Government spent Shs6.493Bn in the Kiteezi landfill disaster and the money was drawn from the Contingency Fund, aParliamentary report has revealed.
Remigio Achia (Pian County), who’s also the Deputy Chairperson of Parliament’s Budget Committee made the revelation while presenting the Budget Committee’s report on the 2025/26 National Budget Estimates last week. It should be recalled that in August 2024 a deadly garbage landslide occurred in Kiteezi, following heavy rainfall and the unstable conditions at the Kiteezi landfill, resulting in the death, injury and displacement of hundreds of people, and extensive damage of homes near the landfill.
Achia informed Parliament that in line with Section 25 (3) of the Public Finance Management Act, Cap. 17l, the Contingency Fund was allocated Shs169Bn by Parliament in the 2024/25 budget and by the end of December 2024, Shs75Bn had been transferred to the fund and of the amount transferred to the fund, Shs15.37Bn was spent.
“Shs8.437Bn was released to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) for disaster responses in the flood affected districts. Shs374 Million to Ministry of Works and Transport, Shs70 Million to Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development, Shs4.916Bn to Kampala Capital City Authority to manage the after effects of the Kiteezi landfill disaster, Shs1.077Bn to Uganda Police to manage security at Kiteezi, Shs500 Million to Ministry of Kampala Metropolitan Affairs to coordinate disaster responses at Kiteezi,” explained Remigio.
It should be noted that the Public Finance Management Act Cap. 171 provides that the Contingencies Fund shall be replenished every financial year with an amount equivalent to 0.5 percent of the appropriated annual budget of Government of the previous financial year.
Achia raised concerns over the limited amounts allocated to next financial year’s budget observing that for FY2024/25 the appropriated annual budget was Shs 34.318Bn. Therefore, the Contingencies Fund for FY2025/26 is expected to be Shs 171.1Bn.
“However, Government has allocated Shs169.0Bn which is less than the expected amount reflecting a deficit of Shs2.1Bn,” remarked Remigio.
