Former Members of Parliament under the Association of Parliamentary Alumni of Uganda have petitioned the State House Controller and the Ministry of Finance to expedite the payment of President Yoweri Museveni’s pledge of Shs100 million ex-gratia to each former legislator.
Addressing journalists at Parliament on Friday, the association chairperson and former minister Dorah Byamukama said the pledge is long overdue and urgently needed to support former legislators facing financial and health challenges.
“This pledge is long overdue. We are appealing to the State House Controller Jane Barekye and the Ministry of Finance to expedite the process as directed by the President,” Byamukama said.
She added that the commitment was made in good faith and should be implemented to support former legislators who are struggling.
“The President made this commitment and we believe it was in good faith. We are now asking government to move with speed so that our colleagues who are struggling can benefit,” she said.
The Association of Parliamentary Alumni of Uganda, which brings together more than 1,000 former Members of Parliament, was represented by former legislators including John Otekat, Amos Okot and Florence Kintu, who supported the call for immediate payment.
The former MPs expressed concern that delays in fulfilling the pledge have had serious consequences, claiming that 31 former legislators have died in the last two years amid financial difficulties, including challenges in accessing medical care.
“It is painful that we have lost 31 of our colleagues in just two years. Many of them died because they could not afford treatment. If this ex-gratia had been paid, some lives would have been saved,” Byamukama said.
Former MP Amos Okot said the group was not making a request for charity but seeking fulfilment of a commitment made by the President.
“We are not begging. This is a pledge made by the President. Our colleagues are dying and we cannot continue watching,” Okot said.
Beyond the ex-gratia payment, the former legislators also used the media briefing to call for constitutional reforms, including the reintroduction of a bicameral Parliament consisting of an Upper and Lower House.
The group argued that a bicameral legislature would provide deeper scrutiny of bills, strengthen accountability and improve the quality of laws passed in the country.
“We believe the creation of an Upper and Lower House will strengthen legislation. It will provide checks and improve debate before laws are enacted,” Byamukama said.
Former MP John Otekat said a bicameral Parliament should be viewed as a mechanism for improving governance rather than an additional expense.
“A bicameral Parliament is not a luxury. It is about quality legislation for Uganda,” Otekat said.
The former legislators thanked President Museveni for the Shs10 million support towards burial expenses for deceased former MPs but maintained that the Shs100 million ex-gratia pledge remains their main priority.
