President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni concluded the National Resistance Movement (NRM) retreat with a cash facilitation of Shs 100 million for each Member of Parliament in attendance—an allocation that has sparked debate over national spending priorities, particularly in the health sector.
A total of 370 legislators, including 20 NRM-leaning MPs, attended the retreat at State Lodge in Ngoma, Nakaseke. If all beneficiaries receive the funds, the total payout amounts to Shs 37 billion.
The figure has drawn sharp comparisons with Uganda’s pressing healthcare needs. Based on current estimates, constructing a single Health Centre IV costs approximately Shs 2.5 billion. This means the Shs 37 billion disbursed to MPs could have funded the construction of at least 14 health facilities across the country.
Such facilities are critical in delivering advanced primary healthcare services, including maternity care, surgical services, and blood transfusion—services that remain out of reach for many Ugandans, especially in rural communities where access to healthcare is still limited.
The development comes at a time when the population continues to grapple with under-resourced health centers, long distances to medical facilities, and persistent gaps in service delivery.
Museveni said the Shs 100 million allocation was meant to facilitate MPs’ swearing-in ceremonies slated for May 2026.
Background
Earlier during the retreat at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, Museveni had cautioned MPs against borrowing money or using personal resources to impress voters, warning that such practices are unsustainable.
“Do not use your money or go into debts,” he advised, urging legislators to instead rely on government programs to drive socio-economic transformation.
He also called on MPs to reduce foreign travel and spend more time in their constituencies, mobilizing households into income-generating activities such as agriculture, dairy, poultry, and fish farming.
Vice President Jessica Alupo, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja all echoed the need for unity and alignment in implementing government programs.
Despite the President’s message on financial discipline and grassroots focus, the scale of the facilitation extended to MPs is likely to intensify public discussion on whether such funds could have been better directed toward essential public services like healthcare.
