The support staff at the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA) on Monday went on strike after monies meant to pay their incentives were used to transport the body of a parliamentarian who died in Egypt back home, according to officials.
The disaffected staff is demanding unpaid allowances amounting to SSP 5 million.
The TNLA’s deputy chairperson of the information committee, Hon. Natalina Amjima Malek, told Radio Tamazuj Monday that the matter was a small misunderstanding that will be resolved by the leadership of the August House.
“What has happened here (parliament) was not something big but the staff was requesting their incentives and it was not their fault and it was not the fault of the leadership of the assembly. They are demanding SSP 5 million in incentives,” she explained.
“What happened is that before that money was released, we lost a member of parliament, Luka Agau, who died in Egypt and so the assembly leadership decided to take some money from that (staff incentive) amount to help with the transportation of the body from Egypt to Juba,” Hon. Malek added.
She said the amount parliament had at hand was not sufficient to pay the incentives.
Another parliamentary staffer who works for the assembly’s information department and spoke on condition of anonymity said the disgruntled staff was promised SSP 5,000 which they rejected.
“This strike is a peaceful demonstration. People did not leave the place of work, they were just sitting in their offices but not working. When they (staff) talked with the administration, they were told they would be given SSP 5,000 because parliament said they only had SSP 4 million which is not enough,” he said.
“So, after the meeting with the administration today (Monday), they all refused and told the assembly members that they would not take the money and they will resume work and no longer need the money,” he added.
Sections of the parliamentary support staff accused Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba who is on an official visit to Uganda of misusing money meant for paying their incentives on foreign trips.
Security forces were on Monday deployed around the national parliament after the support staff downed their tools.