• The embellished expenditure, which comes at a time when the country is grappling with escalating commodity prices, is a big slap in the face of citizens.
• Parliament has also allocated itself extra Shs193bn to cater for their salary increment and allowances.

Parliament’s decision to procure two luxurious high end cars for Speaker Anita Annet Among and her deputy Thomas Tayebwa at a cost of £520,000 (about Shs2.4 billion) has sparked resentment from a cross-section of the public, with some describing the deal as an extravagant expenditure.

Those opposed to the procurement argue that such embellished expenditure, which comes at a time when the country is grappling with escalating commodity prices, is a big slap in the face of citizens.

Ms Prossy Akampurira Mbabazi, the Rubanda District Woman Member of Parliament, also a parliamentary commissioner, yesterday confirmed the procurement of the two luxurious vehicles in a telephone interview.

“The decision was endorsed by the parliamentary commissioners and money to purchase the two vehicles was approved,” she explained.

The vehicles were procured from a firm in the UK and one is already here. The second vehicle is arriving next week, according to Parliament.

Giving a justification for the luxurious procurement, Ms Mbabazi said the cars belong to the two public offices and not to individuals.

“The current cars [for the Speaker and Deputy speaker] have been here for more than 10 years and once they get old, it is reasonable to get other cars for our speakers. I don’t know why people are taking it as if it is her car; that is a parliamentary car and once they leave office, they will not take these cars home,” she said.

Weighing in on the matter, Mr Julius Mukunda, the executive director at the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), last evening described the procurement process as “bad” given the hard economic times that the country is going through.

“Have we reached that level to procure such vehicles in the banana republic?.  What signal does it give when we say we need to be frugal? We need to have value for money considering who we are as a country,” Mr Mukunda said by telephone.

Opposition Forum for Democratic Change deputy spokesperson John Kikonyogo said: “The country’s economic situation is worrying, Ugandans are struggling to afford the basics of life, and such a procurement is a mockery to Ugandans,” he said.

National Unity Platform party Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya said Parliament has betrayed Ugandans. 

Parliament has also allocated itself extra Shs193bn to cater for their salary increment and allowances.

Parliament quotations of the two vehicles are said to be high end considering the prices on the open market.