The shadow Finance minister Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda has raised alarm over Uganda’s escalating public debt, warning that the government’s spending priorities are worsening the country’s financial crisis.
Presenting the minority report to parliament, Ssemujju, who also serves as the Kira Municipality MP, revealed that Uganda’s public debt has ballooned from Shs 97.5 trillion in June 2023 to Shs 109.8 trillion by June 2024.
He further warned that the government plans to borrow an additional Shs 24 trillion to finance the next financial year’s Shs 57.44 trillion budget.
Ssemujju criticized the government’s budget allocations, questioning extravagant expenditures despite the debt crisis. He pointed out that the 2024/25 budget including Shs 298.5 billion for special meals, Shs 132.2 billion for bed sheets and shoes for top government officials and Shs 237 billion for workshops and meetings.
“Our country has been mortgaged. What should worry you more is that the government wants to finance the 57 trillion shillings next financial year’s budget by borrowing another 24 trillion because it projects to raise only Shs33 trillion,” Ssemujju cautioned.
Ssemujju also decried the government’s failure to clear domestic arrears, which have soared to Shs 14 trillion, up from Shs 10.8 trillion in the previous financial year.
Despite this, only Shs 200 billion has been allocated for arrears, leaving Shs 250 billion in unpaid gratuities and pensions unaddressed.
If a small salary earner can buy their own shoes and clothing’s from their meagre salary,why would a highly paid government official,with many other privileges not buy for themselves personal effects?
Doreen, thanks.
But don’t forget that Uganda belongs to Rwandese Museveni who decides & until Ugandans get back the zone formed by their tribal lands & govern as they wish, nothing will be done for them.
Do these government officials or those who are payed to ensure Ugandans remain powerless tribally divided ruled, even talk about poor Ugandans?
This is one of these dodgy FDC opposition die hard politicians who continue to escort NRM bad government into state power at Entebbe since 1986 and counting. These opposition members by continuing to participate in NRM dodgy national elections now 40 years and counting, are sending a clear message to those institutions that lend money to this debt ridden government that everything in governance is acknowledged! As long as Parliament as a house of peoples’ representatives accepts such ballooning debts to go on, not much can be done to stop it. That is why the Kingdom state of Buganda cannot be party to such central government spending spree. Mr Ibrahim Semujju Nganda has that responsibility to explain to the people of Uganda or Buganda, which part or region of Uganda territory has been mortgaged to continually receive such national debts.
Kabayekka, thanks.
Is there any reason for Ugandans to go for next useless presidential & parliamentary elections to ensure +40 years of this inhumanity imposed on them, especially with their votes that protect these inhuman officials, mps…?
t looks like we have poor people who are being put up in homes/shelters and we need to make contributions for their up keep. Poor Uganda and tax payers. This is how far down the country has reached and how cheap our top officials are. Beggars.
What do we do for those poor people who sleep on mats or on streets with cardboards for cover and if they manage they get something to eat from garbage bins. Think about this.