MPs Divided over Shs1m Donation to Oulanyah Trust Fund

Some Members of Parliament are grumbling over the ‘mandatory’ salary deduction of Shs1 million each towards the Jacob Oulanyah Education Fund.

In April this year while paying tribute to the former late Speaker Jacob Oulanyah, MPs agreed to contribute Shs1million each towards supporting over 100 dependants that Oulanyah was caretaking in different schools and institutions. Following that resolution, indeed, last month, the Parliamentary Commission compulsorily deducted the money from the MPs’ emoluments and raised Shs554 million from the MPs.

However, this move has raffled feathers from some MPs who are complaining in the corridors of parliament about the decision to ‘force’ them contribute to the Oulanyah education scheme. During the Tuesday plenary, Speaker Anita Among criticized the MPs for such a ‘hypocritical’ saying the resolution was reached and agreed upon by the House and should not be scandalized.

“I followed from the news and social media of the complaints by some of you on the contribution of Shs1 million towards the Jacob Oulanyah Education Fund. I was perturbed because I know that these deductions were based on a resolution passed by this House during the tribute to the fallen Speaker. If a Member has a problem with these deductions, they approach me, and I will be happy to refund the amount deducted rather than have them tarnish the image of Parliament,” Among said.

The Jacob Oulanyah Education Trust Fund was set up by the Chief Justice Alfonse Owinyi Dollo, one of Oulanyah’s best friends purposely to educate the former speaker’s children and others who depended on him. The Fund is chaired by the Chief Justice and composed of members like the Speaker of Parliament and others.