By Mulengera Reporters
Uganda’s government has faced a persistent issue of unused budgetary allocations, as revealed in the Auditor General’s 2023/2024 report.
Despite warranting UGX 50.17 trillion for expenditure, only UGX 48.68 trillion was spent, leaving UGX 1.49 trillion unutilized.
These underutilized funds, representing a 3% underperformance, reflect systemic inefficiencies in the management of public finances.
The report attributes this failure to delays in procurement, project implementation challenges, and revenue shortfalls.
Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) accounted for 89.2% of the budget, while local governments managed only 10.5%. Yet, across both levels, critical projects were left incomplete.
Of 1,028 outputs reviewed in MDAs, 51% were partially implemented, while 2% were not executed at all.
For local governments, 45 projects worth UGX 52.39 billion were delayed for as long as 32 months, while UGX 3.96 billion was spent on completed projects that remain unused. The Auditor General has called for better planning and oversight, urging government agencies to address implementation bottlenecks.
As the proverb teaches, [What is delayed is not denied], but for Ugandans awaiting better roads, schools, and healthcare, these delays feel like broken promises.
The 2023/2024 report is a wake-up call to ensure every shilling allocated translates into tangible benefits for citizens. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
