• Uganda’s opposition Members of Parliament are up in arms over a Ksh.12.8 million (Shs350 million) budget proposed for President Museveni’s beddings, clothes and footwear
• The money has been allocated under the Annual Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2023/2024
• The legislators proposed the reduction of the State House Budget by Ksh.3 billion (UShs82 billion)
Uganda’s opposition Members of Parliament are up in arms over a Ksh.12.8 million (UShs350 million) budget proposed for President Museveni’s beddings, clothes and footwear.
Uganda’s President, Yoweri Museveni
According to The Monitor, the money has been allocated under the Annual Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2023/2024.
The Monitor reports that the protests were led by the Shadow Minister of Finance, Mr Muwanga Kivumbi and Kira Municipality legislator, Mr Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda who presented the Minority Report together. They rejected some of the proposals in the Majority Report submitted by the Budget Committee Chairperson, Mr Patrick Isiagi Opolot (Kachumbala County).
“There is Shs350 million to buy clothes. The same amount was provided last year. This means we are spending on average UShs1 million (Ksh.36K) on President’s clothes every day,” Mr Ssemujju said while referring to the Minority Report.
“Our President is not a star from Hollywood requiring to change [his] wardrobe every day. He is a president of a poor country. Why buy him clothes worth Shs350 million every year? What happened to the clothes that we bought last year?” Mr Ssemujju added.
In the proposed budget for the Financial Year 2023/24, an amount of Ksh.8.8 billion (UShs239 billion) has been provided for the State House.
The legislators proposed the reduction of the State House Budget by Ksh.3 billion (UShs82 billion).
“…How on earth can we provide Shs43 billion (Ksh.1.6 billion) for ceremonies when the road network in the Capital City has broken down. The money for ceremonies should be spent on repairing roads in Kampala and Wakiso,” Mr Ssemujju said.
The legislators drew attention to other items being funded under State House, including furniture that has been allocated UShs600 million (Ksh.22 million) and veterinary Services UShs184 million (Ksh.6.8 million) among other items.
