KAMPALA: The Ndorwa East County Member of Parliament, Wilfred Niwagaba, has rejected a request by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs for Shs360 billion to establish the African Union Humanitarian Agency in Uganda.
MP Niwagaba questioned whether the government is using the proposed agency as a means to convince foreign donors to continue funding Uganda’s refugee hosting efforts.
Niwagaba made the remarks in response to a proposal by Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Nobert Mao, who had asked Parliament to at least approve Shs180 billion to initiate the project.
The discussion took place during a meeting with the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee to consider the Ministry’s 2025/26 Ministerial Policy Statement.
“The African Humanitarian Agency, Uganda always wants to act like it’s rich. We’re fighting in Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, and now we want this agency. Maybe you thought donors would still bring money for refugees, but they’re backing off. I don’t even think we can sustain the open-door policy anymore. What financial benefits will we get from hosting this agency we bid for?” Niwagaba asked.
The Soroti District Woman MP, Anna Adeke, pressed Minister Mao on the fate of ordinary Ugandans imprisoned abroad, citing a recent prisoner exchange deal involving Lady Justice Lydia Mugambe, who was convicted of slavery in the United Kingdom.
“I saw a statutory instrument on prisoner exchange focusing on Lady Justice Mugambe, thank you for the efforts. But what about the unknown Ugandans suffering in foreign jails, in countries like China, the UAE, and Turkiye? Some of them reach out to us. What will it take to assist them too?” Adeke asked.
In response, Minister Mao urged the Legal Committee to consider increasing the salaries of State Attorneys or exempting them from income tax—similar to the exemption already granted to State Attorneys in the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
Kibaale County MP, Richard Oseku, also challenged Mao to explain the fate of thousands of unresolved cases. He pointed out that while the Attorney General represented the government in 6,878 legal matters in 2023/24, the report only addressed 418 concluded cases, of which the government won 311.
“This is a significant achievement thanks to the hard work of the Attorney General’s chambers,” Mao said. “It’s why we continue to advocate for better pay for our attorneys. The DPP’s attorneys are tax-exempt and better compensated, yet it’s our State Attorneys who are on the front lines, securing victories worth Shs2.783 trillion, an amount equivalent to almost three financial years of the Parish Development Model (PDM). These savings are directly attributable to their dedication.”
