KAMPALA – As the country gears towards the 2021 general elections, State House has increased its budget to UGX407b in 2019/2020 reflecting a 47% increment against the FY2018/20l9 with the money said to go towards mobilising masses towards political and socio-economic transformation, industrialization, and improved quality of life as well as appreciation of government policies and programmes.
According to the ministerial policy statement tabled before the Presidential Affairs Committee, the proposed allocation to wage category has been maintained at UGX17.1b, while the non-wage recurrent category is UGX377.7b. On the other hand, domestic development category will account for UGX12.34b.
While appearing before the Committee, the State House team told the Committee that with the proposed allocation of UGX404.14b, State House plans to undertake a number of activities that include providing the necessary logistical support for the welfare and security of the President and the Vice President as well as their immediate families.
State House also intends to use the funds to promote regional integration and international relations for purposes of political, social and economic gains, and the creation of investment opportunities a new report from Parliament has revealed.
The Committee also recommended to the ministry of Finance to give State House more UGX4b for the implementation of model villages across the Country whilst supporting the existing ones and called on State House to phase out model villages that were established between the year 2004 and 20l0 for sustainability motive and creating space to bring others on board.
This was after the Committee realized that there were only 21 model villages in existence and efforts to ro11 out this intervention in more areas whilst continuing with the support of the existing ones has a proposed allocation of Shs1Bn against UGX5b required leading to a funding gap of UGX4b.
The Committee also commended State House for fighting to reduce presidential pledges from UGX386b to ShsUGX11.9 trillion about eight years ago especially the Presidential pledges that can’t be categorized among ministries like buying iron sheets for a Church or Mosque, buying a vehicle for religious leaders, supporting a patient for treatment abroad among others.
Ms. Jessica Ababiku, the chair Presidential Affairs Committee, told Parliament: “The Committee was informed that the current outstanding donations under State House total to UGX386b which is a tremendous improvement in comparison to over ShsUGX11.9 trillion about eight years ago. The Committee applauded State House efforts in directing many of the Presidential pledges to MDAs in which they fall which has resulted into the tremendous performance. The Committee recommends that State House expedites handling of the remaining Presidential Pledges in the medium term.”
In the FY 2018/2019 UGX274.05b was appropriated to Vote 002 of which wage was UGX15.225b, non-wage recurrent was UGX246.5b, while domestic development category was UGX12.34b.
