A total of 72 out of 109 opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) have so far signed a resolution disowning the controversial Shs100 million allegedly disbursed from a classified State House budget.
The lawmakers, in a move spearheaded by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, condemned the payout as “corrupt and secretive,” intensifying calls for transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.
The resolution, unveiled publicly, has become a litmus test for integrity within opposition ranks.
“Signing this document is like taking an oath of allegiance. It is a public commitment by these members to disassociate themselves from the Shs100 million saga. If any of them signed yet took the money, the truth will catch up with them,” said Ssenyonyi.
The alleged cash disbursement, reportedly done without official disclosure, has drawn widespread criticism from both civil society and the general public.
Many view the secretive nature of the transaction as a gross misuse of taxpayer funds. Ssenyonyi, echoing public sentiment, emphasized the concerns surrounding the use of classified budgets for such expenditures.
He further dared those responsible for the payout to publicly identify any MPs who may have taken the money while simultaneously denying involvement.
“If anyone signed yet received your money, please expose them,” he said.
He also hinted that some MPs’ reluctance to endorse the resolution may stem from fears of being implicated.
“There should never be justification for corruption. Theft is theft, no matter the purpose,” Ssenyonyi asserted. “And this money is a form of corruption that’s why it’s being distributed in secrecy.”
Ssenyonyi dismissed any narrative framing the payout as part of community development efforts, stressing that secrecy around public funds can never be excused.
The controversy arises amid mounting scrutiny of parliamentary spending and renewed public demands for openness from elected officials.
The saga has drawn parallels with the 2021 outcry over MPs receiving Shs200 million each as a car grant during the height of the Covid-19 lockdown.
In response to the uproar, President Yoweri Museveni on Friday defended the payout, claiming it was intended to “promote activities that help in defeating enemy schemes in Uganda.”
He framed the funds as strategic support for national operations, not bonuses or handouts. Museveni also accused opposition leaders and sections of the media of being manipulated by foreign influences.
