KAMPALA – The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) through various ministries is seeking for UGX102.1b for the purchase of hoes, iron sheets for a number of regions including Northern, Bunyoro, Luwero Triangle, Karamoja and Teso.
The request was tabled before the Presidential Affairs Committee where the respective ministers of Luwero Triangle, Teso Affairs, Bunyoro Affairs, Northern Affairs had appeared to present their 2019/2020 Ministerial Policy Statements.
In the docket of Northern Uganda, the entity is set to receive UGX26.4b that would be used to purchase 18,600 cattle under the restocking programme in the sub-regions of Acholi, Lango, Teso and West Nile that were affected by civil war. The docket will use the money to purchase 27,000 hand hoes, 8,750 iron sheets, 25 maize milling machines and 20 cassava chippers as well as 10 sunflower oil extraction and ground nut machines.
For the ministry of Karamoja Affairs headed by Mr. John Byabagambi, the entity has been allocated UGX14.3b that will be used to construct six parish valley tanks and de-silt the two old valley tanks.
The funds will be used to construct dormitory block at Pokot Girls Secondary School and a classroom block at Morelem Boys Primary School, as well as a dining hall at Kabong Secondary School.
The ministry also intends to use the said funds for the purchase of 1,100 oxen, 10,000 hand hoes, 10,000 iron sheets and 1,100 heifers, provide 8 irrigation systems to farmers as well as support 90 micro-projects.
For the Luwero-Rwenzori Triangle headed by Mr. Denis Ssozi Galabuzi, the ministry had requested for UGX56.3b and only UGX41.3b was approved leaving a shortfall of UGX15b and they had planned to use the money to pay 10,000 civilian veterans a one-off gratuity, support 400 micro projects, buy 10,000 hand hoes and 10,000 iron sheets.
The ministry of Teso Affairs requested for UGX19.7b, but only UGX7.7b was approved leaving a shortfall of UGX12b and this money will be used to purchase 27,000 hand hoes, 20,000 iron sheets, 1,000 ox-ploughs as well as support 450 micro-projects to enhance household incomes, purchase one trailer, 10 motorcycles.
The institution also plans to construct one valley dam, a four-classroom block at Kaler Primary School, drill one borehole in Ngora.
The ministry of Bunyoro Affairs received the most budget cuts after their UGX11.8b budget was rejected and only UGX1.8b approved leaving the institution grappling with a shortfall of UGX10b.
The money will be sued to support youths and women project by purchasing 40,000 hand hoes, support 50 micro projects, 3000 iron sheets and 50 water pumps.
