A section of Legislators in Parliament have backed the Ministry of Gender request for Shs12.24 billion to pay 17 traditional and cultural leaders, with each pocketing Shs60 million per month.
Agnes Kunihira (the Workers MP), made this request during a Budget Committee meeting where she spilled the beans about a shocking discrepancy despite a Cabinet decision and Presidential directive in 2022.
The lawmaker stated that the 2025/26 budget only set aside a measly Shs1.02 billion for the leaders that was paid per each cultural leader as emoluments. This would mean each one gets a paltry Shs5 million monthly, far less than their current monthly Shs60 million payout.
“Cabinet directed in 2022 that Shs60M be paid monthly to each of the 17 gazetted traditional cultural leaders. This was effected in 2024/25, this money is being paid. However in the coming financial year, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) hasn’t provided the same amount. So we are requesting that the money be reinstated, the Shs12.24Bn, this has left a gap of Shs11.4Bn,” remarked Kunihira.“
Kunihira who was backed by Ruhunda (MP, Fort Portal Central) slammed the reduction as a ploy to make them look bad, especially during election season.
“I don’t know why you make people raise their appetite and all of a sudden, you cut off when going for elections. Could that be a ploy to make some of us to be hated by the Kingdoms especially us who come from those kingdoms that are popular. So how will I explain because I sit on the Budget Committee? Now, the same Cabinet has taken the cultural leaders back to Shs5M,” Ruhunda said
In April 2024, Parliament approved a Shs31.330Bn request from the Ministry of Gender to pay a monthly salary of Shs60M to 17 gazetted traditional leaders. An additional Shs17.2Bn was allocated for the construction of palaces for the Iteso, Tieng Adhola, Buruli, and Rwenzururu kingdoms.
