MPs Receive Shs300 Million Car Grant, Want More. . .

What the report says

Nile Post reported that Uganda’s Members of Parliament were paid Shs300 million each as a vehicle grant on Thursday, but some legislators questioned why the amount was below the Shs315 million they say had been approved by the Parliamentary Commission. According to the report, the funds were sent directly to MPs’ bank accounts, including those of ex-officio members.

The publisher said information it obtained indicated that the Commission had planned for Shs315 million for each of more than 550 legislators. That would leave a gap of Shs15 million per MP, and Nile Post reported that the matter was raised on an MPs’ WhatsApp platform, where members asked Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesigwa to explain the difference. If the higher figure was the approved allocation, the reported shortfall would total more than Shs8.2 billion across the House.

The vehicle grant is meant to help MPs buy cars for constituency and official work during the 12th Parliament. Nile Post said Parliament had not issued a public explanation by Thursday evening on why the amount paid was lower than the figure legislators expected.

The payment is likely to add to wider debate over the cost of parliamentary benefits in Uganda. As general context, such spending is often scrutinized because it comes from public funds and competes politically with demands for investment in services such as health, education and infrastructure. Nile Post’s report did not establish the reason for the Shs15 million difference or whether any further payment will be made.