Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has trashed claims that taxpayers’ money is being used to purchase fancy suits and dresses for himself and the Speaker Anita Among.
During Plenary on Tuesday, Tayebwa clarified that the only attire funded by public money are the wigs and coats worn during plenary sessions.
Tayebwawas reacting to allegations by MP, Denis Oguzu, the Maracha County, who questioned reports suggesting that there is a budget allocation for clothing and bedding for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker while some sectors of the government like the health care, are languishing in dire need. Oguzu expressed worry that such expenditures cast Parliament in a negative light.
“I read a placard from a girl who said that her mother died because she couldn’t afford access to Intensive Care and couldn’t afford to be flown out. Why did she demonstrate? She said that Parliament, instead of catering to the healthcare needs of Ugandans, is now busy budgeting for clothing for our Presiding Officers. To me, that was an indictment and it also amounted to blackmail, and for us to be clear, can the Commission tell us if we have ever budgeted for clothing of our Presiding Officers in the budget?” he stated
Tayebwa responded, “It is true in the line budget of the Parliamentary Commission, we have a line for clothing and beddings for the Office of the Speaker and the Office of the Deputy Speaker and when I saw it in the media, someone sent it to me, I took time to ask because apart from this wig and this gown, Parliament has never bought me anything. So I followed up and I said, where does this money go? Because I asked my Executive Secretary and they informed us that, we have Protocol Officers who are supposed to be smart in the image of Parliament,” said Tayebwa
He added : “I can tell you, I would rather come and borrow that beautiful suit of yours than have Parliament buy me a suit because I am well-paid by Parliament. I don’t need to get anything from Parliament in terms of clothing. But for the wig, unfortunately, you don’t have any, so I can’t borrow a wig from you.”
Tayebwa insisted that his salary is sufficient for personal expenses, and no additional funds are required for clothing from the Parliament’s budget.
