The President emphasised the need to ensure that economic growth translates into improved household incomes, citing government programmes such as Operation Wealth Creation and the Parish Development Model (PDM).
“Can you have a strong army and a strong and safe country without a strong economy? Can you have a strong defence force and a strong and safe country without cohesive politics? Finally, can you have a strong defence force and a strong and safe country without, in some cases, addressing the issue of geo-strategic location such as being landlocked?” President Museveni asked.
Bayiga proposed that the supplementary budget should be financed by cutting expenditure for State House, Defence, and the Office of the President, to prioritize food security and support to affected farmers.
The primary objectives of the consultative workshops include providing feedback on issues raised during last year's budget consultations, discussions about the budget strategy for FY 2025/26, and discussions about the strategic direction of the NDP4, the 10-fold growth strategy, and how this will translate into local economic growth.