The Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development has issued a statement confirming President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s directive to have all government adverts go through Uganda Broadcasting Cooperation (UBC) TV and New Vision.

Ramathan Ggoobi the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Treasury on the Ministry of Finance official tweeter handle, while issuing the Budget Execution Circular for the Financial Year 2023/24 to all Accounting Officers & Chief Executive Officers of State Owned Enterprises and Public Corporations, re-affirmed President Museveni’s directive to the Accounting Officers that all government advertisements should go through UBC TV or New vision.

He added that any government official that diverges from the directives will be sanctioned or even dismissed.

“All Government advertising must be through UBC TV and New Vision as per the directive of H.E the President. Any Accounting Officer who deviates from this will be sanctioned including dismissal,” Ggoobi said.

He noted that any government staff that is not verified during Audit by the office of the Auditor General should be deleted from payroll not later than July 30, 2023.

According to Ministry of Finance, there won’t be new recruitment of anyone, whether Public Service or contract post or staff during the current financial year.

“No recruitment of staff (public service or contract staff) during this FY except on replacement basis,” the ministry noted.

Ggoobi said that all Accounting Officers must ensure that local service tax is remitted to where employees reside and contracts for works, goods and service shall be awarded in Uganda shillings.

He urged the Accounting Officers to spend within the budget and focus on job creation to ensure household income and overall economic recovery.

“In view of the scarce resources, I urge you to exercise prudence while implementing your respective budgets in order to ensure wealth and job creation for improved households and overall economic recovery,” Ggoobi said.

The purpose of the circular is to communicate Financial Year 2023/24 annual cash flow plan and the policy, operational and administrative guidelines for executing the budget in Financial Year 2023/24.