Works, energy, education take lion's share

Jun 08, 2017

With an allocation of sh4.8trillion, the works and transport sector took the biggest portion of the budget.

MPs listening to budget presentation.PHOTO/Kennedy Oryema

Works, energy and education sectors have taken a lion's share according to 2017/18 budget presented by the finance minister, Matia Kasaija.

Kasaija presented the sh29trillion budget to MPs, government bodies heads and dignitaries at Serena conference hall in Kampala. President Yoweri Museveni attended. 

With an allocation of sh4.8trillion, the works and transport sector took the biggest portion of the budget.

The education sector was allocated sh2.4trillion followed by the energy sector which got sh2.37trillion.

The health sector follows with a budget of sh1.8trillion and in the fifth position is the security sector which has been allocated sh1.4trillion.
Out of the sh29trillion, sh14.6trillion will come from government tax revenue collections and the remaining balance of 14.4trillion will from external and internal borrowing.

In what worries many stakeholders including parliament, sh9.9trillion, which is 35% of the total budget, will be spent on debt repayment.
More taxes are expected to be imposed on beer, wine, soft drinks, imported wheat grain, gemming winnings, and cigarettes.

There are also tax exemptions on irrigation scheme, animal feeds, Bujagali dam, lanterns, batteries, access to tourist sites, SACCOS, locally manufactured furniture and menstrual cups (sanitary pads).






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