Bugisu residents want MPs' salaries slashed to improve service delivery

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“I don’t want leaders thinking about how much money they will take home every month. I want them to think about how to fix our hospitals and roads,” says Robert Wandwasi, an opinion leader from Bugisu, as he addressed a charged civic dialogue on public accountability in Mbale city.

Wandwasi’s remarks, backed by several attendees at the recent Bugisu NGO Forum public dialogue on civic engagement held at Mountain Inn Hotel, reflect sentiments from voters who want MPs’ salary and privilege packages reviewed to better align with service delivery expectations.

“Huge parliamentary salaries and privileges derail the purpose of political leadership,” said Faith Amusolo, one of the participants, adding that when compensation overshadows public service, trust erodes.

Another attendee, Ibrahim Magomu, told New Vision the focus on high earnings often overshadows the fundamental roles of legislators in representing people’s interests.

“There is a tendency today to see parliamentary politics less as a service and more as a source of steady and hefty income."

Emoluments

Although basic figures vary across sources, a working average places Ugandan MPs’ monthly take-home from salaries and allowances between 15 million shillings and 30 million shillings or more, depending on mileage and other allowances such as subsistence, town running, and committee session pay.

In some recent cases, individual MPs have drawn packages reported around 55 million shillings in a single month, including salary and allowances, and are also entitled to a one-off vehicle grant of hundreds of millions of shillings upon taking office.

In addition to these monthly earnings, MPs get multiple allowances, subsistence, mileage, town running, committee and plenary sitting allowances, not to mention travel per diems and other perks that are rarely publicised in the detail they generate at the community level.

With 529 MPs currently in office, plus hundreds of support staff such as clerks and committee officers, the cost of maintaining Parliament also continues to grow, leaving many Ugandans wondering if the allocation reflects national priorities.

Citizen participation and accountability

Moses Egunyu, the chairperson of Bugisu NGO Forum, suggested the demand for a salary review is not just about money but is driven by voters’ perception that “many MPs do not understand their roles”.

“Because parliamentary politics is seen in terms of how much money one earns rather than how much work is expected of them, everyone is now running to become an MP,” he said.

Residents also reiterated remarks by President Yoweri Museveni that leaders should come with ideologies and solutions to the social problems faced by their people, and not merely contest to be leaders because of personal gain.

Hamza Wamono, the chairperson of the Public Accountability Committee in Mbale city, commended locals for openly voicing their sentiments.



“Citizen participation in democracy, even after elections, is essential,” he said. “When voters remain engaged, they can progressively demand better service delivery and higher leadership quality from their elected officials.”

Asked what level of remuneration they would recommend for legislators, the voters proposed MPs earn a monthly salary of 10 million shillings, with the surplus redirected to service delivery and the empowerment of technical leaders to address social challenges.

Service over privilege

At the forum in Mbale, many called for a rethink of how Parliament functions and how much MPs are paid, arguing that large salaries and perks should translate into measurable improvements in communities.

One participant highlighted the contrast between MPs’ earnings and challenges in other critical sectors, noting that teachers, health workers, and other essential professionals often earn far less despite their direct engagement in service delivery.

“I am not saying MPs should not be paid, but the pay must reflect service and results, not privilege disconnected from the realities ordinary citizens face," she weighed in.

Some analysts propose structural reforms such as capping MPs’ salaries, aligning them with national income levels, or linking part of the compensation to key milestones in development indicators within constituencies.

Independent candidates and political reform advocates have suggested exploring a tiered salary structure where performance and constituency outcomes influence remuneration.

Others argue for investing parts of parliamentary budgets into social protection, education, and healthcare funds that directly benefit citizens in measurable ways.

Legislative reform

Critics also urge Parliament to consider broader legislative reforms around accountability, saying that without structural limits and transparent reporting mechanisms, the temptation to focus on personal entitlements over public duty remains high.

Some civil society voices cite proposals to link MPs’ pay reviews to public consultation processes, ensuring that salary adjustments are not solely determined by legislators themselves, a practice that can appear self-serving.

Others call for increased public disclosure of MPs’ total emoluments to promote transparency.

While opinions vary on how best to balance fair remuneration and public service expectations, the forum highlighted an unmistakable trend: Bugisu voters want service delivery and accountability placed at the heart of political leadership.

The call from communities like Bugisu is clear: they want leaders who are focused on solving problems, not just enjoying privileges.  

Oscar Wambede, another resident, said: “Leaders should remember they came to serve, not to secure comfort and wealth at the expense of the people they represent.”