MPs Protest Shs145Bn Budget Cut, Demand Full Restoration

A standoff emerged in Parliament as MPs pushed back against the Ministry of Finance’s decision to slash the legislature’s budget by Shs145 billion for the 2025/26 financial year.

The lawmakers are demanding the restoration of the budget to its current level, arguing that the cut will cripple parliamentary operations.

Details in the 2025/26 National Budget Framework Paper reveal that Parliament’s budget is set to drop from Shs978.57 billion in the 2024/25 financial year to Shs833.495 billion next year, a move that has sparked outrage among legislators.

A report by the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee has called for urgent intervention, recommending that the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) be adjusted to reinstate the Shs145 billion reduction

“The reduction of the budget for the Parliamentary Commission should be rectified by uplifting the MTEF,” the report stated.

Beyond the demand to restore the initial cut, Parliament is also seeking an additional Shs78.694 billion to fund key expenditures, including the procurement of vehicles for political leaders, office furniture, and ongoing works at the new Parliamentary Chambers.

A breakdown of the proposed additional funding includes: Shs27.946Bn for the ongoing construction of the new Chamber, Shs25.8Bn for acquiring light vehicles for political offices and 28-seater vans for committee oversight activities, Shs10.769Bn for purchasing office equipment and Shs10Bn for the architectural design of a new office block on Parliamentary Avenue.

The Budget Committee has backed these requests, urging the government to provide the additional funds to address the development budget shortfall.

In addition to the Shs78.694Bn request, the Parliamentary Commission is also lobbying for Shs12.12Bn to enhance ICT infrastructure, including the e-Parliament Project aimed at digitizing legislative operations.

The growing financial demands from Parliament are expected to fuel further debate as the budget process unfolds, with the Ministry of Finance under pressure to justify the cuts while balancing competing national priorities.