The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has directed the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) to stop asking for details of salaries for each legislator and parliamentary staff.
Ms Among questioned the Commission's interest in such details, emphasising that Parliament is an independent institution of government.
"We are an independent institution, and for the Equal Opportunities Commission to ask for the details of salaries and allowances of MPs and parliamentary staff is going beyond their mandate," Among said.
The Speaker's stance is clear: Parliament's independence should be respected, and the commission should focus on its mandated responsibilities.
In response, Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka noted that the EOC's mandate is restricted to marginalized groups, promising to provide legal advice to the entity seeking information.
However, not everyone agrees with the Speaker's stance. Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda defended the EOC's request, arguing that the information is necessary for comparison purposes.
The EOC had written to the Clerk to Parliament, requesting details of emoluments for each legislator and parliamentary staff.
However, Ms Among maintained that no such information will be provided to the Commission.
The standoff highlights the ongoing debate about the role of the EOC and the limits of its mandate.
