State House seeks Shs 83 billion for presidential donations

The Presidential Affairs committee chairperson, Alex Byarugaba, has urged parliament’s Budget committee to increase the allocation for President Yoweri Museveni’s donation budget for the 2025/26 financial year.

The State House is seeking Shs 83.03 billion to cover pending presidential donations, but only Shs 53.03 billion has been allocated, leaving a shortfall of Shs 30 billion.

This comes against the backdrop of a shrinking national resource envelope, projected to be Shs 57.441 trillion for the 2025/26 financial year, down from Shs 72.137 trillion in the current year, as revealed by Henry Musasizi, the state minister for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (General Duties).

RISING CONCERNS OVER DONATION BUDGETING

In the 2023/24 fiscal year, the auditor general’s report revealed discrepancies in State House spending. While Shs 18.17 billion was allocated for donations, actual spending reached Shs 80.18 billion. Other expenditures included Shs 1.167 billion on inland travel, Shs 3.8 billion on staff salaries, and Shs 3.397 billion on allowances.

Byarugaba expressed concern over unfulfilled presidential pledges, which he said tarnish Museveni’s image. Many constituencies, represented by MPs, continue to report unmet promises. The State House comptroller, Jane Barekye, highlighted the overwhelming number of donation requests during cabinet meetings, noting that ministers frequently push for fulfillment of pledges in their constituencies.

“This is a growing issue that needs collective action. It’s impossible to plan adequately for donations because we don’t know who the president will donate to next. We prioritize based on urgency and budget capacity,” Barekye said, as reported by Parliament Watch. She stressed the need for guidance to manage these demands, emphasizing that the budget cannot meet every request.

INSTITUTIONAL CRITICISM AND SUGGESTIONS

Busiro East MP Medard Sseggona argued that the issue reflects weak institutions and a dependency culture. “Stronger institutions with clear mandates would eliminate the need for people to constantly beg leaders for support,” he said.

He called for better public understanding that state resources belong to the people, and should be utilized according to institutional guidelines.

“The cycle of begging must stop if we are to streamline institutional functionality,” Sseggona added. He also noted that such issues escalate during election years, as MPs are pressured to fund campaigns and meet constituency demands.

FUNDING FOR CULTURAL LEADERS

In a related budgetary matter, the ministry of Gender is seeking Shs 12.24 billion to pay monthly salaries of Shs 60 million to 17 traditional and cultural leaders in the 2025/26 financial year. Currently, the budget allocates only Shs 1.02 billion, translating to Shs 5 million per leader per month, far below the approved salary level.

Workers MP Agnes Kunihira, who tabled the proposal, warned that reducing cultural leaders’ salaries would send the wrong message about the government’s support for cultural institutions. Parliament previously approved Shs 31.33 billion in 2024 for cultural leaders’ salaries and palace construction projects for the Iteso, Tieng Adhola, Buruli, and Rwenzururu kingdoms, following a presidential directive.

Kunihira noted that reverting to the earlier allocation of Shs 5 million per month undermines the commitment made in 2024/25 and urged the Budget committee to reinstate the Shs 12.24 billion needed to fill the Shs 11.4 billion funding gap.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

As Uganda navigates a tightened budget, competing priorities like presidential donations and funding for cultural leaders underscore the challenges of balancing fiscal responsibility with political and social obligations.

With growing scrutiny over unfulfilled pledges and institutional inefficiencies, the government faces increasing pressure to address these issues transparently and sustainably.