• Ugandan MPs are some of the highest-paid public servants, enjoying massive monthly allowances, car grants worth UGX 200 million, medical coverage, and end-of-term gratuities. 
  • This financial bonanza has turned Parliamentary elections into high-stakes contests, often marred by violence and corruption.

Becoming a member of Parliament in Uganda has over the years become widely viewed as a path to wealth and financial security. With huge monthly pay, fuel allowances, luxury vehicles among other hefty end-of-term benefits, getting to Parliament has become a battleground for many people across the country.

This has left many Ugandans arguing that the role has become more about personal gain than public service. This therefore explains why political contests are often heated, violent and competitive. So without wasting time, let’s dive into some of the delicious monies that these legislators swim in. It’s also important to note that the Ugandan Parliament has 556 MPs.

Basic salary and take-home pay

According to official sources, a Ugandan MP earns a gross monthly salary of approximately UGX 11 million. However, that is the tip of the iceberg of their monetary benefits. When numerous allowances are added such as the sitting allowances, housing, and mileage refunds, their take-home pay can rise to between UGX 25 million to UGX 35 million per month or even more.

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As per the Parliamentarian records and previous Auditor General reports, the allowances alone most times exceed the basic salary. This makes MPs some of the highest-paid public servants in the country.

Allowances that add up

Important to note is that MPs in Uganda receive numerous allowances which include the following:

  • Sitting Allowance – Apparently, whenever an MP attends a session or committee meeting, they receive extra pay, usually between UGX 50,000 to UGX 150,000 per sitting.
  • Mileage Allowance (Fuel allowance)– When it comes to fuel, MPs are paid per kilometer traveled when attending parliamentary business in Kampala. The refund is based on the distance between Parliament and their constituencies, which means some rural MPs receive over UGX 50 million monthly in fuel and mileage. For example an MP from Northern Uganda receives more fuel alliance than an MP from Kampala region. However, the start of this allowance is UGX 31 million shillings
  • Constituency Facilitation – MPs receive funds to “engage” their constituencies, though accountability for this money is often weak. The statutory amount for this initiative is UGX 20 million.
  • Medical Insurance & Housing – MPs are entitled to premium health coverage and in some cases are supported with accommodation allowances.
  • Town Rally Support: They also receive UGX 2 million monthly for this.

Luxury vehicles and car grants

Every new Parliament sees the government give each MP a UGX 200 million car grant to purchase a “suitable vehicle” for constituency work. The MPs are free to choose the type of car they want. Many of them always opt for expensive 4×4 vehicles like Land Cruisers or Prados.

It should be noted that this car grant is offered every five years. This is even to MPs who return to Parliament for consecutive terms. That means a three-term MP such as Hon Betty Nambooze, Hon Rebecca Kadaga among others have received over UGX 600 million and more in car grants alone during their parliamentary career.

Pension and end-of-term benefits

Additionally, once an MP completes their full five-year term, they are entitled to a gratuity payment. This is calculated as a lump sum from their salary and allowances. This often amounts to tens of millions of shillings, if not more.

Meanwhile, those who serve two terms or more also qualify for a parliamentary pension, in addition to any other retirement benefits they might have as public servants. MPs also in different committees such as the PAC, LOP also have their other different set of allowances. An example is the infamous 500m shillings gratuity that former LOP Hon Mathias Mpuuga awarded himself.

There are also monies pocketed by these MPs whenever they help the Executive arm of government to pass some contentious bills into laws. For context, MPs this year received about UGX 100 million for passing the controversial UPDF Act.

Therefore an MP could end a five year term swimming in billions of shillings.

With such incentives, it’s no surprise that competition for Parliamentary seats in Uganda is fierce and intense. The recently concluded NRM primaries were an example. In Lwemiyaga , Gen Emma Rwashande and incumbent Theodore Ssekikubo clashed leading to even deaths. Elections in other areas were also as well violent with more instability expected ahead of next year’s general elections.

These political campaigns are intense with some candidates spending over UGX 500 million to billions to secure a seat as was previously revealed by Investment minister, Evelyn Anite.

Most of the MP hopefuls always use such huge money often expecting to recover it through salaries, deals, and access to government.

For so long questions have risen on this heavy expenses spent on the legislative arm with many people not seeing it’s benefits. This is because laws are not passed often and with a bloating Parliament, many feel the money should be reduced and redirected to more areas of service delivery such as health, infrastructure, education among others.