Mukono — Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has revealed that President Yoweri Museveni approved nearly Shs1 billion to facilitate overseas medical treatment for Mukono Municipality MP Betty Nambooze, whose long-term health complications stem from injuries sustained during a violent incident in Parliament in 2017.
Addressing supporters as President Museveni campaigned in Mukono District on December 2, 2026, Among publicly credited him for personally authorising the funds.
“Out of your good heart, you approved nearly Shs1 billion, which I gave to Hon. Betty Nambooze for the treatment she had abroad,” Among said.
Roots of the medical crisis
Nambooze’s health problems date back to September 2017, when chaos erupted in Parliament during a heated debate on the removal of the presidential age limit. This constitutional amendment later allowed Museveni to seek another term in office.
During the fracas, security personnel — reportedly drawn from the elite Special Forces Command (SFC) — forcibly entered the parliamentary chamber and assaulted opposition legislators. Nambooze was among those injured, with reports indicating that her spine was broken, leading to serious spinal cord compression.
She later travelled to India, where she underwent major surgery and prolonged treatment.
Public funds and political debate
Among portrayed Museveni as a compassionate ‘father of the nation’ aiding even opponents, as he launched his campaign for the January 15 elections in Mukono.
Reactions split sharply: critics decried the irony of taxpayers footing the bill for an alleged government-caused injury, while supporters hailed it as proof of generosity amid debates on MPs’ lavish health perks and public hospital shortfalls.
Ugandan MPs earn a net monthly salary of about Shs6.1 million, supplemented by multiple allowances for housing, fuel, constituency facilitation and town running. With these benefits, an MP’s total monthly earnings are estimated to range between Shs25 million and Shs30 million, alongside a one-off vehicle grant of about Shs200 million or more, health insurance, and generous travel per diems.
These benefits are administered by the Parliamentary Commission, which is chaired by the Speaker.
The Speaker herself enjoys an even broader benefits package, including a multi-billion-shilling annual office budget, official vehicles, a large support staff, fully funded medical care, foreign and domestic travel allowances, and a substantial retirement package — all charged to the Consolidated Fund.
Silence from Nambooze
As of publication, Ms Nambooze had not publicly commented on Among’s disclosure or the source of the funding for her treatment. The government has also not released official documentation detailing how the funds were approved or disbursed.
The issue comes at a politically sensitive time, as President Museveni continues campaign activities across the country, with critics questioning accountability, equity and the use of public funds in addressing injuries linked to state violence within Parliament itself.
The 2017 parliamentary assault remains one of the most controversial episodes in Uganda’s recent political history, symbolising the tensions surrounding constitutional change, security force conduct and legislative independence.
