By Leonard Kamugisha Akida,
The minister of finance planning and economic development, Hon. Matia Kasaija has said he will not mortgage Uganda for foreign loans.
“As long as I am still your minister of finance, I cannot indefinitely mortgage your country,” said Matia Kasaija, minister of finance for Uganda.
The minister was responding to recommendations by Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) Executive Director, Julius Mukunda on reducing expenses for some of the budget lines in the proposed budget for financial year 2024/25.
Kasaija said whereas reducing expenses causes him too much headaches, the ministry prioritizes allocating money to areas of importance which cannot wait. He gave an assurance that Uganda’s economy is steadfastly growing .
“If we are not distracted either by nature or by ourselves, feel confident that economically Uganda is going to be moving very highly,” he emphasized.
Fiscal discipline is the biggest problem, minister Kasaija disclosed saying, “We allocate and disburse money to government agencies only for people to play with money. We shall work as fast as possible to have this checked.”
The minister urged Ugandans to look for where to get money (Kulembeka), save and make investments noting that the economy does not only move in monetary terms but also assets.
Parliament on Tuesday approved the national Budget Framework Paper (BFP) for financial year 2024/25 with several recommendations to find more money to fund priorities not provided for. According to the BFP, FY2024/25 Budget is projected at Shs52.722 trillion.
Earlier this day, different Civil Society Organizations gathered at Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala for a Pre-Budget Dialogue FY 2024/25 under the theme: Repurposing the 2024/25 Budget: What are the key priorities for inclusive economic growth and Service delivery?
Speaking at the Dialogue, CSBAG Executive Director Julius Mukunda said Uganda could save at least 1.1 trillion Ugandan shillings if the ministry considers reducing expenses for some of the budget lines such as workshops ,special meals, ceremonies and State House functions, abroad travels, travel inland among others.
“If we can fix these issues, we can be able to guarantee a better future to all of us. These issues are being done and we are watching but they can be incorporated,” he said.
Speaker after speaker, panelists decried corruption, increased debts, frequent supplementary budgets in parliament which they say are burdening the country’s economy.
Arthur Bainomugisha, the Executive Director of Advocates Coalition for Development and Environmental (A CODE) said World Bank suspension of funding and extension of loans for Uganda exposed the country to a lot of frugality and called on the government to focus on critical areas in the economy to potentially create jobs for many unemployment Ugandans amid challenges.
On the other hand, Winfred Ongom , a representative from Save the Children said the budget is not responsive to the needs of the country due to gaps which continue to persist like limited access to quality education, healthcare and malnutrition that largely affects children. She called for a child-centred budget to address needs of the country.
“An investment into child centred and sensitive programs represents an investment in Uganda’s future growth and prosperity strengthening Uganda’s human capital building the foundations of a skilled and healthy workforce,” said Ongom.
