Uganda’s major political parties will have to find other means to fund their activities as no money has been apportioned for them in the 2018/2019 national budget.

The revelation was made by Simon Byabakama, the Chairman of Electoral Commission, while appearing before the Committee of Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to present the Commission’s budget.

Government provided Shs10 billion in 2017/2018 for political parties and organisations with representation in government, but only Shs7.50 billion was released and yet no provision has been made for 2018/2019 budget

Byabakama Mugenyi informed the Committee that government has been providing funds in the Financial Years 2014/2015 (Shs10 billion), 2015/2016 (Shs15 billion) and 2017/2018, however, during the budget preparations for 2018/2019 no provision for this purpose was made.

The commission also revealed that although Shs10 billion was approved for 2017/2018 budget, the Ministry of Finance only released Shs7 billion.

In a related development, the commission is also in need of Shs16 billion that will be used for conducting elections and operationalizing of new districts.

“The Commission proposes that its budget ceiling be revised upwards by Shs16.61Billion to enable it conduct elections in established Local Governments and operationalize offices in the new districts,” Justice Byabakama Mugenyi explained.

According to records from Parliament, the 10 new districts namely; Kagadi, Kakumiro, Omoro, and Rubanda that were operationalized in 2016/2017 and Namisindwa, Pakwach, Butebo, Rukiga, Kyotera and Bunyangabo operationalized in 2017/2018 will require Shs7.06 billion for their operationalisation including payment of salaries and wages.

Additionally, six districts of Nabilatuk, Bugweri, Kasanda, Kwania, Kapelebyong and Kikuube that are set to be operationalised in FY2018/2019 have left a funding gap of Shs2.30 billion.

The money is meant to be used to conduct elections for district chairpersons and district women representatives to Parliament in addition to Shs4.236 billion for operationalization of the said six districts.

“There are also 78 new Town Councils and 157 new Sub Counties with their attendant new parishes and new villages effective July 2018 that were created without attendant budgets. The Commission requires Shs3.014 billion to conduct elections in these Lower Local Governments,” Byabakama Mugenyi said.

Yet still, the Electoral Commission is seeking to have its budget increased by Shs13.398 billion to be used for carrying out activities ahead of the 2021 General Elections.

Among the activities lined up for the first phase of the 2021 General Elections include the demarcation of constituencies and Electoral Areas, and the re-organisation of polling stations.

Meanwhile, the construction of the Eastern route of the Standard Gauge Railway, Jinja Expressway and Kampala Flyover projects will take up the biggest part of the Commission headquarters office land, a development that has forced the Commission to consider relocating its Headquarters.

In their new proposal, the alternative office accommodation is expected to cost the Commission Shs72 billion, yet not a single coin has been availed.

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Government has issued new guidelines on foreign trips undertaken by its officials saying such travels should be restricted and limited to few most important ones.
In a letter to Ministers, State Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, head of government agencies Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rukunda says the move is aimed at reducing expenditure on foreign trips and have the money allocated for other domestic work.
“As you all aware, H.E the President has noted with great concern that a lot of government expenditure is incurred on travel abroad by public officers, he further directed that this should stop. This is therefore, to communicate to you the directive of H.E the President and to further guide on how the clearance for travel abroad will be handled henceforth.” Dr. Rukunda wrote.

Dr. Rukunda says clearance for travel abroad and authority to purchase foreign currency will be restricted to only essential travels. “You are encouraged as much as possible to use our embassies and missions abroad to represent the interests of the country in various conferences and meetings where Uganda is invited.”
In his letter, Dr. Rukunda further directed ministries and agencies to file quarterly returns to his office of the cleared trips made abroad by such ministries and agency staff including the amount of foreign exchange spent on the travels for monitoring purposes.
“It is the interest of government that excessive expenditure on travel abroad is greatly reduced and funds diverted to other national programmes. I would like to reiterate that no government official should travel abroad on official duty without clearance from the respective authority. These decisions take immediate effect.”

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An unidentified man has been caught on camera by a curious Ugandan, while siphoning fuel from a Uganda Police Force (UPF) TATA bus Reg. No. UP 2320, and putting the contents in a yellow jerrycan.

In the photo, another man, probably the driver of the bus, is seen standing on the side and talking on phone.

A source who spoke to this website said most of the siphoning of fuel from police vehicles is carried out at a hidden location in the Naguru Police Barracks, after which the stolen petrol or diesel is sold to vendors who ‘stage’ themselves near the Yuasa and Cooper Motors bonds. The vendors then reportedly sell the fuel to taxi drivers at a price below the pump-price.

Over the years there have been reports that drivers in security steal petrol and diesel and sell it on the open market, at one time prompting government to ‘colour’ the fuel supplied to the forces, with the police ‘colouring’ its fuel sky blue.

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The Inspector General of Government has told the Committee that her job is stressful and that she does not want her tenure of office to be renewed.

The IGG’s remarks were prompted by comments made by the Legal Committee Chairperson Markson Oboth, who praised Ms. Mulyagonja for doing ‘a commendable job’ in fighting corruption and for enforcing the Leadership Code of Conduct.

“We are glad for your endeavours and Parliament would not hesitate to move a substantive motion to extend your tenure due to public interests,” Oboth Oboth told Mulyagonja, who was appearing before Parliament to present her department’s budgetary estimates.

However, in response Ms. Mulyagonja was quick in telling Oboth that she has no intention to have her contract renewed as “the job is too stressful” and that it was time for her to get a well-deserved rest.

“This is a tedious and stressful job that makes it difficult to be in charge for many years.  I am glad my contract is about to expire and I take a rest,” she said.

It should be recalled that Mulyagonja took over office from Raphael Baku, who was acting IGG, having been appointed to the post by President Yoweri Museveni in 2012.

Her current contract was renewed in 2016 and is set to elapse in 2021.

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