Parliament
Parliament’s Presidential Affairs Committee has raised concerns over the UGX9.964 billion allocated for donations under the Office of the Prime Minister in the 2026/27 financial year, describing the expenditure as excessive amid prevailing government resource constraints.
The concerns were raised by Alex Byarugaba while presenting the committee report on the 2026/27 Ministerial Policy Statement for the Office of the Prime Minister.
According to Byarugaba, the committee believes the proposed allocation for donations exceeds what is necessary at a time when government is grappling with a limited resource envelope and competing national priorities.
“The proposed allocation to donations in the FY2026/27 is UGX9.964 billion. The Committee is of the opinion that the proposed allocation to donations for the Prime Minister is over and above what is optimal at this time of the constrained resource envelope,” Byarugaba said.
The committee recommended a reduction of the donations budget by UGX1 billion, proposing that only UGX8.964 billion be retained under the donations vote for the Office of the Prime Minister.
“The Committee considers UGX8.964 billion sufficient to serve the envisaged purpose for the Prime Minister. The Committee recommends that UGX8.964 billion be appropriated for donations under the Office of the Prime Minister and UGX1 billion be reallocated to other critical interventions within the same ministry,” he added.
The recommendation comes as Parliament scrutinises ministerial budget allocations for the 2026/27 financial year amid increasing pressure to prioritise essential public services and improve efficiency in government spending.
The committee did not immediately specify which critical interventions would benefit from the proposed reallocation.
Torch Media Africa
