Anita Annet Among, the Speaker of Parliament of Uganda, has protested against the move by the Ministry of Finance to cut down parliament’s budget by 50%.

Among, and other legislatures have described the ministry’s decision as humiliating and demeaning, saying that the deduction is what covers MPs’ salaries.

Among made the remarks on March 28, 2024, during plenary session, while responding to the concerns raised by Nathan Byanyima, the Bukanga North Member of Parliament, who had queried Ramathan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, who announced a 50% budget cut to parliament.

“You even have the courtesy to put it in bold letters on a statutory vote that parliament should not get money,” Among said.

Byanyima wondered where PSST got the powers to announce the 50% budget cut to parliament and make statements that parliament has no powers to alter budgets submitted by the Ministry of Finance.

“What has befallen the Ministry of Finance because in previous years the occupants of the office of Secretary to Treasury were people of high caliber? How can Ggoobi announce the 50% budget cut?” Byanyima queried.

Sarah Opendi, the Tororo District Woman MP, asked parliament’s role after Ggoobi, while appearing on local television, said that parliament has no power to budget, citing that it is an executive function.

“He said that parliament has no powers to move money from one vote to another because budgeting for the country isn’t the responsibility of Parliament, so we are asking what our role is as Parliament,” Opendi said.

She noted that the problem with Uganda is appointing people who have not gone through public service to sensitive positions because the Treasury should rise from the bottom to the top, adding that when picked from somewhere else, they don’t respect leaders.

Henry Musasizi, the State Minister for Finance, asked the august house to disregard statements made by the PSST about not having powers of appropriation, saying that such statements don’t represent the Finance ministry.

This development comes at a time when Parliament is in the spotlight over corruption allegations and wasteful expenditures. It’s, however, not known whether the Ministry of Finance based its decision on the findings exhibited on social media or its own findings.