Summary:
- Additionally, Shs152 billion has been designated for the construction of the Hoima City Stadium by the National Council of Sports in anticipation of the 2027 African Cup of Nations.
KAMPALA: Parliament has approved a supplementary budget of Shs288.624 billion, allocating Shs132.634 billion for the acquisition of shares in the East African Oil Pipeline (EACOP) by the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC).
Additionally, Shs152 billion has been designated for the construction of the Hoima City Stadium by the National Council of Sports in anticipation of the 2027 African Cup of Nations.
However, Ibrahim Ssemujju, representing Kira Municipality, criticized the government for what he deemed as a lack of fiscal discipline, condemning the frequent use of supplementary budgets.
“Budgeting this country through a supplementary, which the Auditor General calls fiscal indiscipline, people are running this country like a kiosk that every week, because last week we passed a supplementary here. What has happened in the last 10days that you didn’t know there would be need to construct a stadium, that there would be need to acquire equity in a pipeline because we passed a supplementary just 10days ago, now you come trafficking another one,” said Ssemujju.
He likened the process to managing the country like a “kiosk,” expressing disbelief that another supplementary budget was required merely ten days after the previous one. Ssemujju asserted that if he were the President, he would incarcerate ministers responsible for such actions at Luzira Maximum Prison.
“If I was in charge, I would send all Ministers to Luzira, 10days ago we passed a supplementary, then after you come with another one, saying wait, we have another one, and you are my Ministers, each one of you would be in Luzira, that is where the warrant of detention will find you,” added Ssemujju.
In defense of the third supplementary schedule, Attorney General Kiwanuka Kiryowa argued that certain expenditures, such as acquiring equity in the East African Oil Pipeline, were unforeseen by the government until recently. He explained that changes in global economic conditions necessitated the government’s involvement in the pipeline project, which was not anticipated when the previous budget was passed.
Regarding the funding for the African Cup of Nations preparations, Kiryowa stated that while contracts were ready for signing, he required clarification from the Ministry of Education and Sports regarding the funding source before proceeding.
He warned that delaying approval could jeopardize timelines for meeting tournament deadlines but emphasized the legal requirement to ascertain the source of funds before approving contracts.
