More Sh5T needed to address Uganda's challenges

Mar 05, 2019

“Our budget cannot address all issues at once that is why we prioritise in service delivery starting with the most critical,” said Kasaija.

ECONOMY

KIBAALE - The minister of finance, planning and economic development Matia Kasaija has said that Uganda needs an additional sh5trillion to address all issues at hand in the country.

"Our budget cannot address all issues at once that is why we prioritise in service delivery starting with the most critical," said Kasaija.

Uganda's current budget stands at sh37.2trillion but this cannot handle all the issues the country has at hand according to the finance minister.

Kasaija made the remarks on Sunday while responding to concerns raised by Kibaale residents at Bujuni Play ground in Kibaale district, where majority residents were wondering why compensation of the absentee landlords has delayed.

In response, Kasaija said that compensation of Absentee landlords will have to wait because there are more urgent priorities to handle that will spur economic development.

He said that priorities have already been set and the country is now anxious to finalize and bring on board Uganda Airlines to ease accessibility of the country and promote tourism which is a big foreign exchange earner.

Other priorities include addressing issues affecting Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) and police, ensuring that education needs are addressed and citizens continue getting health care services from government health facilities and that government will continue investing more in infrastructure such as roads and electricity to trigger the four lows; Low cost of electricity, Low cost of transport, low cost of money and low cost of labour to do business.

"Government will continue to invest in roads especially the oil roads to expedite the process of producing oil in the country to increase the country's competitiveness on world trade," said Kasaija.

He further challenged Kibaale residents to ensure they work to increase household income and should not wait for government to give them money from oil revenue.

"Don't wait for money that government shall bring from oil but tap into the available opportunities in the sector. Supply food to the workers in the oil industry but if you wait for money from government you will not succeed," said Kasaija.

About corruption, Kasaija vowed to deal with anybody found extorting money from jobseekers.

"Don't allow such a vice to continue in our area. Give me one person who was asked to pay money for a job with all the evidence and I will show you," said Kasaija.

Regarding wetland encroachment, Kasaija warned that the country's future is in jeopardy if urgent intervention is not done to salvage the decreasing wetlands in the country.

"Wetland encroachment is putting our country at risk especially agriculture and power generation which is needed to accelerate economic development," said Kasaija.

He asked sand and clay miners to cooperate with environmental officers to replace the degraded areas to avoid further damaging of the wetlands.

He further assured Kibaale town council residents that the issue of poor quality piped water is being handled and government has earmarked sh18b to expand water coverage and also use borehole water which is cleaner compared to the river water that has been in use. 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});