Museveni Swearing-in Cost Rises to Sh4 Billion

Isaac Imaka and Sheila Naturinda

13 April 2011

The cost for President Museveni’s swearing-in ceremony has now been revised to Shs4 billion, up from the Shs3.3 billion budget earlier tabled in Parliament by the Minister for the Presidency, Ms Beatrice Wabudeya. A budget breakdown seen by this paper shows that on top of the Shs3.3b earlier asked, the Ministry wants more Shs252m to cater for security sub-committees and Shs60m in additional requirements to cater for the protocol sub-committees.

Another Shs102m is needed for what is being termed as urgent repairs to the infrastructure at Kololo, including guard trails, road kerbs, mausoleums and steps. And that although the estimates are based on 30 as the number of expected heads of State, the number of delegations is expected to be higher.

Details of the increased budget emerged after MPs rejected the earlier Shs3.3b budget after Ms Wabudeya said the money was needed to buy sodas, water, printing invitation cards, and entertainment, among others. It was the third time the budget was being rejected. She also said there would be need to do construction, accommodation of the guests and transportation of Ugandans to the venue.

Ms Wabudeya was in Parliament yesterday to defend the swearing-in budget where she said her ministry had earlier estimated Shs2 billion for the event which was based on 2006 estimates, but “Prices have gone up and a lot of things have changed.”

Ms Wabudeya also said the Shs295 million in the 2010/11 budget earmarked for the swearing-in ceremony was used for the Independence Day, NRM Day and Heroes’ Day. While the Budget Committee was closed to journalists, MPs who attended the meeting told Daily Monitor that a decision was taken to reject ministers’ explanation and demanded that she re-appears before the same committee today for further details. The MPs demanded to know how much will be spent on each item.

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