Parliament Approves Shs4.4 Trillion Supplementary Request for 2021/2022

Parliament has approved a supplementary request of Shs4.4 trillion to cover unforeseen expenses in the 2021/2022 fiscal year. On 10 May, the finance ministry presented a Supplementary Appropriation Bill to Parliament, seeking additional funds.

Speaker Anita Among referred the request to the Budget Committee during the session, instructing them to review and report back to the House within a specified time frame. With the budget process nearing its conclusion, Deputy Chairperson of the Budget Committee, Hon. Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi, recommended the approval of the supplementary request during Tuesday’s plenary session on 16 May 2023.

The committee’s report, presented by Mudimi to Speaker Anita Among, assured the Members of Parliament that the supplementary request aligns with Parliament’s resolutions on the supplementary expenditure schedules 1 and 2. Mudimi, who also represents Elgon County, stated that the Supplementary Appropriation Bill for 2023 includes a total of Shs4.4 trillion. Out of this amount, Shs2.5 trillion is allocated to recurrent expenditure, while Shs1.9 trillion is designated for development expenditure.

Despite an attempt by Hon. Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi, the Butambala MP, to reduce the budget by Shs108 billion allocated to the trade ministry (vote 105), the proposed reduction was not approved by the House. The allocated funds were intended for the acquisition of equipment to be leased to Atiak Sugar works. According to the minority report, authored by Hon. Kivumbi, the Ministry of Finance should provide a share certificate for the acquisition of equity shares in Atiak Sugar factory worth Shs108 billion on behalf of Uganda.

The appropriation request states that the funds will be sourced from the Consolidated Fund under the Public Finance Management Act 2015. These funds are designated for use during the first and second quarters of the fiscal year.

Within the recurrent expenditure category, the defence ministry and the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (land and air forces) will receive Shs620 billion. State House will be allocated Shs193 billion for salaries, wages, and other expenditures. The education ministry will receive Shs50 billion for salaries, while the health ministry will be allocated Shs134 billion. Additionally, the Electoral Commission will receive Shs35 billion for salaries, and Treasury Operations will receive Shs228 billion for salaries, wages, and other expenses.