Latest news with #Shs100
Zawya
29-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Uganda: Finance Ministry makes concessions on budget
The Ministry of Finance has made key concessions to Parliament's budget demands, marking a shift in tone after last year's heated disagreements between lawmakers and the Executive over funding priorities. The ministry accommodated Shs3.98 trillion in response to Parliament's recommendations to the draft National Budget for Financial Year 2025/26. However, questions persisted as MPs flagged repeated requests in the new budget that mirror those in last year's supplementary allocations. During a meeting of the Budget Committee on Tuesday, 29 April 2025, the Deputy Chairperson, Hon. Remigio Achia acknowledged what he called 'encouraging' signs that government had acted on Parliament's earlier recommendations. He highlighted allocations to critical sectors such as healthcare, tourism, and commercial diplomacy. 'After the acrimonious disagreement of last year with us, the minister and the President, a number of recommendations we made here have been considered,' Achia said. 'For example, we were very strong on providing Shs100 billion for medicines for health centres. This time, they have taken that recommendation.' He said. Achia also praised the ministry's decision to allocate Shs00 billion to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards citing the agency's pivotal role in advancing agro-industrialisation. 'Previously, the bureau was ignored but now they have been given money for staffing, laboratory equipment and vehicles. This shows we are supporting real agro-industrialisation,' he added. Other notable improvements included funding for the Uganda Development Corporation and enhanced support for embassies under a new commercial diplomacy initiative. 'This is the right way to go. Let the embassies showcase our coffee, our products, our life,' Achia said. The committee however, criticised the Ministry of Finance over what he described as recycled budget items. Achia pointed out that allocations made in January's supplementary budget including Shs50 billion for railway rehabilitation and Shs25.7 billion for Ministry of Lands activities had resurfaced in the new budget under identical justifications. 'That kind of thing makes you wonder whether they think we have lost our minds between January and April. It is the same text in the January supplementary, word for word,' Achia remarked. Hon. Faith Nakut (NRM, Napak District Woman Representative) also raised the concern of the items that were captured in the current budget again appearing in next financial year's budget. The Minister of State for Finance (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi acknowledged the oversight and promised to investigate further. 'I am happy the committee has identified this it is one of the areas we shall discuss and harmonise. We will look at the work plan, past expenditures and whether the earlier supplementary was even released to the spending agency,' he said. Musasizi also defended the broader process noting that some recurring items were intentionally brought into the main budget to prevent future supplementary requests. 'If they are recurrent in nature, this year we have decided to provide for them so that they become part of the budget,' he said. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
Zawya
10-04-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Uganda: Parliament makes payments through formal processes
The Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa has dismissed allegations that Members of Parliament received Shs100 million for supporting the passing of the Coffee Bill. Tayebwa who chaired the sitting of the House on Wednesday, 09 April 2025 made the response after Butambala County Member of Parliament. Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi demanded an explanation from the leadership of Parliament on the allegations. 'The print media is awash with claims that each MP is receiving Shs100 million from the President. As head of this institution, I expected you to address the issue,' Muwanga Kivumbi said. The Deputy Speaker said that Parliament is accountable for what is officially budgeted, appropriated and spent through formal processes. 'I will not sit here and legitimise street talk. I have not received any coin nor have I received any call from anyone who has my money. If you know you have my money, please should bring it,' Tayebwa said. He cautioned MPs against using unverified claims to tarnish the image of Parliament. 'If you have dealings outside the institution, don't drag the House into it. We never approved any budget line labeled as a donation from the President to MPs. Smearing your colleagues to appear clean only brings collective disgrace,' he added. Tayebwa also encouraged any MP with credible evidence to report the matter formally. 'Write to the head of the institution so it can be investigated using the appropriate mechanisms,' he said. The Government Chief Whip, Hon. Denis Hamison Obua dismissed the claims saying MPs are paid through a statutory process. The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi took to social media and alleged that MPs from the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and a few opposition lawmakers had received the money for allegedly supporting the recently passed Coffee Bill. Ssenyonyi also alleged that the money was paid for support to the anticipated amendment of the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) Act. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda. Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an 'as is' and 'as available' basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release. The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
Zawya
04-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Uganda Telecommunications Corporation (UTel) to take on operationalisation of National Backbone Infrastructure
Government is moving to revitalise the Uganda Telecommunications Corporation (UTel), after it secured investment commitments from Rowad Capital Commercial LLC (RCC), a United Arab Emirates (UAE) company. The move is aimed at capitalising UTel to take on the management and commercialisation of the ICT National Backbone Infrastructure (NBI) in Uganda. According to the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Hon. Chris Baryomunsi, the company will take a 60 per cent shareholding in UTel, while government will maintain a 40 per cent share with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development having 25 per cent and the ICT Ministry, 15 per cent. The Minister made the revelation while leading entities under the Ministry to present the Ministerial Policy Statement to the Parliament Committee on ICT and National Guidance on Thursday, 03 April 2025. He added that the new partnership will see RCC make an initial investment of US$25 million, and thereafter, US$200 million over the next three years. 'We have had negotiations and are signing agreements for the new partnership to take effect. Government agreed that we transfer the management and commercialisation of the NBI from Soliton Telmec to UTel,' Baryomunsi said. Legislators raised concerns about the running contract with Soliton Telmec that was contracted by NITA-U to manage the NBI. Committee Chairperson, Hon. Tony Ayoo noted that the National Information Technology Authority - Uganda (NITA-U) contracted Soliton Telmec on a 15-year agreement, with the company in its 12th year of implementing the NBI project. 'Would it not be cheaper to allow Soliton to run their contract for the remaining three years? This period is not too much if it is negotiated well so that we get Soliton out without any cost,' Ayoo said. Baryomunsi said RCC indicated interest to make immediate investment and thus waiting for the contract with Soliton Telmec to end would delay the recapitalisation opportunity for UTel. 'A decision was taken to terminate the contract with Soliton, which will have financial implications due to compensation. The Auditor General has carried out an audit and advised on the implications which government will pay,' said Baryomunsi. He also noted that the new partnership will increase government's gains from the NBI project, as well as strengthen the commercialisation aspect. 'The NBI has largely been used by government agencies with few clients from the private sector. If we fully commercialise it, we will open it up to the private sector so that we can fetch more money,' Baryomunsi added. He said a Board of UTel has been appointed comprising members from government and RCC, which will make a formal resolution that will create a bank account for the initial investment to be made. For the financial year 2025/2026, the Ministry presented a budget request of over Shs205 billion to cater for recurrent and development expenditures, as well as arrears worth over Shs100 billion. NITA-U requires a total of Shs268 billion including arrears (Shs10.3 billion) for the 2025/2026 financial year. Baryomunsi said the Ministry faces challenges including slow automation of government systems and processes, inadequate uptake of ICT due to high costs of internet and ICT equipment, plus existence of many stand-alone government systems that are not synchronised. 'In the next financial year, we aim to improve efficiency in business processes and public service delivery as well as strengthen the enforcement of policies, laws and regulatory frameworks and institutional coordination,' Baryomunsi said. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
