By Drake Nyamugabwa
The government Friday passed out gender and equity budgeting national trainers who will support Government institutions to address gender and equality concerns in budgets as required by the Public Finance, Management Act, 2015.
Minister of State for Finance in charge of Planning, David Bahati presided over the ceremony that took place at the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Kampala.
Bahati said Gender and Equity provisions of the Public Finance Management Act, 2015 obliges Ministries, Departments and Agencies to address gender and equity concerns in the budget so that all sections of the population including women, people with disability, youth and children, older persons and ethnic minority are included in the national development process.
He said Uganda is the only country in the world with such a law, adding that some countries are now coming to learn from Uganda.
“The NRM Manifesto stipulates an all-inclusive and just society emphasizing regional development, empowering women and youth as well as people with disability, older persons and ethnic minorities,” Bahati said.
DFID is supporting Uganda Government in this effort of promoting gender equality and equity through the Support to Uganda Response for Gender Equality (SURGE) programme.
The trainers have been drawn from diverse institutions including: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Civil Service College, Makerere University, Local Government, Civil society and the Private Sector.
DFID in their statement congratulated government upon achieving this milestone and pledged more support and cooperation.
Julius Mukunda on behalf of Civil society thanked the Ministry of Finance for supporting gender and equity budgeting, adding that Government should make use of the trainers to address the gaps in gender and equity budgeting.
