Uganda has been recognized by the Open Budget Survey 2017 for having the second most transparent budget in Africa, after South Africa.
According to the Survey conducted by the Uganda Debt Network (UDN) in partnership with the International Budget Partnership (IBP), Uganda published seven out of the eight essential budgeting documents to its citizens in a timely manner hence it was deservingly awarded a 60 percent score, which is above the 42 percent average global score.
Uganda also scored above average when it came to the global average in citizen participation in the budget making process. It got 28 percent which is way above the global average of 12 percent.
Speaking during the launch of the survey report at the finance ministry in Kampala, UDN board treasurer, Christopher Iga noted that Uganda’s legislature scored 71 percent during the budget making process, although this fell drastically to 28 percent during budget execution and auditing.
He advised that in order to improve further, the government should hold legislative hearings on the audit report, during which members of the public and the civil society can be allowed to testify.
“You can also establish formal mechanisms for the public to assist the supreme audit institutions by participating in relevant audit investigations, as well as exchange views on national budget matters during the formation of the national budget,” he said.