On 19 June this year, the guild parliament debated and approved its budget for 2011-2012. There were many good allocations in the budget. For example the Guild Scholarship Fund was increased and a pool table, plasma TV for Nsibambi Hall, public address system and a projector to enhance entertainment in the dining hall were bought.

    However, there is one allocation in the budget that really upset me. This was the Shs 10m that was allocated to a trip for members of parliament and ministers in the guild government. The trip is scheduled for the end of this semester and it is to Murchison Falls.
    Those who argue for the trip say that it is a vehicle through which permanent and lasting friendship can be built among conflicting guild officials.
    They further argue that the hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the guild officials should be rewarded in the same way, and that the trip is the best way of doing this.
    These arguments are not valid. The first issue of building friendship can be answered in a cheaper and more effective way, say, by organising seminars where guild officials can openly discuss their problems.
   I am totally not convinced that a minister who has been accused of wrongdoing by an MP or finance committee will be friendlier to the accuser simply because they have seen monkeys together at Murchison Falls. Under such circumstances, I am of the view that an open discussion would serve the purpose in a better way.
   Secondly, it is very greedy of guild officials, who already receive substantial allowances, to demand for more appreciation through an all-expense paid outing.
   The  extent of this greed can be seen by the fact that the MPs allocated  Shs 3m to a trip of over one hundred International students to Murchison  Falls and Shs 10m  for only 40 guild officials  to the same destination. I would like to appreciate ministers like Obichale (Welfare), Moses Tindywebwa (Information) and Guild Speaker (Nish Kihangire) who have opposed this trip.
    Their argument that the money could be used  to fund other pro-student activities like the Freshers’ Ball, the Faculty of Science dinner and the Law Society moots are very reasonable student-oriented. In light of the above, I now turn to the student body and urge them to pressure their MPs to re-allocate this money to useful pro-student activities. After all, you are the bosses and the guild is supposed to work for you. For without you, it is against
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