Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has directed the Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija to appear before Plenary to explain the inconsistencies between the budget as approved by Parliament and the figures he presented during the Budget Speech last week.
Kadaga’s summon came after Hon. Amos Lugoloobi, Chairperson Budget Committee raised concern over the inconsistencies between the approved budget by Parliament and the figures presented by the Minister of finance during the Budget Speech. Lugoloobi said that the action by the Finance Minister contravenes the Constitution.
Amongst the changed allocations include; allocation to Uganda Development Bank was Shs103 billion but the minister read Shs1.45 trillion, Talent Support allocation was Shs100 billion, the minister read Shs256 billion, Export promotions allocation shoot up from Shs38.5 billion to Shs138 billion and social assistance grant rose from Shs66 billion to Shs107 billion.
The Speaker wondered why the Minister of Finance would read different figures contrary to what Parliament passed.
“Why would the Minister of Finance read different figures yet the President assented to the Appropriation Bill?” Kadaga wondered.