The Judiciary has responded to Speaker Rebecca Kadaga’s allegations that the Courts have conspired with the Executive to undermine Parliament.
On Thursday, an incensed Kadaga convened an emergency press conference at her office at Parliament and furiously reacted to the High Court judge’s decision to order legislators to return shs 20 million or take it to their respective district COVID-19 Taskforces.
“The funds be returned to the Parliamentary Commission pursuant to its letter addressed to the Members of Parliament dated 22nd April 2020; the funds be paid to the district Covid-19 task force in which the members of Parliament are incorporated through the Chief Administrative Officer,” Justice Michael Elubu ordered.
Kadaga wondered since when did Court start appropriating money for Parliament.
Earlier President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni had scoffed at Parliament for pocketing shs 10 billion and ordered that all MPs must return that money.
Kadaga thus warned of a looming showdown and threatened that Parliament will expose all government’s sensitive expenditure which MPs have been passing so that the public demands accountability from these institutions.
Speaking to TrumpetNews on Friday morning, the Judiciary spokesperson Solomon Muyita said they are not taking the allegations lightly and in that regard, the Principal Judge, Dr Flavian Zeija is to peruse through the file in which the Justice Michael Elubu based to make his pronouncement.
I am aware that the Principal Judge, Dr Flavian Zeija, who is the administrative head of the High Court, is to study the file in Misc. Cause No. 78/2020 and Misc. Application No. 179/2020 within the course of the day. Should he find anything that requires further explanation or clarification, the Judiciary will definitely issue a statement to that effect,” Mr Muyita.
To allege the Judge connived with one of the applicants Hon Gerald Karuhanga, Mr Muyita said it would help if such allegations are supported with real evidence so that they are properly investigated for action to be taken.
On threatening to expose sensitive budgets, Muyita said the Judiciary has no secret budget allocated to it.
While passing a supplementary budget of shs 284 billion to respond to COVID-19 crisis, Parliament quietly allocated itself shs 10 billion to facilitate MPs’ movements, but the money has since become a hard pill to swallow.
The public has condemned the lawmakers as greedy, irresponsible and immoral who are targeting to earn at a time the country is battling an epidemic.
