Do MPs treat their drivers like slaves?

They could be some of the highest paid Ugandans, and the fighters for every Ugandan’s rights, but, MPs don’t necessarily pay or treat their drivers, well. These drivers suffer insults, long working hours and unpaid dues.

MPs ‘steal’ their driver’s allowances
One of the drivers says, “Some of those MPs pick the drivers’ allowances from retreats and they do not take the money to their drivers yet when signing for the money they promise to deliver it,” the chairman said.

“These MPs do a lot of things, they make deals and are always stressed and they can’t drive themselves with all the stress. The drivers who are supposed to protect their lives on the road are mistreated. That should change,” a driver said.

The Deputy Clerk Finance and Administration, Chris Kaija-Kwamya, was not available for comment but Parliament Staff say that unless the drivers officially petition the Speaker about their predicament, their matters may not be looked into.

“But that also will cause a serious debate if the Speaker chooses to bring the matter on the floor,” the Staff said. “The Parliamentary Commission should find a way of paying these drivers, the way they give MPs free cars, they should also give them drivers so that the exploitation can end.”

But MPs who spoke on record said their drivers do not suffer any mistreatment.

“My driver lives a high class life and I can never mistreat him,” said Mr Vincent Bagiire (MP Bunya West). “You will never hear him complain of any mistreatment because I know he is also human and I make sure he lives a comfortable life.”

Butaleja Woman MP, Cerinah Nebanda, said she even pays the school fees of her driver’s children.

“I have been with my driver since I was a child because he used to drive me to school,” she said. “We have always paid him well as a family and that’s why he has continued to drive me to date. There is no point in mistreating a driver and being greedy over their money.”

These MPs are probably among the few that treat their drivers well, as a good number of the rest of them are still complaining.

iimaka@ug.nationmedia.com