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By Yasiin Mugerwa (email the author)
Posted Wednesday, July 20 2011 at 00:00
Posted Wednesday, July 20 2011 at 00:00
MPs have criticised as immoral a proposed Shs150 billion budget for State House, Office of the President and related departments, coming at a time when the country is facing difficult economic conditions. The expenditure estimates being questioned are contained in this year’s sector policy statement to be presented by Ms Kabakumba Masiko, the minister responsible for the Presidency.
Needy cases
Ms Masiko’s statement, which will be scrutinised by the House committee on presidential affairs, says the money is necessary to provide logistical support, care and security to enable the Presidency perform its constitutional and administrative obligations. But highlighting the need to focus public spending in other critical areas, lawmakers cited a Tuesday Daily Monitor story in which it was reported that two people have so far died in Bulambuli District due to famine currently ravaging parts of eastern Uganda.
Ms Masiko’s statement, which will be scrutinised by the House committee on presidential affairs, says the money is necessary to provide logistical support, care and security to enable the Presidency perform its constitutional and administrative obligations. But highlighting the need to focus public spending in other critical areas, lawmakers cited a Tuesday Daily Monitor story in which it was reported that two people have so far died in Bulambuli District due to famine currently ravaging parts of eastern Uganda.
Some MPs said yesterday that certain items in this budget appear to have been “inflated”. Others called for a review of the expenditure proposals to cut out what they called “sumptuous” spending.
“Some items in the budget have been duplicated,” Mr Theodore Ssekikubo (NRM, Lwemiyaga) said. “State House people and their friends in the Office of the President should know that it’s no longer business as usual. We cannot keep spending lavishly as if the economy is all right. Why should Presidency spend on entertainment, donations and medals when famine is killing people?”
Coming in for criticism is the Shs8.6 billion for buying medals, while suspicions of duplication were noted by Mr Haruna Kasolo (Independent, Kyotera) who pointed out the Shs3.5 billion requested for maintenance of vehicles for State House, another Shs106 million for maintenance of machinery and equipment and Shs2.3 billion for maintenance.
Duplication?
The lawmakers also see duplication under telecommunications (Shs1.4b) and information and communication technology (Shs400m), travel inland and abroad under State House (Shs16.9b) and travel inland and abroad under President’s Office (Shs2.3b).
The lawmakers also see duplication under telecommunications (Shs1.4b) and information and communication technology (Shs400m), travel inland and abroad under State House (Shs16.9b) and travel inland and abroad under President’s Office (Shs2.3b).
This year, State House’s initial budget has increased from Shs64.8b last year to Shs66.6b. However, details in the ministerial policy statement to Parliament indicate that the actual figure spent by State House last year was Shs168.1b. “State House is a bottomless pit, they spend on luxuries and come back to Parliament for more,” Mr Ssebuliba Mutumba (DP, Kawempe South) said.
“Even the Shs66.6b for State House will not be enough.After three months, they will bring a supplementary. They know they have the numbers in Parliament and to them it’s always easy to get whatever they want. But we cannot keep spending on consumption when other critical areas like agriculture, education and health are underfunded.”
Ms Kabakumba observes that “State House continues to suffer budget shortfalls due to underfunding hence a number of activities will remain unfunded e.g travel abroad, travel inland and donations.” She added that maintaining State House Entebbe and upcountry state lodges will require additional funding. Shs6.2 billion is budgeted to run State House Entebbe.
According to Ms Kabakumba, another Shs5.9b will be required to construct a new state lodge whose details were not given while part of the money will be used to renovate Entebbe State House, which was completed just in time for the 2007 Commonwealth summit.
Community outreach
“This is a logistical requirement to facilitate the effective performance of the Presidency,” she said. Another Shs22.5b will be needed under the community outreach programmes and welfare activities. Ms Kabakumba said: “H.E the President as a fountain of honour is obliged to offer support to individuals and institutions in need.”
“This is a logistical requirement to facilitate the effective performance of the Presidency,” she said. Another Shs22.5b will be needed under the community outreach programmes and welfare activities. Ms Kabakumba said: “H.E the President as a fountain of honour is obliged to offer support to individuals and institutions in need.”
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