Kampala, Uganda – Uganda's Parliament is once again under the spotlight after it emerged that every Member of Parliament has received Shs100 million ahead of the Easter break, igniting a political storm and reigniting long-standing concerns over the use of public funds.
The funds, sourced from the recently approved Shs4 trillion supplementary budget, are reportedly intended to facilitate “mobilisation” of constituents in support of government programs. However, the lack of transparency, unclear criteria for allocation, and secretive disbursement process have triggered widespread criticism.
According to insider sources, legislators aligned with the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) reportedly collected their share from the Office of the President on Level 4, while opposition and independent MPs received theirs from Parliament’s Level 5.
Despite official silence on the matter, several MPs have confirmed receiving the money, though many remain evasive about its exact purpose.The move has been met with strong opposition, particularly from the National Unity Platform (NUP), whose leader Robert Kyagulanyi—also known as Bobi Wine—has demanded immediate accountability.
“We need clear accountability and transparency in how this money is being spent. It’s crucial that Ugandans know where their money is going,” Kyagulanyi told reporters at Parliament last week.
The 11th Parliament comprises 529 legislators and over 28 ex-officials. The scale of the distribution—totaling over Shs50 billion—has shocked a public already grappling with high living costs, unemployment, and underfunded public services.
Critics argue that the move is not just poorly timed but potentially a politically motivated handout. They warn that such largesse, especially in a pre-election climate, could be used to curry favor with constituents or finance campaign efforts under the guise of government mobilisation.“This is a dangerous trend,” said political analyst Sarah Kaweesa. “It undermines public trust in institutions and reinforces the perception that Parliament is being used as a conduit for political patronage.”This is not the first time MPs have received large sums of money under controversial circumstances.
In 2017, each MP was granted Shs200 million during the constitutional amendment process that removed the presidential age limit.
A year later, Parliament approved Shs10 billion—about Shs20 million per MP—for so-called “consultations” ahead of the same vote.Such precedents have led to growing public skepticism and mounting calls for reform.
Civil society organisations and anti-corruption watchdogs have condemned the latest payout and urged Parliament to publish a detailed breakdown of how the money will be used.As the debate rages, the House of Deals—as Parliament was dubbed by the press last year—seems to be living up to its name, once again raising the age-old question: whose interests are Uganda’s legislators truly serving?
