account to facilitate the consultative meetings in respect to the now controversial private members bill that is aimed at removal of presidential age limit that is capped at 75 years.
In a letter dated October 27, Kagulanyi ordered Barclays Bank, Acacia Mall branch, to return the Shs 29m back to the creditors. Consequently, the bank did as directed. “As per your request to refund the 29m sent to your account by parliamentary commission, we have reversed it off account,” the branch manager wrote back in a letter on the same day.
Later, while addressing a pressing briefing at his home MP Kyagulanyi said they are always facilitated with Shs 1.4 million per month to go back to their constituencies.
“The money wired onto our accounts was too much and could have temporarily solved some few problems that the country faces,” he said, adding: “We did not budget for these funds this financial year, and we could be charged for misappropriation of government funds, that is why I have chosen to be on the right side of the law.”
Describing the money as a ‘bribe to influence their mindset about the bill’ that is being fronted by Igara West MP Raphael Magyezi, Kyagulanyi said: “I don’t know why the government is insisting on the bill that is leading to loss of tax payers’ money; many MPs have always been coming up with other bills but I wonder why they are interested in the Magyezi bill the will lead us in chaos.”
Critics of the Magyezi bill like Kyagulanyi aver that it is aimed at paving the way for President Yoweri Museveni, who has now ruled Uganda for 31 years, to rule for life.
And. looking back to 2005 when MPs in the Eight Parliament voted to lift the term limits after bagging Shs5 million, Kyagulanyi those responsible have not recovered from the embarrassment.
On Wednesday Rubaga north MP Moses Kasibante, Soroti woman MP Angelina Osege, Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala), Medard Lubega Ssegona, William Nzoghu (Busongora) Robinah Ssentongo (Kyotera Woman) and Opposition Chief Whip Ibrahim Semujju Nganda (Kira Municipality) also returned the Shs29 million to the Parliamentary Commission.
