Some of the accounting officers facing interdiction by the government of irregular operations must make good their reporting on utilization of public money within a fortnight according to Kenneth Mugambe the Director of Budget in the Ministry of Finance. “On 1st of April we are required to submit that list but because there is still a process, there is still time. So between 1st of April and end of May if an accounting officer responds to the issues so by the time the budget is appropriated which May is 30th if he has responded then that accounting officer will be appointed. If the accounting officer has not responded then the accounting officer will not be appointed.” Said, Kenneth Mugambe – Director for Budget, Ministry of Finance.

Even with the Ministry of Finance releasing what it says is more than 90% of the budgeted 29 trillion shillings to spending agencies, the Civil Society Budget Group reported that utilization remained wanting. “A case of misappropriation of road funds for quarter one and quarter two of the Financial Year 2017/2018 for Bushenyi, Ishaka Municipal Council. Citizens from Bushenyi are requesting for a forensic audit to bring the perpetrators to the account.” Said, Julius Mukunda – Coordinator, Civil Society on Budget. The 3.1 trillion shillings now dispatched to spending ministries, departments and agencies of government mark the last quarter for releases without the usual supplementary.

“Base budgeting causes some challenges to some district officials and that has to do with the technological gap. You introduce reforms here but rolling down to people, of course, it takes time for people to catch up…” Said, Dr. Arthur Bainomugisha – Executive Director, ACODE.