Summary:
- Parliament had initially passed the bill on May 16, 2024, but it was returned by the President Museveni on June 22, 2024.
KAMPALA: President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has signed the Appropriation Act, 2024, two days after Parliament reinstated Shs750 billion reallocations in the budget at his request.
The bill was signed on Thursday evening, as announced by his senior press secretary, Sandor Lyle, on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
Parliament had initially passed the bill on May 16, 2024, but it was returned by the President Museveni on June 22, 2024.
In his letter dated June 22, 2024, President Museveni addressed the issue of Members of Parliament being arrested for alleged offenses and criticized MPs for interfering with his constitutional mandate of budgeting.
He condemned the reallocation of funds by Parliament, stating that over the past four financial years, MPs had reallocated Shs 3.1 trillion, which he labeled as sabotage.
During the 4th sitting of the 1st meeting of the 4th session of the 11th Parliament, Speaker Rt. Hon. Anitah Among clarified that the return of the bill did not violate constitutional provisions, explaining that while the President must return the bill within 30 days of its passage, Parliament took 15 days to send it to him, thus falling within the required timeframe.
Government Chief Whip Hon. Obua Hamson proposed that the returned Appropriation Bill be referred to the Committee of the Whole House, according to Rule 2 of the Rules of Procedure. However, Hon. Odur Jonathan opposed this, citing serious corruption allegations against the Budget Committee by the President. He supported Hon. Hamson Obua’s proposal to consider the bill in the Committee of the Whole House.
Hon. Ssemujju Nganda protested allegations of corruption against all MPs on the Budget Committee, defending his integrity by stating he had never signed the majority report.
Speaker Anitah Among emphasized the presumption of innocence, even for members arrested and in prison, and reminded that the Budget Committee has 65 members. Despite Hon. Odur standing by his remarks about the President’s corruption accusations, the Finance Minister, Hon. Matia Kasaija, moved a motion to reconsider the schedule of the annual estimates for FY 2024/2025 in response to the President’s concerns.
Speaker Among assured MPs that the new Appropriation Bill did not affect the budget proposals but involved realignment in some sectors. The House constituted itself into the Committee of the Whole House to scrutinize and reconsider the new budgetary reallocations for FY 2024/2025, presented by State Minister of Finance, Hon. Musasizi Henry Ariganyira.
Minister Musasizi explained the reinstatement of funds cut by Parliament for FY 2024/2025, including Shs10 billion for rural water supply, Shs22.74 billion for KCCA disaster mitigation, Shs15 billion for rural electrification, and Shs6.8 billion for Namanve Thermal Power. The government also sought Shs25 billion for treasury operations and Shs300 billion for ROKO Bills of Exchange obligations.
In the reallocated Shs750.47 billion, the government requested Shs5 billion for the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity to publish the National Anti-Corruption Survey and Shs5 billion for fighting sleeping sickness and procuring acaricides. The President also ordered the reinstatement of Shs8 billion for the Ministry of Local Governments to fund workshops, seminars, and public relations for the Parish Development Model.
Hon. Ssemujju criticized the prioritization of ROKO over public needs, while Hon. Achia Remigio argued that the President’s refusal to assent to the Appropriation Bill was a mistake, as the funds were for essential areas. Hon. Nancy Acora supported the budget passed in May, and Hon. James Niringyimana highlighted Parliament’s good faith in allocating funds to critical sectors.
Attorney General Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka assured that the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development would not repurpose the budget, as no provision in the law allows for it. Parliament later passed the Appropriation Bill, 2024, with amendments.
