The Member of Parliament for Kalungu Country West, Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu has attacked president Museveni for failure to sign the ant-homosexuality bill that was passed by parliament recently.
Ssewungu alleged that the president refused to assent to the bill on grounds that international organizations and donor countries will withdraw their financial support to Uganda especially to its health sector which in term will cripple some sectors of the economy.
He said this shouldn’t be used as an excuse by the president to sign the bill because the country has a better financial muscle to finance it key sectors of the economy but a huge portion of the country’s income is being spent on current expenditures.
Sewungu said that huge finance go to parliament, on salaries and wage of over 500 MPs and 80 ministers as well as facilitating their transport, and other fringe benefits.
According to Sewungu if the size of parliament and the number of ministers is cut by half a lot of money can be saved and this can be allocated to the key sectors of the economy.
“We have finances which can be used to sustain key sectors of the economy but we instead use it poorly due to the huge burden of the big size parliament and cabinet as well as the un necessary creation of districts.” Ssewungu said.
President Museveni last week sent back the ant-homosexuality bill to parliament after being advised by the attorney general that there are some sections in the bill that contravene the constitution.
Parliament passed the bill on March 21 and then it was sent to Museveni to sign into law, which he declined on advice by the government legal department.
The legislation has received international outcry for its severe penalties, catch-all phrasing, and concerns it could devastate the HIV response in the country.
On Thursday last week, Museveni told members of Parliament from the ruling party’s National Resistance Movement caucus they should “be ready to sacrifice to fight homosexuals,” according to a press release sent out by the State House on Thursday. He encouraged them to reject “pressure from the imperialists.”
“Europe is lost and they also want us to be lost. Those who want an easy life will end up being prostitutes,” the president Museveni cautioned his members.
By Our reporter