• Latest
CSOs Task Government to Handle Skyrocketing Commodity Prices

CSOs Task Government to Handle Skyrocketing Commodity Prices

April 15, 2022
Fire Guts Kakira Sugar Works Stores in Jinja

Fire Guts Kakira Sugar Works Stores in Jinja

May 27, 2022
Minister Ecweru in Mitooma to Asses State of Roads, Promises to Restore Ncwera Bridge

Minister Ecweru in Mitooma to Asses State of Roads, Promises to Restore Ncwera Bridge

May 27, 2022
NTV Cameraman James Babalanda Dies

NTV Cameraman James Babalanda Dies

May 27, 2022
INTERVIEW: How Sandra Nakayenze is Challenging Status quo with Zesui Dream Coffee

INTERVIEW: How Sandra Nakayenze is Challenging Status quo with Zesui Dream Coffee

May 27, 2022
Abeeka Band to Perform Live at ‘Vumbula Jinja’ Festival

Abeeka Band to Perform Live at ‘Vumbula Jinja’ Festival

May 27, 2022
COSASE Summons Minister Kasaija over Shs10.6bn Payment to Landowners

COSASE Summons Minister Kasaija over Shs10.6bn Payment to Landowners

May 27, 2022
Epic Historical Drama Series, Shaka Ilembe, Set for Release in 2023

Epic Historical Drama Series, Shaka Ilembe, Set for Release in 2023

May 27, 2022
More Drama in Bbnaija ‘Shine Ya Eye’ Reunion on DStv and GOtv this June

More Drama in Bbnaija ‘Shine Ya Eye’ Reunion on DStv and GOtv this June

May 27, 2022
Gen Sejusa Files Documents to Leave Army in July

Gen Sejusa Files Documents to Leave Army in July

May 27, 2022
Joint Security Forces Recover 40 Guns in Karamoja Operations

Joint Security Forces Recover 40 Guns in Karamoja Operations

May 27, 2022
FIFA World Cup Trophy in Kenya for 4th Time

FIFA World Cup Trophy in Kenya for 4th Time

May 27, 2022
NRM’s Andrew Oulanyah Takes Omoro County in Landslide Victory

NRM’s Andrew Oulanyah Takes Omoro County in Landslide Victory

May 26, 2022
SoftPower News
Saturday, May 28, 2022
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women
No Result
View All Result
SoftPower News
No Result
View All Result

CSOs Task Government to Handle Skyrocketing Commodity Prices

by Muhamadi Byemboijana
April 15, 2022
CSOs Task Government to Handle Skyrocketing Commodity Prices
  • Facebook
  • Tweet
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Email

Civil Society Organizations have tasked the government to find both short-term and long-term solutions for the skyrocketing prices of commodities.

They include; Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), Action Against Hunger USA- Uganda, ACF USA-Uganda Mission, Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWEDE), Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET), Southern and Eastern Africa Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI Uganda) and others.

According to the CSOs, since the re-opening of the economy in January 2022, the country has experienced an increment in commodity prices of up to 100% for some commodities.

While addressing a Press Conference at Food Rights Alliance (FRA) Secretariat in Mengo, Patrick Rubangakene, a budget specialist at CSBAG, said the government should come up with possible ways of reducing the ever-increasing Public Debt as this constrains its ability and effectiveness to finance the implementation and management of policy initiatives.

“The Monetary Policy Bank of Uganda Report (February 2022) revealed that public debt increased from UGX 69,722.4 billion in June 2021 to UGX 73,656.0 billion in December 2021 indicating a 5.6 percent increase,” he said.

“For example, laundry bar soap prices increased by 47.8%, cooking oil by 77.6%, and fuel by 34% in the past one year.”

He noted that the escalating poor Public Investments Management (PIM) must be well managed through effective and efficient systems since Uganda’s public infrastructure projects are largely funded by external donors.

He revealed that 342 projects worth UGX 39 trillion out of a sample of 371 projects reviewed had gone past their planned exit periods from the Public Investment Plan (PIP).

Agnes Kirabo, the Executive Director of Food Rights Alliance (FRA), noted with concern that agriculture being the leading sector catering to many Ugandans as well being seen as a vehicle of economic growth, needs critical attention if it is to effectively support the FY 2022/23.

Kirabo decried limited investment toward Water for Agricultural Production though Government increased the area under formal irrigation in FY2020/21 to 22,504 hectares which was higher than the set target of 19,776.

She, however, says CSOs are concerned about the delay in completing the irrigation master plan coupled with low budget allocation for small-scale irrigation at UGX 3.5Bn available out of the required UGX 23.5Bn (MAAIF, 2022/23) which undermines the realization of Pillar 1 of the PDM.

Namagga Imelda, a Budget Advocacy Advisor at Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), showed concern about the low absorption of the wage budget by health facilities with the high level of vacant positions hence many health facilities failing to absorb the wage budget and funds returned to the Consolidated Fund.

“In the FY 2020/21, UGX 11 billion was returned by the Ministry of Health while Mulago Hospital returned over UGX 1 billion and on average, RRHs returned over UGX 0.5 Bn each,” she explained.

Emmanuel Kashaija, the Programs Manager at Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE), also highlighted the shortfall in Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE) Budget that enables the elderly to access basic services and to start income-generating activities for sustenance.

However, the CSOs commended the government for taking some measures on the escalating prices as reflected in the statement by the Ministry of Finance on March 22, meeting timelines in this year’s budget processes as per the Public Finance Management Act, 2015 as amended and adopting some proposals by CSOs through engagement with Parliamentary Committees.

Rubangakene, said that according to the FY 2021/22 half-year Macroeconomic and Fiscal Performance Report, the economy is expected to grow at 3.8 percent in FY 2021/22 and is projected to grow at about maybe 6 percent in FY 2022/23.

According to the report, growth is expected to be generated by private sector activity due to increased aggregate demand post-COVID-19; increased returns from public infrastructure investments; and increased activities in the oil and gas sector.

The 6% growth translates to UGX 2,472.1 billion i.e. from UGX 44,778.80Bn in FY 2021/22 to UGX 47,250.9Bn in FY2022/23 of which 39.3% (UGX 18,582.6Bnn) of the overall budget will be for statutory expenditures while 60.7% i.e. UGX 28,668.3Bn will be appropriated for service delivery.

Post Views: 54
  • Facebook
  • Tweet
  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • Email
Tags: CSBAGRise in commodity pricesSoft PowerSoftPower NewsTop NewsUganda
Leave Comment

Recent Stories

Fire Guts Kakira Sugar Works Stores in Jinja

Minister Ecweru in Mitooma to Asses State of Roads, Promises to Restore Ncwera Bridge

NTV Cameraman James Babalanda Dies

INTERVIEW: How Sandra Nakayenze is Challenging Status quo with Zesui Dream Coffee

Abeeka Band to Perform Live at ‘Vumbula Jinja’ Festival

COSASE Summons Minister Kasaija over Shs10.6bn Payment to Landowners

SoftPower News

SoftPower News is a subsidiary of SoftPower Communications LLC, a Ugandan digital media group. Keep posted of the latest from Uganda and East Africa.
Plot 4B Malcolm X, Kololo
P.O Box 1497, Kampala - Uganda
Tel: +256-392-001-701
Email: info@softpower.ug

This news site is licenced by Uganda Communications Commission (UCC)

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
  • Regional
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More

© SoftPower News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Tourism & Travel
  • Business
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
  • Regional
    • Kenya
    • Rwanda
    • Tanzania
    • Burundi
    • South Sudan
    • DR Congo
  • Defence & Security
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Africa
    • Columnists
    • Education
    • Health
      • COVID-19
    • International News
    • News in Pictures
    • OpEd
    • Pearl Of Africa
    • People
    • Politics
    • Special Reports
    • Women

© SoftPower News

error: Content is protected

Send this to a friend