BY S KWAGALA: Some lawmakers are referring to the recently passed supplementary budget as a “mini-budget,” which they have gone ahead to scrutinise as full of misallocation and poor order of priority.
The Uganda Parliament approved a 1.1 trillion Uganda Shillings supplementary budget amidst heated debate and controversy recently.
Julius Mukunda, a prominent voice in Uganda’s fiscal discourse, called for a shift in perspective to reality now, suggesting that the country should move towards budgeting for six months rather than the conventional yearly budget. Mukunda emphasized that the current budgeting system is not efficient given that the country always follows it with another heavy budget after 6 months -calling it supplementary.
Opposition lawmaker Hon Ssemujju Nganda raised several critical points during the parliamentary session. He questioned the allocation of over UGX 120 billion to Kiira Motors, expressing doubts about the viability of the investment without a clear market strategy. Nganda also highlighted concerns regarding UGX 25 billion earmarked for relocating pioneer buses parked at Namboole Stadium, emphasizing that they are situated on leased land.
Further scrutiny was directed towards the allocation of funds to Magoola’s Dei BioPharma Company. Nganda alleged that UGX 579 billion, nearly half of the supplementary budget, was allocated to this company, with an additional UGX 70 billion granted in the same budget cycle. He questioned the rationale behind such allocations and emphasized the need for transparency and adherence to the Public Finance Management Act.
Nganda’s remarks underscored the importance of ensuring that supplementary budgets are utilized for unavoidable and unforeseen expenses, as outlined in the Public Finance Management Act. He echoed concerns previously expressed by Keith Muhakanizi, a government official, who cautioned against excessive borrowing, warning of its detrimental impact on both present and future generations.
The passage of the UGX 1.1 trillion supplementary budget reflects ongoing challenges in Uganda’s fiscal management and budgetary processes. As lawmakers continue to scrutinize government spending, questions remain about the prioritization of resources and the long-term sustainability of Uganda’s financial policies.
Moreover just last week, Uganda was flagged by the United Kingdom as a corrupt nation where three of its ministers including the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among were banned from accessing the Kingdom because of corruption.