More Members of Parliament have returned the 20 million shillings they received for COVID-19.
On Tuesday, the 458 MPs started receiving the 10 billion shillings for COVID-19 intervention despite a High Court order halting the process.
The court halted the payment until April 29, when the case is heard and disposed of. The court further stated that MPs, who could have already received the money, should not touch it until the application is disposed of.
The order arose from a petition by Erute South MP Jonathan Odur and his Ntungamo counterpart Gerald Karuhanga seeking the High Court to quash the decision by Parliament to allocate itself the Shs10b.
The 10 billion shillings is part of the 304 billion Shillings Supplementary Budget approved by parliament for COVID -19 activities.
Although a handful of Members of Parliament including Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, Mityana Municipality MP Francis Zaake, Karuhanga and Odur said they would return the money more MPs say they will also return the money.
The Minister of Trade Amelia Kyambadde also says she will return the money because the timing is not right.
Mathias Mpuuga, the Masaka Municipality MP said he has already sent back the money to the Parliament commission.
According to Mpuuga, he has donated relief food using his resources.
Muwanga Kivumbi, the Butambala MP says he is returning the money, saying it was morally wrong to receive the money.
Kivumbi says he will return the money and use his money to support the needy people in his constituency.
Several MPs have vowed not to return the money, saying that they will buy relief food for their constituents.
Usuk County MP Peter Ogwang says that he will take the money and use it to equip health facilities in his area with protective gears and thermometers.
Budadiri West MP Nathan Nandala Mafabi says that he will take the money and use it to support his constituents. He says money returned to Parliament commission may not make it to the consolidated fund.
“The advantage of COVID-19 is that we have to equip our health centres. Right now, even the big people can’t travel for health purposes. I am not so sure that the money to the parliamentary commission will be transferred to the consolidated fund.” Mafabi said while appearing in one of the televised shows this morning.
The News Editor ,Reporter at Kagadi Kibaale community Radio
