18 Opposition MPs Bribed by Government – Wafula Oguttu Sam Waswa Leader of Opposition Hon Wafula Oguttu has confirmed an ongoing bribery scandal in Parliament which Members are receiving millions of money from government in boxes. The cash up to the tune of 130million, is being dished out to each willing member via the office of the president according to rumors emerging form Parliament’s corridors. President Yoweri Museveni’s aides Brig, Proscovia Nalweyiso and NRM Chief Whip Justin Kasule Lumumba are said to be coordinating the project. Wafula admitted knowledge about the scandal but said naming some of the involved MPs was difficult at the moment. He noted that majority of the members receiving the cash are from the Ruling NRM but added that 18 opposition members are also said to have received the cash. Oguttu reveled that the money in the parliament corridors has been code-named Article 110. This is an Article of the constitution that provides for a state of emergency. The said Article reads thus: (1) The President may, in consultation with the Cabinet, by proclamation, declare that a state of emergency exists in Uganda, or any part of Uganda if the President is satisfied that circumstances exist in Uganda or in that part of Uganda— (c) Which render necessary the taking of measures which are required for securing the public safety, the defense of Uganda and the maintenance of public order and supplies and services essential to the life of the community? Oguttu noted, “Some names have been mentioned of those who have picked the money majority of whom are NRM Members. It is however difficult to mention names because nobody can yet produce evidence about the payments.” “It is said that 18 of our Members of the Opposition have since picked the money but none of them is volunteering information,” he added. “All we know now is that one Member is called in after another somewhere within Parliament here or nearby to receive the money in cash. They carry it away in boxes. We are also told that Members are instructed not to bank the money but just spend it.” Some suggestions have been forwarded that the cash bonanza emerged in response to pleas from some members who claimed to be sinking poverty and pressures from loans shacks. The LoP maintains that the money is a bribe to Members since it has no known vote in the budget of Parliament, yet all payments to MPs must be processed and made by the Parliamentary Commission. “This is their attempt to circumvent the law. We believe this cash splash offends the Anti-Money Laundering Act. They are aware that if the money is banked the law would catch up with them because it is required that for any money above 20m shillings, the source must be declared,” he said. “On behalf of the Opposition I would like to disassociate myself from this money and condemn it in the strongest terms possible.”
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 15:42:00 +0000