Members of Parliament
have queried the delayed release of funds passed under the 2021 Supplementary
Appropriation Bill to facilitate the administration of newly created sub-counties.
In September
2021, the Ministry of Local Government earmarked Shillings 29.1 b for the operationalisation of 364 sub-counties and 352 town councils, which were
approved by Parliament in the Financial Year 2017/2018.
In November
2021, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development tabled the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, amounting to Shillings 4.7 trillion
from the Consolidated Fund to meet the additional expenditure for the FY 2020/2021.
Subsequently, Parliament
approved the supplementary appropriation of Shillings 29.3 billion for the operations of
the newly created administrative units. But Sarah Opendi Achieng, the Tororo
District Woman Representative told Parliament during plenary on Tuesday that the
money has never been disbursed.
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The Deputy Speaker of Parliament
Thomas Tayebwa, tasked Henry Musasizi, the State Minister of Finance in
charge of General Duties to explain the delays caused in the disbursement of
the funds.
In his response, Musasizi said they laid a loan request for domestic borrowing
to the Finance Ministry for processing but the ailment that led to the sudden
demise of the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah stalled the process.
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Musasizi disclosed that currently, the Ministry of Finance is
constrained to meet the obligation of funding the administration of the newly
created sub-counties and Town Councils but requested patience.
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Part of the supplementary was among other
things to support the recurrent expenditure on salaries, wages, and other expenses
under State House at Shillings 481 billion, Shillings 51 billion for salaries and other expenses in
the Ministry of Defence Headquarters, UPDF Land Forces and UPDF Air Forces
under the Ministry of Defence and Veterinary Affairs.
Others were Shillings 714 billion for salaries and other expenses
for public administration, tax policy department, Aid Liaison, Financial
Management Services, Treasury Services, Uganda Computer Services,
Macro-Economic Policy Department, Economic Development Policy, and Research
Department, Inspectorate and Internal Audit, Budget Policy and Evaluation
Department.
Additionally, Shillings 183 billion in expenses and salaries for
the Ministry of Health, Shillings 150 billion for salaries and other expenses for the
Ministry of Trade, Industries and Cooperatives while Shillings 109 billion under the
Judiciary among others.
Ochola's journalism career begun from Radio King 90.2 FM in Gulu around 2009, and Radio Rupiny 95.7 Fm under Vision Group in 2012. He also reported for Mighty Fire 91.5 Fm, Kitgum in 2015 before joining Wizarts Foundation in 2017.
He has been reporting for Uganda Radio Network (URN) since 2017 before being posted as Bureau Chief Kitgum, and latr Gulu between 2018 - 2021. Currently, he reports from Parliament.
