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Summary:

• NUP President Robert Kyagulanyi warns party members against accepting alleged bribes of Shs 100 million each from a supplementary budget, leading to defiance from some MPs, amid claims of irregularities in State House’s classified expenditure.

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By Muhammad Kakembo

Robert Kyagulanyi, the president of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has cautioned party members against succumbing to the temptation of accepting Shs 100 million each, purportedly part of the supplementary budget recently approved by parliament. Despite Kyagulanyi’s warning, some party MPs have openly defied him, accusing him of double standards. During a press conference on December 12, 2023, at the party headquarters in Makerere-Kavule, Kampala, Kyagulanyi claimed that Shs 55.6 billion from the Shs 3.5 trillion supplementary budget was intended as a ‘thank you’ to parliament for passing the budget.

Kyagulanyi alleged that within the Shs 78.6 billion allocated for State House’s classified expenditure, Shs 55.6 billion was earmarked to be distributed among the 529 MPs, including ex-officios, with each receiving Shs 100 million. Expressing his concern, Kyagulanyi emphasized the misuse of taxpayers’ money, attributing it to the deteriorating state of infrastructure and public services. He warned MPs involved in what he referred to as “grand theft” that he would expose the truth without defending or protecting them.

Some NUP MPs challenged Kyagulanyi’s stance, asserting that they had not yet received the Shs 100 million. However, a confidential source revealed that many MPs were adept at appearing opposed to the idea publicly, but privately planned to keep the money. Another MP suggested diverting part of the funds to party coffers for the benefit of families affected by the regime.

Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, the leader of the opposition in parliament, asserted that although the money had not been received, they were certain it was part of State House’s classified expenditure. He issued a strong advisory against MPs accepting the money, urging them to return it if received.

Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, the shadow minister for Finance, highlighted the irregularities in the budget approval process, noting that the additional Shs 78.6 billion for State House was not initially included in the schedules provided to parliament. He claimed that the money was smuggled into the schedule after the supplementary budget had been passed. Muwanga, who sits on parliamentary appropriations committees, insisted that classified expenditures were channels for embezzling taxpayers’ money.

The report also touched on the controversy surrounding Kyagulanyi’s statements on homosexuality, where he clarified his evolving stance on the issue. Despite the unfolding situation, Kyagulanyi expressed limited options for addressing MPs who accept the money, stating that he could only expose them publicly. Efforts to reach key figures like Matia Kasaija and Henry Musasizi for comment were unsuccessful.

As the story develops, uncertainties surround the actions of NUP members, with insiders suggesting that a significant portion of opposition MPs may accept the Shs 100 million, allowing the issue to fade over time.