The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, has petitioned the Inspector General of Government (IGG), Hon. Beti Kamya Turwomwe, to urgently investigate what he described as the illegal disbursement of Shs100 million to Members of Parliament.
In his letter addressed to the IGG and officially received on Monday, Ssenyonyi expressed alarm over what he called a matter of “significant public interest and concern,” following a wave of reports — and now admissions — about a controversial cash payment allegedly received by several legislators.
“This payment has been awash within the media,” Ssenyonyi wrote, noting that although the leadership of Parliament initially denied the allegations, a number of MPs have since confirmed receiving the funds.
The tipping point came when Hon. Kagabo Twaha, MP for Bukoto South, publicly confessed on live television to receiving the money. The admission, which was widely circulated on social media, has triggered public outrage and renewed scrutiny over parliamentary conduct.
Ssenyonyi’s petition calls for a full investigation into the origin of the funds, the process of disbursement, the purpose of the payment, the legality of the transaction, and the number of MPs who benefited.
He demanded clarity on which government ministry, department, or agency disbursed the money, and whether there was any formal budgetary allocation for the expenditure. He questioned the manner in which the funds were distributed — including the timing, location, and the use of cash — describing it as “something completely illegal and an act of grand corruption.”
The letter also questioned the purpose of the payments. Were they for legitimate parliamentary business, constituency development, or for another undisclosed reason?
The opposition leader noted that there had been no official or public communication on the intent of the disbursement.
Further concerns were raised over accountability.
Ssenyonyi asked the IGG to establish whether proper approvals were obtained and whether the payments complied with Uganda’s financial laws. He also called for an audit of the number of MPs who received the funds, warning that the secretive and irregular nature of the disbursement — including reports that the money was distributed at night — underscored the need for “immediate and transparent scrutiny.”
“This warrants immediate scrutiny to ensure accountability, prevent potential misuse of resources, and uphold public trust in the integrity of our governance institutions,” Ssenyonyi wrote.
The development has drawn comparisons to past scandals involving questionable payouts to MPs.
In 2021, legislators were heavily criticized for receiving Shs200 million each to purchase vehicles, even as the country struggled under the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, questions have arisen over unexplained “facilitation” payments made ahead of key parliamentary votes.
Several civil society organisations have backed Ssenyonyi’s demand for a full investigation.
“This is not just about MPs receiving money — it’s about the rot in how public funds are managed,” said Sheila Nabachwa, a governance analyst with the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda.
“The IGG must act decisively and make her findings public.”
By press time, the Inspectorate of Government had not yet issued a formal response to the petition.
However, sources within the IGG’s office confirmed receipt and acknowledged that a preliminary assessment of the matter was underway.
If proven, the allegations could have far-reaching implications — potentially resulting in prosecution of individuals involved, and renewed calls for reform of parliamentary privileges and public finance management.