Government Chief Whip warns MPs against early campaigns
Observation. Ms Ruth Nankabirwa has warned MPs against early campaigns. MONITOR PHOTO
What you need to know:
2021. Recently, the Electoral Commission launched a roadmap for 2021 Presidential and Parliamentary stating that elections will be held any time between January 11 and February 9, 2021.
BUTALEJA. The Government Chief Whip, Ms Ruth Nankabirwa, has warned Members of Parliament (MPs) against engaging in early campaigns ahead of the 2021 General Election.
“I am seeing MPs politicking and campaigning nonstop on community functions including burials, weddings and introductions without shame,” Ms Nankabirwa said.
She made the remarks while addressing mourners during the burial of Esinasi Negesa Nagwomu, mother to Mr Moses Nagwomu, the area MP for Bunyole County at Kachonga village in Kachonga Sub-county, Butaleja District on Saturday.
Early campaigns
She said MPs have since stopped attending parliamentary sittings and are instead presiding over community meetings in their constituencies in order to please and woo voters.
“The MPs’ attendance in parliamentary sittings is too low now,” she said.
While emphasising the role of an MP, Ms Nankabirwa said legislators’ work includes overseeing, following up on government projects and writing reports, which duties she said, they have ignored.
She also urged voters against intimidating and putting pressure on MPs to attend each and every ceremony in their villages.
“Voters should also stop holding functions like weddings, speech days, fundraising drives and introduction ceremonies targeting MPs as chief guests and special guests,” she added.
Recently, the Electoral Commission launched a roadmap for 2021 Presidential and Parliamentary, stating that elections will be held anywhere between January 11 and February 9, 2021. The ceremony took place on December 11 at Hotel Africana and was launched by the Prime Minister of Uganda, Rt Hon Ruhakana Rugunda.
MPs blamed
Mr John Higenyi, one of the residents, however, said it’s the MPs who spoilt the voters by giving them money whenever they visit their localities.
“It’s the MPs to blame not voters,” he said, adding that when the MPs are contesting, they pledge too much but fulfil little or nothing.
“The only way we gain from them is when they handover part of the money they get as salary and allowances in Parliament,” he said.
Ms Milly Mugene, the Woman MP Butaleja District, also urged voters to engage in income generating projects to uplift themselves from poverty instead of relying on their leaders.
