Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has directed the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) to cease its request for detailed salary and allowance information of Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff, asserting Parliament’s independence as an autonomous arm of government.
“We are an independent institution, and for the Equal Opportunities Commission to ask for such details is going beyond their mandate,” Among declared during a plenary session, emphasizing that the commission should focus on its primary responsibilities.
The EOC had previously written to the Clerk to Parliament, seeking information about the emoluments of MPs and staff, reportedly for analysis and comparison purposes.
Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka supported the Speaker’s position, highlighting that the EOC’s mandate pertains to marginalized groups and promising legal guidance to the commission.
However, Kira Municipality MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda defended the EOC’s request, arguing that access to such information is vital for understanding pay disparities and ensuring fairness across government institutions.
The incident has ignited a debate on the balance between transparency and institutional independence, with critics questioning whether withholding such information undermines accountability.
This standoff underscores ongoing tensions over the scope of the EOC’s authority and the extent to which Parliament is willing to share its internal operations with external bodies.
