By Spy Uganda
Kampala, Uganda — Leader of the Opposition in Parliament (LoP), Joel Ssenyonyi, has made explosive new allegations against four Parliamentary Commissioners, accusing them of secretly awarding themselves an additional Shs. 1.6 billion in what he describes as a “second service award.”
In a statement shared on social media and later reiterated during a press briefing, Ssenyonyi claimed that Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, Hon. Solomon Silwanyi, Hon. Prossy Akampurira Mbabazi, and Hon. Esther Afoyochan each received Shs. 400 million, channeled through the Parliamentary SACCO in an apparent bid to “avoid a clear paper trail.”
“For avoidance of paper tracing, the money was initiated through the Parliament SACCO,” Ssenyonyi alleged. “The information I have indicates the funds were later picked directly from the SACCO by the said Commissioners.”
According to Ssenyonyi, this alleged payment was intended to facilitate the Commissioners during the upcoming campaign season. If true, the revelation would mean Parliament spent Shs. 1.6 billion of taxpayers’ money on four officials, reigniting debate over accountability and financial integrity within the legislative institution.
The LoP also dismissed what he called “propaganda” from unnamed sources suggesting that he had personally benefited from a Shs. 650 million service award.
“This is completely false, and it is meant to cover up the second service award the Commissioners gave themselves,” he said. “Even if such money were quietly sent to my account, I would instruct my bank to immediately return it, because such under-the-table payments are illegal and irregular in every sense.”
Ssenyonyi, who has previously petitioned the Inspectorate of Government (IGG) over irregular service payments, said he would not be taking the matter to the watchdog again, citing a lack of faith in the institution’s ability to act.
“The inaction of government institutions like the IGG is not about the occupants of the office but about the state’s general disinterest in fighting corruption,” he remarked.
Parliament’s Director of Communications, Chris Obore, swiftly dismissed the allegations, calling them unfounded and politically motivated.
“No payout was made,” Obore said. “Let Ssenyonyi be transparent and account for the Shs. 2.8 billion allocated to his office as Leader of Opposition. He doesn’t run a department in Parliament. We can’t give out service awards twice. He should face the voters calmly instead of blackmailing others.”
Commissioner Solomon Silwanyi also rejected Ssenyonyi’s claims, saying the LoP was merely seeking to discredit his colleagues.
“Ssenyonyi should stop the excitement over this money. He just wants to put us in bad light,” Silwanyi said.
The latest allegations deepen public scrutiny of Parliament’s financial management, following earlier controversy surrounding a similar service award to the same Commissioners in 2023.
While the authenticity of Ssenyonyi’s claims remains unverified, the accusations have reignited calls for greater transparency in Parliament’s internal financial dealings and could further strain relations between the Opposition and the Parliamentary Commission.
