Politics 13 March 2026 Parliament of Uganda
Judiciary Prepares to Disburse Shs24 Billion in Unclaimed Bail Funds
The Judiciary has announced readiness to refund Shs24 billion in bail deposits to the public, following concerns from MPs over Shs54 billion idle in accounts. A committee is accelerating claims amid complaints of bureaucratic hurdles and high travel costs for remote claimants. Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/news/4292/judiciary-ready-pay-out-shs24-billion-bail-money
The Permanent Secretary to the Judiciary, Pius Bigirimana, informed Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (Central Government) that members of the public can now claim refunds for their bail payments. This came during scrutiny of the 2024/2025 Auditor General’s Report on March 4, 2026.
Legislators highlighted that over Shs54 billion in bail money and security costs remain unclaimed in Judiciary accounts, with many Ugandans unaware of or deterred by claim procedures. Elgon County MP Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi criticized demands for original receipts and noted transport costs, like Shs40,000 to claim Shs100,000, often outweigh benefits. He is personally awaiting Shs3 million in refunds.
Deputy Chairperson Gorreth Namugga faulted the Judiciary for not proactively informing the public and failing to spend Shs13.89 billion on staff recruitment, including drivers and records officers. Kashongi County MP Herbert Tayebwa decried poor planning that blocked other agencies’ hiring.
Bigirimana clarified that Shs24 billion is immediately available for bail refunds, with a dedicated committee speeding up processes. The rest awaits court orders for security costs. Sensitization efforts include potential newspaper lists or radio announcements urging claimants, like MP Asuman Basalirwa, to collect their funds.
Source: Parliament of Uganda