WHAT HAPPENED TO CLOTHES TAX PAYERS BOUGHT MUSEVENI LAST YEAR? A revelation that State House included Shs350m in its budget request for the FY2023-2024 to buy 78-year-old long-serving Uganda President Gen Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni clothes has left many in shock.
On Thursday, May 18, 2023, Parliament convened to consider next financial year’s budget. After the Budget Committee Chairperson Patrick Isiagi Opolot had presented his majority report, Shadow Finance Minister Muwanga Kivumbi (Butamba – NUP) presented the minority report.
The report was authored by five MPs: Kivumbi, Anna Adeke (Soroti DWR – FDC), Ibrahim Ssemujju (Kira Municipality – FDC), Lulume Bayiga (Buikwe South – DP) and Gorreth Namugga (Mawogola County – NUP).
In their report, the ppposition MPs sitting on the Budget Committee explained that they had issues with the fact that the budget was inconsistent with the 2023-2024 plan, questions on how resources to finance it will be mobilized, revenue impropriety, and specific budgetary allocation issues.
They also opposed the bloated allocation to the presidency while throwing crumbs at key sectors that should be given priority, failure to provide funds for medical interns and Senior House Officer’s allowances as well as ‘suspicious budget allocations and reallocations.’
The opposition MPs also raised questions on the decision to provide money for two residences for the president instead of one. Money has been set aside for both Nakasero State Lodge and State House Entebbe as official residences of the country’s number one.
State House also requested for Shs600m to buy furniture for these residences yet the same amount was appropriated for the same function in the current financial year.
There were also questions on money meant for veterinary services under State House. “We are providing Shs7.8 billion for Agriculture supplies. We are also providing another Shs184 billion for veterinary services. Did the President turn the State House into a farm without the knowledge of the country? Parliament must be sure that we are not the ones funding President Museveni’s private farms in Kisozi and Rwakitura,” the legislators further questioned.
It should be remembered that months ago, President Museveni left Ugandans shocked when he appointed a senior presidential advisor on Ankole cows and other indigenous breeds of cattle. (See Details and How Much He Earns Every Month Here).
In their report, the five vocal MPs also indicated there was a whole Shs454bn they believed would qualify to be categorized as wasteful expenditure. This included Shs350m meant for buying President Museveni clothes. What this means is that the president would need about Shs1m for clothes every day.
The MPs wondered why a president of an impoverished country would spend all this much money on clothes. They suggested that the head of state should put on clothes he bought in the previous financial years.
“Our President is not a star from Hollywood requiring to change wardrobe every day. He is a President of a poor country. Why buy him clothes worth Ushs350 million every year. What happened to the clothes that we bought last year?” they wondered.
This is not the first time Museveni’s State House budget is leaving Ugandans in shock. Last year, a fearless MP asked if Museveni and his wife eat a whole cow every day after it emerged that State House had been given Shs677bn to spend in just one year. (See Details Here).
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