Security, markets top Govt priorities - Museveni

By Vision Reporter

President Yoweri Museveni has said the Government has set up eleven priority areas to be addressed in the 2014/2015 budget preparations.

The President was on Thursday closing the 2014/2015 National Consultative Budget Workshop at Serena Hotel Conference Centre in Kampala. The one-day workshop was attended, among others, by Cabinet Ministers, MPs, LC5 Chairpersons, Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) and diplomats.

Museveni who had just returned home from Luanda where he attended the 5th ICGLR Summit, noted that “this is supposed to be a strategic session to plan for the country. China is now number two in the world in economic development because of addressing the issue of infrastructure development”.

President Museveni addressing National Consultative Budget Workshop at Serena Hotel. PPU Photo

He told the session that the Government of Uganda was working on the issue of a big market for its products through the East African Community and COMESA among other regional economic blocs.

He disclosed that the Government’s most outstanding priorities are defense and security adding that without an army, one cannot have an economy. He assured the session that the army will handle any problem in Uganda and promptly.

The President cited other crucial issues as being electricity supply, road construction, railways and ICT infrastructure. He disclosed that sh3,015 billion out of the 9,000 billion for the 2012/2013 fiscal year budget was earmarked for roads, electricity and scientific innovations.

He assured that the NRM Government would ensure the provision of piped water for at least the towns in the whole country as well as for the highland water-stressed areas. He also said the Government would promote human resource development, buy planting and breeding materials.

The President also announced that Government would work on the industrial parks and provide incentives to investors adding that the other priority to be addressed is scientific innovations such as the manufacture of cars and mini-buses as exemplified by the Kiira vehicle.

Museveni criticized officials who diverted funds budgeted for the development of Namanve Industrial Park and also lambasted personalities that constructed a Primary School in Namanve saying the act was detrimental.

He assured the country that the national budget will become easier once Uganda has started exploiting her oil resource.

He, however, emphasized that before the oil resource is harvested, Government would maintain the set priorities.

The president also said that mountainous areas which have no water springs, Government would provide them with water supply from Lake Victoria and River Kagera.