By Michael Atwakiire
Sheema: Councilors of Sheema District on Monday passed a resolution to share Shs20m out of the Shs60m COVID-19 money that was returned to the District by area Members of Parliament, saying the money would help them sensitize the masses on how to fight and avoid the spread of the virus in their respective Sub-Counties.
It should be noted however that the dime they agreed to share is part of the money that was returned to the District COVID-19 Task Force by Sheema District Members of Parliament who include, Ministers Ephraim Kamuntu Shs20m, Elioda Tumwesigye Shs20m and Hon Kibaaju Naome Shs20m.
Elidard Mwesigye, the Councilor Kasaana Sub-county, moved the motion to allow all Councilors share Shs20m, leaving a balance of Shs40m, which they agreed would help the vulnerable people, installation of electricity in the new Council hall among other issues.
The move came after the Sheema Resident District Commissioner Frank Kyereere, who is the Chairman District COVID-19 Task Force, told councilors that each Member of Parliament had allocated where his or her money would go and how it would be spent in their respective constituencies.
However, the councilors stood up and booed him down, arguing that they needed the money and knew how to best allocate it.
“These members of parliament have no right to allocate this money because it is not theirs. They were given Shs40m each and they kept quiet. Now they want to come and put rules on the money which isn’t theirs? No-no-no!
I therefore move to submit that we shall share Shs20m to help us to sensitize people against the COVID-19 disease because we are always on ground. Without that money, we shall not approve your budget,” Jackson Mutsinguzi, who represents people with disabilities submitted.
He tasked the RDC to explain how they spent Shs165m yet the district had already received over Shs11m from donors just for fuel. He refuted reports indicating that pregnant women were transported at no cost by the District.
“Mr speaker Sir, before we approve this budget, I want the RDC to give me only two names of pregnant women who were transported freely to the hospital, if he brings them, I will automatically resign from the Council because they were charging them money ranging from Shs20,000 – 50,000,” Mutsinguzi said.
Although the RDC and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Dembe Beyeza Davis had refused to give Shs20m to Councilors, the Speaker sided with the majority and as soon as he supported their submission, they decided to share the money.
