Members of Parliament are dishing out money to city conmen posing as President Yoweri Museveni's aides in return for fixing them on the short-list for ministerial appointments ahead of an expected Cabinet reshuffle.

Daily Monitor has learnt that a number of MPs, especially from the NRM, who are interested in ministerial jobs have fallen prey to the conmen.

One MP from western Uganda reportedly paid more than Shs500 million, in the hope of becoming a minister for works to replace Mr John Nasasira, who in the last two years has been under pressure over the deteriorating state of roads.

Daily Monitor cannot name the MP for legal reasons but information from other sources indicated that other MPs are paying between Shs500,000 and Shs2 million - for inclusion on a shortlist in a scam that has now forced Dr Beatrice Wabudeya, the Minister for the Presidency, to issue a warning to the MPs.

Daily Monitor has seen a copy of a September 11 letter signed by Dr Wabudeya warning all MPs against "paying for ministerial jobs" as this is "criminal".

"We have reliable information that there are certain characters who allege they work with the Office of the Principal Private Secretary to (His Excellency) the President and that they are sent to MPs for money in exchange of their being shortlisted for ministerial jobs," Dr Wabudeya wrote.

"The purpose of this letter is to caution you against these fraudsters and unscrupulous persons (masquerading as State House employees to help you become ministers)."

Dr Wabudeya's letter is copied to the Prime Minister, Prof Apolo Nsibambi, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr Edward Ssekandi, and President Museveni's Principal Private Secretary, Ms Amelia Kyambadde.

Speculation that President Museveni is about to do a mid-term Cabinet reshuffle has been hanging on in the corridors of Parliament for months, tempting some MPs to involve in intensive lobbying for ministerial posts. Mr Museveni appointed the current Cabinet in May 2006.

Dr Wabudeya has asked anybody being asked for money to report the matter to State House. "Any MP who has any clue that would lead to the tracking down of these persons is kindly requested to contact one of our staff- Lt. Alan Matsiko on tel. no. 0712 499889. Your co-operation in this respect will assist in curbing such criminal tendencies."

But Lt. Matsiko could not be reached by press time, as calls to his line wouldn't go through. Daily Monitor has learnt that the conmen have targeted especially parliamentary sessional committee chairpersons and other NRM MPs, who are said to be interested in ministerial jobs.

Those targeted by the city conmen reportedly include former committee chairpersons and other senior legislators.

When contacted, the Parliamentary Spokesperson, Ms Helen Kaweesa, said she wasn't aware and that the Speaker's Office had not received any complaints from any affected MPs.

"They (MPs) could be dealing with fraudsters on individual basis," she told Daily Monitor on Sunday.

Ndorwa West MP David Bahati confirmed reports that State House impostors among other conmen had duped some legislators.

"It's surprising that members can be hoodwinked to be appointed ministers," he said. "Ministerial posts cannot be bought they are earned and the President who appoints cannot be bribed."

Sources told Daily Monitor that the practice of alleged State House employees duping the public has been on-going since June, following reports that President Museveni was about to reshuffle the Cabinet.

"There is a lot of secrecy as regards payment for State House connection is concerned," a source said. "This is so because such is treated as a "bribe" and is tantamount to corruption.

That's why everything is done underground, but the fact is that many MPs have paid wrong people hoping to be connected to State House list for new ministers."