By Gladys Mukisa.
The outgoing Ugandan representative to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) James Kakooza is not happy with the voices associating his decision of crossing from the struggling regional parliament back to the local parliament, on financial interests.
Kakooza who is now an incoming Elderly MP for Buganda region in the 12th Ugandan parliament, had declared his candidature while still serving as EALA representative following his election, shortly after the 2021 general elections.
Opting for that regional parliament seat, he had lost his Kabula county parliamentary seat which was held for three terms, before losing it out in 2021 polls.
Speaking exclusively to Blazer News Times, Kakooza dismissed claims that his cross back to the Ugandan parliament was informed by the nicety of its monthly emoluments, despite the growing financial turmoil at EALA.
“It has nothing to do with that. It is an inherent choice to do what you want to do. People interpret things in the different way. it is just natural that God…why do people think position of a leader is not to serve but to look for money”? He questioned.
The prevailing regional parliament financial constraints are weighing deeply on several MPS as reflected in outstanding salary arrears that have not been paid to them for more than five months, which prompted the EAC heads of states summit to explore the curbs during their latest sitting. https://blazernewstimes.com/exclusive-eala-mps-goes-un-paid-for-several-months-could-it-be-why-the-ugandan-representatives-james-kakooza-and-david-namara-abandoned-it-for-a-highly-paying-local-parliament/
The outgoing Ugandan regional parliamentarian further defended his decision, insisting that leadership is not all about money but a call to serve.
“The quality of MPs in parliament has gone down, the quality of leadership from LC 1 up to ministers has gone down. The voters have turned to be a joke they don’t know what it means. You hear a person being told upon election that let them go and eat, yiiiyi, He wondered”!
Kakooza turned guns to the electors, whom he blamed for no longer being mindful of picking issue-based leaders, which has impacted the political landscape.
“Voters no longer want to apply logic in exercising their powers. Things have got to change. When they go like this then we are putting the country into danger. Some think leadership is comedy. Comments from the public are very disappointing,” Kakooza chided.
Kakooza on EALA Hardships.
MP Kakooza admitted that truly EALA is constrained financially, blaming the hardship on failure by some partner states to fulfil their subscribing obligation, which ends up affecting the EALA budget. “Burundi, DR Congo and South Sudan are consistent defaulters”.
His confirmation comes as the 25th ordinary summit of the EAC heads of states has been held on 7th march in Arusha- Tanzania, under which several resolutions were passed to streamline the EALA operations.
Notable among the passed resolutions is the one changing the usual EALA salary payment mode from Arusha now to the particular EAC partner states locally. “Members of EALA serving in the Community should be paid by their respective national assemblies with effect from December 2027 after the end of tenure of the current assembly”, the summit’s resolution reads in part.
This has been welcomed by the outgoing EALA MP, saying it will help to bridge the gaps in the EALA business financing. “defaulters were directed to pay their arrears based on a 50% waiver, otherwise MPs from defaulting nations will not be allowed to attend house sittings in respect to the coalition of the willing clause that only allows those that are able to be moving ahead until when you will be able to pay”.
Whether changing the remuneration mode will streamline the EALA business is something that can be tested by the time.
