Government Proposes Shs3.5 Trillion Supplementary Budget to Address Urgent National Priorities

The parliament is set to vote on a shs3.5 trillion borrowing plan proposed by the government as a supplementary budget for the 2023/2024 fiscal year. The plan aims to cover some of the unfunded priorities and shortfalls in the original budget, such as the renewal of National IDs, the 2024 Population Census, and the salary increment for medical interns. The State Minister for Finance, Henry Musasizi, urged the parliament to approve the plan quickly, saying that it was vital for various sectors. He also said that the government had already spent shs1.5 trillion under the 3% financial window, which is the limit for supplementary budgets. He defended the plan, saying that some of the items were not included in the initial budget due to oversight. He assured the parliament that the government was committed to fiscal discipline and efficiency. The supplementary budget comes in the context of the shs52.7 trillion budget for the current fiscal year. The budget committee is now reviewing the plan and will make a decision that could have a significant impact on the country’s finances.