Ugandan Member of Parliament, Hon. Ssemujju Nganda, has sparked controversy by questioning the allocation of a significant portion of the supplementary budget to Dei BioPharma, a company founded by Ugandan businessman Matthias Magoola.
According to Nganda, half of the Shs 1.1 trillion supplementary budget, or roughly Shs579 billion, is earmarked for Dei BioPharma. This comes on top of Shs70 billion already allocated to the company within the main budget, raising the total to Shs 649 billion.
Nganda expressed outrage at this allocation, arguing that the funds should be directed towards more pressing needs like infrastructure development. He highlighted the poor state of roads in Kampala and bridges across the country, suggesting that such projects would be more deserving of the allocated funds.
"They want to divert money that is meant for debt-serving to pay Magoola," Nganda stated during an interview on the Morning Breeze show.
Nganda's criticism highlights concerns about the potential misuse of public funds. Critics argue that such a substantial allocation to a single company warrants closer examination, particularly considering alternative areas where the money could be used to improve public welfare and stimulate economic growth.
Dei BioPharma, founded in 2014, operates in the food and medical research sector. The company's focus and its connection to receiving such a large portion of the budget are likely to be under increased scrutiny in the coming days.