I won’t sell the Prime Minister’s car, Rugunda
Dr Ruhakana Rugunda was on Monday given the office of the Prime Minister by outgoing premier Amama Mbabazi in a handover ceremony
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This is the car whose procurement raised much dust, amidst claims that the money was scooped off a donor-funded redevelopment project for the poverty stricken Northern Uganda Region
The new Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rukunda has rejected calls from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to sell off the Shs600million Mercedes Benz bought during ex-premier Amama Mbabazi's tenure.
Dr Rugunda was on Monday receiving office from his predecessor Mr Mbabazi at the cabinet boardroom in Kampala. Mbabazi was replaced over two weeks ago in a lone reshuffle which ignited speculation of the impending fallout within the NRM party.
A cross section of civil society organizations subsequently demanded that the car be sold in order to recover monies spent on what was described as an outrageous purchase and wastage of donor funds. The money used on the purchase was reportedly meant to support the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan-PRDP.
But in response, Dr Rugunda stated that, “What I know is that the Prime minister needs transport that is not an issue. We should look at developing Northern Uganda since the war ended.”
He added that instead of focusing on the sale of the Mercedes Benz, government was looking at allocating more resources to increase the pace of development in the region.
However, CSOs insist that its purchase was a waste of tax payers’ money.
This is the car whose procurement raised much dust, amidst claims that the money was scooped off a donor-funded redevelopment project for the poverty stricken Northern Uganda Region.
A subsequent tense debate called for intervention by President Yoweri Museveni who ordered investigation of the circumstances surrounding acquisition of the luxurious Benz.
For travel, Dr Rugunda will be entitled to two chauffeured vehicles propped up by a police lead vehicle to help him snake through the traffic gridlock in the city under the 2010 Emoluments and Benefits of the President, vice president and Prime Minister Act. The fuel consumption rate should be between 3,000 to 3,500cc.
Adding to his First Class travel, the PM will be entitled to a transit allowance and an out of pocket allowance at a rate of 20 per cent of the subsistence allowance plus a daily Safari travel allowance of Shs140,000 per day.
