The security sector has continued to get a lion’s share of the national budget with Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs taking a large share of the Shs52.7 trillion budgets for 2023/24 financial year.

Yesterday, Parliament passed the 2023/2024 National Budget following intense debate. According to the budget, the Ministry of Defence was allocated Shs3.8 trillion, followed by Uganda National Roads Authority with Shs2.4 trillion.

The Defence Ministry lost Shs1 billion it had wanted for the construction of the defence museum, due to government policy placing a freeze on multi-year projects.

The budget indicates that Shs21.4 trillion is set aside for statutory expenditure, which covers items such as treasury operations totaling Shs18.9 trillion, pensions and gratuity for retired civil servants amounting to Shs856.2 billion, among others.

State House got Shs417.9 billion, despite the Opposition’s vicious attempt to have it slashed down. During the plenary, MPs rejected a proposed provision for the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity in the Office of the President totaling to Shs8.5 billion for curbing the vice of homosexuality and pornography among the youth.

MPs also plucked Shs30 billion from UNRA following the agency’s failure to rapidly absorb funds allocated towards the construction of the Hoima-Wanseko Road.

The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development wanted an increase of Shs10 billion to their workshops and seminars budget, which MPs rejected. Parliament also stopped a similar increment of Shs10 billion to the ministry’s travel inland vote.

Kampala Capital City Authority wins big after scooping Shs66 billion from the Uganda Road Fund to cater for the capital city’s dilapidated roads and drainage systems, which in the recent past attracted angry reactions from the public.

Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities lost Shs15.7 billion it had asked to finance conservation efforts, but MPs rejected the idea, saying the allocation was made because the ministry was not collecting any Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) during the #CovidD-19 pandemic, and that since tourism has resumed, it should be able to finance its activities to pre-pandemic levels.

Domestic spy agency, Internal Security Organisation, gets Shs13 billion more to support intelligence gathering, while the External Security Organisation has been allocated Shs5 billion to support intelligence gathering.

The Ministry of Health has been given an extra Shs18.5 billion for the rehabilitation and maintenance of health centre IIs and IIIs across the country.

In a minority report, the dissenting MPs wanted Shs43 billion for ceremonies under the Office of the President reallocated to KCCA for road repairs and maintenance.

MP Ibrahim Nganda Ssemujju wanted parliament to halt allocations to the Office of the Prime Minister until “President Museveni takes political action against officials” implicated in the infamous iron sheets scandal.

Speaker Anita Among, however, guided that the funds are not person to holder, and that the allocations go to the office.

Shadow finance minister, Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, faulted the finance ministry for failing to itemize and provide for activities under Statutory Expenditure, a move he claimed is intended to be used as a window of fraud.

Stories Continues after ad

KAMPALA-Speke Resort Munyonyo has been cleared to host G77=China, a global event that brings together several nations.

Mr Pedroso Cuesta, the chair of G77 plus China who is in Kampala on a fact-finding mission, has cleared Uganda’s Speke Resort Munyonyo to the global summit in January 2024.

Addressing reporters on Thursday, Cuesta announced that the country has all the prerequisites to host the Group of 77+China, the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations.

Mr. Cuesta said that after assessing Speke Resort Munyonyo, one of the luxurious facilities seated on the shores of Lake Victoria, and other accommodation and recreation facilities, he is convinced that Uganda has the capacity to host the high-level international meeting.

“We are very pleased because we have seen the magnificent efforts put in place by Uganda to ensure the success of the summit and we are very much convinced that it will be a success in this country,” Mr Cuesta said.

“I have seen facilities being developed for the summit, and I want to assure the delegates that once the summit is passed everyone will enjoy the stay in Uganda”

“They are building a beautiful conference centre in Munyonyo and we saw the speed being used in the construction, we are very convinced that everything will be in place by the summit time,” he added.

Mr Cuesta further noted that the delegates will not only enjoy the well-established facilities in Munyonyo but will also have time to explore the other potentials of the country in various sectors like tourism and the social culture of Ugandans.

“There are several reasons that will ensure the success of the summit, this can be seen by how people are actively engaging in preparation activities,” he said, adding that: “The summit will also benefit Uganda and its name will be at the top of the international scene.”

The G77 third South summit which was supposed to be hosted by Uganda in 2020 was postponed due Covid-19 pandemic and it will be hosted at Speke Resort Munyonyo from January 21 to January 23, 2024, under the theme: ‘Leaving no one behind’. Uganda will become the first African to host the summit following the first and second summits that were hosted by Cuba and Qatar respectively.

The G77 plus China is the biggest negotiating group at the UN with a membership of 134-member states.

Mr Henry Okello Oryem, the State Minister for foreign affairs urged Ugandans to be ready to host the international delegation from more than 130 counties.

He said the upcoming summit will boost the social economic status of Uganda.

“Today we are honoured to host HE Pedroso Cuesta on his fact-finding mission in Uganda ahead of the G77 Plus China third South summit, his presence here is a sign that Uganda is on a right track to host the event,” Mr Okello said

“Ugandans should not complain about how much we are investing in the preparations to host the summit, I assure you that we shall earn 10 times all the investment from the summit make” he added.

He also re-echoed the government’s commitment to ensure success of the event in line with all the summit objectives.

“Your Excellency, I assure you of the total commitment by the president of Uganda, the government, and the people of Uganda to work closely with you to achieve the shared vision of a successful summit with practical and achievable outcomes,” Mr Okello said. 

Stories Continues after ad

KAMPALA-Territorial police at Wandegeya in Kampala have arrested six individuals to help with investigations of Rogers Atuhaire, a private security guard attached to SGA Security Group who allegedly shot himself dead at Mukwasi building along Lumumba Avenue early morning.

Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire confirmed the incident and said the deceased had been deployed as a guard at the site just two days ago when he decided to take his own life.

“Rogers Atuhaire, who had been deployed at the beat for the past two days, was found dead at the scene. Initial reports suggest that the deceased was discovered by David Okudu, a day guard who had arrived for duty. David reported hearing the sound of a gun being cocked, assuming it was a routine safety precaution,” ASP Owoyesigyire said on Thursday afternoon.

Preliminary reports indicate that Atuhaire’s lifeless body was found by one David Okudu, a day guard who had arrived for duty. Okumu said he first heard the sound of a gun being cocked, assuming it was a routine safety precaution only to find the deceased lying in a pool of blood, with a bullet wound visible on his throat, which had penetrated through his head.

Owoyesigyire said according to initial investigations, it has been established that Atuhaire was working alongside Mary Namumanya on the night shift and so far, six people are currently detained at Wandegeya police station to assist with the ongoing investigations.

“Investigations have revealed that Atuhaire was working alongside Mary Namumanya for the night duty. As part of the investigation process, witness statements have been recorded, and relevant exhibits have been recovered,” he said.

“A comprehensive and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident will be carried out and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses,” added Owoyesigyire.

Stories Continues after ad

Buganda Road Magistrates Court has remanded police constable Ivan Wabwire for allegedly killing a business man, Uttam Bhandari Saremal, the Director of TFS Financial Services.

Appearing before grade one Magistrate Sarah Tusiime, Wabwire was charged with murder and subsequently remanded to Luzira Prison on grounds that court has no jurisdiction to preside over capital offences.

Persecution told court that investigations into the police officer are almost concluded, including a mental state assessment and the application to evaluate his mental status will be made before the court in due course. Wabwire has been remanded until June 7, for mention.

Prosecution avers that on May 12, 2023, the suspect in his full uniform, picked an SMG Rifle with 4 magazines that had been left in the room by PC Stephen Muromba, left his beat at CPS and went straight to meet the Director TFS Financial Services. While at their offices at Raja Chambers along Parliament Avenue, he signed in the visitor’s book, and went straight to meet Uttam Bhandari.

He maintained a standing position with his hand on the gun, had a short verbal exchange with the Director, and immediately after fired several shots at the victim.  He then moved out briefly and returned to the scene to pick his loan documents. He fired more bullets at the victim, when he found him still holding his breath, and killed him.  His target was the victim and no one else. Out of 12 bullets that were fired, nine of them fatally wounded the victim

“After the deadly shooting the suspect confidently moved out, jumped on a boda-boda that dropped him at CPS Kampala. He returned the gun and asked a colleague to watch over it and disappeared,” he said.

The officer escaped to his village at Bwalila, Bumango Parish, Masinya sub-county, in Busia district. He was arrested on May 14, 2023 at Uganda customs, while trying to cross into Kenya.

Stories Continues after ad