Speaker Jacob Oboth Oboth Donations Budget Cut as Museveni is Re-Declared Chief Donor

KAMPALA — One of the first major financial decisions under the leadership of Speaker Jacob Oboth Oboth is set to fundamentally alter how Parliament spends billions of shillings each year.

In a move that signals a sharp departure from recent parliamentary spending trends, Oboth Oboth has dramatically reduced the budget under the Office of the Speaker from more than Shs24 billion to just Shs3.9 billion, redirecting the remaining funds to parliamentary committees in what he describes as an effort to restore Parliament’s core oversight role.

The decision effectively dismantles one of the most controversial expenditure items that emerged in recent years — the large donations budgets associated with top parliamentary offices.

Addressing supporters during celebrations held to mark Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja’s reappointment, the Speaker said Parliament had drifted away from its original purpose and that lawmakers needed the resources necessary to perform oversight without depending on the very institutions they are mandated to scrutinize.

“I’ve gotten back my office. It will have Shs3.9 billion from the Shs24 billion. When you come to me, I will tell you the money has gone to the committees,” Oboth Oboth said.

“The Chief Donor of Government remains the President of Uganda. If you need help, go to State House. We are resetting Parliament back to the factory default — what Parliament was intended to be.”

The remarks are being interpreted as a direct signal that Parliament’s future spending priorities will focus more heavily on legislative oversight and less on donation-related expenditures that have attracted public scrutiny over the past several years.

End of an Era?

The restructured budget represents a significant revision of plans that had been developed during the tenure of former Speaker Anita Among.

Among had initially been expected to continue leading Parliament into the 12th Parliament, with spending projections under the Speaker’s office maintaining substantial allocations for donations and related activities. However, those plans were overtaken by political developments after she withdrew from the race for Speaker, paving the way for Oboth Oboth’s ascension to the office.

His latest budget decisions now indicate a clear break from the spending model that became prominent during the previous Parliament.

Parliamentary spending records show that dedicated donations budgets were largely absent from parliamentary operations before the leadership of Anita Among. The expenditure category expanded significantly in recent years, attracting both criticism and support.

Data from Parliament’s Communications and Public Affairs Department shows that more than Shs16.2 billion has been spent on donations since the 2023/24 financial year alone.

The new Speaker appears determined to reverse that trajectory.

Funding Oversight Instead of Handouts

At the heart of Oboth Oboth’s argument is the belief that Parliament’s committees — the engines of legislative scrutiny — have for years been underfunded.

Under the new arrangement, committees will be expected to prepare detailed work plans and budgets before receiving funds for investigations, field inspections, public hearings and oversight activities.

The Speaker argued that the previous funding structure left legislators vulnerable because they often lacked the resources needed to carry out their constitutional duties.

“We want to insulate Parliament from being vulnerable to ministries, departments and agencies,” he said.

According to Oboth Oboth, inadequate committee funding creates conditions that can compromise the independence of lawmakers.

“There is nothing more demeaning than asking for small money from those you are supposed to supervise. These agencies come before you having stolen money, then they give you one or two million shillings and you become compromised.”

The comments underscore a longstanding concern among governance advocates that parliamentary oversight can be weakened when legislators rely on logistical support from the institutions they are investigating.

By shifting more than Shs20 billion to committees, the Speaker says Parliament can strengthen its ability to hold public institutions accountable while reducing opportunities for undue influence.

“That is why I want money to be available in the committees so that you don’t get tempted. Whether you are a committee chairperson or not, the money will be there to facilitate your work.”

A Warning Over Delayed Projects

Oboth Oboth also used the occasion to raise concerns about Parliament’s own spending practices, particularly the long-delayed construction of the new parliamentary chamber.

The project has consumed public resources for years, yet remains incomplete despite repeated budget allocations.

The Speaker questioned why the chamber has remained unfinished more than a decade after construction began.

“How can you build that chamber from 2014 up to now? It is not that the money is not there. This year alone there is Shs22 billion. There is money lying in Parliament’s account in the Bank of Uganda,” he said. “People want kickbacks.”

The unusually blunt criticism is likely to intensify scrutiny of the project and raise fresh questions about accountability in the management of parliamentary infrastructure funds.

Taking on Entrenched Interests

Throughout his remarks, Oboth Oboth portrayed himself as willing to confront powerful interests that may resist reform.

Drawing on his personal journey from a modest rural background to the country’s third-highest office, the Speaker suggested he was prepared for any political consequences that may accompany his decisions.

“Me, the son of a peasant whom God has blessed to become Speaker, what else can you do to me? I have seen it all,” he said.

The statement drew applause from supporters and reinforced the image he has sought to project since assuming office — that of a leader willing to challenge established practices within Parliament.

What the Changes Mean

The reallocation of billions of shillings is expected to be welcomed by many legislators who have repeatedly complained that committee work is often constrained by limited funding.

Parliamentary committees play a central role in examining government expenditure, investigating public institutions, reviewing legislation and conducting field inspections across the country. Many MPs have argued that inadequate funding undermines their effectiveness and weakens Parliament’s ability to provide meaningful oversight.

Supporters of the new approach say directing resources toward committee work could improve accountability and strengthen Parliament’s constitutional mandate.

Critics, however, may argue that donations have often served political and community outreach purposes, helping parliamentary leaders respond to requests from constituents and vulnerable groups.

Regardless of where the debate lands, Oboth Oboth’s decision marks one of the most significant shifts in parliamentary spending priorities in recent years.

For now, the message from the Speaker appears unmistakable: Parliament’s money should follow Parliament’s mandate.

And in his vision, that mandate begins not with donations, but with oversight.

You can read about the salaries and allowances of Speaker Jacob Oboth Oboth and Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, as well as the salaries and allowances of President Museveni and his ministers Here, There and Over There.