By Sekaggya Seka Moses
Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has rejected requests from the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Public Service to disclose the salaries of Members of Parliament (MPs) and parliamentary staff.
Among emphasized that Parliament is an independent body and should not be overseen by these agencies.
According to Among, she received formal requests from both the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Public Service, seeking a report on MPs’ and staff salaries.
However, she expressed concerns that these agencies are overstepping their bounds and forgetting the principle of separation of powers in Uganda’s government structure.
“The Uganda Parliamentary Commission is a separate entity; we do not belong to the Equal Opportunities Commission, nor are we civil servants under the Public Service,” Among stated.
She also pointed out that Article 85 of Uganda’s Constitution clearly explains MPs’ salaries, and questioned the Equal Opportunities Commission’s authority to investigate matters outside their remit.
Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa supported Among’s position, agreeing that the Equal Opportunities Commission’s inquiry would be an overreach of their responsibilities.
Kiryowa promised to advise the Commission on this issue, emphasizing Parliament’s independence in managing its own financial matters.
However, Kira Municipality MP Ssemujju Nganda disagreed with Among and Kiryowa.
He argued that the Equal Opportunities Commission should be allowed to compare MPs’ and parliamentary staff salaries with those of ordinary Ugandans to identify social vulnerabilities.
Nganda’s comments highlighted the need for transparency in salary discussions and a better understanding of how different groups in society are affected by economic policies.
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