Members of Parliament joined the Deputy Speaker Anita Among in protesting a ban imposed on travels both in land and abroad, saying the decision interferes with Parliament’s legislative and oversight mandate.
The protest by lawmakers took place during today’s plenary where Deputy Speaker informed lawmakers that the Ministry of Finance had written to President Museveni asking him not to approve the travel budget for Parliament as a move to curb wasteful expenditure.
“When we made our budget for Parliament for 2022/2023, it is so unfortunate that the Minister of Finance has to write to me saying we aren’t going to fund inland travel, I am wondering whether Ministry of Finance has taken over the role of appropriation, why do you want to stifle the operation of parliament?” Among asked.
Henry Musasizi, Minister of State Finance for General Duties however said the decision was based on the failure by Government to meet revenue collection target.
“It isn’t our intention to stifle the work of parliament or any other MDA. We pass a budget as parliament premised on revenue performance and also other revenue sources, when I don’t get all the money, I release what I have,” Musasizi said.
It however should be known that the budget under discussion is for the next financial year 2022/2023 and therefore, no revenue has yet been collected, thus making Ministry of Finance’s decision preemptive.
If the latest budget cuts are approved by the President, this will make it the second year in the row that parliament is bickering with Ministry of Finance over budget cuts.
In the 2021/2022 national budget, Ministry of Finance revealed that Shs203.417Bn was recovered after implementing some budget cuts on travel abroad on 321 entities.
