Minister Bahat made this revelation on Thursday while appearing before the Local Government and Public Service committee.

This came after the minister was summoned alongside the Ministry of Local Government to explain why Government has taken long to formalize the newly created Sub-counties and Town Councils.

State Minister for Finance in charge of Planning, David Bahati while appearing before the Local Government and Public Service committee where a revelation was made of  Shs700bn  for the next general elections.

The 2021 expenditure will be higher than Shs419.9bn that was spent in the recent 2016 general elections.

“The figures we are receiving indicate around Shs700bn for the general elections and we plan to allocate some resources in 2019/2020 for the preparations and then in 2020/2021 for the general elections.

“The elections we are talking about are from level one to the President,” Bahati said.

The minister went on to explain in support of why the budget has increased more than that of the 2016 general elections saying democracy is expensive.

“The cost of democracy isn’t cheap. Democracy isn’t cheap if you don’t want democracy, try the other. The other is more expensive with war and violence,” Bahati said.

The minister informed the Committee that Government’s resources envelop isn’t well prepared and there will be another plan developed in consultation with Ministry of Local Government to operating on the remaining Sub-counties and Town Councils.

The Parliament passed a motion in 2017-2018, that led to the creation of 198 sub-counties and 204 Town Councils which required Shs151bn.

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David Bahati – Internet Photos

Government has apologized for the delay in releasing the approved funds for treatment and management of nodding disease.

The minister of State for Planning, David Bahati made the apology after the MP for Tochi County, Peter Okot, raising the matter on the floor of parliament.

Bahati said that the Ministry of Finance is to sign a warrant releasing this money which was authorized by parliament through a supplementary budget.

On 14th March this year, parliament approved 1.2 billion shillings to support eight districts and two regional referral hospitals for treatment and management of nodding disease but the money has not been released.

ALSO READ: State House disowns claims by Lands Minister Betty Amongi

RELATED:President Museveni orchestrated spread of nodding disease – Besigye

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Uganda Minister of Finance Matia Kasaija displays a briefcase carrying national budget before presenting it to the nation during a budget speech.

Members of Parliament on the finance committee have opposed government’s proposal to tax Saccos and individuals engaged in agriculture.
The proposals that also include a ban on importation of vehicles older than eight years are contained in tax bills for the financial year 2018/2019.
The eight tax bills, which are being considered by the Parliament Committee on Finance, include the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill 2018, Lotteries and Gaming (Amendment) Bill 2018, the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2018 and The Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 2018.
The Minister of State for Finance (Planning), David Bahati, who presented the bills to the Committee on 24 April, 2018 defended the proposals and denied that they were intended to burden Ugandans.
Hon. Moses Walyomu (NRM, Kagoma County) noted that reinstating the tax on Saccos despite a government commitment to the contrary, will discourage Ugandans from saving.
“We exempted Saccos from taxes to encourage Ugandans to save, let us not re-introduce this tax,” Walyomu said.
Joseph Ssewungu (DP, Kalungu County West) also opposed the taxing of Saccos saying that the majority of Ugandans use savings groups to improve their income.
“Why should Saccos be taxed yet we know that many Ugandans borrow from them because of the low interest rates?” said Ssewungu.
Hon. John Bagoole (Independent, Luuka North) urged government to revise the proposal of levying one percent tax on individuals engaged in agriculture.
“This tax should be levied only on commercial agriculture and not individuals who are practicing subsistence farming,” said Bagole.
Isaac Mulindwa Ssozi (NRM, Lugazi Municipality) called for the complete removal of the proposed tax on agriculture.
“Agriculture is the backbone of Uganda and therefore, any tax in agriculture is not called for,” said Ssozi.
Nathan Nandala Mafabi (FDC, Budadiri West) advised government to institute measures that will motivate Ugandans to buy new cars before banning the importation of old ones.
“The moment you stop the old vehicles from being imported, you must reduce tax on the new ones,” Mafabi elaborated.
Akello Judith Franca (FDC, Agago district) questioned whether government carried out a cost proposal analysis before proposing tax amendments.
“How is Uganda going to benefit from the ban on importation of vehicles after foregoing Shs182 billion,” said Akello.
Francis Mukula (Independent, Agule) said that the ban on old vehicles will make it impossible for majority of Ugandans who are low income earners to buy vehicles.
“I presume the cheapest new vehicle will be Shs 60 million. What plan does the government have for Ugandans who cannot afford new vehicles,” asked Mukula.

Bahati explained that the proposed new taxes are aimed at augmenting the tax effort and are expected to raise Shs951.5 billion, while Shs272 billion is expected to be raised from administrative efficiency to achieve the policy target of 0.5 per cent in line with National Development Plan II.

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Hon. Fred Turyamuhweza

Bujumbura County MP Fred Turyamuhweza demands government to allocate sufficient funds for the purchase of fuel to run graders that will repair rural roads damaged by heavy rains.

He told parliament that most of the rural roads especially in Rukinguri have broken down due to heavy rains and lack of periodic maintenance.

He said that government provided graders to districts but it did not increase budget for fuel.

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He asked government to intervene in provision of more funds to districts to service the road machines and also purchasing the new ones to work on the damaged and new roads.

Ngora district woman MP Jacqueline Amongin complained of poor state of roads in some parts of Kampala especially in Makindye division.

The minister of state for planning David Bahati said that government will give more 10 billion shillings to services and repair graders for road maintenance.

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Minister David Bahati

Bahati told parliament that government has told the URA to screen the 84 companies that applied for this payment on basis that they supplied to south Sudan government goods and service so as the genuine ones are paid.

He said that government is committed to pay  the affected traders and later south Sudan government pays Uganda government.

He said that the list of traders from URA will be taken to parliament ant the amount of money required for approval.

Its estimated that government would spend about 140 billion shillings to clear this debt which was cause d by the instability in south sudan .

The minister of Trade Amelia Kyambadde also said that more application for traders who missed on the first phase .

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MP for Busongoara North in Kasese district, William Nzoughu

MPS are divided over a proposal seeking transferring the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee Leadership to the independent members of Parliament from the NRM party members.

The rules committee had proposed that the Human Rights committee be chaired by the independent MPS but both the opposition and NRM members of Parliament want to be in charge of the committee.

Opposition Members of Parliament who include the MP for Busongoara North in Kasese district, William Nzoughu and Obongi County MP, Hassan Fungaroo, opposed to the committee’s proposal saying that the independent who would be appointed to chair this committee could be leaning to the ruling party and has conflict of interest when the matter in question is bring the government in bad light.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Planning, David Bahati, said that the Human Rights committee should remain in hands of the ruling party members because there has been no case causing for the change of the status quo.

When the matter started to be contentious the Deputy Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, called off the debate on the matter.

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Evelyn Anite the State Minister for Investments

The Minister of State for Investment and Privatization, Evelyn Anite, has revealed that investment brokers are approaching her almost on daily basis to bribe her not to expose investors to information that they are entitled to free land.

She disclosed this while appearing before the Parliamentary Committee on Finance to defend the investment code bill 2017.

Anite asked the Parliamentary Finance Committee t to approve the Investment code bill 2017 to cut off the middle men who have been fueling corruption in the process of attraction of investors in the country.

She told the committee that she gets attempts for corruption from middle men who bring investors almost on daily basis and when she blocks them is accused being unfair them.

Anite said that the new investment code bill which is under scrutiny will eliminate corruption since there will be one stop center to clear and verify investors  to do away with investment brokers  who have been promoting corruption yet they are not even recorganised by any law.

The Minister of State for Planning, David Bahati, said that the bill under review states that no foreign investor will be allowed to invest or participate in the operation of any investment activity in Uganda before registration with the authority and those who contravene the provision will be fined 20 million shillings or be jailed for a period not exceeding four years or both.

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State Minister for Finance David Bahati

Government has urged  Parliament to come up with strategies on  ending teenage pregnancies which it says is  still high among the girl child in Uganda.

The Minister of State for Planning, David Bahati, while presenting a statement during the World Population Day in Kampala said Parliamentarians can play a crucial role in ending the vice through enacting better policies and guidelines.

The event will be celebrated this week on Tuesday in Busia district.

Bahati said that even though the fertility rate among women has slightly reduced, the country still faces a challenge of teenage pregnancies which is standing at 25 percent for the last ten years.

He adds that the most affected girl child are those aged between 11-13 years and wants members of parliament to assist them sensitize the community to ensure girls get pregnant at the age of 19 years

The Opposition Chief Whip,Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda, on his part urged government to celebrate the function in a national way and avoid their usual partisan stunts.

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Leader of Opposition Winnie Kizza

Government is in the final stages of terminating the contract of Tibet Hima Industry Mining Company Ltd at Kilembe mining in Kasese district over what authorities say are irregularities of its operation.

The move comes after the Leader of Opposition, Winfred Kiiza, reported to Parliament that the investor of Tibet Hima Company has mismanaged the Kilembe mining assets which were entrusted to his company when he was given the mining contract together with other companies.

Kiiza said that Tibet Hima Company has never paid any money to government yet its receiving money which she says belongs to Kilembe mining company.

She said that the investor is freezing the tax payer but nothing is paying to government though was supposed to pay the first payment worth 1.05 million dollars.

Kizza said that government should instead terminate their contract and make them leave a mining deposit.
Earlier, government through the ministry of finance had written a letter to Tibet Hima company proprietors threatening to terminate their contract over violating the contract but they did not take the
letter serious.

Kilembe Mines in Kasese

Tibet –Hima company owner is also accused of selling the mineral scrap, equipment and power to the neighboring community.

However, the minister of state for planning, David Bahati, government is moving in direction of terminating this investor’s contract and promised to give the final decision on this matter next week.

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According to statistics from the National Planning Authority, of the total current number of 130 ministries, department and agencies, only 27 have successfully submitted their strategic plans that have already been  approved.

Speaking during annual planner’s forum last week, the state minister for finance, David Bahati, said that ordinarily the budget follows planning, but that in Uganda ministries budget are most times approved without proper plans.

He said that in these August releases, no ministry, department or agency will be given money without presenting a strategic plan.

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