Uganda awards over 1000 present and past MPs with medals

The Ugandan parliament as part of its Golden Jubilee awards is today (September 26) decorating about 1,400 present and former Members of Parliament (MPs) with medals. The award is in recognition of their contribution to the democratization of the country.

Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, said, “Each parliament had its unique contributions and challenges. Those of the parliament in 1958 were different from the parliament in 2016.

“These awards are meant to recognize former legislators for work done in building democracy in Uganda,” she added.

In attendance at the ceremony is the president, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, who handed out the medals and also a gave each recipient a ‘handshake’. Uganda has had nine parliaments in its political history.

Members of the 1st to 9th Parliament have started receiving their medals and also getting KagutaMuseveni hand #GoldenJubilee

— Parliament Watch (pwatchug) September 26, 2016

The MPs have been encouraged to keep their medals safe but to report to the police in the event that they lose it because it was a property of the Republic of Uganda.

The speaker is quoted to have said the parliament was only paying for the venue of the event (the Serena Hotel in the capital Kampala) because the medals had been procured 4 years ago by the office of the president.

'These medals are a property of the Republic of Uganda. Keep them take care of them. If you lose them report to PoliceUg'-MC #GoldenJubilee

— Parliament Watch (pwatchug) September 26, 2016