Ugandan budget proposes Sh12m to clothe Museveni
In the Ugandan Financial Year 2023/2024, the Annual Budget Estimates proposed to have Sh 12 million (Ug Sh 350 million) set aside for President Yoweri Museveni’s beddings, clothes and footwear.
In the Budget Estimates, Ugandan Sh 239 billion (about Sh 12 billion) had been allocated to State House as the opposition proposed this amount be reduced to Sh 82 billion (Sh 4 billion).
According to Ugandan publication, the Monitor, opposition leaders are against these proposals despite the same amount being allocated in the previous financial year.
Some lamented that the President was not a Hollywood star to have such monies spent on his clothes while others lamented that there are infrastructures that need urgent attention, like their infamous roads with potholes in Kampala.
“There is Shs350 million to buy clothes. The same amount was provided last year. This means, we are spending on average Shs1 million on President’s clothes everyday. Our President is not a star from Hollywood requiring to change [his] wardrobe every day. He is a president of a poor country. Why buy him clothes worth Shs350 million every year? What happened to the clothes that we bought last year?” asked Mr Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda who presented the Minority Report as quoted in the Monitor.
Ugandan Sh 43 billion (Sh 1.1 billion) was also proposed for ceremonies, Sh600 million (Sh20 billion) for furnishing State House and Sh 184 million for veterinary services among other items.
“The President has a duty not to abuse State House. But if he chooses to do so, this Parliament is under obligation to stop him. President Museveni despised former President Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa for turning State House into what he called clearing house. He has now surpassed him. In fact Mr Museveni has turned State House into an enterprise for himself and family,” added Ms Ssemujju.
According to the Parliament of Uganda, the government revised the 2023/2024 financial year budget to Sh 52 trillion from Sh 51 trillion as part of correcting errors and omissions under the draft budget estimates that were tabled by the Minister of Finance on March 30, 2023.
Outside his capacity as President of Uganda, Mr Museveni is believed to be worth tens of millions of dollars owing to his political stature and presidency that has spanned 37 years. The exact figure remains unknown to date.
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