By Aggrey Baba
In the proposed Consociational Democracy Agreement, Gen Salim Saleh is demanding that Parliament keep a close eye on the proposed power-sharing deal, audit every shilling spent on its implementation and question political beneficiaries who receive public resources under the arrangement.
In the 137-page working paper, authored by both Saleh and his personal secretary, Professor Ogenga Otunnu, Saleh, also president Museveni’s younger brother warns against turning political cooperation into another avenue for patronage, clientelism, corruption and sharing public resources among politically connected individuals.
He wants Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to specifically audit expenditure on implementing the agreement, including money and other resources allocated to political parties and individuals through the proposed cooperation arrangements.
The authors also want MPs to routinely use parliamentary questions and committee hearings to compel the Executive to explain how the agreement is being implemented and who is benefiting from it.
The proposed oversight would extend to land restitution, resolution of land disputes, youth skilling and employment programmes, regional resource allocation and electoral reforms.
Government would also be required to submit an annual report to Parliament detailing implementation progress, expenditure and outstanding commitments under the agreement.
The paper further proposes the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee on National Inclusion, Unity and Cooperation, with membership drawn from different both the ruling party and all opposition political parties.
The proposed committee would conduct public hearings, receive grievances from constituencies and ensure that communities have a voice in decisions made by political leaders.
The authors argue that political cooperation must not become a license for political actors to distribute public resources among themselves without scrutiny or minding about the people they serve.
They insist that transparency, parliamentary oversight and regular accountability are essential if the proposed settlement is to deliver lasting national unity rather than reproduce the patronage practices that have undermined previous political arrangements. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
