By Spy Uganda
State House is pressing Parliament for an extra UGX 105.468 billion in the 2026/27 budget, citing escalating security threats, ballooning presidential pledges, and youth skilling needs, requests that sparked fiery pushback from MPs over waste, duplication, and MPs reduced to “beggars” chasing handouts.
The demands, presented on March 31 before Parliament’s Presidential Affairs Committee, come amid Uganda’s fiscal squeeze, with the national budget framed by the Public Finance Management Act 2015 requiring rigorous justification for supplements.
Assistant Commissioner for Finance and Planning, Immaculate Namala, defended the hikes while tabling State House’s Ministerial Policy Statement. On security: the current UGX 27 billion allocation falls short against a “changing security environment,” warranting UGX 13.468 billion for updated equipment, echoing rising threats like urban unrest and cross-border tensions noted in the 2025 National Security Strategy.
Namala was blunt: “Security keeps upgrading itself. We’re requesting UGX 13.468 billion to procure equipment in line with these changes.”
Donations topped UGX 50 billion, driven by “huge demand” for student fees and community pledges under President Museveni’s longstanding outreach, which State House says outstrips resources. “Start with UGX 50 billion to close this funding gap,” Namala urged, as MPs approve these via the annual budget cycle.
Rushenyi County MP Naome Kabasharira lambasted the system: “You turn us into beggars chasing presidential pledges, year in, year out, yet we’re the ones approving your money. Consider those who’ve funded you without fuss!”
A further UGX 42 billion targets “presidential initiatives” for poverty reduction and jobs, per the National Development Plan III (2020/21–2024/25, extended). This would fund six “common user facilities,” production hubs at UGX 7 billion each, for youth from State House skilling centers, expanding to 19 hubs.
Adjumani East MP James Mamawi endorsed it: “This does wonders for communities nationwide. State House covers bedding, feeding, they need the cash.” Agago County MP David Lagen agreed on vulnerability reduction but pressed: “Intakes are tiny, just six per district like ours with 26 units. Will numbers rise this year?”
Tensions peaked over State House’s Anti-Corruption Unit, which probed 90 cases forwarded to the DPP, mirroring the Inspectorate of Government (IGG)’s mandate under the Anti-Corruption Act 2009. Kitgum Municipality MP Denis Oneka decried duplication: “If I were President, I’d shut it down. Pure wastage, empower the IGG instead.”
Kanyum County MP Simon Peter Okwalinga piled on: “You exist because IGG failed, yet you wait for presidential directives. Auditor General reports alone give you endless work, act proactively!”
Kabasharira pushed back: “Corruption’s everywhere, even here. Don’t castigate Dr. Warren Namara; it’s a ritual.”
Namala listed execution hurdles: classified emergencies needing supplements, over-recruitment on presidential orders, and surging donation demands, challenges State House attributes to its dual ceremonial and developmental roles since 1963.
As Uganda’s debt hits 52% of GDP (per 2026 Budget Framework), MPs must balance these against competing priorities like health and education.
