Although the Finance Ministry is seeking Shillings 284 billion to mitigate the corona virus pandemic impact, Shillings 81 billion is going to security while Shillings 62 billion will be channeled to the Health sector, which is at the forefront of combating corona virus.
Government has proposed to allocate the security sector more
money compared to the Health Sector as it seeks Shillings 284 billion in
supplementary funding to deal with the Corona virus pandemic.
Although the Finance Ministry is seeking Shillings 284
billion to mitigate the corona virus pandemic impact, Shillings 81 billion is
going to security while Shillings 62 billion will be channeled to the Health
sector, which is at the forefront of combating corona virus.
Local Government will receive Shillings 36 billion, Disaster
Management support for the vulnerable Shillings 59 billion, ICT and National
Guidance Shillings 14 billion and Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA Shillings
30 billion.
While presenting the supplementary budget request to
parliament on Tuesday, Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija, the Shillings 62
billion isn’t all the Health Ministry but for now that is what they have
requested.
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However, this didn’t go down well with MPs who questioned why
security was getting more money compared to the Health Sector.
Gilbert Olanya,
the Kilak South MP said it is absurd that the country needs testing kits, pay
health experts and intensify sensitisation on the virus but more money has gone
to security instead.
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Keefa Kiwanuka, the Kibiga East MP, said government should
have first presented a statement on its plan, what needs to be done with the
money and the measures in place before requesting for the money.
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The Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga asked the Minister
to clarify whether the money will benefit people countrywide and will not be concentrated
in Kampala.
She said the Minister should also present a statement on the economic
impact of corona virus.
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Although the request was sent to the budget committee for scrutiny,
Parliament asked Kasaija to defend it and how much money is needed and what it
is meant for. Uganda has 44 confirmed Corona virus cases.
Alex Otto
Freelancer