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On Tuesday, April 8, reports emerged claiming that Members of Parliament (MPs) were each receiving Shs100 million, part of the Shs4 trillion supplementary budget approved last month.
The funds, reportedly distributed in secrecy, are believed to be intended for mobilising support for government programmes.
Sources suggest that NRM MPs collected their funds from the Office of the President on Level 4, while opposition and independent MPs received theirs from Parliament’s Level 5.
There is speculation that the funds are meant to reward MPs for backing the coffee bill and to persuade them to support the upcoming UPDF Act, which aims to allow civilians to be tried in the court martial.
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In response to these claims, Parliament issued a statement denying the allegations.
“There are claims on social media regarding alleged payments of Shs100m to MPs. The public is advised that Parliament makes statutory payments to MPs processed by the Clerk to Parliament & reflected on their individual payslips. The Clerk has not processed any such payments,” Parliament posted on X.
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Chris Obore, the director of communications at Parliament, further dismissed the rumours: "Ignore claims that MPs have been paid Shs100m for passing the Coffee Bill. Allegations should be backed by evidence, not propaganda. MPs receive statutory payments through the Clerk to Parliament & via payslips. The rest is recycled propaganda."
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Joel Ssenyonyi, spokesperson for the National Unity Platform and Leader of Opposition in Parliament, said: "We have received information that money is quietly being exchanged in Parliament. It is reported that each NRM MP (and a few selected opposition MPs) is receiving Shs100 million, as thanks for the coffee bill and in preparation for the proposed amendment to the UPDF Act, which would allow civilians to be tried in the court martial, despite the Supreme Court ruling. Our country needs a reboot."
This is still a developing story.