[UAH] Teachers, police ‘yawn’ as MPs approve Shs2b for State House - National - monitor.co.ug
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Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga. The House on Wednesday approved Shs2 billion supplementary funding for State House. Photo by Geoffrey Sseruyange
Parliament on Wednesday sanctioned the release of Shs2 billion as supplementary funding for State House.
State House needs the money to take care of wage shortfalls for this Financial Year, which will end on June 30.
The House later refused to okay the releases for the police, teachers and medical workers because, MPs said, with just two days left to the end of the financial year, the government could not guarantee that they would be paid before July 1.
Rubaga South MP John Ken Lukyamuzi, however, said the House's decision was illegal because Parliament did not have the quorum.
"I seek to know whether we should proceed to pronounce ourselves on an important figure without the quorum..." Mr Lukyamuzi said.
According to Rule 23 (1) of Parliament's Rules of Procedure, one third of all the elected Members of Parliament must vote on an issue for the decision to stand. That means 125 of the 375 elected MPs in the House.
However, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, the Speaker of Parliament, said it was not the House's fault that all the MPs were not present in the House.
"I do not know whether our inefficiencies should be visited upon the police, the teachers, and the doctors. They [MPs] are supposed to be here in the House," said Ms Kadaga.
The MP for Mbarara Municipality, Dr Medard Bitekyerezo, had earlier suggested that the Members of Parliament stand over the government's request for supplementary funding.
He was, however, booed by MPs on the government side.
Mr Wafula Oguttu, the Bukooli Central MP, said the House's duty is to appropriate.
"Parliament appropriates [money]. It does not pay. Any salary arrears are not the responsibility of Parliament," said Mr Oguttu.
State Minister of Internal Affairs James Baba, said Parliament's decision not to approve the police's request would handicap the force.
editorial@ug.nationmedia.com
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