Speaker Anita Among and her deputy, Thomas Tayebwa, are set to spend an average of Shs 800,000 per day on clothing in the next financial year. This revelation comes as part of a larger budget allocation that has drawn significant attention and criticism from the public.
The offices of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker have been allocated a staggering Shs 286 million for clothing alone. This translates to Shs 24 million per month, or roughly Shs 800,000 per day. The high expenditure has raised eyebrows on social media, with many questioning the necessity and appropriateness of such perks for two of Uganda’s highest salary earners.
In addition to the clothing budget, the offices of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker have been allocated Shs 990 million for entertainment purposes. Speaker Among’s share amounts to Shs 547 million, while Deputy Speaker Tayebwa’s portion is Shs 443 million. This budget is intended to cover expenses for music, drinks, decorations, and other party items for the speakers and their guests.
The budget breakdown reveals that the total budget for the Speaker’s office next year will be Shs 13.6 billion. This figure exceeds the budget allocated to Kabale Regional Hospital, which stands at Shs 12.6 billion. The hospital serves approximately 1,000,000 patients annually from Kabale and neighboring districts, highlighting the disparity in budget allocations between government offices and essential public services.
The revelation has sparked a heated debate, with many Ugandans expressing outrage over the perceived misuse of public funds. Critics argue that the exorbitant spending on clothing and entertainment is unjustifiable, especially when compared to the pressing needs of the country's healthcare and other critical sectors.
The total expenditure for Parliament this financial year is projected to be Shs 944 billion. This marks a significant increase from the Shs 371 billion allocated to the 9th Parliament towards the end of its tenure in 2015. Since the 11th Parliament was sworn in in 2021, Parliament’s budget has seen an average annual increase of Shs 100 billion.
The increasing budget allocations for Parliament, particularly for non-essential items, have raised concerns about fiscal responsibility and the prioritization of public funds. Many citizens are calling for greater transparency and accountability in government spending to ensure that resources are allocated in a manner that benefits the wider population.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the backlash will prompt a reconsideration of the budget allocations for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker's offices. The public's reaction underscores the growing demand for prudent financial management and equitable distribution of resources in Uganda.
