The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party based in Najjanankumbi has criticized the recent national budget for the financial year 2024/25, calling it a burden to Ugandans.
According to Richard Muyombya, the party deputy spokesperson, the additional Ugx 20 trillion inflates the budget and makes it unrealistic, adding that it has increased the domestic revenue to be collected by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).
“Ugandans should be ready to be squeezed to raise the Ugx 31 trillion through taxes as stipulated in the budget read by the Minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija,” Muyombya said.
Muyombya made the remarks during the press conference at FDC party headquarters in Najjanankumbi along Entebbe Road on Monday, June 17, 2024.
Muyombya, however, said that as a party, they don’t discourage Ugandans from paying tax because they have been paying it religiously, but most of the taxes, such as Pay as You Earn (PAYEE), have been channeled to Museveni’s pockets to spend.
Additionally, Muyombya said that the government has failed to ensure proper service delivery, such as health services, yet Ugandans have been committed to paying taxes, expecting positive change in such sectors.
“The Minister of Finance was not fair to present such an unrealistic budget to the country, yet there is poor service delivery in most of the sectors. His budget puts the country’s economy on a three-wheel drive,” he said.
Muyombya said that the ruling regime is running the country on a deficit economy. However, as FDC, they believe that there are some items that can be eliminated from the budget to save the economy. These include the special meal of over Ugx 3 billion and Ugx 167 billion to maintain government vehicles, yet the same government officials receive monthly salaries. He said that Ugx 160 billion for the welfare of the State House should be reduced.
However, Evelyn Anite, the State Minister of Finance for Investment and Privatization, said that the budget was designed to benefit all Ugandans, stating that if well utilized, poverty will be part of history in the country.
