JUST IN!! Museveni Gives Each NRM MP Shs 100M Transport Facilitation From Kyankwazi

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Monday evening closed a week-long National Resistance Movement (NRM) retreat in Kyankwanzi with a warning to legislators against personal financial excesses—before announcing a cash facilitation package that has since ignited debate over Uganda’s public spending priorities.

Speaking during a campfire session at the National Leadership Institute (NALI), Museveni urged Members of Parliament (MPs) to avoid using personal resources or borrowing money to sustain political support, describing such practices as unsustainable. “Do not use your money or go into debts,” he advised, calling instead for reliance on government-led socio-economic programs to transform communities.

Hours later, the President confirmed that each MP who attended the retreat would receive Shs 100 million as facilitation ahead of their swearing-in ceremonies scheduled for May 2026.

A total of 370 legislators, including 20 NRM-leaning MPs, participated in the retreat held at State Lodge Ngoma in Nakaseke District. If fully disbursed, the allocation would amount to Shs 37 billion in public expenditure.

The announcement has triggered comparisons with the country’s strained healthcare system, where funding gaps continue to affect service delivery. Based on current government estimates, constructing a single Health Centre IV requires approximately Shs 2.5 billion. By that measure, the Shs 37 billion earmarked for MPs could finance the construction of at least 14 such facilities nationwide.

Health Centre IVs play a pivotal role in Uganda’s healthcare structure, offering advanced primary care services such as emergency surgeries, maternity care, and blood transfusions. However, access to these services remains uneven, particularly in rural areas where patients often travel long distances to reach adequately equipped facilities.

The facilitation package comes against a backdrop of persistent challenges in the health sector, including underfunded health centers, shortages of medical personnel, and limited infrastructure. For many communities, these gaps continue to translate into delayed treatment and preventable health risks.

During the retreat, Museveni also urged MPs to scale back on foreign travel and prioritize engagement with their constituencies. He emphasized the importance of mobilizing households into income-generating activities such as agriculture, dairy farming, poultry keeping, and fish farming as a pathway to economic transformation.

Senior government officials, including Vice President Jessica Alupo, Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, and Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, reinforced the President’s call for unity and coordinated implementation of government programs.

Despite the emphasis on financial discipline and grassroots development, the scale of the facilitation extended to legislators is expected to fuel further public scrutiny. Analysts say the contrast between the allocation and pressing social service needs—particularly in healthcare—could sharpen debate over budget priorities in the months ahead.