Members of Parliament on the Budget Committee are demanding the reinstatement of funds removed from the current financial year’s budget in the proposed 2025/2026 financial plan. The MPs raised concerns over the exclusion of critical allocations originally approved for the 2024/2025 budget.
The 2024/2025 budget had earmarked Shs750 billion for essential projects, including ambulance procurement, bridge maintenance, sub-county headquarters construction, and income-generating initiatives. However, these allocations were removed following President Yoweri Museveni’s rejection of the Bill, citing indiscipline in budgeting, sabotage of national priorities, and corruption among lawmakers.
During a meeting on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, chaired by Hon. Patrick Isiagi, members of the Budget Committee demanded the restoration of funds for essential projects, including schools, health centres, and administrative unit headquarters. The meeting also scrutinised a supplementary budget of Shs1 trillion.
Hon. Santa Okot (PPP, Aruu North County) voiced her frustration over the removal of these critical allocations, emphasizing their importance to communities.
“Last year, we passed the budget unanimously in Parliament, and it was presented to the public. Later, the President returned it to the House, instructing the Ministry of Finance to remove certain items. These were not for MPs or the Budget Committee but for the communities,” she said.
Okot stressed the need to reinstate funding for projects that directly benefit the public. “These items—schools, health centres, ambulances, sub-county offices—were meant for the public good. The Ministry of Finance must budget for them again to reassure the community,” she added.
Hon. Annet Katusiime (NRM, Bushenyi District Woman Representative) echoed these concerns, describing the exclusion of critical projects as “very unfortunate and regrettable.”
“We had planned to elevate health centres, construct schools, and provide sub-county headquarters. These items were already communicated to the public, and their removal has caused disappointment. We urge the Ministry of Finance to re-incorporate these items in the 2025/2026 budget,” Katusiime said.
The State Minister for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi, addressed the MPs’ concerns, providing insight into the government’s budgetary priorities and constraints.
Musasizi explained that the government’s focus areas for the next financial year include wealth creation programmes, health, education, and critical infrastructure like roads.
“We have clear focus areas for the next financial year. These include the Parish Development Model, irrigation, defence and security, and human capital development. While adjustments can be discussed with Parliament, the challenge of resource constraints must be considered,” he noted.
Committee chairperson Hon. Patrick Isiagi acknowledged the importance of the excluded items, particularly in the health sector and community development. He assured members that their concerns would be addressed in the budget discussions.
The demands for reinstating the removed allocations will likely feature prominently as Parliament debates the proposed budget for the 2025/2026 financial year.
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