Ugandan legislators are expected to receive funds to purchase official vehicles by July 10, 2026, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Henry Musasizi, has revealed.
“The Parliament of Uganda has budgeted UGX 166.8 billion in total for Members of Parliament (MPs) vehicles.This translates to UGX 315 million per individual lawmaker.All 529 Members of Parliament are eligible for the vehicle grant,”Musasizi said.
Speaking during the induction seminar for the 12th Parliament at Speke Resort Munyonyo Musasizi said the money will be released as part of the first-quarter disbursements for the 2026/27 financial year
“The money meant for the purchase of cars for Members of Parliament is expected to be released by July 10, 2026,” the minister stated.
Musasizi however urged legislators to appreciate his role in ensuring that MPs’ allowances were excluded from the recently introduced 40 percent income tax.
Beyond the issue of vehicle facilitation, the minister reminded lawmakers that passing the national budget is only the beginning of Parliament’s oversight role.
Musasizi further called on legislators to thoroughly scrutinise Ministerial Policy Statements and make effective use of reports from the Auditor General, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and the Local Government Public Accounts Committee (LGPAC), and ensure that public funds are spent for their intended purposes.
“The responsibility of Parliament does not end with approving the budget. Effective oversight is essential to ensure value for money and improved service delivery,” he said.
The release of vehicle funds is expected to reignite public debate over parliamentary expenditure, particularly at a time when many Ugandans continue to demand increased investment in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, road infrastructure, and job creation.
Facilitation for MPs’ vehicles has long been a contentious issue, with supporters arguing that legislators require reliable transport to effectively represent their constituencies, while critics question the timing and size of the expenditure amid competing national priorities.
The 12th Parliament is currently undergoing an induction programme ahead of the commencement of its legislative business
Parliament has also budgeted over Shs 1.3 billion (approximately Shs 2.5 million per device) to provide iPads for all 529 Members of Parliament in the newly inaugurated 12th Parliament.
Procured 560 iPads at a total cost of about Shs 2 billion, or roughly Shs 3.5 to Shs 4.2 million per device.
MPs are required to return the devices at the end of their five-year tenure, or they can opt to buy them at a depreciated residual fee set by the parliamentary commission (typically between Shs 500,000 and Shs 700,000
Normally the ICT department configures the devices and provides training to legislators on how to operate them for official business
