By Our Writer
Ministry of Finance has released a total of Shs5.899 trillion as government expenditure for the first quarter of the new financial year (2024/25).
Ramathan Goobi Finance Permanent Secretary said the Shs5.899 trillion represents 21.3% of the discretionary budget and it comprises Shs1.990.28 trillion for wages, Shs3.371.91 trillion for non-wages, Shs337.53 billion for GoU Development, and Shs199.3b for arrears.
Speaking at the media event Ggoobi said Shs 323.50 billion is for pension and gratuity, Shs 308.75 billion will go towards local governments,education capitation grants (Shs. 112.28 billion) Shs 95.26 billion to all Public Universities, Uganda Management Institute and Law Development Centre in line with the semester requirements.
Ggoobi further said Shs43.77 billion will go towards Uganda National Examination Board (UNEB) and Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB); while all missions abroad have been allocated Shs100.58 billion (representing 50% of their Annual Budget).
According to finance funds, National Council of Sports has been allocated Shs 124.63 billion, which included payment of AFCON commitment fees, equivalent to $30 million.
Referral Hospitals have been allocated Shs 22.58 billion; Uganda Cancer Institute – Shs12.31 billion; Uganda Heart Institute – Shs7.06 billion; and Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) – Shs 4.1 billion.
Mean while atotal of Shs 21.85 billion has been allocated for medical interns’ salaries; while Shs 173.68 billion has been released to National Medical Stores (NMS) for the purchase of essential drugs and medicines.
The Ministry of Defense and Veteran Affairs has been given Shs 253.30 billion, Uganda Police Force – Shs 56.43 billion, Uganda Prisons Services – Shs 44.79 billion, ISO – Shs 28.08 billion; and ESO – Shs 19.44 billion.
Domestic arrears amounting to Shs 199.83 billion have been catered for, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) award to DRC of Shs 247 billion is also included.
Contract staff salaries was allocated Shs 21.76 billion; URA Shs 14.34 billion; KCCA – Shs 22.67 billion.
Ggoobi asked all Accounting Officers to ensure that they pay salaries, pensions and gratuity by the 28th of every month.
“There should be a display of the payrolls for salaries and monthly pension on Government institutions’ notice boards every month. Accounting Officers must prioritize payment of service providers on time and clearance of domestic arrears to avoid further accumulation of arrears and penalties,” Ggoobi said.
“I wish to emphasize this there should be no creation of arrears; NO recruitment should be done without clearance from the Ministry of Public Service after ascertaining availability of adequate wage from this Ministry,” he added.
