Stop blackmailing Speaker, Obore tells LOP Senyonyi

Parliament director for communications and public affairs Chris Obore has faulted House Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi for blackmailing the Speaker without concrete evidence.

Senyonyi has accused Speaker Among of financial impropriety saying: “We understand that the Speaker last year travelled to different countries for six months and received per diem of shillings 2.6 billion.

The problem is that; it is not true that the Speaker was away from Uganda for six months. Even when she gave birth, she returned to preside over the house after two weeks. It means she didn’t travel to some places but received the money”.  

He also accused the Speaker of inflating the per diem. Ssenyonyi said a Speaker is supposed to receive a daily facilitation allowance of $990 but their findings show that Among pocketed $4000.

Senyonyi made the remarks on March 21, 2024, while responding to allegations that he pocketed extra allowances. 

The development comes on the back of leaked correspondences indicating that Ssenyonyi received an overpayment of shillings 16.5 million per diem two months ago.

However, on the same day, Obore  said although Ssenyonyi returned the excess money he was given by Parliament as his allowance for a trip to Nairobi, he should not think that the Speaker ought to do the same because she's not guilty of corruption allegations.

Obore added that the Speaker is answerable to the Executive and she cannot respond to all unsubstantial rumours.