Summary:
- PACOB, established by H.E. the President, is tasked with ensuring that government priorities are effectively reflected in the programs.
KAMPALA: On Wednesday, the Minister of State for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (General Duties), Henry Musasizi, led the institutions under the Development Plan Implementation (DPI) program before the Public Sector Strengthening Sub-Committee of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Budget (PACOB) to discuss budget priorities for FY 2025/26.
PACOB, established by H.E. the President, is tasked with ensuring that government priorities are effectively reflected in the programs.
It identifies critical areas requiring funding to enhance production and assesses potential revenue sources, aligning them with the National Development Plan III (NDP III) and the NRM Manifesto. The Ministry of Finance is the lead institution for the DPI program.
The meeting also reviewed DPI’s budget performance for FY 2023/24, the half-year performance for FY 2024/25, and the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) provisions for FY 2025/26, ensuring alignment with NDP III and the NRM Manifesto.
The DPI program has five primary objectives: strengthening capacity for evidence-based planning nationwide, enhancing resource mobilization for national development, improving budgeting and accountability systems, and strengthening oversight, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation across government.
During the session, Deputy Secretary to the Treasury (DST) Patrick Ocailap advised Accounting Officers to prioritize clearing outstanding water bills within the quarterly funds released to them.
In a circular to Accounting Officers in Central Government Votes on water bill payments for FY 2024/25, Ocailap noted that the National Water and Sewerage Corporation has raised concerns about delayed payments from government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“This Ministry, through various circulars, has advised you to ensure adequate budgeting and timely payment of utility bills,” Ocailap said, adding that delayed payments lead to arrears, water disconnections, and disruptions to critical public services.
Ocailap also stated that the Ministry of Finance will strictly enforce this requirement as part of the approval process for Accounting warrants on the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS).
In FY 2024/25, a total of Shs 61.75 billion was allocated for water bills. Of this, Shs 17.29 billion was released in the first quarter, and Shs 29.4 billion (representing 25% of the approved budget) has been released in the second quarter under water item 223006.
