The Parliamentary Commission has been instructed to discuss President Museveni's letter regarding procurement of armoured escort vehicles for Members of Parliament. This was revealed by Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga during the Plenary on Thursday.
Kadaga’s statement was formed by a concern of Ruhinda North MP Thomas Tayebwa, who raised a matter of national importance questioning why a car was going to be procured for him and yet he never asked for it.
"I saw in my name, a pick-up is going to be acquired with sharpshooters; I don't know to shoot who. The clarification I need is, are they buying for each and every MP? We know we have our colleagues who might need security, it is up to me to determine whether I need extra security or not and I appreciate the President for being concerned," said Tayebwa.
Hon. Tayebwa added that MPs who need extra security and sharpshooters should register with the Clerk to Parliament before the procurement of cars is done. “I suggest that you get a list of MPs who need the vehicles and sharp shooters and submit this to the ministry of defence. And for those who do not need, you give us the money so we renovate our health centres” the youthful MP said.
On this note, the speaker said that last month when MPs met Museveni, procurement of escort cars was one of the issues raised and that the meeting was an all-party caucus, adding that the Parliamentary Commission will discuss the letter and report back to the MPs.
In a letter dated June 29, 2018, to finance Minister Matia Kasaija, President Yoweri Museveni ordered for the immediate procurement of escort vehicles and the provision of 'sharpshooters' for all Members of Parliament.
This is in the wake of the assassination of former Arua Municipality MP, Ibrahim Abiriga.
The late Abiriga, was one of the architects of the constitutional amendment to remove the cap on the presidential age. He was shot alongside his brother cum bodyguard Saidi Buga Kongo, in Kawanda, Wakiso District.
