Economists Slam "Supplementary Budget Madness"
Uganda's budget process is facing a storm of criticism from economists who argue that the frequent use of supplementary budgets has become a chronic problem, fueled by "political indiscipline."
Previously, supplementary budgets were intended for unforeseen emergencies – situations where additional funding was truly "unavoidable, unforeseen, and unabsorbable." However, economists allege these additional funds are now being used as an escape route for negligence, particularly for recurring expenditures.
The recent collapse of a section of the Kampala-Masaka highway is seen as a legitimate use of a supplementary budget. This unforeseen crisis demanded immediate action. However, the same cannot be said for predictable events like national holidays. The upcoming Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations, for example, already have a fixed budget allocation of 3 billion shillings out of a total 1.1 trillion shilling national budget. Despite this, the government is seeking an additional 3 billion shillings through a supplementary budget.
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Dr. Muhumuza, a prominent Ugandan economist, argues that this misuse of supplementaries is not incompetence, but "negligence of duty." He points out that these planned events, like national holidays, are not one-offs. They happen every year, and the government is well aware of them. So why, Dr. Muhumuza asks, are these recurring expenses constantly appearing in supplementary budgets?
The situation has become so concerning that Dr. Muhumuza believes a "whip" is needed to enforce fiscal discipline. However, the question remains: who should be held accountable? Economists point fingers at both the responsible ministries failing to manage their budgets effectively and the Ugandan Parliament for readily approving these questionable supplementary requests.
The current system seems to foster a culture of "not getting caught" rather than responsible financial planning. This "supplementary madness" is undermining public trust and raising concerns about potential "ulterior motives" behind some of these additional spending requests.
A critical review of Uganda's budgetary process is urgently needed. Stricter enforcement mechanisms and a renewed commitment to responsible spending are essential to ensure that supplementary budgets are used for their intended purpose – addressing genuine emergencies – and not as a way to cover for government negligence or political expediency.
