MPs Reject ‘Yes/No’ Poll on Pension Scheme’s Commercial Building Plan

What the report says

Members of Parliament have pushed back against the Parliamentary Pension Scheme’s attempt to consult contributors with a simple “yes” or “no” poll on a proposed commercial building investment. In a letter dated August 14, 2026, a group of MPs led by Kinkizi West MP Niringiyimana Kaberuka James Ruugi said the approach was not suitable for a decision involving retirement savings and should be replaced with a more detailed, evidence-based process.

According to the Nile Post report, the lawmakers said contributors should be given feasibility studies, financial projections, property valuations, investment risks, market analysis and conflict-of-interest disclosures before being asked to take a position. They also asked for the proposal’s strategic justification, projected rental income, expected return and other technical and professional assessments. The MPs argued that pension investments must be handled with prudence, accountability and proper due diligence under the Parliamentary Pensions Act and the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority Act.

The MPs said they were not rejecting commercial property as an investment class in principle, but were questioning whether members could make an informed choice without full documentation. They declined to answer the SMS poll and asked the Scheme’s management to share the relevant reports and convene a meeting for discussion.

The dispute highlights wider concerns about transparency and governance in pension fund decision-making in Uganda, especially when member contributions are being used for major long-term investments.