CSOs urge government to prioritize funding of social sectors in FY2021/22 Budget to address the needs of the people.
The Budget estimates for 2021/22 set the highest allocations to Governance and security programmes, Human Capital Development, Integrated Transport Infrastructure, and services while the least funded included Public sector transformation, Community mindset programme among others.
Drake Nyamugabwa
As parliament debates and scrutinizes the FY2021/22 budget estimates, Civil Society Organizations (CSO) under their umbrella The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) have urged government through Ministry of Finance, Planning and National Development to focus on the need of the people though increasing funding to social sector including education, health, agriculture among others which they say has not been put on the top list.
The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development reduced the budget estimates for 2021/22 by 4.3 trillion shillings from 45.5 Trillion in FY 2020/21 to 41.3 Trillion-shilling 2021/2021 financial year citing failure by Government to realize domestic revenue to support the budget due to the COVID-19 and its effects, and a U-turn from the loans and grants coming from eternal sources.
The Budget estimates for 2021/22 set the highest allocations to Governance and security programmes, Human Capital Development, Integrated Transport Infrastructure, and services while the least funded included Public sector transformation, Community mindset programme among others.
The Budget according to CSOs is contradicting with the National Development Plan III (NDP III) which they say will jeopardise achievement of vision 2040.
During a joint press conference held at the offices Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) in Ntinda on Wednesday 21st April 2022, The Program Officer, FOWODE, Emmanuel Kashaija said that as CSOs they are concerned with the budget taking I to account the need of the citizens through increasing financing towards social sectors which they will improve the livelihoods and incomes of most households as envisaged in the NDP III.
“Emphasis should ensure that the final budget is people centered and addresses the needs of the ordinary people” he said
Africa Kiiza from SEATINI, said that though may negotiations have been made to expand the market of Ugandan products, there is lack of maximum utilisation of the available market hindered by issues of quality, quantity, non-specialisation of completive products among others. He said that there is need to expand programs that increase production of small and medium enterprises.
On the decrease of the FY2021/22 budget estimate the joint statement indicated that CSOs welcome the move which they said was a confirmation that government was working within it’s limits.
