By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
NATIONAL
Kira Municipality MP, Ibrahim Ssemujju, has dismissed President Museveni’s claims that the alterations made by MPs in the Appropriation Bill 2024 were detrimental to the government’s development agenda. Ssemujju argued that the President’s real motive is to hijack Parliament’s appropriation powers.
“The President wants to take away the power of appropriation from MPs,” Ssemujju explained in a media interview at Parliament. “He thinks MPs should have no say and simply debate the budget before he makes the final decision.”
Ssemujju claimed that the President’s letter requesting changes to the Bill lacks substance and fails to specify which clauses need reconsideration. He also pointed out that the President returned the Bill outside the stipulated legal provisions of 30 days, which means MPs have the liberty to reject the President’s proposals.
However, Ssemujju doubts whether NRM MPs have the courage to defy the President’s wishes. “Even if we refuse to reconsider the Bill and take it back to Museveni, he will return it, and we’ll take it back. It becomes law. But I’m not sure these NRM MPs have the spine to do so,” he said.
Ssemujju’s remarks highlight the ongoing tug-of-war between Parliament and the President over the Appropriation Bill, with the fate of the budget hanging in the balance. Parliament is set to sit today afternoon to debate on the returned Appropriation Bill, 2024.
