Mengo seeks to complete Kasubi Tombs this financial year

Jul 18, 2017

22% of the sh74bn budget will be spent on education

 

Buganda has made the restoration of Kasubi Tombs one of its main tasks in this financial year.

The kingdom's finance minister Waggwa Nsibirwa said the restoration of the tombs is still ongoing but slow given the nature of the works.

"We want to finish this work by the end of this financial year. The work at Kasubi is not only tedious, we must follow all the rituals and norms and this takes some time," he said.

He revealed while presenting the kingdom's budget for the financial year 2017/18 during the Lukiiko session at Bulange-Mengo. They approved and passed a budget of sh74bn.

Nsibirwa said the main focus will be on health, agriculture and education.

They intend to work with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) to give out 6 million coffee seedlings and 4,400 banana suckers to farmers.

"Agriculture is the cornerstone of our economy and therefore we are prioritizing the Emwanyi Terimba campaign. We will be working together with UCDA," he noted.  

Nsibirwa said 22% (about sh16bn) of the budget will be spent on education to increase bursaries both locally and abroad.

He said they also intend to bring in a mobile hospital with the support from Baganda Bumu North America.

"I think this van is already being shipped. It will be working in areas where there are no hospitals as we construct more. The Kabaka also endorsed a proposal to acquire a water ambulance for the people of Ssese Islands," he added.

He also revealed that the kingdom raised sh313m from the 2017 Kabaka's Birthday Run, of which sh59m was spent on organizing the function.

He said sh110m of the proceeds was given to the Central Public Health Laboratories of the Central Government who are the qualified experts in sickle cell testing while the rest will be used to test and treat people during the health camps for the kingdom.

Katikkiro Peter Charles Mayiga and the entire Lukiiko also recognized the works done by the late Ssebaana Kizito and late Rotary International president-elect Sam Owori who died in the US on Friday.

he children of the late ohn sebaana izito led by oseph ubiru izito thanking the kingdom and government for giving a state burial to their father hoto by eter usomokeThe children of the late John Ssebaana Kizito led by Joseph Mubiru Kizito thanking the kingdom and government for giving a state burial to their father. Photo by Peter Busomoke

They passed a resolution thanking Ssebaana for his dedicated service to the kingdom and the country at large.

Mayiga also called for special courts to handle compensation cases expeditiously.

This follows a government's proposal to amend the Land Act for compulsory acquisition of land for government projects.

He said cases can be handled in three months, saying this would save government huge sums of money.

The Lukiiko was also attended by Vice President Edward Ssekandi, KCCA executive director, Jennifer Musisi and several MPs.

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