MPs have been handed 20 million Shillings each to monitor Covid-19 activities in their constituencies!

Uganda has confirmed 55 Covid-19 cases since the first case emerged on 26th March, a native returning from a business trip in Dubai.

Covid-19 has sparked another frenzy for people to make cash at the expense of those who can’t afford.

Politicians are at the tip of the crazy greed for money. We all know this is an electioneering year and who wouldn’t want to be seen to be involved.

Government has a Covid-19 national task force led by Maria Karoro Okurut to ensure nationals who are not able are fed during the three weeks of shut down.

The food-distribution exercise hit a snag when it emerged a supplier stuffed some bags with expired beans causing outrage.

Aponye, a businessman who had been given the deal slept on it and he was thrown out.

Then while the food distribution exercise is going on, Parliament who had initially objected.

The Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga confirmed that each legislator had been handed 20Million shillings to oversea the project.

Kadaga explained: “On Shs10 billion allocated to Parliament: We have ambulances commandeered by Ministry of Health. The drivers have to be paid & ambulances serviced. MPs are also busy on advocacy. Committees are following up on what is happening in hospitals & they are reporting to the country.”

The speaker on the money channelled to medics, she argued: “During today’s Plenary, I disclosed that in the latest supplementary budget, the Ministry of Health’s portion was augmented from Shs62 billion to Shs100billion; mainly to cater for medical workers.”

Enraged citizens on social media have petitioned President Museveni, Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda and Speaker Kadaga to demand the monies instead be channelled to the ministry of health.

The petitioners wrote: “If ever there will be a wall of shame after the coronavirus pandemic has receded, the MPs have earned themselves a prime place on it. The right thing for Parliament to do is to redeem the image of the institution by giving the money back to the Ministry of Health as overtime allowances for doctors and nurses. At the very least we expect with a sense of honour to donate the money to Uganda Red Cross.”

The petition circulating on social media, read: “H​.​E.@KagutaMuseveni,, Hon. @RebeccaKadagaUG, Hon. @RuhakanaR: Allocation of 20M to each Mp should instead go support health centers, doctors and nurses.”

The petition is gathering pace as enraged individuals gather signatures to have it go through on social media.

However, it looks a tall order for the petitioners given that they are up against the speaker who has been a strong pillar of the facilitation for her members.