A storm has erupted in Parliament as Members of the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee strongly oppose the Ministry of Finance’s decision to slash the institution’s budget by UGX 145 billion for the 2025/26 financial year. The legislators argue that the reduction, reflected in the National Budget Framework Paper, will severely affect Parliament’s ability to function effectively.

According to the budget proposal, Parliament’s allocation will drop from UGX 978.57 billion in the 2024/25 financial year to UGX 833.495 billion, a move that MPs insist must be reversed.

In their report, the committee expressed concerns that the cut would cripple parliamentary operations, urging the government to restore the budget to its current levels.

“The reduction in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) must be rectified. The Committee recommends that UGX 145 billion be reinstated to enable Parliament to operate effectively,” the report stated.

Rather than a budget cut, the MPs are calling for an increase of UGX 100.401 billion, which they argue is essential for Parliament to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities of legislation, oversight, and representation.

The Parliamentary Commission has also requested an additional UGX 78.694 billion to support infrastructure and operational requirements, including:

UGX 27.946 billion – Construction of a new Parliamentary Chamber.UGX 10 billion for design of a new office block.UGX 25.8 billion for purchase of vehicles for political offices and oversight committees.UGX 10.769 billion for Procurement of office equipment.

Additionally, UGX 12.12 billion has been requested to enhance ICT infrastructure, particularly for the e-Parliament Project aimed at digitizing parliamentary operations.

However, the push for increased funding has been met with public backlash, with critics questioning Parliament’s spending priorities. Accusations of corruption, nepotism, and misuse of funds have fueled discontent, with some lawmakers previously calling for the removal of Parliamentary Commissioners over a UGX 1.7 billion self-awarded service package.

Protests last year saw young Ugandans demanding Speaker Anita Among’s resignation over alleged financial mismanagement. Among dismissed the demonstrations as politically motivated, linking them to Parliament’s passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023.

As the budget debate intensifies, the Finance Ministry faces pressure from lawmakers to reconsider the proposed cuts while the public watches closely, questioning whether Parliament’s funding demands align with national priorities.