By Aggrey Baba
A leopard’s skin may be beautiful, but its heart remains wild, and the same can be said of Uganda’s budget, impressive on paper, but hiding unsettling mysteries within its figures.
A storm brewed in Parliament on Tuesday as MPs locked horns with Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury (PSST) Ramathan Ggoobi over unexplained budget expenditures.
The heated exchange unfolded before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), chaired by Butambala County MP Muwanga Kivumbi, as lawmakers grilled officials from the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (MOFPED).
The cause of contention was a staggering Ugx 1.5 trillion spent beyond the actual revenue collected in the 2023/24 financial year.
According to the Auditor General’s report, the government collected sh47.1 trillion but went on to spend sh48.68 trillion, an excess that MPs demanded to be accounted for. The initial budget stood at sh52.7 trillion, later inflated by a supplementary request of sh8 trillion, bringing the total budget to sh61.669 trillion.
However, the actual expenditure remained at sh48.68 trillion, still outpacing the available revenue.
“Where did you get the extra sh1.5 trillion?” MP Joseph Gonzaga Ssewungu (Kalungu West) asked bluntly. [It’s like walking into a supermarket with Ugx 47,000 and somehow walking out with goods worth Ugx 48,500]. “Just explain where the extra money came from, and we move on”
Ggoobi, seemingly cornered, hinted that some funds were drawn from the Petroleum Fund, but MPs quickly pointed out a critical issue, that there was no record of parliamentary approval for such a withdrawal. If the money didn’t come from the Petroleum Fund, then where did it come from?
“They should disclose all the revenue sources because non-disclosure alone raises serious suspicions,” warned Adjumani Woman MP Jessica Ababiku.
The situation worsened when acting Accountant General Godfrey Ssemugooma attempted to clarify the matter. His explanation, blaming cash flow issues and unpaid invoices, only fueled further frustration.
“We had a negative of sh1.658 trillion,” he stated, arguing that while the government took the expenditure into account, it “did not actually have the cash flow.”
But MPs were having none of it. “PSST, you cannot dispute the Auditor General’s report,” Kivumbi warned, making it clear that dismissing the findings could have serious consequences.
Despite attempts by Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa to mediate and allow discussions between the Finance Ministry and the Auditor General, the shadow of the missing trillions remained.
With the government’s financial credibility on the line, who holds the keys to Uganda’s missing billions, remains a big question. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
