KAMPALA – A total of 177 Members of Parliament (MPs), including some ministers, were absent from the recent parliamentary session held in Gulu, according to sources within Parliament.
This figure was confirmed by Chris Obore, Parliament’s Director of Communication and Public Affairs.
Obore announced that the MPs who failed to attend the session will be required to repay the per diem of UGX 1.6 million that had been deposited into their accounts for the Gulu sitting.
He explained that the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, will automatically deduct this amount from the MPs’ monthly salaries, allowing Parliament to recover a total of UGX 283.2 million from the 177 MPs.
During the first day of the Gulu session on August 28, Speaker Anita Among requested that each MP introduce themselves.
After the introductions, Among reported that 310 MPs were physically present and had registered.
On the second day, Obore stated that 380 MPs had registered in total.
He described the Gulu sitting as a significant success, both in terms of legislative activity and attendance, noting that each department of Parliament utilized its budget to support its staff during the session.
Before the Gulu session, it was revealed that the Clerk to Parliament had disbursed UGX 1.6 million as per diem to each MP, including ministers, for the four days in Gulu.
With a total of 557 MPs, including ex-officio members, Parliament disbursed UGX 891.2 million solely to its members.
Each MP received UGX 400,000 per day for feeding and accommodation, with lunch and breakfast excluded, as these meals were provided by Parliament. The Gulu session took place from August 28 to 30.
Opposition MPs, led by Leader of Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi (Nakawa West), had initially vowed not to attend.
However, sources indicated that the per diem was still deposited into their accounts.
Obore emphasized that facilitating MPs in their duties, including attending the Gulu session, was the responsibility of the Clerk to Parliament.
In June, during the State of the Nation address, Speaker Among announced that Parliament would hold sittings in four different regions to bring the institution closer to the people.
This plan involved the 557 MPs and approximately 200 staff members visiting each region for three days to conduct official debates.
While Among requested Ssenyonyi to encourage his members to attend the Gulu session, Ssenyonyi called for a boycott, arguing that the regional sittings were a waste of taxpayers’ money.
He estimated that organizing these regional sessions would cost UGX 5 billion per region, totaling UGX 20 billion for all four regions.
Ssenyonyi suggested that Parliament could address regional issues while sitting in Kampala, thereby avoiding additional costs.
When contacted for comment, Ssenyonyi did not respond to repeated calls. His press secretary, Ali Mivule, stated that Ssenyonyi was occupied with private meetings and unavailable to take calls.
Obore dismissed the UGX 5 billion figure cited by Ssenyonyi as “hot air and propaganda” intended to mislead the public.
He noted that the 2024/25 Parliament budget did not include a specific item for regional sittings and questioned the source of the UGX 5 billion figure.
“Each department has its own budget and work plan. They spend according to their work plan and budget. There is no special budget item for the Gulu sitting. This is misinformation meant to deceive the public. Parliament departments have their budgets, and we are operating within those,” Obore stated.
When asked about the actual budget for the Gulu session, Obore declined to provide specific details, stating that “each department spent according to its approved work plan for this financial year. The Auditor General will audit Parliament’s budget and determine the expenditures.”
If the same allowances are maintained for the planned regional sittings, Parliament would spend UGX 3.56 billion on per diem for all MPs.
Mwesige confirmed that the allowances for MPs during regional sittings will be the same as those received when sitting in Kampala.
“Parliament covers accommodation allowances for MPs whenever they travel,” he explained.
