A heated debate erupted in Uganda’s Parliament following a controversial minority report presented by Opposition MP Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, challenging the approval of an additional Shs367 billion as classified expenditure for State House.
Ssemujju’s report, which included figures suggesting that the new budget allocation would increase State House expenditure to Shs1.053 trillion—amounting to Shs2.8 billion daily, Shs120 million per hour, and Shs2 million per minute—sparked discomfort among MPs, with some calling for its expungement from Parliament’s records.
The inclusion of President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni’s images in the report further fueled controversy.
Minister of ICT and National Guidance Chris Baryomunsi strongly objected to Ssemujju’s assertions, arguing that they were misleading and violated parliamentary decorum.
“While Ssemujju is presenting the minority report and has the right to do so, the Rules provide for decorum. The Speaker should determine whether the words used are defamatory, indecent, unparliamentary, or undignified,” he stated.
Other government officials, including Minister of State for Sports Peter Ogwang and Bukanga County MP Stephen Kangwagye, also criticized Ssemujju, emphasizing the distinction between State House as an institution and President Museveni as an individual.
Speaker Anita Among urged MPs to maintain decorum, cautioning against personalizing the debate and questioning whether discussions in Parliament could proceed without constant references to the President and First Lady.