Uganda’s Parliament—dubbed “The House of Deals” by a local daily last year—is once again living up to its reputation.
As MPs head into the Easter break, each one is reportedly Shs100 million richer, courtesy of the recently passed Shs4 trillion supplementary budget. The money, officially tagged for “mobilizing support” for government programs, has sparked outrage due to the covert manner in which it was distributed and the timing of the payments.
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Reports indicate that National Resistance Movement (NRM) MPs picked up their share from the Office of the President (Level 4), while opposition and independent legislators collected theirs from Parliament (Level 5).
The payout has triggered political controversy and accusations of impropriety. While some MPs have acknowledged the funds are for constituency mobilization, others have either remained silent or vaguely referred to promoting government programs.
The opposition, led by National Unity Platform (NUP) president Robert Kyagulanyi, has been quick to criticize the payments, citing a lack of accountability and the misuse of public resources.
“Ugandans deserve full transparency on how their money is being used,” Kyagulanyi said last week in Parliament.
The lump-sum distribution has left many MPs and citizens questioning both the intent and the urgency behind the funds. While defenders argue it supports political engagement, critics warn it sets a dangerous precedent that encourages patronage and undermines public trust.
Uganda’s 11th Parliament comprises 529 elected MPs and over 28 ex-officials. This latest cash bonanza adds to a string of similar financial controversies in recent years.
In 2017, MPs were controversially awarded Shs200 million each for “unforeseen expenses” linked to the constitutional amendment removing presidential age limits. The following year, they received Shs10 billion under the guise of facilitating consultations ahead of the same vote.
Such episodes have led to growing skepticism over whether these windfalls are genuinely for public service or simply political leverage disguised as development funding.
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