Govt releases 2.3 trillion to districts, ministries

Jan 10, 2014

The Government has released sh2.37 trillion to ministries, local governments and other statutory bodies for this financial year’s third quarter which runs from January to March.

By Francis Kagolo
               
The Government has released sh2.37 trillion to ministries, local governments and other statutory bodies for this financial year’s third quarter which runs from January to March.


Of the sh2.37 trillion, ministries and government agencies got sh1.74 trillion while referral hospitals got sh15.9b. A total of sh23.9b was given to Ugandan missions abroad while sh585b went to local governments.

Cumulatively, a total of sh6.67 trillion has been released for the three quarters since the financial year started in July 2013.

According to Keith Muhakanizi, the permanent secretary ministry of finance, this is equivalent to 77% of the approved budget (about sh13 trillion) excluding projects like Karuma dam, nonrecourse taxes and external financing.

Muhakanizi said the funds will be released on Monday subject to provision of work plans by the accounting officers.

“We are glad that we have kept our promise of releasing all the money by the 10th of the first month of every quarter,” Muhakanizi said.

He was speaking at a meeting organised to announce the release at the ministry offices in Kampala Friday.

 Development partners, civil society and the media attended the meeting where Muhakanizi reiterated the need for accountability and transparency on the part of accounting officers.

The permanent secretary explained that the capitation grants to schools will be sent directly to the respective schools’ accounts in line with the school term calendar. The decision, first implemented this financial year, is aimed at ensuring that schools receive the funds in time.  

The money for the first term has been included in the January release, Muhakanizi said.

He, however, asked school head teachers and other accounting officers to publish all details on their respective noticeboards for accountability purposes.

He warned accounting officers who deny the media and general public revenue and expenditure information, saying it was inappropriate.

A total sh6.65b has been released to the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) to facilitate the marking of national examinations for primary, and secondary school leavers.

“UNEB requested for the money in the 3rd quarter while they should have done so in the second quarter. This caused the delay in disbursing the funds,” said Kenneth Mugambe, the director budget in the finance ministry.

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