{UAH} EMPTY BUDGET SAVINGS 2020-2021

Last May 29th 2020, I wrote about how the pandemic could also be a blessing in disguise, and envisaged after intense scrutiny that up to 6 trillion shillings could be made in savings from the national budget 2020-2021 because of reduced or cancelled government activity plus new communication technologies that remove the need for costly international travel by all government officials across the board (read my overview analysis here: https://www.facebook.com/212665596843/posts/10158804162881844/?app=fbl).

These funds could then be invested in other critical areas that lack priority funding, including in health infrastructure and the all-important Corvid-19 mass testing which they had claimed that there was "no money" for.

Then on June 11th Budget Speech day, about 12 days after I first raised this issue, a presidential address haphazardly announced budget cuts under review to the tune of 5.3 trillion. But the way it was announced indicated that it was not yet clear how or where the savings were, but Operation Wealth Creation was still busy concocting something.

Now because Gen. Saleh hadn't done the initial homework properly, the Ministry of Finance "dictator" Keith Muhakanizi (as he is fondly known by insiders at the ministry) was able to box the general back, and in the end the big man had to agree to a mere 440 billion savings, down from the huge 5.3 trillion (see todays story here: chimpreports.com/local-governments-cautioned-on-gen-salehs-approved-budget-cuts/)

Even that 440 billion should still come under scrutiny, especially since what Gen. Saleh intended to do with the money is not mathematically established except by political rhetoric about "food security".

Yet over the last 3 decades the people of Uganda have been given over a billion dollars from various international donors specifically for food security. But when the pandemic came, they were again asking Ugandan entrepreneurs and well-wishers to donate food security, posho and beans, for the hungry & vulnerable poor.

In any case, it was clear that the good general and his elder brother did not have the actual numbers about how & where the budget savings were to be made, and should have simply asked. They both actually have my mobile number.

Signed: Mr. Hussein Lumumba Amin

Monday July 13th 2020.

Kampala, Uganda.

--
Disclaimer:Everyone posting to this Forum bears the sole responsibility for any legal consequences of his or her postings, and hence statements and facts must be presented responsibly. Your continued membership signifies that you agree to this disclaimer and pledge to abide by our Rules and Guidelines.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Ugandans at Heart (UAH) Community" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/ugandans-at-heart/CAGtzWLqkX7BEyLbaY0sTSycdcdGB4VFQ6KeH6NvG0Wq8kpMz7g%40mail.gmail.com.