KAMPALA - President Museveni has confirmed that Members of Parliament received Shs100 million each through classified funding, days after Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa dismissed the reports as mere "street talk."
The confirmation comes amid mounting public pressure and accusations from opposition politicians who have demanded transparency about the sudden windfall reported earlier this week by the Nile Post.
The President, in a statement issued on Friday, said the money was used to “promote activities that help in defeating enemy schemes in Uganda” and insisted the funds served a patriotic purpose.
“Regarding the classified funds, they have two purposes: to buy classified equipment and also to promote activities that help in defeating the enemy schemes in Uganda and keep the peace of the People of Uganda,” said Museveni.
He defended the payout by drawing parallels with the long history of sacrifice by Ugandan fighters, including the FRONASA and NRA forces, who he said operated for years without pay purely for patriotic reasons.
“We, the FRONASA-NRA combatants, fought from 1971 to 1987, i.e. 17 years, without pay,” he said.
“Therefore, with FRONASA-NRA-UPDF, the motivation for contribution is patriotism, Pan-Africanism, etc.”
The President did not refer to the payout as a cash handout or bonus. He instead framed it as support for what he described as internal operations to neutralise threats against Uganda’s peace and sovereignty.
His remarks appeared designed to counter criticisms from opposition MPs and media houses he accused of playing into foreign interests.
He singled out Public Accounts Committee chairperson Muwanga Kivumbi, who has led calls for a probe into the funds, as well as Daily Monitor, which he described as “an anti-Ugandan newspaper.”
Museveni questioned why those opposed to the classified fund had not raised similar concerns over foreign funding used to shape Uganda’s internal politics.
“If you are an anti-corruption warrior you claim to be, why have you never talked about these foreign funds? Who has been receiving these foreign funds and for what purpose? When you receive foreign funds, you are not only corrupt but you are a traitor,” he charged.
He referred to recent remarks by US Congressman Andy Barr, who had criticised the Biden administration for punishing Uganda over its anti-homosexuality law while simultaneously funding local LGBT initiatives.
Museveni appeared to use this as an example of foreign interests seeking to influence Uganda’s domestic affairs.
The President’s statement does not detail how MPs were selected for the classified funding or what specific activities they undertook in exchange.
He also did not explain the mechanism through which the money was disbursed, though sources earlier told Nile Post it was channelled under the guise of "classified expenditure" from the Defence Ministry budget.
Earlier this week, Nile Post reported that each MP had received Shs100 million, with no official explanation.
But Deputy Speaker Tayebwa dismissed the allegations after it caused public uproar, refusing to comment on "street talk.”
The main opposition party, the National Unity Platform (NUP), has publicly rejected the payout and instructed its members of Parliament to return the money.
NUP accused the government of using classified funds as a tool for political patronage and called the disbursement “morally reprehensible.”
Muwanga Kivumba, who has been acting for Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, said any NUP MP who accepted the money would be in breach of party values and would be expected to refund it immediately.
Some MPs have since confirmed returning the cash, while others have remained silent.
This is not the first time MPs have received large sums in unexplained transactions.
In 2021, each legislator received Shs200 million in what was officially labelled as a car grant. The payout drew widespread criticism, particularly as it came during COVID-19 lockdowns when many Ugandans were struggling.
Museveni's Friday statement, however, argued that money channelled through classified funding is a strategic tool for national security and unity.
“Has this helped to keep the peace? Absolutely. Is that not the reason why Uganda is an island of peace in this area?” he asked rhetorically.
As debate continues to simmer, opposition MPs have demanded a full explanation from Parliament and the Ministry of Finance.
“This is not classified. This is corruption,” said one MP who asked not to be named.
Museveni ended his statement by marking the anniversary of Idi Amin’s ouster in 1979, calling it a victory for Ugandan freedom fighters.
“Congratulations Ugandans,” he wrote. “Today, the April 11, 1979, is when the Ugandan freedom fighters and our Tanzanian brothers captured Kampala and Idi Amin fled.”
Despite Museveni’s defence, the debate is unlikely to fade soon. For many Ugandans, the timing and secrecy of the Shs100 million payout have revived old questions about classified expenditures, patronage, and accountability in Parliament.