Addressing reporters today in Kampala, Omach states that they will keep a close watch on how prices for sugar will move but notes that the current high sugar price has been as a result of low local production with most of the consumed sugar now coming from overseas and highly taxed.

But the minister notes that even when they have slashed imported taxes on sugar by100%, this might not directly cause change in sugar prices at retail level for the local man.

He also adds that in the cabinet meeting, they resolved to revitalize the economy by cutting government expenditure, injecting more in the fish, agriculture and production sectors of Uganda.

 The junior finance minister also confirms to the nation that Uganda’s economy is healthy.

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The call comes following announcement by government to reduce taxes on sugar imports by 100%.

Addressing journalists at Parliament today, the Kampala Central MP, Nsereko Mohammed said it is not enough to cut taxes but this should be extended to other commodities such as fuel and salt.

Lwemiyaga County MP, Theodore Sekikuubo also called on government to break the monopoly of sugar manufacturing companies, which may use the scarcity to sell their products at exorbitant prices.

Ssekikubo says the rural population will continue to suffer the effects of the hard economic times more unless government comes out with lasting solutions to curb the running inflation.

The State Minister of Finance, Fred Omach earlier today announced the government was waiving all taxes on sugar imports in a move expected to ease the current shortage as some of the local manufacturers solve their productions shortfalls.

Omach also announced that government is freezing purchase of vehicles with a few exceptions, as a way of checking expenditure.

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Map of Uganda

The minister of state for finance Fred Omach and the Executive Director UBOS Male Mukasa  told mps on the finance committee that government has only 19 billion out of 46.5 billion shillings required for the whole exercise in August 2012.

Male Mukasa said that the 19 billion shillings available out of 46.5 billion shillings needed for the census can only do population mapping in the districts and there is no money to print questionnaires.

The youth mp for western Uganda Gerald Karuhanga asked government to provide the required money for the   success of census.

Uganda last conducted the census in 2002 and it’s estimated that the country has 33 million people.

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The funds will cover expenditures for both the central and local government for the first quarter of the new financial year that commences July 1. Vote on account constitutes 1/3 of the funds approved in the national budget.

Finance State Minister Fred Omach Jachan re-tabled the motion Thursday June 30, following concerns raised by MPs earl in the week over exclusion of figures for wages.

According to the motion, a total of Ushs.1, 194,226,597,000/= will be spent on recurrent expenditures while Ushs.1, 646,386,110,000/= will cover development expenditure.

Article 154(4) of the constitution permits the President to authorize the expenditure of monies from the consolidated fund account for the purposes of meeting expenditure necessary to carry on services of the government until the expiration of four months from the start of the financial year.

By Isaac Senabulya

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