Service Award Is Illegal- ULS Calls For Independent Salaries And Remuneration Commission To Determine The Remuneration Of All Government Employees.

The Uganda Law Society has called for the creation of an independent salaries and remuneration Commission to determine the emoluments of all government employees and officials including Members of Parliament to solve the perennial problem of payment disparities and conflict of interest in the determination of the emoluments.

The society has also declared the controversial Service Award emolument that is before the media awarded to parliamentary commissioner and former Leader of Opposition Rt.Hon.Mathias Mpuuga and backbencher commissioners an illegal charge on the Consolidated Fund and should be investigated.

The document released today signed by the Uganda Law Society President Bernard Oundo stated that well as Article 85(1) of Uganda's 1995 Constitution empowers Parliament to determine the emoluments including gratuity, pension, and allowances of members of parliament, but Article 93 of the same constitution, the introduction of any new emoluments or upward alternation of existing ones must be by way of a Bill or motion introduced in Parliament on behalf of the government upon which parliament becomes empowered to consider the same and determine such emoluments.

The society also quoted the Supreme Court ruling in Parliamentary Commission verses Mwesigye Wilson, Constitutional Appeal No. 8 of 2016, wherein it determined that the emoluments of Members of Parliament can only be altered upon a bill or motion introduced on behalf of the Executive.

 The court further held that the parliamentary commission is bound by this procedure of determination of the emoluments of its members calling upon parliament to abide by the constitution and statutory laws governing the determination of their emoluments.

Uganda Law Society has also called upon the government and all public servants to uphold the principles of accountability, transparency, and adherence to the rule of law in all matters related to the administration of public funds and the remuneration of public officials to create and maintain public trust and ensure the responsible use of taxpayers' money.

The society was reacting to the trending disagreement between the NUP party and its member Hon. Mathias Mpuuga whom they accuse of obtaining the Sh.500million which the party considers a bribe and abuse of office.