Opposition MPs split over Museveni's UGX 100M cash gift

Only 33 opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) have officially rejected the UGX 100 million cash said to have been given out by President Yoweri Museveni. The money, reportedly handed out secretly, has raised fresh concerns about corruption in Uganda’s Parliament.

MPs from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), some independent MPs, and a few opposition members believed to be close to the government are said to have received the cash. According to reports, the money was a reward for passing the Coffee Amendment Bill, which led to the closure of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).

However, critics believe this was more than just a thank-you gift. Some say the money was meant to influence lawmakers ahead of planned changes to the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Act. These changes would allow the military to again try civilians in army courts—something the Supreme Court had recently declared illegal.

The news came to light when Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, revealed that MPs were quietly collecting the money between Monday night and Tuesday morning. Unlike previous scandals where the money was sent to MPs’ bank accounts, this time, MPs were reportedly told by phone to pick up the cash in person—likely to avoid leaving a digital trace.

Acting Opposition Leader Muwanga Kivumbi encouraged fellow MPs to sign a resolution rejecting the money. He called it “evil money” and warned that any MP who stays silent could be seen as having accepted the bribe. Kivumbi also promised to make the names of those who sign public so Ugandans can know where their leaders stand.

This is just the latest corruption scandal to hit Parliament, an institution now often described as a “House of Deals.” Many Ugandans are frustrated as trust in their elected leaders continues to fall.