Archival Sense
JF-Expert Member
- Dec 16, 2025
- 576
- 252
A debate over parliamentary travel privileges has emerged after Hon. Peter Paul Emaju questioned whether the budget allocated for Members of Parliament travelling abroad also caters for spouses accompanying legislators on official trips.
Emaju, who represents Kasilo County in Serere District, asked the administration at Parliament to clarify whether spouses benefit from the travel allocations provided to MPs during foreign engagements.
In response, the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, stated that the current travel budget only covers Members of Parliament and does not extend to their spouses.
Mwesige explained that such privileges can only be extended if the Administration of Parliament Act is amended to specifically provide for spouses of legislators.
Mwesige also informed MPs that the days of them making lines at various embassies to process their visas to fly out of Uganda are long behind them in the coming 5years, since all this hustle will be taken care of by the Protocol officials at Parliament.
The discussion has once again drawn attention to the travel allowances and per diem system available to MPs for official international travel. Legislators are allocated funds to facilitate foreign trips undertaken in the course of parliamentary duties, including legislative oversight, benchmarking exercises with foreign parliaments, and participation in regional and international assemblies.
Government has consistently defended the allocations as necessary for effective legislative representation and international engagement. However, parliamentary travel expenditures have often attracted public scrutiny, particularly amid wider debates on government spending, accountability, and the cost of maintaining public offices.
Emaju, who represents Kasilo County in Serere District, asked the administration at Parliament to clarify whether spouses benefit from the travel allocations provided to MPs during foreign engagements.
In response, the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, stated that the current travel budget only covers Members of Parliament and does not extend to their spouses.
Mwesige explained that such privileges can only be extended if the Administration of Parliament Act is amended to specifically provide for spouses of legislators.
Mwesige also informed MPs that the days of them making lines at various embassies to process their visas to fly out of Uganda are long behind them in the coming 5years, since all this hustle will be taken care of by the Protocol officials at Parliament.
The discussion has once again drawn attention to the travel allowances and per diem system available to MPs for official international travel. Legislators are allocated funds to facilitate foreign trips undertaken in the course of parliamentary duties, including legislative oversight, benchmarking exercises with foreign parliaments, and participation in regional and international assemblies.
Government has consistently defended the allocations as necessary for effective legislative representation and international engagement. However, parliamentary travel expenditures have often attracted public scrutiny, particularly amid wider debates on government spending, accountability, and the cost of maintaining public offices.
