Kampala, Uganda – April 9, 2025
Parliament has responded to swirling allegations that Members of Parliament (MPs) received Shs100 million each in what has been dubbed an "Easter Cash Bonanza," reportedly linked to the recent passing of the controversial Coffee Bill.
According to multiple sources, both ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and opposition MPs are said to have received the hefty sums around the Easter period. Reports further indicate that the cash was disbursed from different offices, with opposition legislators reportedly collecting their share from a separate location than their NRM counterparts.
While the exact purpose of the funds remains unclear, conflicting explanations have emerged. Some sources within Parliament claim the money was intended to support community mobilization efforts for government development programs during the Easter recess. However, other reports allege that the payout was a covert reward to MPs who backed the contentious Coffee Bill, which passed amid public concern over its implications for local farmers and the coffee trade.
The Office of the Clerk to Parliament issued a brief statement late Tuesday evening, neither confirming nor denying the disbursement, but emphasizing that all parliamentary transactions are “appropriately budgeted for and duly approved.” Efforts to reach key Parliamentary officials for further comment were unsuccessful by press time.
Civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates have demanded transparency, calling for an independent investigation into the alleged cash payouts. “This raises serious questions about the integrity of our legislative processes,” said Sarah Katushabe, a governance analyst with the Uganda Transparency Forum.
Opposition leaders, meanwhile, are divided on the matter, with some denying receipt of the funds and others calling for full disclosure of the disbursement process.
The Coffee Bill, which sparked fierce debate in the House, aims to regulate coffee production and marketing but has been criticized by farmers’ groups who say it gives too much power to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
As public scrutiny intensifies, the matter is expected to feature prominently when Parliament reconvenes for its next sitting.
