Seventy-two opposition Members of Parliament have signed a resolution distancing themselves from an alleged Shs100 million payout said to have come from a classified State House budget, denouncing it as secretive and corrupt.
The declaration was presented by the Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, who emphasized that the signatories had made a clear stand against what they called the unethical and covert disbursement of taxpayer money.
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“Signing this resolution is akin to taking an oath,” Ssenyonyi stated on Tuesday. “It is a public declaration rejecting involvement in the Shs100 million scandal. If anyone signed but still accepted the money, the truth will eventually come out.”
The alleged payouts, reportedly made without formal disclosure, have sparked public outrage and criticism from civil society, with many condemning the move as a misuse of public funds.
Ssenyonyi said the payments, believed to be sourced from a classified State House budget, highlight serious concerns over transparency and proper use of government resources. He urged the individuals behind the disbursement to name any MPs who may have accepted the money while denying it publicly.
“If anyone received the money but signed this resolution to cover it up, expose them,” he added, suggesting that those unwilling to sign the declaration might be trying to avoid accountability.
He also rejected claims that the funds might be justified if used for development purposes, insisting that corruption cannot be excused, regardless of intention.
“There is never a good excuse for corruption. Stealing is stealing, no matter how it is packaged,” Ssenyonyi said. “And if this money wasn’t tainted, it wouldn’t have been handed out in secret.”
Notably, some high-profile opposition figures, including Parliamentary Commissioner Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, did not sign the resolution.
This development comes amid increased scrutiny of public expenditure and renewed demands for transparency in Parliament.
President Museveni has since defended the payout, describing it as support for efforts aimed at safeguarding Uganda’s national interests and countering threats to peace and sovereignty. He dismissed accusations of patronage, saying the money was not a handout but a strategic allocation.
The President also accused opposition leaders and some media houses of promoting foreign agendas.
This controversy echoes past public uproar, such as the 2021 scandal when MPs received Shs200 million each as a car grant during the height of the Covid-19 crisis.
Opposition MPs are now pressing Parliament and the Ministry of Finance for a full explanation, warning that continued opacity over the use of classified funds is damaging public confidence in government institutions.
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