By Aggrey Baba
Speaking on Next Radio on Saturday, February 28, Hon. Samuel Odonga Otto, the former Aruu County MP, revealed that former Vice President Edward Ssekandi continues to earn over UGX 150 million every month in pensions and benefits despite being out of public office.
Otto said Ssekandi benefits from multiple retirement packages accumulated over his long political career, explaining that the former Speaker qualifies for pensions as former Deputy Speaker, former Speaker of Parliament, and former Vice President.
Otto noted that the combined earnings are estimated to be between UGX 150 million and UGX 200 million per month, excluding other entitlements and privileges attached to the offices he once held.
“The moment you become Speaker, your problems are solved,” Otto said, adding that Parliament (during his time as MP) passed a law granting former Speakers and Vice Presidents lifetime benefits.
He explained that under the law, former holders of those offices are entitled to earn a salary equivalent to that of the current office holders. They are also entitled to official vehicles, domestic workers, and other state-funded facilitation until they die.
Ssekandi served as Deputy Speaker from 1996 to 2001, before becoming Speaker of Parliament from 2001 to 2011. In 2011, he was appointed Vice President, replacing Gilbert Bukenya, and served in that position until 2021. He was later succeeded by the incumbent Vice President, Jessica Alupo. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
