The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) faced criticism for failing to justify their budget allocation of Shs3.363 billion for general goods and services during a session on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. UNBS, led by Acting Executive Director Daniel Nangalama, presented the Ministerial Policy Statement and Budget Estimates for the fiscal year 2024/2025 to the Committee on Tourism, Trade, and Industry, leaving legislators with more questions than answers.
Chairperson of the committee, Mwine Mpaka, expressed disappointment with UNBS’s inability to defend key budget items, especially the Shs3.363 billion allocation for general goods and services and the Shs2.7 billion for travel and transport expenses. Mpaka noted that while UNBS cited maintenance and research needs, they couldn’t provide a detailed breakdown when asked.
Mpaka queried if UNBS required additional time to provide a comprehensive explanation, to which Nangalama and the UNBS team agreed to revisit the budget.
Bwamba County Member of Parliament, Hon. Richard Gafabusa, echoed Mpaka’s concerns, stating that the committee couldn’t present the budget before the House if UNBS couldn’t defend it.
Similarly, Buhweju County MP, Hon. Francis Mwijukye, questioned why many entities struggled to justify their budgets, suggesting that the transition from sector to program budgeting might be causing difficulties. He emphasized the importance of accountability in budget matters.
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