We can see through the budget that they was promised the cars, the Local Government Chairmen, was expected by the paper-trail, still the timing and measurement of deliverance of the pick-up trucks is questionable. Especially wen Dr. Ruhakana Ruganda the Prime Minister needs an official ceremony to give them away as the magnificent progress it is to give away cars to their local big-man in the districts as a token of steady progress. Take a look!
“The Prime Minister of Uganda, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, has handed over cars to district chairpersons to help them ease their work. The handover ceremony was at the Mandela National Stadium at Namboole this morning” (New Vision, 2016).
On the V4.2: Key Changes Vote for Vote Resource Allocation:
The budget has allocated UGX 3.110bn for vehicles and other transport equipment (P: 127, MPS, 2015). In this paper voting in procurement for the Public Sector Management Sector: “111 Vehicles procured for the District chairpersons procured” (P: 582, NBFP, 2015). Later in the document it even says this: “To sufficiently fulfill its mandate, the ministry needs to have motor vehicles which are in sound mechanical conditions. However, the current fleet of motor vehicles in the ministry has grown old with a majority of them having been procured over the last 7 to 9 years ago. Presently, out of a total fleet of 43 vehicles 27 (63%) are either more than 5 years old or have covered distance of more than 250,000 KM” (P: 590, NBFP, 2015). Here is the funding requirements for the Ministry of Public Service: “Funding Requirement: UGX 310,700bn” (P: 590, NBFP, 2015).
Justification:
“In line with the office objective of strengthening operational independence, the office plans to expand Soroti and Arua regional offices and to provide a conducive working environment for staff. This requires an addition funding of Shs 4.0bn” (…)”Majority of the vehicles that are currently deployed at the regional offices are all above 5 years old resulting into high expenditure on maintenance and repair. In this regard, there is need to replace the aging fleet at the regional offices to improve operational efficiency. This requires a total budget of Ushs 4.183bn to procure 27 vehicles and deploy three vehicles at each regional office” (P: 631, NBFP, 2015).
That this happens just days before the General Elections proves that government is giving it, to pay them for loyalty with new equipment just in time for the elections. As a sign of what they can get if they continue to be loyal to the NRM-Regime. This is the tax-money and donor funding goes to. Buy loyalty from their Local Government Chairman, the time of deliverance is suspect and not subtle. That the Prime Minister gives them away is like showing off their service deliverance, but couldn’t the government use some of these funds on schools or hospitals that are depleted? That is the modus operandi, wonder if Frank Tumwebaze feels little as gave away like 11 cars last time late 2015, now the Prime Minister gave away 111. Just a look you know. The Prime Minister shows loyalty to his Excellency by doing this, but it does not look like a sweet fairytale, more like paying civil servants with a fancy new pick-up truck and saying “Webale nnyo” remember who gave you the car. Peace.
Reference:
Government of Uganda – Ministerial Policy Statement (MPS) for the Office of the Prime Minister Financial Year 2015/16 – Prof. Tarsis Bazana Kabwegyere.
National Budget Framework Paper: 2015/16
MinBane 