Bank of Uganda: Monetary Policy Statement for March 2024 (06.03.2024)

Ghana: Ministry of Finance – Passage of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanian Family Values – Brief on hte Immediate Impact of the Implementation of the 2024 Budget (March 2024)

Zimbabwe: Statement by the Hon. Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion on Tax Policies Adopted by Government to guide Consumer Behaviour (27.02.2024)

South Sudan: Ministry of Finance & Planning – Press Statement on the incident at the Ministry of Finance and Planning Premises (14.02.2024)

Opinion: The Sahel is changing and ECOWAS cannot keep up…

The Sahel region is not to be recognized. As the current regimes in Bamako, Ouagadougou and Niamey have changed significantly over time. The military regimes, the juntas has decided new paths and created alliances within the region, which alter the old ways.

The rest of world is maybe not catching up to the sentiments of Burkina Faso, Mali or Niger. Neither Guinea for that matter, but they haven’t followed the nations of the Allied of Sahel States (AES). That’s surprising, but maybe Conakry is waiting for the “right” moment to withdraw from ECOWAS as well.

While the AES states does this. There has already been a massive shift. These nations has gone out of the neo-colonial order and challenged France heads on. They haven’t done the ordinary banter and called for reform. Neither have they accepted the old agreements, codes or bilateral trading practices, which has been favourable to Paris. No, they have ceased operations with the French army and with practices that was inherited since independence.

Alas, now the juntas has gone even further and not surprisingly so. They are now weakening the ECOWAS. The CEDEAO of the Western African hemisphere. The trading block that was built to build harmony between the nations. Also, it was supposed to create an economic zone and borderless movement between them. The promises of ECOWAS has been huge, but it haven’t lived up it’s mandate. There are principals involved, but these has also been violated from time to time. Which isn’t new of any sort of organization, but it has to be stated.

The ECOWAS haven’t always been acting in good faith or for the “good neighbourliness” either. The ECOWAS supposed to act upon “non-aggression” between the member states. While foreign interference with organization and pressure from the outside has been reported. That’s why the Sahel region is moving away from it. As they wants to stay sovereign and alone without the possibility of seeing allies turning against them.

The junta’s of our day is maybe pushing things far. Too far without knowing the consequences. They are doing so out a need to show a difference from the past governments. It is also very populist moves to gain support at home. That’s done without much action and need for changes internally. While the external forces has to change accordingly. Because, the three states are now weakening the ECOWAS and making it less significant. Even if they are not the most well off or the biggest markets for trade of any kind there. Still, the loss will be felt and the ECOWAS leadership will have less of influence as a cause of it.

The AES becomes a more singular unit, as it is already sanctioned and tested by the outside. That will continue, as “interests” of others gets into play. This would have happened regardless of who was running these nations. It is how diplomacy and how trade goes. We have seen leaders come and go, but the minerals has to be sold. That’s what is happening and some will be alert. Some of the previous “interests” will ask for more and wonder what is up.

Paris is a loser and been so for months now. The AES is more aligned with Moscow, which hurts the old hegemony. That’s why other European nations are asking the AES to disassociate with the Russians. Alas, the AES are showing their own independence and sovereignty by aligning with who they pleases. However, their choice will have another reaction in other capitals. When you open up one door, another door closes. That is life…

Now that Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger is choosing this path. There is maybe no amicable solution on the horizon. However, if ECOWAS was sincere and open. They would have sent envoys and tried to mediate with the nations who are withdrawing. Just so they can try to find a way to keep them in the Commission. Nevertheless, that might be a foolish enterprise and another loss.

Still, ECOWAS would show finesse by doing so. As the state has addressed grievances and reasons for leaving. They aren’t doing it out of nowhere and for no apparent reason. That’s why the tides are turning.

ECOWAS couldn’t keep up with the times. The times are changing. Junta’s are residing and they are moving with haste. They running and we can wonder when their marathon is over. Peace.

Kenya: KMPDU, UKCS, KUCO, UASU & TUC – Joint Press Statement – House Levy- Immediate Screech to a Halt and Refunds of Illegal Collections and Taxation (27.01.2024)

Opinion: Being a sovereign has a cost…

“Documents submitted by Ministry of Finance before Parliament’s Budget Committee have revealed that Uganda’s support from donors is expected to drop from Shs2.781Trn in 2023/24 to merely Shs28.94Bn in the coming budget of 2024/25” (Parliament Watch, 12.01.2024).

The Republic of Uganda and its government is within its rights to enact laws and codes, which the citizens must adhere too. That is a must and a need of any sovereign state. Uganda is no exception here in this regard. However, they have been used to donations, grants and fiscal stimulus from the outside, which has had strings attached and they are now working directly against it.

The recent shortfall of funds and lack of donor support comes because of the Anti-Homosexuality Act of 2023. This because the Western donors aren’t interested in supporting governments that target the LGBTQ and criminalize their behavior. Therefore, in the interests of the donors this isn’t what they signed up for or want to support. That’s why the donor funds are dwindling at a rapid rate.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) has caused themselves this distress. They are within its rights to do so, but this is self-inflicted harm. The Act itself was said to not do financial damage when the paper was written about it. However, we are seeing the truth.

The President and his Party can act all supreme, but we know they are used to eat other people’s money. This is why they are bound to borrow more funds and continue the spiral of deficit financing with loans from elsewhere. That’s what they are up to and its obvious to the naked eye that it will only get worse.

The donors won’t come to the government’s aide now. They cannot sell it to their own people and gain popularity by doing so. Because they know it won’t create the popular drive they need. The NRM and the President can be popular for doing so in the Republic of Uganda, but it is different in the donor countries.

This is the reality and it’s all about the cause and the affect. One action has another reaction. A chain-reaction if you may… the NRM is learning the hard way and a brutal one at that. They are self-serving and doing it with a purpose. Though the costs of this burden will be on the next generation and when the loans mature. If they are off the hook, the debt burden won’t hurt directly, but sooner or later the nation will face default. Unless they suddenly has a new revenue stream to save it’s grace. Peace.

Opinion: NRM is all about “Pimp My Ride”

“The Ministry of Public Service is seeking for Shs7.2Bn to procure brand new luxurious cars for former leaders like; Edward Ssekandi and Prime Ministers Ruhakana Rugunda, Amama Mbabazi as part of their emoluments benefits” (Parliament Watch, 10.01.2024).

We are now in 2024 and there is steadily news that former dignitaries and high ranking official are awarded cars, emoluments, pensions and other perks. That former Vice President Ssekandi gets another vehicle isn’t shocking, as this man is entitled to several of them, because of what the August House has given to the predecessors. It must be nice to be insider and the inner circle within the National Resistance Movement (NRM).

They are getting paid drivers, guards, vehicles, money for refurbishing furniture or whatnot. That’s what they are giving former Prime Ministers, Vice Presidents or Speakers. If you had several of these Offices. You will be entitled to all of it and get double or triple of it. Meaning the likes of Ssekandi are eating large even as his not serving the Republic anymore.

The vehicles to given to them is just a sign of importance. This is what they value and prioritize. The cars and other perks are more vital than government services. It is being done so often and with such flair. That you know this is essential for the government. They don’t have the same urgency with building schools, hospitals or roads for that matter. No, they rather spend on the inner-circle than giving the citizens what they need.

They rather spend it on themselves and that’s how they keep the party loyal. The former VP and PM’s are getting a kickback by this initially. It is just a personal touch to their time served in this government. However, it isn’t making the government better or the services either.

The NRM shows how it lacks fiscal discipline, as Ssekandi can get perks from every office he has served in. They can give him cars and other pay-offs without any need to work. That’s being paid for his previous time in office. Certainly, the other mentioned ones could possible get double or triple pay-offs as well. Since they weren’t only former PM’s but had other offices before that. Therefore, we know the game and how this one plays out.

Yes, this has all been voted through the Parliament and there is codes that makes this legit. Nevertheless, it doesn’t make it righteous when schools are falling to pieces, hospitals cannot afford to buy equipment or medicine, but a former PM is obligated to a free vehicle. That’s why we have to question this and it shows the priorities of the state.

They rather spend on themselves than caring for the citizens. Peace.

Opinion: The NRM needs billions of shillings to monitor itself and educate people to love it…

“The Office of the President is also seeking for Shs5.517Bn to monitor and evaluate the NRM Manifesto, Shs2.058Bn to monitor Cabinet Decisions, Shs4.7Bn to monitor the Parish Development Model” (…) “The Office of the President has requested Parliament to avail it with Shs4.5Bn to train 225,000 Ugandans on patriotism ideology and conduct mindset change within 20 Communities in the coming 2024/25” (Parliament Watch, 05.01.2024).

It is a strange time to be alive, as the Office of the President is avail its needs for the future. That it needs about 12 billion shillings to monitor it’s manifesto, cabinet decisions and the PDM at once. This is expenditure and needs of the state. The state needs to spend billions of shilling to assess and review its own work.

That’s not governance or having oversight of matters. This is just adding expenses and not using government controller or the State House Controller for that matter. There should be Attorney Generals, the IGG or the PPDA to help out. Heck, the FIA and other organizations should help out too. This is why the OAG in the past dropped “value for money” reports and checked into the government expenditure. Which is why monitoring units seems like a duplication. It is just bananas.

12 billion spent on monitor various acts of government. This is wasted of the state reserves and the public coffers. Imagine, billions of shillings spent and justified to ensure you keep up to your manifesto. That the cabinet is actually acting accordingly to the pledges and promises of the past. Secondly, that the PDM is followed and enacted upon. It is just amazing really…

While we are on wastage, the state itself plans to “re-educate” or teach people about patriotism. That has to be budgeted for and needs further funding in the billions of shillings too. This costs 4,5 billion shillings alone. Meaning the state plans to pay people to “teach” it and “lecture” people about loving their nation. That’s what it really means, but also being patriotic in the “right way” which the “NRM way”. Not like they doesn’t have access to speeches going back to the 1980s of the President and could just make a silly leaflet of it, aye?

The NRM and the Office of the President doesn’t care really. In all practicality… this is just dumb. It is insane that they want to do it this way and spend billions upon billions on it. That they whole heartedly is selling it and want people to buy into it. We are just supposed to believe in all this monitoring. When we will read stories of ghosts, missing funds and whatnot. We will see potholes and lack of government services, regardless of the agents monitoring whatever in sight. That’s just what’s happening. So what are they doing?

They are just making creative budgeting and hoping people fall for it. As it is various and nefarious ways of tricking the numbers. Just to make the budget bigger and find ways to siphon funds. Because, who works with this monitoring and where is the mechanism checking on them?

Well, we don’t know and no one is telling. They just needs these funds and the state just got to pay the Office of the President. Even if nothing is done or achieved. This have at least given the entity some more funds, which will be spent. However, it will not serve a purpose or interests of the society. No, this is ensuring someone is eating and everyone else is supposed to be happy with that. Peace.

Opinion: Another Supplementary Budget loading [the State House needs to be rescued…]

“State House is seeking for Shs57.14Bn to buy new security equipment, household items and vehicles for the presidency. However, only Shs21.722Bn has been allocated in the 2024/25 national budget, thus leaving the Presidency grappling with a funding gap of Shs35.418Bn. According to the breakdown, State House is seeking for Shs14.401Bn to continue with the process of refurbishing Entebbe State House, another Shs13.468Bn to procure new security equipment. State House is also seeking for Shs6.549Bn to procure vehicles for the President as well as another Shs8Bn for travel abroad” (Parliament Watch, 04.01.2024).

Just this December the Parliament enacted the first Supplementary Budget of the Financial Year of 2023/2024. That Supplementary Budget was a total of 3,5 trillion shillings, which the State House was getting additional 448 billion shillings for various expenditure. Therefore, reading just a month later that the State House needs 35,418 billion shillings. Wasn’t that covered in the 448 billion shillings last month, aye?

The first Supplementary Budget was an addition to the first passed budget for the Financial Year where the State House was already getting 417,9 billion shillings. This means the State House has already spent around 865 billion shillings in this Financial Year and they are still lacking an additional 35, 418 billion shillings. If the State House does get this funds it will have spent 901,31 billion shillings already. That’s a long time before the FY is over and 30^th June 2024.

So with that in mind. We should expect the State House to spend over a Trillion Shillings alone, as it is getting close to 900 billions as we speak. That’s telling how the President and his inner-circle is spending these days. He can speak of living within his means and whatnot, but his spending like there is no tomorrow. Because there is always more funds to capture and more expenditure to spend.

He needs more vehicles, jet fuel, cover water-bills and whatnot like he always does. So, the State House is missing funding to pay for electricity or keep salaries for staff at bay. As the plentiful of Presidential Advisors needs their envelopes from him. We shouldn’t be shocked, because it is all excuse for public wastage and misuse of office.

The State House should have been more than covered with the first budget vote and the funds gotten there. This is just showing how little fiscal discipline the President has. As he always needs money and his minions has to find excuses and arguments for why he needs more. Soon the prices of proverbs and posho is too costly. That’s why he needs more funds..

The President will act ignorant or be silent about this. He will act like his not the guy spending these funds, but initially he is. It is done on his watch and at his mercy. In the end… it is his will and that will be done. Amen. Peace.