Kampala, Uganda | Kasilo County Member of Parliament Peter Paul Emaju has dismissed reports circulating on social media and some online platforms suggesting that he asked Parliament to fund foreign travel for spouses of Members of Parliament, saying his remarks were misrepresented and taken out of context.
The controversy emerged after reports by Parliament Watch indicated that Emaju had asked Parliament administration to explain whether the budget allocated for MPs’ foreign travel also catered for spouses accompanying legislators on overseas trips.
According to the report, the Clerk to Parliament, Adolf Mwesige, responded by clarifying that the current travel budget only facilitates MPs and does not extend to spouses unless the Administration of Parliament Act is amended.
However, in a clarification issued on Thursday, Emaju explained that the matter was raised during an induction session for newly elected MPs earlier this week and not during a formal sitting of Parliament as widely portrayed.
“My remarks have been misrepresented and taken out of context,” Emaju said. “This was not during the House but during the induction of MPs earlier in the week. I was not asking Parliament to fund spouses’ travel. My clarification arose during the induction session on medical cover for MPs and was purely administrative in nature,” he explained.
Emaju noted that his concern was specifically related to emergency situations involving Members of Parliament and their spouses, particularly where coordinated travel arrangements may be necessary during medical emergencies or treatment abroad.
“I was seeking to understand whether, where an MP and spouse are travelling together, particularly in emergency situations such as sickness or medical travel, Parliament’s documentation and facilitation processes can accommodate coordinated travel arrangements for spouses as well,” he stated. “It was not a request for Parliament to fund spouse travel, but rather a question on the scope of the administrative framework available to MPs.”
The legislator further revealed that the Clerk to Parliament later clarified the matter after initially misunderstanding the context of the question raised during the induction discussions. “The Clerk to Parliament subsequently clarified the matter after initially not fully understanding the context of my question,” Emaju added.
The MP also defended his decision to seek clarification from the parliamentary administration, arguing that legislators have a responsibility to understand institutional policies and operational procedures.
“As MPs, part of our oversight role is to seek clarification on administrative procedures and policy interpretation. Unfortunately, the issue has been selectively reported in a manner that distorts the actual concern that was raised,” he said.
The remarks sparked debate online after sections of the public interpreted them to mean that MPs were seeking additional privileges at taxpayers’ expense amid ongoing concerns over public expenditure and service delivery challenges in the country.
Several social media users criticized the reported proposal, with some accusing legislators of prioritizing personal benefits over pressing national issues. Others, however, called for caution and urged the public to wait for the full context before drawing conclusions.
Political analysts say the incident highlights the growing influence of social media and digital reporting platforms in shaping public perception, especially on sensitive matters involving Parliament and public spending.
Observers note that statements made in informal or administrative settings are increasingly finding their way into the public domain, often without full context, leading to misunderstandings and political backlash.
Despite the clarification, the issue has reignited public discussion about the privileges available to Members of Parliament and the need for greater transparency in parliamentary administration.
Emaju, who represents Kasilo County in Serere District, maintained that his inquiry was legitimate and intended to seek clarity on how emergency medical travel arrangements are handled within Parliament’s existing administrative framework.
He urged the public and media platforms to report parliamentary discussions accurately and responsibly to avoid misleading the public and unfairly damaging reputations.
The development comes at a time when public scrutiny of government expenditure remains high, with citizens increasingly demanding accountability and prudent use of public resources from elected leaders and institutions.
