MPS SHOULD NOT DOUBLE AS MINISTERS


The Ugandan legal framework provides for an MP to double as a Minister at the appointment of the president. There are a number of MPS who also double as Ministers in the current government, this, much as in embedded in our laws, need immediate review as it poses stern challenges.

First, how do we guard against double pay? Do MPs who are ministers reject the privileges and allowances for an MP-mileage allowances, cars among others? When a minister who is an MP visits their constituency, do they use their car as an MP (from which car they were paid 100m for) or the one under their ministry? Do they use the fuel as per the MP mileage allowance or that of the ministry? How do we draw the lines especially on these costs! Could it be that MPs who double as minsters re getting double allowances? We need to dig deep into this issue otherwise we might be losing billions on this overt expenditures.

Secondly, there is a representation gap. Does an MP who doubles as minister have time to represent their constituents effectively in the house? How often do they attend plenary in the house as opposed to travels abroad and the frequent state assignments? How do we guard against conflict of interest in as far as balancing between ministerial collective responsibility and the interests and views of the voters? For instance, how do you expect the Minister of Lands to articulate grievances of her voters in opposition of a government bill on land? How will she present both views? If she is bound by the collective responsibility principle, then who represents the dissenting views of her constituency? This means that her voters are left out completely with no representation on this issues. When we voted for our MP, the terms of reference were clear…to represent us! When they are appointed as Minsters and they hardly have time to respond to our needs and represent us effectively, isn’t this a ground to terminate the social contract?

Notwithstanding the fact that representative democracy is a fallacy, we need to revisit this position of the law as it defeats the purpose of the voters as their representative is away and busy doing the duties of another appointing authority.

By:
Michael Aboneka Jr

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