By John V Sserwaniko
Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda has highlighted the government’s key accomplishments for the soon-ending FY2018/19. Speaking at the opening of this year’s “Service Excellence Exhibition” jointly organized by URA, Finance Ministry and a consortium of NGOs/CSOs operating under CSBAG Wednesday at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds, Rugunda enumerated the accomplishments and promised better showing next year.
He accordingly also pronounced himself on President Museveni’s 2016 political promise to make Uganda a middle-income country by 2020. With 2020 just months away, there is widespread skepticism that Museveni can deliver on the Middle-Income Status that among other things requires Uganda’s GDP per capita to grow to $1,000; simply meaning raising the average annual income of every citizen to $1,000 (roughly Shs4m) up from the current less than $650.
The lower middle-income status Museveni famously promised is inter alia synonymous with average per capital income of between $1,000 and $4,000. In his Kololo speech, Rugunda maintained that government expressed optimism this Museveni pledge is still achievable in the remaining months, a miracle happening many believe is unachievable.
The Premier bragged about a number of accomplishments in the FY2018/19 including UNRA growing the length of tarmacked roads from 3,050kms to 4,551kms. Rugunda said this 21.1% growth was impressive and more connectivity will be achieved next FY.
He also referred to the total electricity generation installed capacity now standing at over 1,200MWs referencing on Isimba’s 183MWs, Nyamwamba’s 9.2MWs, Nkusi’s 9.6MWs and Waki’s 4.8MWs. This, he said, will boost industrialization that is going to be the focus articulated under NDP III expected to commence next year.
President Museveni’s Vision 2040, which is his articulation of where the country must go, is being implemented into 6 National Development Plans (NDPs) and with 2 of them so far accomplished, NPA is now preparing to unleash NDP III focusing on industrialization.
Rugunda also bragged about killer malaria prevalence being diminished especially among children by 30% and access to HIV/Aids treatment growing from 73% to 86% in the FY2018/19. Relatedly mother to child HIV transmission has proportionately been curtailed.
In his words, the universalization of primary and post primary education is another major milestone in the passing FY. Rugunda jubilated that now 92% of parishes in Uganda have government-aided schools and 74% of Ugandans aged 10 & above can now read and write.
He also said that within the EAC region, Ugandan export volumes have registered tremendous growth in the passing FY earning more from our exports to the EAC region than we spent importing from economies like Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania. He commended private sector and CSOs (led by CSBAG) for their relentless partnership with government aimed at ensuring full delivery of all budget promises.
The other FY2019/20 accomplishments separately articulated by David Bahati include growing internet users to 18.8m; growing tourism arrivals to 1.5m in 2019 resulting into $1.4bn coming to national coffers. Bahati also notes the life expectancy has grown to 64 years and infant mortality rate has dropped to 64 deaths per 1000 live births compared to 1986 when the same stood at 147. But critics maintain even 64 is too many to die under such very avoidable circumstances.
Others according to Bahati include Shs14trn being raised in domestic tax revenue collection; total export receipts growing to $5.3bn and real GDP growth averaging at around 5%. The youthful Minister is also proud the economy has overall grown to Shs101trn compared to 8 years ago when it was Shs46.9trn. (For comments, call, text or whatsapp us on 0703164755 or email us at mulengera2040@gmail.com).
