EXTRA: Ugandan female MPs seek beauty salon for parliament

Female members of the Ugandan parliament have asked for an in-house beauty salon for legislators.

The call was led by Beatrice Anywar, minister of state for environment, as members of parliament paid tribute to John Bosco Kagoro, a lawmaker who died while serving as principal clerk assistant.

Recently, the new parliament which is under construction, got its own gym. However, female MPs said vigorous exercises left their hair disorganised.

“In our new building, for the sake of ladies, probably we could also have a salon established; because you look at us as we are because we take time to prepare ourselves,”Anywar said.

“Myself, my hair and my nails are part of a woman… if we had it (salon), the ladies would come earlier, spend more time in the gym, knowing that they will rush and clean up and then come to the House.”

The minister said she was the brain behind the gym construction which will boost health, and said a salon would not be out of place for female legislators.

Responding, Anita Among, speaker of parliament, said all requests would be taken care of.

“We can have a salon; we can have anything. In the new building, you will have everything, just be rest assured. Even when you want to rest, you will always have a resting place,” Among said.

The parliament operates on a budget of 900 billion Ugandan shillings (about $237m), providing numerous perks to legislators including allowances for travel, vehicles, fuel, and now potentially salon services.

In February, a social media campaign with the hashtag #UgandaParliamentExhibition highlighted allegations of extravagance against the house.