Africa-Press – Uganda. Concerns over government spending priorities in Uganda have intensified following renewed criticism from opposition figures, who argue that official rhetoric on fighting corruption is increasingly inconsistent with how public funds are being used.
At the centre of the debate is a reported allocation of 100 million shillings to each National Resistance Movement (NRM) Member of Parliament who attended the Kyankwanzi retreat.
Critics say the development raises questions about resource prioritisation at a time when essential public services remain under strain.
National Unity Platform (NUP) Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya has strongly criticised the reported payments, describing them as an unjustified use of public resources.
“There is no justification for giving such amounts to individuals who are already earning salaries, while critical sectors continue to struggle,” Rubongoya said.
He pointed to conditions in public schools, noting that in some areas teachers and pupils reportedly share basic facilities such as toilets, despite continued government spending on political activities.
The controversy has also revived broader debate around transparency in political financing and the sources of large cash disbursements during political engagements.
Critics have raised concerns about discrepancies between declared income levels of political actors and visible patterns of spending, calling for greater scrutiny of public resource allocation.
Rubongoya also accused authorities of selective enforcement of laws, particularly in urban planning and environmental protection.
He alleged that while vulnerable communities face strict enforcement, more powerful actors are often allowed to bypass regulations, including in protected areas such as wetlands.
“The law should apply equally to all citizens,” he said. “When enforcement becomes selective, it erodes public trust.”
He further linked the spending controversy to the postponement and funding challenges surrounding local council elections, arguing that resources used for political retreats could have been redirected to support grassroots democratic processes.
The developments have reignited wider public debate on governance priorities, with critics calling for improved accountability, equitable distribution of public resources, and consistency between political messaging and government action.
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