Foreign affairs budget diverted to CHOGM
May 17, 2007
THE entire budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been diverted to meet costs for the hosting of the Commonwealth Head of Government’s Meeting (CHOGM).
By Apollo Mubiru
THE entire budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been diverted to meet costs for the hosting of the Commonwealth Head of Government’s Meeting (CHOGM).
A report by the parliamentary budget committee to be presented to the President states that the ministry’s entire non-wage budget has been earmarked for CHOGM activities.
“The above state of affairs implies that no funds are left for the operations of the ministry under the recurrent budget. The committee notes that reduction in the non-wage provision resulted into a shortfall in the recurrent budget leaving some key priorities of the ministry under funded and others not funded at all,†the MPs noted.
They learnt that sh58.61b of the foreign affairs non-wage provision has been earmarked for CHOGM activities.
Uganda will host the CHOGM summit in November presided over by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England at a cost of sh73b.
In addition, the ministry’s budget allocation is projected to decrease from sh68.57b to sh58.61b representing a sh9.96b decrease in the next financial year, the MPs said.
The committee, chaired by William Oketcho (Budama West), recommended that ministry and missions abroad should be moved from the public administration sector to the economic and social services sector.
They argued that it was wrong to categorise the ministry under the pubic administration despite its substantial contribution to economic development.
They also recommended that the ministry prioritises payment to international organisations to save the country from frequent embarrassments.
The said although the Government had tried to streamline her membership to the international organisations, it had failed to pay a membership bill of sh22b.
The MPs recommended that the ministry finds alternative ways of financing its activities.
This is after learning that staff in missions abroad are not given facilitation.
They said in addition to enhancing diplomatic cooperation, missions should advertise the country abroad.
THE entire budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been diverted to meet costs for the hosting of the Commonwealth Head of Government’s Meeting (CHOGM).
A report by the parliamentary budget committee to be presented to the President states that the ministry’s entire non-wage budget has been earmarked for CHOGM activities.
“The above state of affairs implies that no funds are left for the operations of the ministry under the recurrent budget. The committee notes that reduction in the non-wage provision resulted into a shortfall in the recurrent budget leaving some key priorities of the ministry under funded and others not funded at all,†the MPs noted.
They learnt that sh58.61b of the foreign affairs non-wage provision has been earmarked for CHOGM activities.
Uganda will host the CHOGM summit in November presided over by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of England at a cost of sh73b.
In addition, the ministry’s budget allocation is projected to decrease from sh68.57b to sh58.61b representing a sh9.96b decrease in the next financial year, the MPs said.
The committee, chaired by William Oketcho (Budama West), recommended that ministry and missions abroad should be moved from the public administration sector to the economic and social services sector.
They argued that it was wrong to categorise the ministry under the pubic administration despite its substantial contribution to economic development.
They also recommended that the ministry prioritises payment to international organisations to save the country from frequent embarrassments.
The said although the Government had tried to streamline her membership to the international organisations, it had failed to pay a membership bill of sh22b.
The MPs recommended that the ministry finds alternative ways of financing its activities.
This is after learning that staff in missions abroad are not given facilitation.
They said in addition to enhancing diplomatic cooperation, missions should advertise the country abroad.