The Parliamentary Commission has made a bold request for an additional budget of over Shs125 billion to cover the expenses of salaries, travel costs, and per diem for top officials including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, and Members of Parliament. This allocation aims to facilitate their attendance at both local and international events they are invited to. Additionally, more funds are deemed necessary to enable MPs to fulfill their oversight duties within Committees.
The revelation came through the 2024/25 ministerial policy statement for the Parliamentary Commission, which highlighted a reduction of Shs78.698 billion in Parliament’s budget by the Ministry of Finance. This decision has been met with strong opposition, with calls for the Ministry of Finance to reinstate Parliament’s budget to its current operating level to avoid hindering the institution’s operations.
This demand underscores the ongoing debate between fiscal responsibility and the need to adequately fund parliamentary activities, especially concerning the crucial functions of oversight and representation
