We'll not overspend on elections - Muhakanizi

Sep 29, 2015

FINANCE Ministry Permanent Secretary Keith Muhakanizi has scoffed at claims that the government will overspend during the election period

By Billy Rwothungeyo

 

FINANCE Ministry Permanent Secretary Keith Muhakanizi has scoffed at claims that the government will overspend during the election period.

 

“Over a year ago, speculators were saying that government is going to overspend because of elections,” he said on Tuesday during the release of the latest Global Open Budget Survey at the ministry headquarters in Kampala.

 

“I am happy to report that as of today, we have not overspent, and we shall not overspend. We shall spend as per what was approved by parliament. If that is not enough, we shall cut government expenditure.”

 

Uganda scored 62% in the latest Global Open Budget Survey released by the International Budget Partnership. Uganda outshone neighbors Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda who scored 48, 46 and 36 out of 100 in the survey.

 

In June, Finance Minister Matia Kasaija read out a sh24.1 trillion Budget for the 2015/16 financial year, up from 2014/15’s sh15 trillion.

 

As Uganda draws closer towards the 2016 general elections, some commentators have expressed fears that government will spend more than what Kasaija presented before the nation.

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