Government has made extensive cuts of budgets from its ministries, department and agencies (MDA) to redirect finances to major priorities in the current financial year 2021/2022.
The across-the-board cut back, which totals Shs203.4 billion, will also affect universities, parastatal and various commissions of government.
Overall, at least 106 government entities will be affected with the cuts affecting mainly monies for foreign and inland trips, meetings and conferences.
The revelation was made Friday by Ramathan Ggoobi, the Finance permanent secretary and secretary to the Treasury.
He said the measure was taken to cut down the ‘wasteful’ expenditure and redirect the available finances into areas that will resuscitate the Covid-19-battered economy.
Ggoobi said the money saved will be used to bankroll areas that are in line with priorities contained in the Third National Development Plan (NDPIII).
The entities to suffer major cuts include Finance, where Shs25.9 billion were slashed, the Parliamentary Commission with Shs24.5b trimmed off, the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) losing Shs12.8b, and Referral Hospitals, with each suffering Shs11.6b chopping.
State House budget has also been cut by Shs8b, Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs cut by Shs5.14b, Office of the President by Shs1.9b, while the Office of the Prime Minister will get its funding sliced by Shs4.3b.
Similarly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will have its budget reduced by Shs4.55b, Justice and Constitutional Affairs will have its budget slimmed down by Shs4.87b while Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development will operate with Shs4.1b less.
Law enforcing and securities sectors have also been affected with Uganda Police Force facing a cut of Shs1.2b and the Uganda Prisons Service budget cut by Shs102m.
Ggoobi said his ministry will place emphasis on activities that enable the government to realize return on investments and not on wasteful expenditures.
