By Aggrey Baba
Bukoto West MP Muhammad Mayanja Ssentayi has explained why he believes the UGX 300 million Parliament plans to give members of the 12th Parliament to buy vehicles is not enough to support their work over a full five-year term.
Speaking in an interview on UBC TV, the NRM MP said a car, unlike land, is a depreciating asset whose value and usefulness reduce quickly, especially under Uganda’s road conditions.
“A car is not like land which appreciates. It depreciates, and on our roads, it depreciates even faster,” Ssentayi said.
He explained that MPs are required to travel frequently between Kampala and their constituencies to carry out oversight and consult voters, adding that he personally travels from Kampala to Bukoto West at least once every week, amounting to about four long trips every month.
According to him, such regular movement places heavy strain on a vehicle, making it difficult for a cheaper car to remain reliable throughout the five-year parliamentary term.
Ssentayi added that being a legislator comes with public responsibility and dignity, arguing that MPs should be given vehicles which suit their stature.
“You can’t expect an MP to be driven in a Passo or a Toyota Wiish [cheap car]. Parliament should give us at least UGX 500 million so that we can buy vehicles that can serve us for the 5 years,” he said.
MPs in the 11th Parliament were given slightly over UGX 200 million to purchase vehicles, but according to Ssentayi, the cars bought then have already significantly depreciated due to constant travel and road conditions.
Parliament now plans to provide MPs with about UGX 315 million for vehicle purchase. However, Ssentayi maintains that the amount remains inadequate.
“The UGX 300 million they are giving us is not enough to enable us to carry out our oversight role over a period of five years. A car that can handle our current road conditions can now be procured for a minimum of UGX 500 million,” he said. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
