Headline: MPs Clash with ICT Ministry Over UGX 45 Billion Request for PDM, Smart City Projects
A request by the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance for UGX 45 billion to fund the automation of the Parish Development Model (PDM) and a Smart City project has sparked intense scrutiny and criticism from Members of Parliament, who are demanding accountability for previous allocations.
The debate unfolded before the Parliamentary Budget Committee on January 28, 2026, as Iddi Isabirye, Vice Chairperson of the Parliament’s ICT Committee, presented the committee’s report on the 2026/27 National Budget Framework Paper for digital transformation.
Isabirye explained that the Ministry plans to automate and roll out e-government services, including PDM and smart city solutions, requiring UGX 45 billion. However, only UGX 34 billion has been allocated, leaving an UGX 11 billion funding gap that the committee recommended be filled.
The request was immediately met with skepticism. Achia Remigio, MP for Pian County, questioned the justification for the massive increase. He revealed that in the current 2025/2026 financial year, the Ministry had requested and received UGX 16.1 billion for the “continuous automation and rollout of government services.”
“So, what has the other UGX16.1 Billion done?” Achia demanded. “Now they are upscaling, the appetite has risen through the roof, now they want UGX45 Billion… UGX34 Billion is twice what they requested… They are not even happy with it. Please interrogate these ministries further, ask them, what did you do with what was given to you?”
He also faulted the ICT Committee for not thoroughly interrogating the matter earlier, suggesting this laxity may have emboldened the Ministry to ask for more.
The bundling of the two projects also came under fire. Moses Magogo, MP for Budiope East, while supporting the smart city initiative, criticized the ICT Committee for combining it with PDM automation.
His concern for the smart city project centered on the chaotic duplication of infrastructure. “When you talk about these cables which are scattered all over… you will find MTN doing optic fibre, Minister of ICT doing optic fibre, everybody putting up lines in the air, and then you’re talking about the smart city,” Magogo stated, advocating for a centralized approach.
MP Paul Omara of Otuke County questioned the need for more funds to automate PDM, pointing to the existing “WENDI” mobile payment platform. “We have had this thing called WENDI… it has already been rolled out and I think it is functioning well. So, when you say… UGX11 Billion be provided to enable government to automate PDM… maybe you would expound more,” he challenged.
In defense of the smart city component, Musa Noah, MP for Koboko North, clarified that during earlier meetings, the Ministry informed the ICT Committee that part of the project involves “cleaning the cities and get rid of the optic fibres, which are all over the place.”
The discussion highlights a growing tension between Parliament and the Executive over budget credibility and the tangible outcomes of large-scale digital investments. With a significant funding gap remaining and MPs demanding clear answers on past expenditures and project specifics, the Ministry of ICT faces a tough task justifying its UGX 45 billion ambition for the coming financial year.
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