On 14th June, 2018 the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development Hon Matia Kasaija on behalf of the president of the Republic of Uganda read the budget estimates for the financial year 2018/2019 highlighting government’s plans to turn around the economy by enhancing agricultural production and productivity, as well as increasing the pace of industrialization by considering climate change that will be tackled by among others, fast-tracking irrigation.
Many Ugandans have had their say on what they think about the 2018/2019 budget estimates for the country and what they wished to see being implemented by the same allocations of the budget. The executive director ToroDev Mr Baguma K Johnstone while appearing on a weekly supported talkshow ‘‘Listeners’ forum’’ that is aired live every Sunday 8:00pm-10:00pm on Jubilee radio indicated that Uganda’s economy was being affected by it’s currency where the shilling has lost value something that has affected a lot the growth of the economy. While analyzing the 2018/2019 budget speech Mr Baguma said Uganda imports too much than it exports something that has affected a lot the GDP per capital of the country resulting into poor performance of our economy. Mr. Baguma said our leaders have failed to analyze where we do best in order to control trade imbalance that is affecting our economy.
‘’I would be happy if the government put emphasis on agriculture and farming where majority of our people are concentrating, this will to some extent increase our exports in the country’’, said Mr. Baguma Johnstone.
He further added that the money they put in works and transport sector should further be extended to work on feeder roads since the highest population is in the village and these roads receive less support from the districts. This would help our people especially farmers to be able to access market places easily hence benefiting from their produce. Mr Baguma disagreed with the government policy of taxing commodities like fuel, mobile money and social media among others yet they are directly linked to the ordinary Ugandan. Many people have been given tax holiday yet they can ably afford paying and the burden is turned to the common man who is the local citizen. He advised that the country should look for ways to control debts because a visible percentage of the 2017/2018 will be spent to clear debts , he asked people’s representatives in parliament to be responsible in approving and following the loans given to the country by other countries.
The live radio discussion was also attended by Mr. Mutalesa Joseph a lecture at Uganda Pentecostal University (UPU) who appealed to the government to work tirelessly to give industrialization sector priority in order to create employment opportunities especially to our unemployed youths and in the long run generate taxes through expatriation of local made products to other countries.
Mr. Mutalesa urged government to do needs assessment such that areas with resources can be prioritized for industrialization, but also not use big budgets to satisfy their own mutual benefits. He advised that corruption is still a challenge in this country hence need to be dealt with for effective service delivery of the local citizen.
About thirty (30) people participated by calling inn and others through Sms platforms during the 2 hours live discussion;
”The high taxes on everything used by a local citizen in Uganda will definitely make living conditions more difficult for us as Ugandans, something should be done before the worst is witnessed’’, Said Emerson Kato a caller from Kabarole district. ‘’This budget may not solve local people’s problems due to a lot of corruption in the country. We need to curb down corruption in the country before thinking of industrialization and commercialization in Uganda’’, Said Royal Eric a caller from Kyennjojo district.
