Govt spends sh72b on fuel, vehicle maintenance
May 07, 2009
THE Government has this financial year so far spent sh72b on fuel and vehicle maintenance, the public service minister has said.
By Mary Karugaba
THE Government has this financial year so far spent sh72b on fuel and vehicle maintenance, the public service minister has said.
Henry Kajura, also the second deputy Prime Minister, told the National Resistance Movement party caucus meeting in Parliament yesterday, that out of the total expenditure, about sh55b was allocated to key government institutions.
Kajura said the defence ministry spent sh25b, the Uganda National Roads Authority sh13.6b, The Police sh7.6b and State House sh4.4b. The Uganda Revenue Authority received sh2b, the President’s Office sh1b and the Prisons Service sh1b.
“The expenditure on fuel, lubricants and maintenance has been increasing every financial year,†he said.
Kajura attributed the increase to ignored procurement guidelines, which he said had led to excessive wastage and failure by officials to adhere to the use of logbooks.
Kajura also noted that there were inadequate guidelines to determine the vehicle fleet for the institutions.
According to a study carried out by the Ministry of Public Service in 2006, Out of 3,968 government vehicles, 1,051 were non-functional and 817 were ‘limping’. It also revealed that out of 1,532 local government vehicles, 407 were non-functional and 315 ‘limping’.
The study indicated that the Government could save up to sh14b if the fleet management is improved.
Kajura was responding to Buyaga MP Barnabas Tinkasimire’s threat to move a motion in Parliament asking the Government to reform its fleet management.
According to the motion, Tinkasimire proposed that the Government should sell off up to 90% of its vehicles and retain operational vehicles for the Police, army, schools and ambulances.
Tinkasimire also proposed that vehicles of 3,000-3,500 engine capacity should be limited to the President, Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice.
He also proposed that a vehicle loan scheme for top officials be introduced, adding that in the scheme, the officials would pay 50% of the total vehicle cost and the remaining 50%, inclusive of taxes, be paid by the Government.
However, Kajura rejected the proposals, saying if implemented, public officers would lose time in movement and this would affect service delivery.
Kajura argued that the officers are entitled to a vehicle in their terms of service and that their withdrawal, would be unconstitutional.
THE Government has this financial year so far spent sh72b on fuel and vehicle maintenance, the public service minister has said.
Henry Kajura, also the second deputy Prime Minister, told the National Resistance Movement party caucus meeting in Parliament yesterday, that out of the total expenditure, about sh55b was allocated to key government institutions.
Kajura said the defence ministry spent sh25b, the Uganda National Roads Authority sh13.6b, The Police sh7.6b and State House sh4.4b. The Uganda Revenue Authority received sh2b, the President’s Office sh1b and the Prisons Service sh1b.
“The expenditure on fuel, lubricants and maintenance has been increasing every financial year,†he said.
Kajura attributed the increase to ignored procurement guidelines, which he said had led to excessive wastage and failure by officials to adhere to the use of logbooks.
Kajura also noted that there were inadequate guidelines to determine the vehicle fleet for the institutions.
According to a study carried out by the Ministry of Public Service in 2006, Out of 3,968 government vehicles, 1,051 were non-functional and 817 were ‘limping’. It also revealed that out of 1,532 local government vehicles, 407 were non-functional and 315 ‘limping’.
The study indicated that the Government could save up to sh14b if the fleet management is improved.
Kajura was responding to Buyaga MP Barnabas Tinkasimire’s threat to move a motion in Parliament asking the Government to reform its fleet management.
According to the motion, Tinkasimire proposed that the Government should sell off up to 90% of its vehicles and retain operational vehicles for the Police, army, schools and ambulances.
Tinkasimire also proposed that vehicles of 3,000-3,500 engine capacity should be limited to the President, Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice.
He also proposed that a vehicle loan scheme for top officials be introduced, adding that in the scheme, the officials would pay 50% of the total vehicle cost and the remaining 50%, inclusive of taxes, be paid by the Government.
However, Kajura rejected the proposals, saying if implemented, public officers would lose time in movement and this would affect service delivery.
Kajura argued that the officers are entitled to a vehicle in their terms of service and that their withdrawal, would be unconstitutional.