Defense allocated sh1.4trillion, needs sh7b more

By Paul Kiwuuwa and Henry Sekanjako     
         
 The Defense ministry needs an extra sh28.8bn to spend on food.  The permanent secretary ministry of defense Rosette Byengoma Thursday told MPs on the parliamentary committee on defense scrutinizing the budget that due to the escalating prices of food in the country, it is necessary for Parliament to increase their budget.

 "We also want sh515.9bn for acquisition and maintenance of military equipment," Byengoma added.

 Flanked by the defense minister Cripus Kiyonga, army commander Aronda Nyakairima, Byengoma also asked for sh29.359b for army uniforms, sh22.6b, for electricity and sh22.3b for air force fuel, sh14.2 b for fuel of lands forces.

The current estimates for the financial year 2013-14 for the ministry as allocated by finance ministry is sh1.4trillion, with a shortfall of sh7b, leaving the total defence budget at sh1.7 trillion.

 The MPs notably Butambala MP Muwanga Kivumbi asked the defense official to avail them with the recruitment and promotions structure within the army, saying it is still "lopsided".

 Kivumbi cited the all the top army officers appearing before the committee as hailing from western Uganda, hence the need for a balanced army representative of all regions of Uganda.

 Makindye MP Hussein Kyanjo said even the police and prison forces are headed by top officials hailing from western Uganda.

However Kiyonga never responded to the query but promised to bring the recruitment and promotion structures to the committee next time.