Latest Posts

‘Some of them just want money to travel abroad’- Museveni Bans Luxurious Travel Abroad, Internal Allowances For MPs, Civil Servants

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has placed a blanket ban on travel abroad by Members of Parliament and civil servants to save money for other priority sectors.

While commissioning facilities at Uganda Petroleum Institute-Kigumba (UPIK) in Kiryandongo District on Saturday, Mr Museveni was not happy to learn that the institute does not have enough funding to become a fully-fledged institute.

He bashed the Finance ministry officials for failing to prioritise the most important sectors such as oil and gas that will generate billions of money for the economy and asked them to ban travel abroad as well as internal allowances.

“Some of them just want money to travel abroad. Tell the civil servants, the MPs and all politicians to stop travelling abroad. Money is wasted on external travel and here Kigumba is crying for money. This is really poor planning,” the President said.

Mr Museveni said he was informed that even before the oil starts flowing, the oil companies are going to invest $15b (Shs54.7 trillion) in Uganda and out of that, 40 percent will remain in the country.

The President, who was in company of the Minister of Education and First Lady, Ms Janet Museveni, said the government contracted UPIK to train experts who are going to work in oil exploration.

“So how can you say that you lack Shs8b per year, which I think is $2m, in order to earn $7b from the oil sector. It is not lack of money, but lack of planning by the Ministry of Planning, foresight and wisdom and all that. How can you fail to plan to save money in order to get more money in a very short time?” he said.

He added: “Allowance inside Uganda, we can freeze all those and do this as we have done previously.”

Earlier, the Principal of UPIK, Mr Bernard Ongodia, had reported that whereas the World Bank funded them with $15.5m (Shs56.6b), which facilitated the construction of five modern workshops, multipurpose buildings, and a gatehouse, among others.

Mr Ongodia said they need to extend the ICT fibre network to cover the entire institute. He added that with the new infrastructure and equipment in place, there is a need to fence the institute and acquire a police post.

“Your excellency, we believe that if all the above challenges are addressed, our quest to become a global reference institute for oil and gas training will be realised,” Mr Ongodia said.

Mr Museveni said his government is going to find all the funds needed to make UPIK a fully-fledged institute ahead of oil exploration.

“We shall find funds for staff housing, ICT lab, and fence. You said that you are staying outside and the hyenas are coming and we shall hear one day that the hyena has taken one of the students. How shall we explain this? No please. What is the money needed, we shall look for it. Because this is the only project we have in this country,” he said.

One the issue of borehole water, the President said he was going to liaise with the Ministry of Water and Environment to come up with both short and long-term solutions. He also pledged to buy the institute a bus and a min-bus and to give their Sacco Shs 50m from the State House budget.

Uganda is expected to begin commercial oil exploration in 2025, with China considered to be one of the major funders among other oil companies.

The Ministry of finance responds

The Minister of Finance, Mr Matia Kasaija, said the government cannot ban all travels abroad because some are very important for the development of the economy.

“You cannot ban all travel. Some government officials who travel to get money like negotiating for loans need to travel among other important things,” Mr Kasaija said.

“President Museveni did not say we would ban all travels abroad. He said some travels and he asked us to prioritise,” Mr Kasaija said.

Loading

Don't Miss

EXPOSED! Muyenga Tycoon’s Maid Cited In Land Wrangle

In recent days, Muyenga, Y2K Zone a push Kampala suburb,

Parliament Orders Closure Of Fuelex Petrol Stations For Adulterating Fuel

The Parliamentary Committee on Trade And Industry led by Mbarara

Big Story: Parliament Probes UETCL Bosses Over Corruption, Mismanagement & Controversial UGX 28Billion Compensation Deal

Members of Parliament on the Committee on Environment and Natural

‘Back Off Buganda Land’ Kabaka Mutebi Castigates People Pushing For Abolition Of Mailo Land Tenure System

The Kabaka of Buganda Kingdom Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has

Big Story: IGG Probes Over Shs1bn Ubos Fraud

The Inspector General of Government (IGG) is investigating top officials

EXPLOSIVE: How Speaker Kadaga & Confidant Hon. Okupa Spent Over US $764,000 (Shs2.8 BN) In-less Than 2 Years In Travels Abroad

Since taking office as Deputy Speaker of Parliament way back

Ham Vs DTB Appeal: Bank Of Uganda Runs Out Of Case, Leaves DTB To Carry Its Own Cross

Bank of Uganda has officially quit the case involving city

Amnesty International Joins Push To Free Presidential Runner Robert Kyagulanyi

The Ugandan authorities must immediately lift the police and military

Exporters Call For Strong Action Against EAC States’ Trade Barriers

Manufacturers have called on the government to impose tough measures

Big Story: How KCCA Officials Messed Up Youth Fund Programs, Stole Billions of Gov’t Funds In Shoddy Deals

Kampala: If there is any government Authority that frustrating President

I Predict Museveni, NRM Victory In 2021 Elections

By Faruk Kirunda Kampala: As we dive into the high

Crisis: Lord Mayor Lukwago Defies Court Order, Appoints Balondemu As Chairman K’la District Land Board

Veteran lawyer Hajji Elias Lukwago, who is the Kampala city

Scandal: Stanbic Bank Bosses Allegedly Steal Borrowers’ Land Titles, Mortgage Them To Dfcu Bank

Several officials at Stanbic Bank are in deep trouble after

Scandal: KCCA Officials On Spot For Blowing Shs 8Bn Under The Guise Of Renovating Old Tax Park

Several officials at the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), are

Covid-19 Crisis: Ugandan Students Expected To Sit For UNEB Exams In March 2021

All indications are that a dead year will not be

BoU To Appeal In Supreme Court Over Trashed Crane Bank Case

The Bank of Uganda (BOU) has said it will be

Shame As Top Police Boss Is Convicted Of Car Theft, Ordered To Pay Over Shs282M

Untold shame has engulfed the Uganda Police a senior officer

Just In! Energy Mafias Rock Parliament As Patriotic Young Turks Question AIGP Akullo’s Involvement In Min. Energy Corruption

Panic has rocked Parliament as renowned Parliamentarian and Lawyer Hon.

Energy Mafias Debunked Part III: How Werikhe, Turyagyenda Corruptly Swindled Shs15 Bn For 3 Electricity Distribution Projects In Acholi, Bunyoro & Kiruhura

FUNDING THE COUP THROUGH ENERGY AND MINERALS CORRUPTION By the

Just In: Top Energy Officials Fired On Presidential Orders Over Massive Theft Of Electricity Distribution Funds

By Our Reporter Kampala: Two senior officials of Rural Electrification

Salary Scam Hits KCCA AS 29bn Is Paid To Ghost Workers

After Eng Andrew Kitata took over as the acting Executive

She Cranes Defeat Ethiopia At 2019 Cecafa Senior Women Challenge Cup

Uganda Women’s national football team (Crested Cranes) beat Ethiopia 1-0

URA Enforcement Officer Shoots Motorcyclist

A young man is receiving treatment at Arua Regional Referral