MPs query defence entertainment spending
May 21, 2009
THE Ministry of Defence spent sh10b on entertainment and welfare above the approved budget, Parliament has heard. The ministry is seeking approval of sh40.5b for the recurrent and sh6.8b for development budgets respectively.
By Mary Karugaba
THE Ministry of Defence spent sh10b on entertainment and welfare above the approved budget, Parliament has heard.
Presenting the ministry’s supplementary budget to the parliamentary budget committee yesterday, the defence committee chairman, Matthias Kasamba, said the money was part of the ministry’s classified expenditure.
The ministry is seeking approval of sh40.5b for the recurrent and sh6.8b for development budgets respectively.
This is addition to sh48.5b approved in the first supplementary budget. The ministry was initially allocated sh445b.
There was drama when Kasamba asked the committee to proceed, arguing that the expenditures were classified, adding that some of the money was spent in the Garamba operation against Joseph Kony’s LRA rebels. William Okecho, however, objected and read out a list of perceived classified expenditures.
Okecho asked Kasamba to explain what was classified about entertainment and welfare, which cost sh10b, printing, stationary and photocopying (sh6.8b), carriage, haulage, freight hire (sh11b), fuel, lubricants and oils (sh7b), allowances (sh408m) and water (sh430m).
“The ministry is covering so many things under classified expenditure,†he noted.
Although the UPDF joint chief of Staff, Brig. Robert Rusoke and the ministry’s permanent secretary, Rosette Byengoma, were present, it was the agriculture state minister Retired Lt. Col. Bright Rwamirama, who offered to answer.
He explained that classified expenditures arose according to existing items.
The finance ministry budget director, Patrick Ochailap, explained that the items were on the charts of accounts and that it was up to the auditor to ask what was spent on the items.
Earlier, while presenting the second supplementary budget, finance state minister Lukia Chakamendo said the ministry incurred extra expenditure due to emergency pressure.
She said sh124b was needed to close the gaps. In March, parliament approved the first supplementary budget of sh125b.
Ochailap said the supplementary budget would be financed with resources from the Central Bank, non-tax revenues and re-allocations within the budgets. He said the re-allocations would mainly affect and salaries and the districts.
“There will be an impact on some activities, but these are choices we have to make if we have to do budget cuts,†he said.
Mukitale charged that the ministry was spending without considering the effects of the global economic crisis.
THE Ministry of Defence spent sh10b on entertainment and welfare above the approved budget, Parliament has heard.
Presenting the ministry’s supplementary budget to the parliamentary budget committee yesterday, the defence committee chairman, Matthias Kasamba, said the money was part of the ministry’s classified expenditure.
The ministry is seeking approval of sh40.5b for the recurrent and sh6.8b for development budgets respectively.
This is addition to sh48.5b approved in the first supplementary budget. The ministry was initially allocated sh445b.
There was drama when Kasamba asked the committee to proceed, arguing that the expenditures were classified, adding that some of the money was spent in the Garamba operation against Joseph Kony’s LRA rebels. William Okecho, however, objected and read out a list of perceived classified expenditures.
Okecho asked Kasamba to explain what was classified about entertainment and welfare, which cost sh10b, printing, stationary and photocopying (sh6.8b), carriage, haulage, freight hire (sh11b), fuel, lubricants and oils (sh7b), allowances (sh408m) and water (sh430m).
“The ministry is covering so many things under classified expenditure,†he noted.
Although the UPDF joint chief of Staff, Brig. Robert Rusoke and the ministry’s permanent secretary, Rosette Byengoma, were present, it was the agriculture state minister Retired Lt. Col. Bright Rwamirama, who offered to answer.
He explained that classified expenditures arose according to existing items.
The finance ministry budget director, Patrick Ochailap, explained that the items were on the charts of accounts and that it was up to the auditor to ask what was spent on the items.
Earlier, while presenting the second supplementary budget, finance state minister Lukia Chakamendo said the ministry incurred extra expenditure due to emergency pressure.
She said sh124b was needed to close the gaps. In March, parliament approved the first supplementary budget of sh125b.
Ochailap said the supplementary budget would be financed with resources from the Central Bank, non-tax revenues and re-allocations within the budgets. He said the re-allocations would mainly affect and salaries and the districts.
“There will be an impact on some activities, but these are choices we have to make if we have to do budget cuts,†he said.
Mukitale charged that the ministry was spending without considering the effects of the global economic crisis.