BY JOACKIM KULE
Opposition politicians in Kasese district have revealed that they are not happy with government for allegedly allocating little funds to agro-industrialization in the 2024/2025 Financial Year Budget.
Yesterday, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Matia Kasaija while at Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala presented the shillings 72.130 trillion budget to the Members of Parliament on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni.
In the budget, it was indicated that shillings 9.2 trillion would go to Governance and Security, shillings 9.9 trillion to Human Capital Development, shillings 5.2 trillion to Transport Infrastructure, shillings 2.1 trillion to Private Sector Development and shillings 2.3 trillion to the Development Plan Implementation.
Other sectors included agro-industrialization which was allocated shillings 1.7 trillion and Regional Development that was allocated shillings 1.6 trillion while Sustainable Energy Development was allocated shillings 1.1 trillion.
But a section of opposition politicians in Kasese district mainly from the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) and National Unity Platform (NUP) have criticized the allocations, arguing that the lion’s share should have been allocated to agriculture.
Mr. Robert Franco Centenary, the FDC Chairperson in-charge of Western Region alleges that agriculture has been undermined and yet is the backbone (stamina) of the country.
As a former Member of Parliament for Kasese Municipality, Mr. Centenary lashes at government for having huge debts that almost cover half of the total budget.
Mr. Ronald Bwambale Kabuku, the Kasese District FDC Chairperson says despite several comments made by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to crackdown all corrupt leaders, his efforts have always remained fruitless.
He describes President Museveni’s statements on corruption as a myth, noting that they have always been a common song in his national addresses.
In his speech during the presentation of the National Budget Reading, President Museveni vowed to crush the corrupt who he says have forgotten the force and power he wields (uses) which can deal with them. According to him, the corrupt are doing a disservice to the public.
However, Mr. Bryans Basisa, the Kasese District NUP Chairperson suspects that much of the money would be swindled by the top implementing officials.
He suggests to government to sanction and prosecute Members of Parliament who have been arrested on charges related to soliciting a 20% undue advantage from the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC), Mariam Wangadya.
However, the Kasese Municipality NRM Chairperson, Mr. Selevano Kiiro Mulhondi doesn’t agree with the opposition politicians.
According to him, the 2024/2025 Financial Year Budget that was read yesterday indicated an increment implying that there would be effective services to the citizens.
ENDS