NRM rewards MPs with Shs20m each

A day after the ruling party forced through the approval of more than Shs600b in a controversial supplementary budget, it emerged last evening that all the NRM flagbearers are to pocket at least Shs20m each for their campaigns.

Although the National Resistance Movement insisted last night that the money is from party coffers, the release coming so soon after the supplementary budget approval of which a huge chunk has been allocated to State House, heightened suspicion that public money could be used to finance NRM campaign activities.

Season of reaping
The 238 directly-elected NRM MPs will share Shs4.7b and another 112 District Women MPs will share Shs2.8b, each getting at least Shs25 million. The justification for more money for women flag bearers is that they cover a larger area than their colleagues.

Last month, NRM MPs received Shs5m each and on Friday they will each receive Shs15m, bringing the total to Shs20m. Women aspirants will thus receive Shs20m having already received the Shs5m.

NRM Secretary General Amama Mbabazi told journalists yesterday: “As a party we are committed to facilitate our candidates, the money will be used for fuel, printing posters, transport and to finance other activities in their campaigns.”

Party call
“Competition under the multiparty system is for the NRM programmes and not individuals. It is the NRM party which is fighting to fund its programmes.” Mr Mbabazi said the party’s campaign “budget is one based on resources available” and that “the party will fund its flag bearers depending on available resources.”

Other party MPs who talked to Daily Monitor on condition of anonymity said they had expected to receive the money last evening, but left an impromptu caucus meeting disappointed. “We came hoping to get the money today (Wednesday) as they had promised us,” a female MP from Western Uganda said. “Unfortunately, our treasurer, David Bahati, told us that the money will be distributed on Friday and that we should be patient.”

Independents clamour
However, the party’s decision to facilitate only the flagbearer has caused controversy among the members after independents also demanded they be facilitated since they have been contributing to the party. “We cannot allow people who have not been contributing to be facilitated because they went through a fraudulent electoral process,” an independent MP said.

Mr Bahati (Ndorwa West) last evening confirmed the arrangement to pay members. “We are facilitating our members to ensure victory in the upcoming general elections,” Mr Bahati said. “On whether the independents will also receive the money, this is an internal matter and there will be a dialogue to this effect.”

Asked about the source of the funding, Mr Bahati said: “We are not using public funds. We are using money from well-wishers, members’ contributions and friends.”

More than Shs602 billion in supplementary budget was on Tuesday passed during a special parliamentary sitting amid protests from the opposition members who accused President Museveni and the NRM Party of using public funds to finance their campaigns.

Meanwhile, President Museveni has summoned NRM legislators to a meeting at State House in Entebbe today to discuss the issue of facilitating independents, who outnumber party flag bearers.