Civil society question sh24trillion budget without oxygen vote

By Francis Emorut                                       

The civil society group is upset with the sh24 trillion national budget for the financial year 2015/2016 saying no money has been allocated to purchase of oxygen for operations of hospitals across the country.

The ministry of health earmarked sh10b for procurement of oxygen for referral hospitals across the country but it has not been reflected in this fiscal year.

The budget is to be read tomorrow by the minister of finance, Matia Kasaija.

The civil society organizations under their umbrella of Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group aired their disappointed with government during a press conference in Kampala.

They said Government was treating purchasing of oxygen plants as non-funded priority and yet it is critical for saving lives of patients.

"We are saddened, even with sh24 trillion budget Government still has not allocated sh10bn to the ministry of health to procure oxygen plants across the referral hospitals that are imperative for preserving life in critical life threatening situations," Emmanuel Byaruhanga, the board member of Uganda Human Settlement Network said.

The civil society actors were also angry that President Yoweri Museveni in his state of national address didn't mention the progress on oil industry as far as drilling and exploration are concerned.

"As CSOs we would like to be apprised about the current progress towards commencement of oil exploration, drilling and construction of the oil refinery and we hope the Budget speech will mention some of this," Julius Mukunda the coordinator of Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group said.

They also questioned the Government's capability of financing the sh24 trillion national budget saying the projected revenue from taxes is about sh11 trillion which means the former is able to fund budget by 44.5% leaving 55.5% to come from external and domestic borrowing from the private sector.

"Let's face facts Government can't fund three-quarters of the 2015/2016 national budget as alluded by the President without external and domestic borrowing," Mukunda said.

Julius Kapwepwe the director of programmes at Uganda Debt Network pointed out Government should be realistic about its budget.

"We want to see action beyond lip-service," Kapwepwe said.

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