Seventy-two opposition Members of Parliament have signed a resolution rejecting the alleged Shs100 million payout from a classified State House budget. They describe the payout as corrupt, secretive, and a misuse of public money.
The resolution was announced by Leader of the Opposition, Joel Ssenyonyi, who said the MPs were making a strong stand against the “unethical and hidden” disbursement of taxpayer funds.
“Signing this document is like taking an oath of allegiance,” Ssenyonyi said on Tuesday. “It is a public promise to stay clean. If anyone signed the resolution but secretly took the money, the truth will come out.”
The payouts, reportedly given without public notice — received by the MPs at night according to a video making rounds on social media — have been widely criticized by civil society and citizens. Many say it reflects poor accountability and misuse of public resources.
Find the full list of the MPs that signed the resolution here.
Ssenyonyi added that the money came from a classified State House budget, raising more concerns about transparency. He urged the people behind the payments to reveal any MPs who accepted the money but denied doing so.
“If anyone signed and still received your money, expose them,” he said. He also suggested that MPs who didn’t sign the resolution might be afraid of being implicated.
Some people claimed the money was used for community development, but Ssenyonyi rejected that argument. “There is no excuse for corruption,” he said. “Theft is theft, even if you say it was for a good cause. This money is being given in secret, and that makes it wrong.”
However, not all opposition MPs have signed the resolution. Parliamentary Commissioner Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba is among the notable absentees. This issue comes at a time when there is growing concern about how Parliament spends money. Many are demanding more openness and accountability.
On Friday, President Yoweri Museveni defended the payment. He said the money was meant to support activities that protect Uganda from “enemy schemes” and should not be seen as a bonus or gift. He also accused opposition leaders and the media of working for foreign interests.
The public reaction to this scandal is similar to what happened in 2021, when MPs received Shs200 million each for car grants during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Opposition MPs are now demanding clear answers from Parliament and the Ministry of Finance. They warn that continued secrecy is damaging the public’s trust in government institutions.
Despite the President’s explanation, the Shs100 million payout has reignited old concerns about corruption, patronage, and the misuse of classified funds in Ugandan politics.
