Mixed reactions as OPM seeks sh47b for affirmative action
Ojara Martin Mapenduzi (Gulu West, Bardege-Layibi Division) asked the budget committee to instead reduce the OPM budget saying the office needs to be cleaned first.
The Chairperson of the Committee on Presidential Affairs, Jesca Ababiku before the budget committee of parliament. (Photos by Maria Wamala)
NewVision Reporter
@NewVision
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Legislators have expressed mixed reactions to a request by the Office of the Prime Minister for sh47b in the Financial Year 2024/2025 to finance affirmative action programmes.
Ojara Martin Mapenduzi, MP Gulu West (Bardege-Layibi Division) during the budget committee of parliament Moses Aleper MP Chekwii Country Nakapiripirit District during the budget committee of parliament
The request is contained in a Parliament's Committee on Presidential Affairs report on the national budget framework paper for the financial year 2024/2025.
According to the report presented by committee chairperson Jesca Ababiku before the budget committee, the committee requests sh47b to facilitate affirmative action programmes to enable OPM to expedite envisaged improvement in the livelihood and welfare of the identified areas.
Affirmative action refers to a policy aimed at increasing opportunities for people who are underrepresented in various areas of society. These areas can be in workplaces or educational institutions, among others.
According to the report, interventions geared towards improving livelihoods in northern Uganda have a funding gap of sh14b, making it difficult to restore the welfare of the citizens. Busoga Affairs has a funding gap of sh3.3b, while Teso Affairs has a funding gap of 5.4 billion.
"Therefore, kick-starting the implementation of the Teso Development Plan is far from reality. Bunyoro Affairs interventions have a funding gap of sh3.2b that constrains the implementation of Bunyoro Integrated Affirmative Action development plan, while Luwero-Rwenzori and Karamoja Affairs have a gap of 8.8 billion and 12.6.4 billion, respectively,” the report reads.
However, this request did not go well with a section of legislators from Northern Uganda on the budget committee.
Ojara Martin Mapenduzi (Gulu West, Bardege-Layibi Division) asked the budget committee to instead reduce the OPM budget saying the office needs to be cleaned first.
“This, office is known for bad things as far as northern Uganda is concerned. Right from the time of Amama Mbabazi. Money for Peace Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) for Northern Uganda was stolen, later on, the iron sheets saga, and then you hear rotten posho and beans being procured not forgetting the substandard blankets,” Mapenduzi said.
“With this trend, I don't think it is realistic to continue pumping money in a place where there are a lot of issues without cleaning,” he said.
“You are asking for 47 billion for affirmative action and 14 billion for livelihood improvement. Clarify under which programme? You have not talked about Northern Uganda Social Action Fund,” Mapenduzi said.
However, New Vision Online could not independently verify Mapenduzi's claim that OPM was not using the money well.
Call for NUSAF-4 funding
Moses Aleper (Chekwii Country) asked Ababiku to explain why her committee report had no funding budgeted for NUSAF-4 yet according to him, the President promised continuity of the NUSF programme.
“We have interacted with His Excellency Yoweri Museveni on the continuation of NUSAF so that there will be NUSAF IV. The last interaction with him was in Kyankwanzi. He said it would be there but we have not seen anything in your budget. That is our equaliser. As we see the rest of Uganda running ahead in development,” Aleper told the committee.
NUSAF3 is a five-year social protection and affirmative programme implemented under OPM and financed by the World Bank.
Moses Goli Ogwal (Dokolo North) said: “I interacted with the World Bank. They told me that the money for NUSAF IV is available. They said they have $250m as a loan and $40m as a grant”.
“They are saying that everything is done and that it was approved by Cabinet. What remains is signing. I'm wondering why it is not signed. If it is not signed in the near months, then they are not funding it.” he added, asking Ababiku to go and reconcile with the finance ministry and report to the committee.