Uganda: Parliament okayed UG Shs.8 trillion budget for 2010/11

Reports Leo Odera Omolo

PARLIAMENT has passed the 2010/11 budget despite a call by opposition MPs to withhold the budgets of some ministries.

Of the sh7.8 trillion budget, the education ministry will receive sh390b, health sh116b, while sh89b has been set aside to facilitate activities for the agriculture ministry.

A total of sh1.4 trillion will be given to local governments and sh137b to the local government ministry.

The internal affairs ministry will get sh104b, lands sh25b, trade and tourism sh24b, works and transport sh124b and energy sh421b.

The defence ministry will get sh632b, while the President’s Office will receive sh72b.

A total of sh64b will go to fund State House activities, while the Office of the Prime minister will receive sh155b.the Uganda AIDS Commission will get sh16b, and the External Security Organisation will get sh10.2b.

Makerere University will receive sh134b, Mbarara University sh17b, Makerere Business School sh39b, Kyambogo University sh64b and Gulu University sh16b. Mulago Hospital will get sh34b, while Butabika will receive sh32b.

The Uganda Police will get sh241b, Prisons sh71b and the Uganda National Roads Authority will get sh614b.

Fred Omach, the finance state minister, tabled a motion for the consideration and adoption of the revenue and expenditure estimates for this financial year.

The budget, which was supposed to have been passed by August 31, was delayed after the Speaker of Parliament, Edward Sekandi, gave a three-week recess to allow MPs participate in their party primaries.

“I know you are busy with political activities, but our mandate here will not end until May 2011. Find sometime in your busy schedules to carry out parliamentary work,” Sekandi told the MPs.

But shadow environment minister Beatrice Anywar (FDC) protested the passing of the budget for the Ministry of Water, arguing that the ministry had not clarified the ban on polythene bags (kaveera).

Hussein Kyanjo (JEEMA) pleaded with Parliament to let the internal affairs ministry explain the procurement of biometric gadgets used for capturing citizen information for elections and the national identity cards.

“The internal affairs minister, Kirunda Kivejinja, has not explained the matter to the House even though we found anomalies in the procurement process,” Kyanjo stated.

“The ministry made serious flaws. We should not pass this budget if we are to defend the dignity of this House,” he added.

Ends

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