The piglets left at parliament by the Jobless Brotherhood Photo: Daily Monitor

The president general of Democratic Party Norbert Mao has asked parliament to check itself as a way to build confidence among the citizens. Mao said this after piglets were this morning thrown at parliament by jobless brotherhood demonstrating against a move by parliament to pay 200 million shillings to members of parliament to buy vehicles.

Mao says that this move is dangerous to the way people perceive parliament and hence there’s a need for parliament to change this image. Mao has also asked the speaker to consider calling for a whole house with the president where all members of parliament will sit and present what they believe are national priorities instead of calling for party caucus  which he says are making people believe members of parliament are only interested in bettering themselves.

Earlier members of parliament demanded for cars of 500 million shillings for each of them. This was sparked by the criticism they are facing from the public over the new proposed 200 million shillings cost for their cars. MPs who include the MP for Masindi district Jalia Bintu, Mbale municipality MP Jack Wamayi and Sembabule district woman MP Hanifa Kawooya said that MPs should be given brand new cars.

MPS said that they are tired of old vehicles which pollute the environment and urged government to consider  provision of brand new cars. Masindi woman MP Jalia Bintu said that they should be given new vehicles at a cost of 400-500 shillings so as they travel in a comfortable way and minimize possible accidents. Sembabule district woman MP Kanifa Kawooya said that the MPs should also be given houses.

The speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga said that there is a need for publishing the cost of vehicles of other government institutions and agencies so as the public appreciates why MPs should have vehicles they deserve.

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Pigs left at the Ugandan parliament last year. Photo credit: /AFP/Getty Images)

Early this morning a litter of piglets was left at parliament. The piglets painted yellow red and blue were left in protest against the act by parliament, mainly the opposition, to dine with the NRM MPs and have the constitutional amendments passed which the jobless brotherhood say was betrayal to the citizens who had a strong input in the process to collect view on the reform.

The piglets that were painted yellow had a pluck card with the words ‘No reforms’ and caused jam along parliamentary avenue as passers-by and drivers had to stop to take a close look at the piglets with some saying they had been dropped by unidentified men who were riding on a Boda boda.

In a related development there was a letter dropped that castigated opposition MPs for accepting a bribe amounting to UGX.103M from the state saying they failed to fully represent the citizens despite the financial problems they face.

In this last letter the group continued to remind MPs and the president that the country needs no new constituencies but jobs so as to have the youth who are unemployed earn something for a living and also say that nothing positive has come out the current parliament for the voters to rejoice.

This reporter spoke to the head of security at parliament, a one David Manzi, about the scene who was not willing to say anything but rather refer to the DPC.

This is the third time piglets have been dropped at parliament in protest of what citizens term as unbecoming acts by MPs.

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It was first reported in odeki sub-county in july last year (2010) after killing more than 200 pigs. The Gulu vetinary doctor Dr. Tonny Aliro says the disease has since spread to the rest of the sub-counties of Lakwana, Bobi, Koro, Bongtira, Piicho, Awachi, Unyama, Ongako as well as peche, Lalo and padel divisions in Gulu municipality.

He says in Awachi sub-county a alone, records indicated that more than 50 pigs have so far died of the disease from May to date, adding that the disease which is highly contagious spreading rapidly through direct or indirect contact with the affected pig.

The veterinary doctor says the only remade is imposing a Keratin but adds that the local community have since refused to adhere the restrictions

He says the disease has also paused them to halt the procurement of pigs for NAADS program to prevent feature losses.

By Mugisa Isaac Mathias

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