President Museveni has once again accused Parliament of setting up huge salaries for legislators which has attracted many people leading to election violence.
Museveni made the remarks while addressing the NRM Parliamentary aspirants and other officials from the districts of Mbarara, Sembabule, Isingiro, Kiruhura and Kazo following the violence that was exhibited in the areas during the party primaries.
Museveni said that the heavy salaries given that Parliament has allocated to legislators has made joining the institution a ‘do or die’ causing many abandoned their jobs, sell their properties so as to join the August house.
“It is important for those seeking leadership positions in the NRM to appreciate our ideology. People are fighting hard to go to Parliament because MPs unilaterally increased their salaries. They earn more than our scientists and other critical professionals,” Museveni said.
Museveni noted that despite his earlier to Parliament not to increase MPs’ salaries, his call was not respected and this is now costing many lives and property.
“I tried to discourage them (MPs) but they insisted. Now, people want to leave their jobs and go to Parliament to earn high salaries. And yet this should not be the motivation to seek parliamentary seats, it should be about serving their people,” Museveni said.
He added that politics is working for the people to help them get out of poverty and solve their problems but should not be about the contestant escaping from poverty himself.
For those who were violent in the party primaries, including those who masterminded it, the President promised that government shall arrest and prosecute them.
He noted that he has spoken to families of those whose loved ones were killed in these incidents and shall see how to support them.
It is reported that six people have so far lost their lives while many sustained several injuries due to the violence that mered the NRM party parliamentary primary elections
On the issue of my relatives getting involved in politics, Museveni urged Ugandans to read Matthew 12: 46-50 where Jesus says His brothers and mother were those who do the will of His Father in Heaven.
“My name should not come up when my biological relatives are contesting. For me, like Jesus, my relatives are all and any NRM member who does the right thing according to the party constitution. However, I will table in the party CEC the issue of high-ranking party officials backing their relatives to fight other NRM contenders. That’s not leadership. You should not get involved in supporting your relative and disadvantaging other contenders,” Museveni noted.
