By Spy Uganda
A section of lawmakers on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee has raised concerns over the professionalism of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), questioning its budget allocation and accusing prosecutors of turning the office into a tool for settling political scores.
During a meeting with the DPP officials, who had appeared to present the 2025/26 Ministerial Policy Statement, Erute South MP Jonathan Odur challenged the justification for continued taxpayer funding of an office he claimed was being used to persecute citizens through prolonged court adjournments, often without sufficient evidence to warrant prosecution.
“I reject the budget proposed for the department of inspection and quality assurance. What quality and inspections have you conducted to ensure your prosecutors adhere to professional standards? How do you sleep at night knowing you’ve abused the authority entrusted to you by law?” Odur questioned.
His remarks came after Agnes Khainza, the Permanent Secretary of the DPP, requested an additional UGX 8.6 billion to recruit more staff, citing an inability to operate effectively in 33 districts due to staffing shortages. She noted that despite recruiting 100 State Attorneys in 2024/25, the number of prosecutors remains significantly below the approved structure.
“Staffing has remained a challenge. The 100 State Attorneys we recruited were just a drop in the ocean. Many stations are manned by only one prosecutor, with some serving up to four judicial officers,” Khainza explained.
However, Odur opposed the proposal to hire more prosecutors, arguing that many cases being referred to court lacked merit. He attributed the backlog and inefficiencies to the DPP’s failure to scrutinize cases before prosecution.
“I am reluctant to support hiring more prosecutors when your office floods courts with cases that shouldn’t be there. This self-inflicted problem creates unnecessary pressure. If you acted professionally, fewer cases would go to trial, and your success rate would improve,” Odur argued.
He further accused the DPP of allowing political influence to taint its work, stating, “Your office should not just prosecute cases but safeguard against abuse of rights. Instead, many Ugandans see it as the Office of the Director of Political Prosecution. Political differences should not be settled in your office.”
Khainza informed the committee that the DPP currently operates at only 45.4% staffing capacity and aims to increase this to 64%. She noted that while the office had been allocated UGX 3 billion out of the required UGX 8.6 billion, an additional UGX 5.6 billion would allow them to recruit 277 more staff, improving criminal prosecution services nationwide.
Odur, however, questioned the DPP’s moral authority to request additional funds.
“You are asking for money collected from taxpayers, the same people you persecute through shambolic prosecutions. How do you justify this? What happened to professional ethics and conduct?” he asked.
For the 2025/26 financial year, the DPP has been allocated UGX 95.4 billion, up from UGX 86.1 billion in the current fiscal year. The office is also seeking an additional UGX 5 billion to reduce case backlog through guided investigations, pre-trial witness preparation, and victim protection.
Additionally, Khainza highlighted the need for UGX 10 billion to construct office buildings and another UGX 10 billion to purchase land in areas such as Makindye, Nakawa, Kajansi, Entebbe, Kasangati, Kira, Luzira, Nansana, Nabweru, Matugga, and Wobulenzi. She noted that the DPP has failed to secure land from local governments, making rent in these areas unsustainable.
However, Odur questioned some of the proposed expenditures, particularly funds allocated for a thanksgiving ceremony.
“Why should taxpayers finance a thanksgiving prayer? Are you hiring a bishop? A pope? Thanksgiving for what—persecuting Ugandans?” he asked.
The plan to plant 200 trees also drew scrutiny, with Odur, who doubles as the Shadow Minister for Constitutional Affairs, suggesting that tree planting should be left to agencies better suited for the task.
“You plan to plant 200 trees, with 50 planted each quarter across 20 offices. Why is this part of your budget? Shouldn’t a competent agency handle tree planting? This is not aligned with program-based budgeting,” he remarked.
