Shs40m to NRM MPs foretells bad news for Uganda ahead of 2021

Recently, it was reported in the media that State minister for Teso Affairs Agnes Jaff Akiror caused the arrest and detention of two bank clients in Soroti District.
The police arrested them for allegedly denying the minister the opportunity to quickly access banking assistance.
According to east Kyoga regional police commander, Mr Maxwell Ogwal, the minister said she had been attacked inside the bank.
However, some people in the banking hall say Ms Akiror entered the bank and wanted to go past other clients in a queue and straight to the front of the queue.
Unfortunately, two Ugandans have been detained beyond the constitutionally stipulated 48 hours without being produced in a court since the minister has not come to make a statement.
According to the minister, “I was busy in Katakwi organising for the visit of the President.”

Although in most banks, high ranking government officials are normally given preferential treatment due to the considered VIP status, it is unusual that fellow bank customers are arrested for disturbing a minister in the banking hall.
Spontaneously, the timing of the minister’s woes in Soroti coincides with 317 NRM Members of Parliament (MPs) allegedly receiving Shs40m, being final payment for their support in voting for the removal of the presidential age limit.

The money was allegedly either paid directly to the MPs’ bank accounts or collected in person at a residence in Bwebajja on Entebbe Road.
More than a golden handshake and bribe but personal ‘thank you’ for supporting the controversial age limit removal.
Amending the Constitution ultimately gave President Museveni, 74, who has ruled for more than 30 years, leeway to stand again come 2021.
According to international media, the age limit project is estimated to have cost Ugandan taxpayers more than $3.55 million disguised as facilitation for consultations on the Bill by 445 legislators, among others.

The removal of age limit in 2017 remains notorious and will stand out in history as scandalous for the glaring allegations of MPs being bribed, an act that was largely seen by some sections of Ugandans as an outrageous betrayal and abuse of public trust by appointed leaders and parliamentary representatives.

To make matters worse, forcible removal of the provision was open manipulation and personalised use of Ugandan security forces to unleash violence on Opposition legislators without substantial public support.
Some members of the public feel angered by the wasteful expenditure by the 317 NRM MPs after allegedly being bankrolled by government using taxpayers’ money at the expense of basic public service delivery; basic needs in medical facilities, civil servants’ salaries and youth employment.
The idea of using taxpayers’ money for personal interests seems to have become addictive, together with increasing false sense of self-importance.

According to historian Baron John, “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
Jeffrey Pfeffer, professor at Stanford University adds, “The feeling of power has been found to have a similar effect on the brain as cocaine, by increasing the levels of testosterone in both sexes, raising levels of dopamine, the brain’s reward system which is highly addictive”.
Concurrently with Bwebajja allegedly being free money distribution centre for the ruling party, it seems clear that the next 24 months before 2021 elections free flow of taxpayers’ money is set to continue for personal gain.