The long-awaited National Budget for next Financial Year that begins on 1st July 2018 is set to leave the majority of Ugandans grappling after new 9 tax Bills were passed by the parliament in a bid to widen the country’s tax base. Reading the budget report to the august house, the Committee Chairperson Amos Lugolobi informed the legislators that the next financial year budget is to cost the country 32 trillion shillings. “The grand total is 32,367,430,054,000.” According to the Committee Chairperson, the country’s public debt is likely to increase by 36% in the next financial year. Lugolobi, however, informed parliament that legislators disagreed on the issue of salary enhancement for the post-primary science teachers arguing that it is against Article 40 (c) of the constitution and it brings about discrimination. Parliament has now recommended that the 98 billion shillings meant for the enhancement of science teachers be sent to other sectors, 18 billion of this amount would be used to recruit more than 2,000 science teachers in the country in order to increase their numbers. “18 billion shillings should be used to recruit 2,000 science teachers in order to reduce the shortage of science teachers and to heavily address the science subject in schools even that sciences are compulsory. And in support of government’s policy of enhancing sciences is developing the economy.” Said, Amos Lugolobi – Budget Committee Chairperson.
Parliament has also recommended that 9 billion shillings be used to recruit 1,200 English and Literature teachers and 71 billion be used in salaries of all Science and Arts teachers. “Shillings 9,360,000,000 should be used to recruit 1,200 English and Literature teachers in order to curb the shortage in these teachers in secondary schools. Number four; Uganda Shillings 71,154,047,919 should be equally allocated to all teachers of science and arts, head teachers and deputies.”
The other sectors which have received priority is that of the Technology, Operation Wealth Creation, Coffee production and the Petroleum Authority among others. However, a minority report on the budget has also been tabled by five legislators led by Dokolo Woman MP Cecilia Ogwal, Robert Centenary, Muwanga Kivumbi and others. “It has however been noted that the annual budget for next year 2018/2019 is not aligned to the National Budget Framework paper for this financial year and that is a breach of a law.” Said, Cecilia Ogwal – Woman MP, Dokolo (FDC). They also argue that the resource envelope has not been aligned according to the law. “I know that all this is being done against the law with us ourselves as part, I stand here to demand that parliament is very aware of the fact that the budget is worrying.” Said, Cecilia Ogwal – Woman MP, Dokolo (FDC).
