The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group has asked the Government to focus the 2023/2024 national budget on sectors of the economy that will have a multiplier effect ie enabling job creation.         

The call was made by the activists during the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) pre-budget dialogue held in Kampala under the theme: Realizing Economic Recovery and Socio-economic transformation, the role of the 2023/2024 national budget.     

Civil Society Organizations have asked the Government not to spend money or make budgetary allocations to non-priority sectors and also avoid accumulating more debt.

There was also a concern that the government focuses on covering up tax collection loopholes and maintaining some taxes that have been a burden to the taxpayers. The activists noted that the country is still in the recovery mode after the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 and part of 2021.

The CSOs also noted that Bank of Uganda increased the Central Bank Rate (CBR) which means commercial banks will lend to customers at higher interest rates.

Annual Average Inflation increased to 4.4 percent for the 2021/22 FY up from 4.3 percent in the 2020/2021 FY while inflation was at 5%.

According to the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group, there was poor budget performance this year which means some planned government programmes were not implemented to the detriment of the common person.

The activists asked Government to have more funds allocated not only to equip public hospitals and health centers but also recruit the required staff and have the National Medical Stores disburse medicine in a timely and predictable manner.