Did Ssenyonyi Get Shs 650M Service Award? New Secrets Leak As Mpuuga And Others Get Shs 1.6 Billion

The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi, has strongly denied allegations that he received a Shs650 million service award, calling the claims false, malicious, and a calculated distraction from a much larger controversy involving payouts to members of the Parliamentary Commission.

Speaking during a press briefing at Parliament on Tuesday morning, Ssenyonyi accused certain individuals of orchestrating a smear campaign against him in a bid to divert public attention from what he described as “dubious payments” made to commissioners.

According to the Opposition leader, the real issue lies in a separate Shs400 million service award that was allegedly handed out to each member of the Parliamentary Commission. Ssenyonyi said this new payment has sparked internal discontent within Parliament and raised serious questions about transparency in the handling of public funds.

He listed the supposed beneficiaries as Prossy Akampulira Mbabazi, the Rubanda Woman Member of Parliament; Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba, the Nyendo–Mukungwe MP; Solomon Silwany, the Bukooli Central legislator; and Esther Afoyochan, the Zombo Woman MP.

Ssenyonyi further claimed that the money was discreetly channeled through the Parliamentary Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation (SACCO) as a means of concealing the transactions and avoiding public scrutiny.

“This money was apparently meant to support their re-election campaigns. To conceal the transactions, it was routed through the Parliamentary SACCO,” Ssenyonyi claimed. “And to divert attention, they sent out propaganda last week alleging that I, too, received a service award. That is completely false.”

He insisted that he has never received such money, adding that if any funds were ever deposited into his personal account without his consent, he would immediately instruct his bank to reverse the transaction.

“Even if they sent such money to my account, I would instruct my bank to return it right away. That kind of under-the-table money has no place in public service,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to transparency and integrity in leadership.

Ssenyonyi described the alleged payouts as “illegal and irregular,” arguing that they represent a deeper crisis of accountability within the institution. He added that the practice of awarding huge sums to commissioners under the guise of “service awards” undermines public trust in Parliament.

The Opposition leader also expressed disappointment in the Inspectorate of Government (IGG), saying he no longer has confidence in the institution’s ability to investigate corruption-related matters.

“I wrote to the former IGG, Beti Kamya, about the first service award and she promised to investigate but never did. I will not write to the current IGG because I know nothing will be done. My role is to hold government accountable,” he stated.

However, the Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Parliament, Chris Obore, dismissed Ssenyonyi’s allegations, calling them unfounded and baseless. Obore challenged the Opposition leader to provide concrete evidence to back his claims.

“Let him present pay slips or documents showing that the service award money was paid out,” Obore said, maintaining that no such payments were ever processed through the Commission.

The fresh controversy has reignited public debate over the management of parliamentary finances, with critics calling for greater transparency and oversight in how legislators handle public resources. Civil society organizations and anti-corruption activists have urged the government to publish all records related to service awards and allowances received by MPs.

This latest scandal comes at a time when Parliament is already facing growing scrutiny over its spending habits. In 2022, a similar storm erupted after then Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, reportedly received a Shs500 million service award, while three other commissioners were each awarded Shs400 million. The revelation drew widespread condemnation from both the National Unity Platform (NUP) leadership and the general public.

As questions mount, many Ugandans are demanding a comprehensive audit of all Parliamentary Commission expenditures, warning that unchecked financial misconduct could erode public confidence in one of the country’s most powerful institutions.

For now, Ssenyonyi insists he will continue to expose corruption and misuse of public resources, regardless of the attempts to discredit him. “I will not be silenced,” he told journalists after the briefing. “Ugandans deserve leaders who serve them honestly, not those who enrich themselves at the expense of the taxpayer.”