KAMPALA, UGANDA — President Yoweri Museveni has acknowledged that Members of Parliament (MPs) received Shs100 million each through classified funding, contradicting earlier denials by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, who had dismissed the reports as “street talk.”
The President’s confirmation follows growing public discontent and accusations from opposition politicians demanding transparency regarding the reported financial distribution, which was initially disclosed by the Nile Post earlier in the week.
In a statement released on Friday, President Museveni asserted that the funds were allocated to “promote activities that help in defeating enemy schemes in Uganda” and maintained that the expenditure served a patriotic purpose.
“Regarding the classified funds, they have two purposes: to buy classified equipment and also to promote activities that help in defeating the enemy schemes in Uganda and keep the peace of the People of Uganda,” President Museveni stated.
He justified the payout by drawing parallels to the historical sacrifices of Ugandan fighters, including the FRONASA and NRA forces, who he claimed operated for extended periods without remuneration, driven solely by patriotic motivations.
“We, the FRONASA-NRA combatants, fought from 1971 to 1987, i.e. 17 years, without pay,” he emphasized. “Therefore, with FRONASA-NRA-UPDF, the motivation for contribution is patriotism, Pan-Africanism, etc.”
The President refrained from referring to the distribution as a cash handout or bonus, instead portraying it as support for internal operations aimed at neutralizing threats to Uganda’s peace and sovereignty.
His remarks appeared to be a direct response to criticisms from opposition MPs and media outlets, which he accused of aligning with foreign interests. He specifically named Shadow Finance Minister Muhammad Kivumbi, who has been vocal in demanding an investigation into the funds, and the Daily Monitor, which he labeled “an anti-Ugandan newspaper.”
President Museveni questioned why those opposed to the classified funding had not raised similar concerns regarding foreign funding used to influence Uganda’s internal political landscape. “If you are an anti-corruption warrior you claim to be, why have you never talked about these foreign funds? Who has been receiving these foreign funds and for what purpose? When you receive foreign funds, you are not only corrupt but you are a traitor,” he asserted.
He referenced recent statements by U.S. Congressman Andy Barr, who had criticized the Biden administration for imposing sanctions on Uganda over its anti-homosexuality law while simultaneously funding local LGBT initiatives. President Museveni appeared to use this as an example of foreign actors attempting to manipulate Uganda’s domestic affairs.
The President’s statement did not provide details on the selection process for MPs to receive the classified funding or specify the activities they were expected to undertake in return. He also did not clarify the disbursement mechanism, although sources previously informed the Nile Post that the funds were channeled under the guise of “classified expenditure” from the Ministry of Defence budget.
Earlier in the week, the Nile Post reported that each MP had received Shs100 million without official explanation. Deputy Speaker Tayebwa dismissed these allegations, refusing to comment on “street talk.”
The National Unity Platform (NUP), the main opposition party, has publicly rejected the payout and instructed its members to return the funds, denouncing the government’s use of classified funds as a tool for political patronage and labeling the disbursement “morally reprehensible.”
Muwanga Kivumbi, acting for Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, stated that any NUP MP who accepted the money would be in violation of party principles and would be required to return the funds immediately. Some MPs have since confirmed returning the cash, while others have remained silent.
This incident is not the first time MPs have received substantial sums in unexplained transactions. In 2021, each legislator received Shs200 million, ostensibly as a car grant, which drew widespread condemnation, particularly as it occurred during COVID-19 lockdowns when many Ugandans were facing economic hardship.
Also Read: Ugandan MPs silent after controversial Shs 100m payout
President Museveni’s Friday statement, however, argued that funds distributed through classified channels are a strategic instrument for national security and unity. “Has this helped to keep the peace? Absolutely. Is that not the reason why Uganda is an island of peace in this area?” he rhetorically asked.
As the controversy continues to escalate, opposition MPs have demanded a comprehensive explanation from Parliament and the Ministry of Finance. “This is not classified. This is corruption,” one MP, speaking anonymously, asserted.
President Museveni concluded his statement by commemorating the anniversary of Idi Amin’s ouster in 1979, hailing it as a victory for Ugandan freedom fighters. “Congratulations Ugandans,” he wrote. “Today, the April 11, 1979, is when the Ugandan freedom fighters and our Tanzanian brothers captured Kampala and Idi Amin fled.”
Despite President Museveni’s defense, the debate surrounding the Shs 100 million payout is likely to persist, reigniting concerns about classified expenditures, political patronage, and parliamentary accountability.
