The Uganda Peoples’ Congress (UPC) has advised the government and Ugandans to be more cautious about budget priorities and be disciplined during the implementation process of the country’s budget as the World Bank cuts aid.

While speaking to the presser on Wednesday, August 16, 2023, Sharon Ayat Arach, the UPC Spokesperson, disclosed that if not checked, over-dependence on foreign financing might lead the country to be donor-driven.

“We should put money where it can generate money locally and make sure that it is spent in line with the budget”, Ayat said.

She noted that Ugandans should be very cautious about priorities in budgeting and at the same time be disciplined while implementing the budget.

Ayat added that early last week, the World Bank announced that it is closing on Uganda, which comes at a time when the country is yet to recover fully from the effects of Covid-19 pandemic as well as the challenges of the continued Russia-Ukraine war, hence directly affecting the day to day essential needs of the citizens whose prices are on the rise especially food and fuel.

The Partnership of Uganda and World Bank was not built on issues which the World Bank has based on to freeze the funding. Nevertheless, it is time for government to tighten her financial expenditure.

Since the enacting of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill into law in May 2023, Uganda has been in a state of uncertainty as regards to the response of cooperating partners which started with VISA restrictions to some of the government officials following the debate in Parliament on the same.