The Secretary to the Treasury, Ramathan Goobi,
The government has released up to 5.899 trillion Shillings for various activities in the first quarter of the 2024/25 financial year.
A bulk of the funds will finance the non-wage bill with an allocation of 3.371 trillion Shillings, followed by the wage bill at 1.990 trillion Shillings, among other allocations.
Of this, 323.50 billion Shillings is meant for pension and gratuity payments, and 308 billion Shillings will go towards supporting the operations of local governments, which includes 112.28 billion for capitation grants and 95.26 billion Shillings towards Public universities, the Uganda Management Institute and the Law Development Centre.
Additionally, 43.77 billion Shillings have been allocated to both the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) and the Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB).
Speaking at the release of the funds, The Secretary to the Treasury Ramathan Goobi, stated that health operations have received 22.58 billion Shillings for referral hospitals, 12.31 billion for the Uganda Cancer Institute, 7.06 billion for the Uganda Heart Institute, and 4.1 billion for Uganda Blood Transfusion Services.
He mentioned, “Subvention under the Ministry of Health is 21.85 billion Shillings which is to cater for medical interns’ salaries,” adding that 173.68 billion Shillings have been given to the National Medical Stores to purchase essential drugs and medicines.
Goobi cautioned Ugandans against using referral hospitals as primary health care facilities because this increases their burden overwhelming their budgets and making them appear incompetent.
The Ministry of Defense has received 253.30 billion Shillings, the Uganda Police Force 56.43 billion Shillings, and the Uganda Prison Service has an allocation of 44.79 billion Shillings. The Internal Security Organization will have a share of 28.08 billion Shillings, while 19.44 billion shillings will go to the External Security Organization.
Goobi added that Parliament has received 153.60 billion Shillings, the judiciary 47.40 billion Shillings, the Auditor General 10.11 billion Shillings, and Science, Technology, and Innovation 124.63 billion Shillings, which he says is a strategic investment to catapult the economy to the next level.
The Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) has been given 124 billion Shillings to buy more shares in the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).
Under the development package, the Uganda Revenue Authority has received 14.34 billion Shillings for its operations, and the Kampala Capital City Authority 22.67 billion Shillings.
Goobi advised accounting officers to ensure that salaries, pensions, and gratuities are paid by the 28th of every month and that payrolls for salaries and pensions are displayed on notice boards. He emphasized the payment of domestic arrears to avoid an accumulation of penalties and urged to avoid creating other arrears by all means.
He also cautioned against unapproved recruitment adding that all recruitment should be done with clearance from the Ministry of Public Service, after ascertaining the availability of adequate wage from the Ministry of Finance.” He added that promotions and redeployment should also be backed up by adequate wage provisions.
Goobi further affirmed that this financial year, the government commits to fiscal discipline, budget credibility, timely service delivery, and project execution.
–URN
