The Parliament of Uganda has officially dismissed social media claims alleging that Members of Parliament (MPs) have received Shs100 million each in unexplained payments.
In a strong statement issued, Parliament clarified that no such funds have been disbursed, adding that all MP payments are statutory, processed through official channels and visible on each legislator’s payslip.
The clarification came amid growing online uproar, with Ugandans on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and TikTok questioning a supposed huge sum payout to MPs, a claim that sparked widespread outrage given the country’s ongoing economic struggles and budget constraints.
“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 and reflected on their individual payslips. The Clerk has not processed any such payments.”
The Parliament’s denial comes at a time of rising public pressure for fiscal transparency. Civil society watchdogs like The Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) have previously urged Parliament to adopt real-time public disclosure of MPs’ benefits, a move Parliament has been slow to implement.
“This Shs100 million claim has struck a nerve,” said Sarah Bireete, a prominent governance activist. “Even if it’s false, it reveals just how deep public mistrust runs when it comes to leaders’ accountability.”
This isn’t the first time Ugandan legislators have faced allegations of pocketing heavy allowances under the radar.
In 2021, Parliament was rocked by a public backlash over reports that MPs received Shs40 million each under unclear circumstances, a scandal that prompted brief investigations but ended with no official sanctions or admissions.
Today’s denials, therefore, are being met with a healthy dose of skepticism.
“The problem isn’t just the money. It’s the secrecy and the arrogance of silence.”
The exact origin of the viral Shs100 million claim remains unclear, though some anonymous whistleblower style accounts on social media claimed that MPs “quietly received facilitation” ahead of the upcoming budget debate. No documentation or direct evidence has been presented to date.
Nevertheless, Parliament’s press team appears keen to shut down the narrative before it spirals further especially as the country heads into a politically sensitive electoral period.
While the Clerk to Parliament has categorically denied processing such payments, calls are mounting for independent financial audits, public access to MPs’ payslips and reforms to improve transparency around lawmakers’ payment.
