Published on 23/04/2025
Legislators are raising alarms over the Parliamentary Commission’s Ugx. 109.256 billion budget, labeling its allocations as Excessive and Extravagant.
Critics argue the funds could better serve pressing national priorities like healthcare and education. The call for a budget overhaul has sparked heated debate in the House.
Leading the charge was Erute South MP, Jonathan Odur, who presented a Minority Report during the April 15, 2025 plenary sitting. The report, drawn from the Sectoral Committee on Legal and Parliamentary Affairs’ analysis of Ministerial Policy Statements for the 2025/2026 financial year, highlighted what Odur termed “wasteful” expenditures.
According to Odur, the oversight function of Parliament, carried out through its 28 committees, remains severely underfunded—receiving only UGX25 billion. He decried the disproportionate allocation of UGX5.488 billion to Parliamentary Commissioners, with each receiving UGX1.372 billion in “personal-to-holder” expenses.
“The Minority recommends that the budget estimates for the Parliamentary Commission be reviewed to free up more funding for Committees,” Odur stated. “Committee budgets should be ring-fenced for work-plan activities to prevent encroachment and misuse.”
He further criticized a proposed UGX52.868 billion increase to the Parliament’s development budget, which includes UGX4.179 billion for refurbishing the multi-level car park and renovating toilets at the South Gate, UGX25.8 billion for vehicles (including 28-seater vans), and UGX22.889 billion for office equipment like computers and video systems.
Odur also condemned the UGX10.9 billion allocated to Public Relations, aimed at improving Parliament’s image. “Let us just do the right thing and our image will clean itself,” he said. “We don’t need to pay someone to fix that.”
Among other controversial allocations was UGX37 billion to the offices of the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Government Business, and Leader of the Opposition—UGX8 billion more than what all 28 committees were collectively allocated for oversight work.
Odur questioned additional expenditures, such as UGX12 million for CV screening—despite no stated recruitment plans—and funds for Civil Society Organization engagement and training of local governments, which he argued are outside Parliament’s direct mandate.
MPs Raise Red Flags
Tororo District Woman MP Sarah Opendi backed Odur, pointing to public outrage over past expenditures such as the UGX500 million service award to each Parliamentary Commissioner. The new budget, she noted, again allocates UGX5.4 billion to the same officials.
“I agree with the Minority Report on the need to scrutinize these expenditures. As oversight MPs, we’re not paid extra for our work, but Commissioners—who are also MPs—are getting billions. We need transparency in how our own budget is developed.”
Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa defended the allocations, clarifying that the UGX5.4 billion included allowances for aides to MPs with disabilities, not personal benefits for Commissioners. “There’s nothing in this budget that wasn’t inherited from previous Parliaments. No new special allowances have been introduced. Let’s not paint our colleagues in a bad light during such a sensitive time,” he cautioned.
Mpuuga Fires Back
However, Nyendo-Mukungwe MP Mathias Mpuuga, a former Leader of Opposition and current Commissioner, lashed out at Odur, accusing him of “peddling social media rumours” and using Parliament to spread misinformation. “If a member doesn’t bother to verify facts before speaking in this House, then we have a problem. We can disagree respectfully, but let’s not make personal attacks or mislead the public for applause.”
Despite Mpuuga’s emotional rebuttal, Odur maintained his calm, insisting all claims in his report were derived from official budget documents. He challenged the Parliamentary Commission to hold a closed-door meeting with MPs to allow for honest dialogue about Parliament’s budget.
“Let’s sit heart-to-heart with the budget documents and talk frankly. I challenge the Commission to organize such a session.”
Parliament Budget Snapshot
The total proposed budget for the Parliamentary Commission in FY2025/26 stands at UGX917.642 billion, reflecting a UGX60.15 billion reduction from the UGX977.787 billion approved in FY2024/25. The cut is attributed to reductions in non-wage and development expenditures.
Breakdown of the proposed budget:
- Wage expenditure: UGX117.048 billion
- Non-wage expenditure: UGX779.788 billion
- Development budget: UGX20.806 billion
