Opposition reveals key focus areas in alternative budget
The Opposition’s Shs43 trillion alternative budget for the next financial year, 2024–2025, was presented by the shadow cabinet, led by Mr. Joel Ssenyonyi, Leader of Opposition in Parliament (LoP), on April 8. The budget’s primary goals are to uphold human rights and bolster the fight against corruption.
The opposition’s alternative budget was presented at Parliament with the theme “Fostering resilient communities by combating corruption and promoting efficient service delivery: A human rights based approach to resource allocation.” It is less than the proposed national budget of shs 58 trillion by Shs 15 trillion.
The government’s alternative budget places more emphasis on financial responsibility and prudence, modernizing agriculture, enhancing the preventive healthcare system, and guaranteeing high-quality education than the government’s 2024–25 budget, which prioritizes peace and security, road maintenance, and the construction of both meter gauge and standard gauge rails, among other things.
Increasing the respect for the rule of law and human rights, building and maintaining infrastructure, and generating employment through the growth and empowerment of private sector businesses are among the other priorities.
The oppposition leaders, at the launch, emphasized that the budget is purely people centered.
According to Mr. Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda, the shadow minister of finance, a realistic total budget of shs 43.4 trillion should be allocated. It yields a sound revenue collection of Shs 33.4 trillion while reducing domestic financing from Shs 4.1 trillion to Shs 1.2 trillion.
ALTERNATIVE BUDGET ALLOCATIONS
Item Allocation
- Civil and Political Rights Shs 1,085B
- Public Service and Local Government Shs 1,143.8b
- Defence and Veteran Affairs Shs 1,984b
- Foreign Affairs Shs 492b
- Information Communications Technology Shs 260.4b
- Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs Shs 530b
- Internal Affairs Shs 1, 476b
- Finance, Planning and Economic Development Shs 10, 699b
- Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries Shs 3,032b
- Tourism, wildlife and antiquities Shs 951b
- Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Shs 434b
- Water and Environment Shs 434b
- Energy and Mineral Development Shs 1,471b
- East African Community Affairs Shs 40b
- Work and Transport Shs 6,547b
- LAnds, Housing and Urban Development Shs 530b
- Education and Sports Shs 4,358b
- Labour, Gender and Social Development Shs 1,585b
- Health Shs 5,944b
