Joel Ssenyonyi, the Parliamentary Opposition Leader, has formally requested top government oversight and anti-corruption agencies to probe into serious allegations of corruption and misuse of office within Parliament.
However, Ssenyonyi’s efforts for transparency hit a snag when it was disclosed that he claimed a per diem for a five-day Nairobi trip amounting to $4,250 (approximately Shs16.3 million), despite only spending a day abroad. Should these claims be substantiated, Ssenyonyi might face the same scrutiny he has demanded of the accused parliamentary leaders.
On Thursday morning, Ssenyonyi announced that he had contacted the Inspector General of Government, Beti Kamya; the Director of Public Prosecutions, Jane Frances Abodo; the Auditor General’s Office, and the Financial Intelligence Authority on March 20. He cited social media as the source of some of the information, which has put the parliamentary leadership under intense public examination for the past two weeks.
In a press briefing at the Parliamentary Buildings, Ssenyonyi stated that his letters reinforce the ongoing demand for accountability regarding the expenditure of billions of shillings.
He has asked the Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among; the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige; and other staff to address various issues related to their alleged involvement in the misuse. This includes suspected embezzlement, abuse of parliamentary privileges, questionable service awards, and potential irregular staff recruitment.
Moreover, he has called for clarification on whether a large contract allegedly connected to the Speaker was awarded in compliance with public procurement laws.
These allegations have been circulating for about a month after a civic group released numerous documents on social media under the hashtag #UgandaParliamentExhibition.
Ssenyonyi urged the IGG to conduct a comprehensive and unbiased investigation as per the Inspector General of Government Act, emphasizing the importance of integrity and accountability in government.
On the same day, Beti Kamya retracted her earlier announcement to investigate parliamentary corruption, citing an existing audit by the Auditor General’s Office. Kamya confirmed receiving Ssenyonyi’s letter, which prompted her initial decision to investigate. She explained the collaborative nature of such probes and the standard procedure of stepping in after the Auditor General’s findings, underscoring respect for Parliament while affirming the commitment to their duty.
