By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Kampala High Court Justice Douglas Karekona Singiza has ruled that the Shs500 million service award given to Mathais Mpuuga, former Leader of Opposition, was indeed included in the national budget.
The judge stated that the vote for Ex-Gratia payments was presented in the Appropriations Bill by the Executive and passed by Parliament.
However, Justice Singiza expressed concern over the practice of government agencies and politicians awarding themselves large sums of money, citing the potential depletion of the nation’s coffers.
He proposed the establishment of a Salary and Emoluments Review Board to review and harmonize emoluments and allowances of government and political leaders, reporting directly to the President.
The court has ordered the Secretary to the Treasury to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesigye, for his role in the decision-making and implementation process of these contested service awards.
Four commissioners, including Mpuuga, are accused of sharing Shs1.7 billion in service awards.
The others are Prossy Mbabazi Akampurira (Rubanda Woman MP), Esther Afoyochan (Zombo Woman MP), and Solomon Silwanyi (Bukooli Central MP).
According to Justice Karekona, the allowances of members of the parliamentary commission are determined by the commission with the approval of Parliament as prescribed by Section 42 of the Administration of the Parliament Act (AOPA).
The court ruled that the service award was approved by Parliament in the Appropriation Bill under the title ‘Ex-gratia for political leaders.’
The judge emphasized that the payment was approved by Parliament and that the Minister of Finance had the opportunity to scrutinize it.
However, the court has directed the Secretary to the Treasury to probe and discipline the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesigwa, for his involvement in the contested service award.
The service award sparked controversy, prompting some legislators to call for the censure of all beneficiaries.
A motion to censure Mpuuga and the three commissioners was signed by 189 members of parliament and already represented to clerk to parliament.
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