Nadduli decries budget cuts on security organs

Minister Abdul Naduli (C) gestures while appearing before the Presidential Affairs Committee of Parliament. Photo by Roderick Ahimbazwe

Minister Without Portfolio, Abdul Naduli, has taken exception to President Yoweri Museveni's directive sanctioning a 10% budget cut across board for all ministries, departments and agencies, saying security entities should be exempted.

Early this year, Museveni sanctioned the impugned budget cuts in order to raise funds necessary to critical infrastructure in Uganda's nascent oil sector.

Appearing before lawmakers sitting on the presidential affairs committee over the  budget estimates for the president's office for the next financial year, Naduli said government is risking undoing the gains made over the years if this policy directive is implemented without exception.

"Security is an issue that anchors on a firm ground everything we want to achieve as a country. I pray that you make a case for government to reconsider its position on across the board budget cuts," Naduli said earlier today.

Both External Security Organization and Internal Security Organization (ISO) are under the Office of the President.

MPs heard that ISO is in the throes of financial constraints which risk hamstringing its operations as evidenced by failure to provide funds to buy vehicles for intelligence operatives in the financial year 2017/18.

Minister Esther Mbayo (L) and undersecretary in the Office of the President, Deborah Katuramu, while appearing before the committee. Photo by Roderick Ahimbazwe

ISO requires sh22b to procure 134 vehicles in the next 12 months and sh17.8b to buy 1,443 motor cycles.

However, a paltry sh0.41b has been provided, leaving a whooping sh21.84b funding gap.

However, Naduli must have been preaching to the converted as MPs Simeo Nsubuga, Col. Fred Mwesigye and Ibrahim Kasozi promised not to pass the budget of the president's budget unless the budget of security entities is increased.