The Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga has dragged Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi, commonly known as Bobi Wine, to the Parliament’s Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Discipline for what she has described as bringing the House into disrepute.
“As for Honorable Kyagulanyi, he has to go to the Disciplinary Committee for bringing this House into disrepute,” Kadaga said.
Her action was in response to a complaint by Bunyole West MP James Waluswaka who told the House that Bobi Wine had described the sh20m COVID-19 pandemic sensitization money to MPs as a bribe.
“On his receipt, Honorable Kyagulanyi stated that I have returned a bribe, can he explain to the country why he said that the sh20m given to MPs was a bribe? People think that this House can be bribed to carry out its mandate, he should be asked to explain,” Waluswaka demanded.
The money was part of the 10 billion Shillings that was distributed to Members of Parliament as facilitation for activities on the control of coronavirus disease-COVID-19. Amid controversy on the exact role MPs are going to play when the country is on lockdown, a section of MPs has since signed transfer forms with their banks returning the funds to the Parliamentary Commission account saying that it is morally wrong to receive the money during the crisis.
Waluswaka also brought to the attention of parliament a video of Trade Minister Amelia Kyambadde asking a television presenter to question her about the controversial funds sent to MPs.
MP Waluswaka told the House that the minister was caught on a video asking show host Simon Kaggwa Njala to ask her about the money given to MPs as part of sh10b COVID-19 pandemic funds to Parliament.
Confirming to have seen the video that went viral on social media, Kadaga said; “How can a minister solicit questions on TV and then she says, she says she has rejected the money”.
Kyambadde, who is the MP for Mawokota North County declared on National TV that she would return the money if sent on her account.
Jacob Oboth, the West Budama South MP said that the matter raised by his colleague against Kyagulanyi was critical since it portrays the parliament in a bad light. The Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee Chairperson also noted that the ping pong of MPs losing a debate on the floor and running to court should also stop.
