Members of Parliament on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee have expressed skepticism over a proposal by the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (ODPP) to allocate taxpayers’ money for a Thanksgiving ceremony in the upcoming 2025/26 budget.
During a scrutiny of the DPP’s Ministerial Policy Statement, MP Jonathan Odur (Erute South) led the questioning, raising concerns about the justification for such an expense.
He wondered whether the event was meant to hire high-ranking religious figures like a bishop or even the Pope.
“I want to be told why we should finance a thanksgiving prayer in your budget,” Odur said. “Are you hiring a bishop? Are you hiring a Pope? And thanksgiving for what? For the persecution we have seen and how people are suffering?”
Several MPs echoed Odur’s sentiments, questioning whether the DPP should be celebrating while some Ugandans languish in jail due to alleged mishandling of cases. Critics argue that public funds should be prioritized for improving the justice system rather than financing religious ceremonies.