Mbale City

450 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE GEN. (RTD) MOSES ALI xxii) Governor in the African Development Bank, African Development Bank and African Development Fund in 1978; xxiii) Chairman, Board of Governors of the Islamic Development Bank from 1978 to 1979; and xxiv) Teacher at Koch Goma Church of Uganda Primary School and Anaka Catholic Girls School, from 1967 to 1968. RECOGNISING THAT Rt Hon. Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali was a patriot who served in the Uganda Army and the Uganda National Rescue Front, UNRF II, and the Uganda People’s Defence Forces and attained the following ranks and awards: i) Mr Speaker, he was commissioned to the rank of Second Lieutenant and appointed Officer in Charge of Training in the Uganda Paratrooper School in 1969; ii) He was promoted to the rank of Major and appointed Commander of the Paratrooper School in 1971; iii) He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1972; iv) Appointed Minister of Provincial Administration Interior in 1973; v) He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier in 1974; vi) He was decorated with the following medals: a. Distinguished Service Order; b. Military Cross; c. Operational and Republic Medals; d. The second highest honour of the Islamic Republic of Mauritius, 1975; e. He was commissioned into the National Resistance Army (NRA) at the rank of Major General in 1986; and f. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in 2003, and thereafter, promoted to the rank of General in 2012. APPRECIATING THAT Rt Hon. Gen. (Rtd) Moses Ali contributed to the post-colonial restoration of democratic rule in Uganda and participated: i) In the fight against authoritarianism by founding and leading the Uganda National Rescue Front, a West Nile based rebel movement that fought against the dictatorship of the 1980s; ii) In the making of the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda as a Member of the Constituent Assembly; iii) In the negotiation between the Uganda National Rescue Front, a rebel group, and the Government of Uganda, which culminated in a formal ceasefire agreement and a final peace deal that officially ended the insurgency in the West Nile region and led to the incorporation of former combatants of the UNRF-II into the Uganda People’s Defence Forces; and iv) Supported His Excellency, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni in the peace efforts to end the insurgency of the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) Northern Uganda and was instrumental in championing the formulation and enactment of the Amnesty Act, Cap 316, which granted pardon to fighters who denounced rebellion. COGNIZANT that Gen. (Rtd.) Moses Ali was a diligent leader who supported His Excellence, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, in shaping the destiny of Uganda and served Uganda with distinction and patriotism for over 50 years, as described above. NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that Parliament of Uganda: i) Collectively conveys its deepest condolences to the bereaved family, the people of West Nile sub-region and the people of Uganda, for the loss of a distinguished and gallant citizen of this country; ii) That Parliament appreciates the distinguished service rendered by the late Gen. (Rtd.) Moses Ali to the people of Uganda.” Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Thank you. Honourable members, in the public gallery this morning, we have immediate family members of the late Rt Hon. Gen. Moses Ali. They include: 1. Mama Kerima Ali - widow 2. Mama Amina Ali - widow 3. Mama Aziza Ali - widow 4. Mr Bashir Musa - son 5. Ms Zenab Ali - daughter 6. Ms Mariam Ali - daughter, and not in the public gallery but in the chamber; we have Hon. Siraje Ali Musa - son They have come to join Parliament in paying tribute to the late Rt Hon. Gen. Moses Ali and also listen to what other people say about their father and husband. Join me in making them feel welcome. (Applause) We also have Hon. Hamson Denis Obua – (Applause) - the former Government Chief Whip and NRM Vice-Chairperson in charge of Northern Uganda. He has missed and lost a supporter. Can I have Hon. Catherine Akumu Mavenjina, the elder?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of the elders and people of Northern Uganda, whom I represent, to convey our heartfelt condolences to the family of the late Gen. Moses Ali, Parliament, the Executive led by His Excellency the President, the Judiciary, and the whole country. The late Moses Ali was our icon and had a big heart. In 1986, when the First Lady founded Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans (UWESO), Rt Hon. Moses Ali was one of the donors and a great supporter of the organisation because I personally used to go to his farm, together with my late sister, Ms Angela Kaba, to get bulls for our orphans. In 1994, Gen. Moses Ali and I were campaigning for the Constituent Assembly (CA). On my way back to Nebbi, I had to pass through Moyo and Gulu, but we were abducted by rebels in Pabbo. Fortunately, our Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) were nearby and quickly came to our rescue, but all our things were looted. When I reached Adjumani, I had to report to Gen. Moses Ali, who was also busy with his campaign. He gave me more money than I had raised in Kampala or what had been looted. I am very grateful to him. Mr Speaker, Gen. Moses Ali worked with me when I was appointed to the Cabinet. He guided and mentored me when I was a junior Minister of State – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I am happy to pay tribute to our fallen hero from Northern Uganda. On behalf of the people of Northern Uganda, allow me to bring heartfelt appreciation to

470 TRIBUTE TO THE LATE GEN. (RTD) MOSES ALI His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda for granting our late son an official burial. Thank you, Your Excellency. I want to thank the late Gen. Moses Ali. He was a statesman who dedicated his time to promote peace and development for the people of Northern Uganda. He worked hand-in-hand with the Government of Uganda to bring peace in Acholi and West Nile Subregions. We will not forget this legacy. Mr Speaker, the late Gen. Moses Ali served this nation with a lot of humility. I remember when I was the Resident District Commissioner of Nwoya, around 2015, the late Gen. Moses Ali was the Second Deputy Prime Minister. He came to my office when he was the Second Deputy Prime Minister and the Second Leader of Government Business in Parliament. I was so surprised to see a General at that rank with all the titles visiting a small office of an RDC. He talked about opening a road connecting Nwoya to Adjumani. We shall forever remember him as a statesman. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.

Mr Speaker, on behalf of the people of Upper Madi County, I second the motion. Mr Speaker, the gentleman lying in front of us here in that casket was not an ordinary person. Gen. Moses Ali, as rightly said, is a household name not only in West Nile but virtually in the whole of Northern Uganda and Uganda at large. The late Gen. Moses Ali was a very firm man but a very fair person as well. A cadre of his nature is not someone we come to mourn. We came here not to mourn the late Gen. Moses Ali, but to celebrate the life of an illustrious son of Madi, West Nile, and Uganda. As a young person, we were students at Namilyango College. At the height of the difficult moments, we were stopped by the soldiers at the roadblock at Ntinda. Fortunately, the gentleman lying there in the coffin was passing by. He came out of his vehicle, ordered the soldiers at the roadblock to release us immediately to continue back to school. And that was the fairness of this gentleman – (Member timed out.)

398 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME [Dr Baryomunsi] have mobilised our national systems, activated international partnerships, and maintained open communication with the public at every stage. The outcomes achieved to date are a direct result of these efforts. Let me briefly tell you about what the Bundibugyo Ebola virus is. Especially to the people of Bundibugyo, because there is a misunderstanding when we say Bundibugyo virus; some people think there is an outbreak in Bundibugyo District. Ebola is what we call a “zoonotic disease”. “Zoonotic disease” means the disease-causing organism ordinarily resides in an animal, but it can cross over to a human being and cause disease, so those diseases are called zoonosis. By the time we finish this Parliament, you will be up to date with the medical issues -(Laughter)- that means that the Ebola virus, which causes Ebola disease, the reservoir is in animals, and the fruit bat is the one which usually harbours this virus. It thrives in non- human primates and some other animals, so when it crosses over to human beings, it causes disease. The first case of Ebola was identified in 1976. There was a simultaneous outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the current South Sudan. Ebola is the name of a river which is in the DRC, so it derives its name from the Ebola River because the first outbreak was in a community around the Ebola River in Congo. I am paraphrasing my statement because I will not read it verbatim. The first outbreak was in Congo, Zaire, then, so that strain of the virus was called Ebola Zaire. The strain that was in Sudan was different. It was called Ebola Sudan. In 2007 and 2008, we had an outbreak in Bundibugyo District, Western Uganda. When the scientists checked the virus, the strain was different from the previous ones; therefore, it was named Ebola Bundibugyo. Are you following, class? (Laughter) Therefore, Ebola Bundibugyo refers to that strain of the virus which first hit us in Bundibugyo, and it was different from the previous strains. There are six strains of Ebola virus. Strain means a subtype or a different type. Of the six, the ones of public health importance are these three: Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, and Ebola Bundibugyo. There is another one called Tai Forest Ebola virus. It was first identified in Ivory Coast in 1989. There is another one called the Reston Virus, but it does not cause disease in human beings. Another is called the Bombali Virus, which was identified in Sierra Leone. Those last three are not so much of public health importance because they are not associated with human infections. I just wanted to give you that background so we can understand. I have received complaints from the people of Bundibugyo that we should change the name because it creates stigma against them. However, that is how the international scientific community named it because it was first isolated in Bundibugyo, which is in Western Uganda. I can also add that since 1976, we have had about 40 outbreaks and flare-ups in the last 50 years. I will speak to the importance of that. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is now witnessing the 17 th outbreak of Ebola. Here in Uganda, we are witnessing the ninth. The first was in 2000, which ravaged Northern Uganda. You recall when we lost one of our prominent doctors, Dr Lukwiya. Since then, we have had several outbreaks and flare-ups. Let me give you the statistics as they are today. On the 10 th day of May, a sick Congolese national came into Uganda and was admitted at Kibuli Hospital. Little did the health workers know that this was a case of Ebola disease. He died on the 14 th , four days later. When the victim died, the health workers became suspicious and took samples from him. On the 15 th day of May, they confirmed this was a case of Ebola. That is why the Ministry of MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

412 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME [Mr Ogwang] i) Upgrading the seating capacity from 38,000 to 45,000; ii) Improvements and expansion of the VVIP and VIP lounges; iii) Improvements in the media tribune, stadium media centre, press conference rooms, the mixed zone, spectator-related areas and medical areas, among others. Mr Speaker, the contractor has completed the design review and incorporated all observations raised by the Confederation of African Football. Structural integrity tests have also been successfully undertaken, confirming the project’s readiness to proceed. The contractor remains scheduled to complete works within the timelines stipulated by CAF, which is 31 December 2026. 3. Kyambogo University Training Facility Phase II construction works are progressing well and the facility is expected to be completed by August. 4. Makerere University Training Facility Construction works are ongoing and completion is expected by August. 5. Hoima Boma Grounds The project is on course for completion by September this year. 6. Masindi Municipal Stadium Training Facility Construction works are ongoing and the facility is expected to be completed by September this year. 7. FUFA Kadiba Stadium Training Facility The BOQs and architectural design for Kadiba are being finalised, and the site will soon be handed over to the UPDF Engineers Brigade. The scope of works includes remedial works on the pitch and installation of floodlights. We envisage completing the work by December 2026. Why the delay? The stadium was being used by FUFA till the end of the calendar year, which ended recently. It is a Federation facility for football competition. 8. Sir Tito Winyi Secondary School (Training Facility) The process of acquiring land at Sir Tito Winyi is concluded, and the Minister of Works and Transport is preparing the BOQs. Works will commence in August 2026 and will be completed in December. Why the delay? There was a complaint about the land. As per the guidance from the Attorney-General, the Government cannot invest resources where we do not have exclusive ownership of the land. So, the two parties had to be brought on board. Finally, there is a consent to that effect. Now we are ready to start working. 9. Upgrade priority access roads, pedestrian walkways, and street lighting around Hoima City stadium and Mandela National Stadium. Government is implementing a number of strategic road projects aimed at improving access to the AFCON 2027 competition and training venues while also easing traffic flow within the host cities. The works cover Jokas-Uganda Christian University Road (13.2 km). This road is going to be worked on and completed. That will ease traffic on the main Jinja Highway. Hon. Nambooze is nodding. I think let us clap for Government for that. (Laughter) Jokas-Bweyogere Road (6.2 km), Jokas-Namanve Road (3.2 km), Kireka-Kamuli- Nalya Road, Bweyogere-Buto-Namugongo Road, Kyaliwajala-Kira-Kasangati Road, and Old Jinja Road. The project also includes improvements to Kireka and Kyaliwajala junctions, as well as road linkages to the Northern Bypass through Agenda and Kiwatule as well as roads to Hoima City Stadium. The procurement process is progressing well with the evaluation of prospective contractors underway. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

414 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME [Mr Ogwang] ready to be completed by 31 December 2026. Training facilities in Akii Bua in Lira City, Lira University, Gulu University, and Pece Stadium are ongoing. We intend to have a four-nations tournament, and countries that are ready to come to Uganda early to acclimatise to the weather for part of the competition will be able to go to Akii Bua. I want the people of northern Uganda to know that Government is fully committed to ensuring AFCON 2027 is for all of us. What I have not said is that the $7.5 million for branding destination Uganda is already given to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. In a special way, let us thank the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development who is here. Hon. Musasizi, we thank you for accepting to help the country host this competition. I thank you very much. I say all this for God and my country.

Mr Speaker, I am happy that everybody is now in the mood of AFCON 2027. I would like to thank the President and the First Lady who have been coordinating all these efforts. A lot has been done; we are well coordinated and doing all that is possible to make sure Uganda hosts AFCON 2027. I undertake to involve all colleagues, both in Wakiso, Kampala and Hoima, even Lira, where Akii- Bua Stadium is located. Today I chaired a meeting of hotel owners, including those from Northern Uganda, because as we speak, Akii-Bua Stadium construction is 100 per cent complete –(Interjections) - yes, they are just planting grass. Apart from a few patches – (Interjections) - information not taken. All of us wish the best for this country, and I know we have an obligation. I once again undertake to involve everybody.

437 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 JULY 2026 However, the President organised a detach manned by the army. There is a commander in that area and issues had really subsided completely. Now that the issues are coming up, cattle rustling is a crime. We have even trained those “Karachunas” in Kyankwanzi and Kaweweta Military Training School. From there, I thought that one is a matter of the past. But now that, that came up, together with the Minister for Karamoja Affairs, Minister of Northern Uganda, and theMinister of Defence and Veterans Affairs, we shall continue to tighten the security of that area. For compensation, please come to our office and give us the details of those people who lost their lives. And by the way, we condole with the families. We shall handle these issues as they emerge. However, the fact is that the President of the Republic of Uganda has tried his best to stop cattle rustling from our brothers, the Karachunas of Karamoja who have really made it a habit to steal from their neighbours. I know this will stop with time.

Thank you. There is a related motion here. Just sit down a little. Item number five will be the last item on this and then we handle EALA. We shall continue with the State-of-the-Nation Address next week. We cannot rush the State- of-the-Nation Address since it is a three-minute - and the Rt Hon. Prime Minister is doing very well. If we continue this way, your work, Rt Hon. Prime Minister, mine, and that of MPs will be easier. They will all come back. Item No.5. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT URGING GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT THE DROUGHT-AFFECTED SUBREGIONS OF NORTHERN UGANDA

Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity. It is a motion for a resolution of Parliament urging the Government to support the drought-affected subregions of Northern Uganda. This is moved under Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament of Uganda. Mr Speaker, as you guided, I will go to the prayers directly. Our prayer is: “NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by Parliament as follows: a) that the Government expedites the delivery of food items to support the drought- affected households as well as seeds, seedlings, and planting material for food security crops for the affected people to plant immediately in the forthcoming planting season; b) that the Government invests adequately in early warning systems to strengthen climatic forecast and information dissemination so as to improve on safeguard measures against the occurrence of drought and other natural disasters; c) that the Government expedites the use of the $38 million funds already earmarked for the disaster risk financing facility under the NUSAF-IV Project to deal with the challenges of severe drought in the subregions of West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Karamoja, Teso, Bukedi, Bunyoro and Elgon; d) that the Government increases investment in solar-powered irrigation systems to minimise crop failures that arise from the absence of water; e) that the Government establishes agricultural mechanisation support systems to ease land opening, increase acreages under production and improve [Mr Opito] MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I stand to support the motion. It is very challenging that the effect of climate change is biting quite deep in the population. The population had actually invested a lot; people had cultivated, and many acreage of crops had been planted, but the dry spell came, and nothing was harvested. I, therefore, support the motion that the population be supported with food supplies, aware that the next planting season is coming this August and people will only harvest in November and December. Unless they are supported, many lives will be lost. I support the motion that the people of Northern Uganda be urgently supported with food supply and planting materials. Thank you.

440 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME Mr Speaker, these figures come from nine official Government records and have been substantively corroborated by official data as well as international sources. The Government has already responded because we have been having communications. On the 11 th of July, the President ordered for Shs 45 billion Contingency Fund for famine relief and authorised regulated grazing at Pian Upe, as well as ordering a review of water reservoir plans in the region. That is a welcome response but we find this insufficient. Our motion seeks to extend that response to every northern subregion named in the motion and to ensure that the resources deployed are adequate to the scale of the need. Mr Speaker, I give notice of three amendments I intend to move during this debate: 1. That Government commits to further distribution of food relief across the six-month gap to the next harvest. One distribution is not enough. 2. That the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) distributes drought-tolerant seeds for the September to December planting season to food-insecure households across the northern subregions as well as some parts of Karamoja. 3. Lastly, a specific provision for therapeutic nutrition for children at risk of acute malnutrition. There are 120,000 of them in the region. Mr Speaker, flour and beans do not reverse acute malnutrition and from the mathematics available to us, the current distribution from Shs 45 billion can only last 10 days and yet we need around five or six such measures over the next six months. I beg to submit.

Thank you. Mr Speaker, I would like to raise a procedural matter under rule 63(1). This motion is only talking about affected areas in subregions in Northern Uganda. I am moving an amendment to the motion, under that rule, that instead of us only focusing on subregions in Northern Uganda, we consider affected areas in Uganda. (Applause)

Thank you. However, the motion was beyond Northern Uganda. It enumerated several areas but it is evident in places like Kasese. You even heard that in Ankole, their problem is not food but they want water for the drought. As a Speaker, this is the first time I am hearing that this is a big challenge. (Hon. Francis Oketcho rose_) Hon. Francis, what is it? We are closing this matter.

Majegere oyee . (Laughter) Honourable members, I put the question to the motion for a resolution of Parliament urging the Government to support the drought-affected areas, the subregions of Northern Uganda and the amendment to include all affected subregions of Uganda.

Thank you so much, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I listened very carefully as the President gave the State of the Nation Address, and when he spoke specifically about improving Uganda’s economy through commercial agriculture and industrialisation, I picked interest in industrialisation. I think if we must move the economy successfully, we have to look at these sectors based on the economic activity of an area, natural resources, and the comparative advantage of that area. I want to speak to the fisheries sector, specifically on Lake Kyoga in Amolatar District. I hail from Amolatar District, and I must tell you, Amolatar needs a fisheries industrial park. If Amolatar people must progress and benefit from moving into the money economy, most of us who were born and lived in a landing site know that our lives revolve around fishing. We fish to send our children to school, to access medical care, and it is the biggest source of income for our young people. Recently, the Government has been enforcing regulations on the lake, and some of these have left our people without their livelihoods. The Government of Uganda asked our people to acquire the right fishing equipment. We sold land, and our people sold their cattle to buy this fishing equipment. After buying the equipment,

Thank you for the appreciation. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank all the Members who contributed to the debate on the State-of-the- Nation Address by the President. I have a few issues here for clarification regarding co- operatives, especially from Hon. Ongiertho, Member of Parliament for Nebbi Municipality. Honourable members, the issues related to the co-operative movement are about collective responsibility. Let us all go out and promote SACCOs. We have dairy co-operatives, especially for those from western Uganda. We have creatives such as musicians, comedians, co-operatives and artistes. My ministry recently gave them Shs 10 billion as a push-up. Let us go all out as leaders and promote the co- operative movement. We have livestock and fisheries cooperatives - Hon. Okeyoh, there you are - consumers’, housing, transport and industrial co-operatives, and multipurpose cooperatives, among others. Let us all involve ourselves, go all out and embrace all Government developmental programmes. Our role is to mobilise, sensitise and educate our people down there. Let us all go out and lure, woo, entice, attract and convince them to embrace cooperatives. That is my role. So, I am coming. We are starting our regional tours next week. Be ready. We are coming to all your regions to mobilise the people so that we can embrace cooperatives, the SACCOs. Let us go ahead and encourage the people to take Youth Venture Capital Fund, Youth Livelihood Programme, Uganda Women Empowerment Programme, Emyooga , Parish Development Model. Uganda now has over 40,000 registered cooperatives serving millions of members. Cooperatives are centres of job creation. It will drive our development agenda. Let us try to embrace it. Mr Speaker, let us embrace some of the aspects of the Sustainable Development Goals. We have goal number one, which talks about ending poverty. The second goal talks about ending hunger through farmers and SACCO cooperatives. The eighth goal talks about promoting decent work and economic growth by creating member-owned cooperatives. The ninth goal talks about promoting industry and innovation through value addition. Lastly, the 17 th goal talks about strengthening partnerships by linking cooperatives to markets, finance and Government. Once again, next week, I am coming for my regional tours to mobilise cooperatives. Thank you very much.

Colleagues, I welcome you to today›s sitting. I will amend the Order Paper to allow the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to lay documents for remission of taxes. The Clerk will be guiding along the way. Honourable members, under Article 9 of the Parliamentary Sports Club Constitution, the Rt Hon. Speaker of Parliament has appointed Hon. Karim Masaba, MP, Mbale Industrial Division, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Sports Club. Congratulations, Hon. Masaba. In the same vein, Hon. Sarah Kityo has been appointed the manager. Congratulations, Hon. Sarah Kityo. Honourable colleagues, when we reconciled our records, it was discovered that some members were designated to more than one committee. I will therefore withdraw Hon. Mercy Kanyesigye from the Committee on Government Assurances and Implementation, since she was designated as

335 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY,14 JULY 2026 Also related to that is the fact that my ministry is also responsible for the Tenfold Growth Strategy, which is supposed to propel the Ugandan economy from $50 billion to $500 billion in the next 30 years or so. We also have the updated Diagnostic Trade Integration Study, which is ongoing to improve the economy of the country and to help us in all that we are talking about here. We have the National Industrial Policy of 2020 and Museveni-economics, which presupposes that we must embark on the enablers for socio- economic transformation. What are these enablers? Infrastructure, electricity, irrigation, social services, security, financial services, ICT, among others. Moving away from subsistence Agriculture to commercial Agriculture; from lower-middle-income status to upper-middle- income status. All this is in our ministry. As we move on to upper-middle income status, my dear colleagues, as leaders, let us go down to the grassroots and tell our people to once again shift from subsistence Agriculture to modern or commercial Agriculture, so that we can have what you call sustainable development goals. Thank you. (Applause.)

I thank you, honourable minister, for giving way. The clarification I seek concerns industrialisation and how the President is encouraging Ugandans to join the industrial sector. As we all know, the industrialisation sector has been taken away by foreign nationals. If you move, for example, to Luwero, industry by industry, most of the industries are foreign-owned. Honourable minister, clarify which industries you would wish Ugandans to join in the industrialisation process. Thank you.

We encourage our indigenous Ugandans to go into the manufacturing sector. That is the reason we have put up institutions like the UDB to help them access money, but I think the most important thing is: are we adding value to what we are producing? Whoever puts up a factory, whether you are a Ugandan or a foreigner, as long as you are employing our people, you are welcome. (Applause.) The second issue was about Karamoja. Mr Speaker, I have to say that Karamoja has a special place in our development agenda as a country and we are creating a number of opportunities to develop it. One of the things that we are focusing on in our sector is having factories in Karamoja, and so far, as Hon. Remigio said, we have two industries: cement and clinker. Because of that factory, we are going to save close to 80 per cent of the money that has been used for clinker for road construction, using our local materials from Karamoja. We also have good news for the people of Karamoja. We are finalising a feasibility study to establish a multi-billion-dollar industrial park in the subregion. We hope that when this comes up, it will create more jobs and investment opportunities for the Karamoja people. Regarding the aspect of drought and others, we had a discussion, and I know the Prime Minister will comment on that – (Interjection) - Hon. Mwiru, my brother, I am stressed with – (Laughter)

Hon. Mwiru, you can understand. The second-to-last issue concerned the honourable member from Gomba, who said that the President has been threatening to fight corruption. I have a different view. The President is not threatening, but is actually taking action, and the writing is on the wall. We are happy and glad to be having a President who says what he means and means what he says. He is walking the talk, and we should be proud of our President. (Applause) Hon. Molly asked an important question and said, “As sector commanders, what are you doing to fulfil the intention of the President in the State of the Nation Address?” In our sector of industry, we are focusing on creating value for the things that we are producing, especially agro-industrialisation and also import substitution. We would like to manufacture everything we import into the country. For example, honourable colleagues, you may need to know that almost 40 per cent of the honey taken in European countries is made in laboratories, yet here in Kabale, Buganda and Arua, we have a lot of honey. For example, our focus now is on processing honey so that we can export it to these countries – (Applause) - so that they get out of this honey made in laboratories and start enjoying the natural honey that comes from Africa. Lt Gen. Kavuma, I cannot agree with you anymore. We have made good progress over time. We used to import sugar, but now we have excess sugar and also industrial sugar. The sugar that is used to produce soda and others is processed here from Kinyara. We used to import carbon dioxide which is used in soda. We now have factories that manufacture it. We are currently importing close to $1 billion of steel and steel products, but we have now almost set up factories that have reduced this import substantially. So, we are producing steel here. Companies like Roofings and Tembo are setting up in Tororo and Kigezi Subregion to take advantage of the iron ore stocks that we have in our country, which is approximately 312 million tonnes. We want to utilise this to produce steel and steel products. Mr Speaker, the statement of the President was very important and I am glad that Members of Parliament are appreciating it. Let us join hands with the President to industrialise our country,

301 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 09 JULY 2026 At the onset, Mr Speaker, I would like to notify the honourable members that we are going to put the members of Parliament on our list where you will get daily updates on the weather forecast. (Applause) This brief has been prepared to update you on the weather patterns expected in July 2026 across the country. My Ministry of Water and Environment, through the Department of Meteorological Services, produces weather and climate forecasts and information for various sectors, including aviation, marine transport, water resources management, agriculture, health, national defence and security, disaster preparedness, and other developmental activities, to support planning and decision-making for sustainable development. The forecasts are generated and disseminated at different timescales, including six hours, 12 hours, 24 hours (daily), 10 days (Decadal), 30 days (monthly) and 90 days (seasonal), and other tailored weather and climate information depending on user needs. For easy interpretation and uptake of seasonal forecasts, especially by the farmers, the forecasts are usually translated into 35 local languages, depending on availability of funds. Mr Speaker, as you are aware, Uganda experiences two major rainfall seasons, namely, March – April - May (MAM) and September – October - November – December (SOND). However, Northern and parts of Eastern Uganda usually receive substantial rainfall during the months of June-July-August (JJA). The two major rainfall seasons are separated by two dry periods: December to February and June to August in the southern sector. On 28 May 2026, the ministry released a monthly weather update which follows the June – July - August (JJA) 2026 seasonal forecast. In the JJA seasonal forecast, we indicated that rainfall would be suppressed across the country during the JJA season, partly due to the developing El Niño (sea surface warming) over the equatorial Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean. As a result, the rainfall recorded during June 2026 across the country was largely suppressed, as was predicted. Rainfall outlook for July 2026 Mr Speaker, the rainfall outlook for July 2026 over Uganda indicates that Northern and some areas of Eastern Uganda are expected to receive occasional (on and off) light, isolated rainfall. In contrast, Central, south western areas around Lake Victoria, and some parts of Eastern Uganda are expected to remain predominantly dry. Overall, some parts of the country are expected to experience below- average rainfall during July 2026. Temperature outlook for July 2026 Mr Speaker, the temperature is expected to be higher than average during the month of July due to predicted dry conditions, largely influenced by the ongoing development of El Niño over the Equatorial Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean. What are the impacts? Mr Speaker, the expected weather conditions in July 2026 are expected to result in several impacts, particularly on climate-sensitive sectors: i. Agriculture and Food Security. We are likely to have reduced crop yields, increased stress in livestock, and increased risks of pests and diseases that thrive in warm, dry conditions. ii. Water and Environment. The expected impacts include water shortages, increased wildfire risk, and loss of biodiversity. iii. Health. The expected impacts include heat-related illnesses, waterborne diseases and poor nutrition. iv. Social impacts include food insecurity, conflicts over limited resources and migration from one place to another in search of water and food. v. Economic impacts include reduced household income and increased food prices.

302 MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS [Ms Anywar] Advisories Mr Speaker, in response to the expected weather conditions, the following advisories are recommended: i. Communities are encouraged to practice water conservation strategies. Let us use our available water sparingly; ii. Our people should promote efficient use of water for domestic and production purposes; iii. Promote public education on heat safety. We need to take shelter seriously because the heat will have a great effect; iv. Communities are encouraged to use supplementary irrigation for those with access to water resources; v. Communities are encouraged to use available food sparingly or efficiently. Maybe we can stock some if we still have granaries like Northern Uganda; that is, if we have the food. vi. We also encourage continued dissemination of early warning information to our constituencies and all Ugandans. Future outlook Mr Speaker, the outlook indicates that dry and warm conditions are also expected to prevail in August 2026. Given this, the outlook is for a dry season in August as well. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, the dry and warm conditions are expected to affect agriculture, water resources, public health, ecosystems, and the livelihood of our people. Effective planning and adaptation measures need to be engaged now to reduce the impact. I encourage all of us to make good use of this forecast for planning and decision-making. This information should be used to guide rain- fed economic activities, that is, the planting season, to improve livelihoods and economic welfare in our communities. It should also be considered alongside other weather updates regularly provided by the Ministry through the Department of Meteorological Services. I am happy, as I said, colleagues, that Members of Parliament, we have discussed with my team, you are all going to be put on the list and be updated daily. Mr Speaker, my ministry will provide detailed weather updates for August 2026 at the end of July 2026, and release the seasonal forecast for September, October, November, and December 2026 at the end of August 2026. Finally, the ministry appeals that we get supported with enough resources to acquire specialised equipment, to put in place a comprehensive system– those ones will be done, and I think when we are sorted from the Cabinet we shall bring it to this House, so that we are given that opportunity to acquire updated scientific machines that can give real- time forecasts to our people. I thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Mine is on food security. Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Sheema District and other districts that plant Matooke, are currently experiencing severe drought and our bananas are ripening at an abnormal time. I would like to request - I heard an honourable member from Northern Uganda say, “ They are suffering from famine”. Can we have alternative markets? Can we have alternative ways of keeping our food safe, may be in the fridges so that our Matooke, in times of such a glut, we would have them stored or given to those markets or areas where people are suffering from famine. Sheema District and so many other districts are suffering from the same.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Alluding to some of the submissions of our honourable colleagues, for the entire stretch along the northern route going all the way to Gulu, the biggest accidents right now are due to potholes which are not being filled by the Ministry of Works and Transport. We have a high volume of passengers now travelling at night, and because of little lighting along the road, these buses do not see some of these potholes. That is how they end up swerving towards another vehicle, and we get head-on collisions. Can we have those potholes actually filled to make sure that the road is safe? I would also like to inform the Minister of Works and Transport that we are still getting accidents and deaths along the Jukia road. We passed a loan of $20 million for works to begin on the Nebbi-Goli Road; the 16 kilometers. Nothing is happening on the ground. What are you going to do? Lastly, Rt Hon. Speaker, you remember in the 11 th - (Member timed out.)

Mr Speaker, pursuant to Rule 165 of our Rules of Procedure, I designate the following Members to the Committee on Rules, Privileges and Discipline. 1. Hon. Fredrick Ruhindi, Nakawa Division East, Kampala - Chairperson 2. Hon. Abdu Swaibu Kampanya, Iki-Iki, Budaka, NRM - Vice-Chairperson 3. Hon. Catherine Akumu Mavengina, Older Persons Representative (Northern) 4. Hon. James Kakooza, Older Persons Representative 5. Hon. Denis Omodi Alyela, Lira East Division, Lira City 6. Hon. Gyaviira Ssemwanga, Buyamba County, Rakai 7. Hon. Solomon Ossiya Alemu, Toroma County, Katakwi 8. Hon. Salim Kisekka, Bukomansimbi North County, Bukomansimbi 9. Hon. George Patrick Kasajja, Bulamogi North West County, Kaliro, 10. Hon. Peace Khalayi, District Woman Representative, Namisindwa, 11. Hon. Moses Mayanja, Busiro County North, Wakiso 12. Hon. Richard Ongorok, Usuk County, Katakwi 13. Hon. Eng. Cuthbert Abigaba, Kibale County, Kamwenge 14. Hon. Dr Gerald Kasigwa Bihemaiso, Kigorobya County, Hoima 15. Hon. Richard Owere Machika, West Budama North East County, Tororo 16. Hon. Sarah Namulondo, District Woman Representative, Buyende 17. Hon. Peter Okeyoh, Bukooli Island County, Namayingo 18. Hon. Annet Katusiime Mugisha, District Woman Representative, Bushenyi – (Interruptions)

Mr Speaker, I beg to designate the following to the Committee on East African Community Affairs. 1. Hon. Namara Denis, Buyaga West - Chairperson. 2. Hon. Jackline Sange, District Woman Representative, Kween - Vice- Chairperson 3. Hon. Catherine Akumu Mavenjina, Older Persons Representative (Northern) 4. Hon. Florence Asiimwe Akiiki, District Woman Representative, Masindi 5. Hon. Ismail Sowed Mulemya, Busia Municipality, Busia 6. Hon. Wilson Kajwengye, Nyabushozi County, Kiruhura 7. Hon. Josephine Bebona Babungi, District Woman Representative, Bundibugyo 8. Hon. Ferigo Kambale, Kasese Municipality, Kasese 9. Hon. Ben Baatom Koryang, Dodoth West County, Karenga 10. Hon. Matayo Bazaanya, Bugabula County South, Kamuli 11. Hon. Ismail Lubega Kaka, Kakuuto County, Rakai 12. Hon. Charles Nsereko Basajjassubi, Nakaseke South County, Nakaseke 13. Hon. Peter Okeyoh, Bukooli Island County, Namayingo 14. Hon. Agnes Ameede, District Woman Representative, Butebo 15. Hon. Arinaitwe Jeniva, District Woman Representative, Rubirizi 16. Hon. Linda Agnes Auma, District Woman Representative, Lira 17. Hon. Christopher Komakech, Aruu County, Pader 18. Hon. George Patrick Kasajja, Bulamogi North West County, Kaliro 19. Hon. Stephen Kangwagye, Bukanga County, Isingiro 20. Hon. Annet Birungi, Workers Representative. I beg to designate.

137 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 11 JUNE 2026 workers in the Financial Year 2016/2017 to over 2,319,683 workers in the Financial Year 2024/2025. This is in addition to the 503,738 public sector jobs and 10,513,014 informal jobs reported in April 2026. This growth in jobs confirms that Uganda’s economy is not only growing but also creating productive jobs for Ugandans. This is on account of deliberate Government interventions to create jobs through industrialisation and wealth creation. However, creating more productive jobs for our rapidly growing population remains an urgent economic priority. This is why the Government is investing in ATMs and their enablers to create jobs at scale, especially for young people. Going forward, every major intervention in the national budget will ultimately be judged by its contribution to jobs, incomes and improved livelihoods. Fiscal performance Mr Speaker, the Government’s capacity to finance its development agenda using domestic resources continues to strengthen. This financial year, domestic revenue collections are projected at Shs 35.7 trillion, compared to Shs 32.3 trillion collected the previous financial year. This Financial Year 2025/2026, domestic revenue from taxes, non-tax revenues and local government revenues funded up to 80.9 per cent of the total discretionary budget of Shs 44.1 trillion. The discretionary budget includes all funds allocated to implementing programmes, excluding debt and other Government obligations. This represents significant progress towards fiscal self-reliance and reduced dependence on external financing. Mr Speaker, increasing domestic revenue is not merely a fiscal objective. It is a sovereignty objective. A country that finances its development from its own resources enjoys greater policy independence, resilience and sustainability. Therefore, the Government will continue to strengthen domestic revenue in line with the domestic revenue mobilisation strategy, while preserving incentives for investment, production and enterprise growth. In Financial Year 2026/2027, domestic revenue is projected to increase to Shs 45.6 trillion from Shs 35.7 trillion in Financial Year 2025/2026, equivalent to 15.9 per cent of GDP. The additional resources will support investments in wealth creation, ATMs and their enablers. Public Debt Mr Speaker, as of December 2025, Uganda’s total public debt stood at $34.86 billion, equivalent to approximately Shs 126.19 trillion. Of this, external debt amounted to $15.84 billion, while domestic debt was $19.02 billion. This translates into a debt-to-GDP ratio of approximately 53.0 per cent. Public debt should always be assessed alongside the assets it finances and the economic returns it generates. Over the past 10 years, Uganda’s debt has financed strategic investments that are transforming the productive capacity of our economy. These investments include: 1. Integrated transport infrastructure, which accounts for 31.1 per cent of the debt; 2. Electricity infrastructure, which accounts for 19.3 per cent; 3. Water infrastructure, which accounts for 10.3 per cent; 4. Agro-industrialisation, which accounts for 9.2 per cent; 5. Education and health, which account for 7.7 per cent; 6. Housing and urban development, which account for 6.3 per cent; 7. Industrial parks and industrial development, which account for 2 per cent; and 8. Other investments such as National Backbone Infrastructure to extend internet, Science, Technology and Innovation, and regional development, which account for 7.0 per cent. Mr Speaker, Uganda’s public debt remains sustainable and is projected to stay so over the medium and long term.

140 THE BUDGET SPEECH, 2026 a) Agro-industrialisation; b) Tourism development; c) Mineral-based industrial development including oil and gas; d) Science, technology, and innovations including ICT and the creative arts. These sectors are deliberately selected because they represent Uganda’s strongest comparative advantages and possess the greatest potential to generate exports, jobs, incomes and investment. Together, they form the engine of the Tenfold Growth Strategy. The objective is simple: To convert Uganda’s natural resources, human capital and innovation into wealth, jobs and prosperity. I would now like to detail each. Agro-industrialisation Mr Speaker, agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy. It employs millions of Ugandans, supplies raw materials to industry, produces exports and sustains livelihoods across the country. However, Uganda’s future prosperity will not come from producing more raw commodities alone. It will come from increasing productivity, expanding value addition, strengthening agro- processing and improving market access. The Government, therefore, continues to invest strategically across the entire agricultural value chain. Agricultural research and innovation Mr Speaker, agricultural transformation begins with science. This year, the Government made significant advances in agricultural research and genetics. The anti-tick vaccine facility at the National Livestock Resources Research Institute in Nakyesasa was completed and is now operational, producing about 36 million doses, serving 18 million livestock in the first year. The Government also produced Foot-and- Mouth Disease vaccines and continued to advance research on disease resistant crops and livestock breeds. These investments will reduce production losses, raise productivity and increase farmer incomes. Water for production and irrigation Climate change continues to expose farmers to significant weather-related risks. The Government is, therefore, accelerating investment in irrigation and water for production infrastructure to reduce dependence on rainfall. Progress was registered on several major irrigation projects including Kabuyanda Dam in Isingiro District, Atari in Bulambuli District, Wadelai in Pakwach District, Acomai in Bukedea District, Namaitsu in Bududa District, Chembombai in Bukwo District and Sipi Irrigation Scheme in Bulambuli District. Solar-powered irrigation schemes are also being rolled out across the country. These investments will support all-year-round production, increase resilience and improve agricultural productivity. Mechanisation and animal health The Government continued developing Regional Agricultural Mechanisation Centres and Animal Disease Control Centres to improve efficiency and productivity in the agriculture sector. Progress was registered in Kiruhura, Mbale, Kiryandongo, Bunyangabu, Nakaseke, Katine and several other districts. These facilities are improving access to modern agricultural equipment, veterinary services and disease surveillance systems. Expanding commercial coffee production Mr Speaker, coffee remains one of Uganda’s most important export commodities. The Government has, therefore, expanded coffee cultivation into northern and eastern Uganda. During the year, two coffee mother gardens were established and over 1.4 million coffee seedlings distributed to 7,532 farmers in

140 THE BUDGET SPEECH, 2026 a) Agro-industrialisation; b) Tourism development; c) Mineral-based industrial development including oil and gas; d) Science, technology, and innovations including ICT and the creative arts. These sectors are deliberately selected because they represent Uganda’s strongest comparative advantages and possess the greatest potential to generate exports, jobs, incomes and investment. Together, they form the engine of the Tenfold Growth Strategy. The objective is simple: To convert Uganda’s natural resources, human capital and innovation into wealth, jobs and prosperity. I would now like to detail each. Agro-industrialisation Mr Speaker, agriculture remains the backbone of Uganda’s economy. It employs millions of Ugandans, supplies raw materials to industry, produces exports and sustains livelihoods across the country. However, Uganda’s future prosperity will not come from producing more raw commodities alone. It will come from increasing productivity, expanding value addition, strengthening agro- processing and improving market access. The Government, therefore, continues to invest strategically across the entire agricultural value chain. Agricultural research and innovation Mr Speaker, agricultural transformation begins with science. This year, the Government made significant advances in agricultural research and genetics. The anti-tick vaccine facility at the National Livestock Resources Research Institute in Nakyesasa was completed and is now operational, producing about 36 million doses, serving 18 million livestock in the first year. The Government also produced Foot-and- Mouth Disease vaccines and continued to advance research on disease resistant crops and livestock breeds. These investments will reduce production losses, raise productivity and increase farmer incomes. Water for production and irrigation Climate change continues to expose farmers to significant weather-related risks. The Government is, therefore, accelerating investment in irrigation and water for production infrastructure to reduce dependence on rainfall. Progress was registered on several major irrigation projects including Kabuyanda Dam in Isingiro District, Atari in Bulambuli District, Wadelai in Pakwach District, Acomai in Bukedea District, Namaitsu in Bududa District, Chembombai in Bukwo District and Sipi Irrigation Scheme in Bulambuli District. Solar-powered irrigation schemes are also being rolled out across the country. These investments will support all-year-round production, increase resilience and improve agricultural productivity. Mechanisation and animal health The Government continued developing Regional Agricultural Mechanisation Centres and Animal Disease Control Centres to improve efficiency and productivity in the agriculture sector. Progress was registered in Kiruhura, Mbale, Kiryandongo, Bunyangabu, Nakaseke, Katine and several other districts. These facilities are improving access to modern agricultural equipment, veterinary services and disease surveillance systems. Expanding commercial coffee production Mr Speaker, coffee remains one of Uganda’s most important export commodities. The Government has, therefore, expanded coffee cultivation into northern and eastern Uganda. During the year, two coffee mother gardens were established and over 1.4 million coffee seedlings distributed to 7,532 farmers in

141 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 11 JUNE 2026 northern Uganda. This intervention will broaden participation in one of Uganda’s most profitable agricultural value chains. Financial Year 2026/2027 priorities for agro- industrialisation A total of Shs 2.26 trillion has been allocated to the agro-industrialisation programme in FY 2026/2027. This is the highest allocation ever to this programme. Priority interventions include: i. Agricultural research and innovation, including funding for anti-tick vaccine commercialisation; ii. Irrigation and water for production; iii. Extension services, more extension workers and their facilitation to reach farmers; iv. Provision of good quality agricultural input; v. Post-harvest handling and storage; vi. Agro-processing and value addition; vii. Quality assurance and certification; and viii. Expanding market access. The objective is to move Uganda from exporting raw commodities to value-added agricultural products. Tourism development Tourism is one of Uganda’s most powerful export industries. It generates foreign exchange, creates jobs, supports thousands of enterprises and showcases Uganda to the world. The following achievements have been registered this financial year: 1. Uganda’s global tourism visibility is at an all-time high, driven by the aggressive destination marketing under the “Explore Uganda, the Pearl of Africa” brand. The country’s growing international profile and industry endorsements are evident in its recent global presence and awards. 2. In the North American market, Uganda won the “Best in Show – Africa” at the 2026 New York Travel and Adventure Show, bolstered by endorsements from the renowned travel journalists. In the Asian market, the country won the “Best Exquisite Destination Award” at the Outbound Travel Mart in Mumbai and gained strong visibility at the South Asia’s leading travel and tourism exhibition in New Delhi. 3. The Government has intensified the international marketing of Destination Uganda through participation in major tourism exhibitions and targeted promotion campaigns in Europe, the United Kingdom, North America, Asia, East Africa and North Africa. The Government also leveraged high-profile platforms including the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 tournament in Morocco and the 2025 World Travel Market in London, to showcase Uganda’s tourism potential and attract visitors. 4. In addition, Uganda successfully secured a bid to host two international conferences, further strengthening its position as a preferred destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE). 5. Uganda also launched the Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD) Strategy as a key instrument for advancing Uganda’s economic transformation. Under this strategy, Uganda’s Missions Abroad have been assigned clear performance targets focusing on four measurable economic outcomes, mainly tourism marketing, trade promotion, investment attraction and diaspora mobilisation. The ECD Strategy is contributing to improved economic performance with increased international tourist arrivals and receipts, foreign direct investment inflows and merchandise export earnings. The Government will continue to leverage its Missions Abroad to market Uganda as a preferred tourism, conference and investment destination, expand market access for

142 THE BUDGET SPEECH, 2026 Ugandan products, attract strategic investors and mobilise the diaspora to support national development. 6. On tourism infrastructure, the Government continued to invest in tourism infrastructure and attractions. Progress was made in the development of museums and cultural heritage sites in Moroto and Dokolo. Investments are also underway in the Rwenzori Central Circuit Trail, Kitagata Hot Springs and visitor facilities at the Source of the Nile in Jinja, including an observatory deck and a modern restaurant. The Government also established a new wildlife education centre in Mbale. These investments are enhancing visitor experiences and strengthening Uganda’s competitiveness as a tourism destination. In Financial Year 2026/2027, the priorities under tourism are the following: Mr Speaker, the Government has allocated Shs 567.32 billion to continue developing the tourism sector next financial year. The priority interventions will include: i) The branding and marketing of Uganda as a tourism and investment destination; ii) Tourism infrastructure development; iii) Construction of highway sanitation facilities and tourism site refreshment centres; iv) Improving and enforcing hospitality standards and training; v) Conservation and wildlife protection to increase wildlife population across the national parks; vi) Health tourism; and vii) Economic and commercial diplomacy. I now come to mineral-based industrial development. Mr Speaker, Uganda is richly endowed with minerals. However, sustainable transformation will come not from extracting minerals, but from processing and adding value to them. The Government’s strategy is, therefore, to transform mineral wealth into industrial wealth, and the following steps have been taken in that direction: i) The Government intensified mineral exploration and quantification. Geochemical surveys for gold were undertaken in Kassanda, Kiboga and Mubende districts. Exploration confirmed an estimated 300 million tonnes of iron ore in Kabale, Rubanda, Rukiga, Kisoro, Kanungu, Kiruhura and Hoima districts. Surveys of copper prospects were conducted at the Bukusu Carbonatite Complex, which also has the potential for rare earth elements as well as at the Boma and Lwensankala sites. Evaluation of uranium, manganese, lithium and nickel deposits is also ongoing across the country. ii) To add value to Uganda’s limestone, a new clinker factory was commissioned in Moroto District to produce inputs for cement production. The factory operates a 6,000-tonne-per-day clinker production line with annual production capacity of two million tonnes of clinker and three million tonnes of cement. The project is expected to save the country up to $260 million, annually, in clinker imports and create up to 4,000 jobs. iii) The Government continued to make substantial progress towards the first oil. Construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and the Central Processing Facilities is at advanced stage and nearing completion. The Tilenga and Kingfisher upstream development projects also registered significant progress despite logistical challenges arising from the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. During the year, 51 additional wells were drilled, bringing the cumulative number to 199 wells, exceeding the 189 wells required for first oil production later this year. iv) The Government completed the first phase of Kabalega International Airport, providing critical logistics infrastructure to support oil and gas development, tourism, trade and investment in the Albertine region.

143 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 11 JUNE 2026 v) Through Uganda National Oil Company, the Government continued the bulk procurement of petroleum products. This has strengthened fuel security and ensured uninterrupted supply despite disruptions in global energy markets. Consequently, Uganda experienced minimum fuel price volatility compared to several countries in the region. vi) In addition, the Government, through the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC), acquired a 20.15 per cent stake in the Kenya Pipeline Company. This is a strategic investment to strengthen Uganda’s energy security and enhance the reliability of fuel supply. Given that over 95 per cent of Uganda’s refined petroleum products are imported through the Kenyan corridor, this investment will help secure access to critical petroleum infrastructure and support more predictable fuel supply and pricing. Financial Year 2026/2027 priorities for minerals and oil and gas Mr Speaker, Shs 473.51 billion has been allocated for mineral-based industrial development, mining and oil and gas. The priority areas include: i) Continued mineral exploration, quantification and certification; ii) Continued capitalisation of the National Mining Company; iii) Establishment of the mineral market and buying centres; iv) Operationalisation of EACOP; and v) Development of the oil refinery. Science, technology and innovations Mr Speaker, no country has achieved rapid economic transformation without innovation. Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), including ICT and the creative arts, are critical drivers of productivity, industrialisation and competitiveness. They provide the tools to modernise production, create high-value jobs and expand Uganda’s participation in the global knowledge economy. For Uganda to achieve a 10-fold expansion of the economy, STI is going to be at the centre of our development strategy. Mr Speaker, commissioning the Kiira vehicle plant in Jinja marked a major milestone in Uganda’s industrialisation journey and demonstrates the country’s growing technological capabilities. The plant has the capacity to produce up to 2,500 buses annually. Despite being in its early stages of operation, Kiira Motors has already made bus sales worth Shs 21.6 billion and received orders for 450 buses from Uganda and the region. The quantity, quality and reliability of its products were further demonstrated through the successful “Pearl to Cape” Electric Expedition, during which the Kayoola Electric Bus traversed more than 13,000 kilometres across Africa. Mr Speaker, to date, more than 25,000 electric vehicles, including buses, motorcycles, and bicycles have been produced locally with up to 40 per cent local content. In a further boost to the sector, Soleil Power completed the construction of East Africa’s first production scale lithium-ion battery assembly plant in Uganda. This has strengthened domestic manufacturing capacity and positioned the country as a regional hub for electric mobility and clean energy technologies. On pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, the Government continued to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing and biotechnology as part of the efforts to build a competitive pathogenic economy. Uganda is deliberately supporting the domestic production of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and other health products, while promoting research, innovation, import substitution, export growth, and resilience in the health sector. Significant progress was registered through strategic investments in and the Government procurement from local pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, including Microhaem Scientifics, Dei BioPharma, Jena Herbals, and other emerging manufacturers.

148 THE BUDGET SPEECH, 2026 Energy development Mr Speaker, reliable and affordable energy is essential for industrialisation and socioeconomic transformation. The Government continues to invest heavily in electricity generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure. In the Financial Year 2025/2026, the Government achieved the following in energy development: a) Continued development of hydro, solar and other energy projects alongside preparatory work for future nuclear investments. Installed generation capacity now stands at 2,098 megawatts. The Government’s medium- to long-term target is 52,482 megawatts to support industrialisation, urbanisation and economic growth. b) Completed and continued construction of multiple lines, including the Kole-Gulu- Nebbi-Arua line 132 KV, the Kampala Metropolitan transmission line 132 KV, including two associated mobile substations, Mbarara, Kabarole 132 KV, Karuma-Tororo 400 KV, Tororo resource 400 KV, Mutundwe-Entebbe 132 KV and Lira-Gulu-Agago 132 KV. Good progress has also been made on substations serving industrial parks in Mbarara, Kapeeka, and the Kabalega Petrochemical Industrial Park. c) The share of households in rural areas connected to grid electricity has nearly doubled in the three years from 6.8 per cent in the Financial Year 2021/2022 to 11.4 per cent in the Financial Year 2024/2025. d) Through the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company, Government commenced construction of four small mini-hydro power sites expected to generate 5 megawatts of electricity. These sites will be completed in March 2027 and will provide reliable power to very hard- to-reach and remote areas. Further, under the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project, 419,592 off-grid solar connections have been made countrywide. Financial Year 2026/2027 Priorities for the Energy Sector Mr Speaker, the Government has allocated Shs 2.07 trillion to energy development and the priority interventions include: i) Expansion of generation capacity by commencing the 380-megawatt Kiba hydro-electricity plant, a floating solar plant at Isimba, and 500 megawatts of utility scale solar in the Elgon and Acholi subregions; ii) Preparatory work for nuclear energy generation at Buyende; iii) Expansion of transmission and associated substation infrastructure; iv) Rural electrification; and v) Industrial power connections. Investing in People Mr Speaker, economic transformation is ultimately about people. A healthy, educated, skilled and productive population is indispensable for sustained growth and shared prosperity. That is why the Government continues to allocate a large share of the discretionary budget to human capital development, i.e. health, education, water and sanitation, and social protection. During Financial Year 2025/2026, the following milestones were achieved: Health Under health, Mr Speaker, the Government sustained its policy of progressively increasing investment in essential medicines and health supplies. Accordingly, funding through the National Medical Stores was increased by Shs 145.33 billion to Shs 862.93 billion in Financial Year 2025/2026. The Government will continue to increase domestic financing for essential health commodities with the aim of substantially

151 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 11 JUNE 2026 The following are some of the achievements: i) Government has continued to support older persons through the Social Assistance Grant for Empowerment (SAGE), which has cumulatively reached 489,673 beneficiaries with a total of Shs 836.1 billion. In addition, the Special Enterprise Grant for Older Persons (SEGOP) has supported 17,245 older persons with approximately Shs 13 billion; ii) Under the National Special Grant for Persons with Disabilities, 72,772 beneficiaries have received Shs 48.5 billion across 171 local governments; iii) The Youth Livelihood Programme has financed 24,859 projects, benefitting 275,034 youth at Shs 195.4 billion, while 57,849 youth have benefitted from the Youth Venture Capital Fund; iv) Generating Growth Opportunities and productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW) project has extended Shs 111.1 billion in loans to 4,889 beneficiaries, while the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) has cumulatively supported 244,805 women with Shs 153.5 billion; and v) Government has continued to negotiate bilateral labour agreements to protect workers’ rights, promote decent work and expand overseas employment opportunities for skilled Ugandans. Financial Year 2026/2027 priorities for social protection Next financial year, Government has allocated Shs 173.55 billion for social protection, which will focus on: i) Expanding economic empowerment programmes; ii) Strengthening labour standards; iii) Supporting youth employment initiatives; iv) Promoting women’s economic participation; v) Enhancing social protection systems; and vi) Establishing a robust labour market information system. Mr Speaker, overall, Shs 13.56 trillion has been allocated for the next financial year to invest directly in the people of Uganda through health, education, social protection and water and sanitation. This investment reflects Government’s conviction that people are Uganda’s greatest asset. Enabler 4: Industrial Development and Manufacturing Mr Speaker, nations achieve prosperity not by exporting raw materials, but by transforming them into high-value products. For this reason, Government places high priority on industrial development, manufacturing and value addition. Besides Government investment in manufacturing under the Agro-industrialisation, Tourism, Minerals and Science, Technology and Innovation (including ICT) (ATMS) already highlighted, the following milestones have been achieved in this financial year: a) Government continued investing in the development of industrial parks. The aim is to lower investors’ establishment and operating costs and drive industrial growth. As a result, the number of formal factories has cumulatively risen to 10,437, of which 690 are located within industrial parks; b) The Government continued capitalising Uganda Development Cooperation (UDC) to de-risk private investment in critical areas. UDC’s capital investments have surpassed Shs 1.5 trillion with co- investments across key value chains including textiles i.e. Fine Spinners, agro-processing i.e. Biyinzika Enterprises Limited and Bukona Agro-processing Limited and pharmaceuticals i.e. East African Medical Vitals, Sanga Vetchem Limited and Alfasan (U) Ltd. c) The Government through UDC also invested in the local construction sector. UDC invested in Abubaker Technical Services, a Ugandan firm delivering key national roads including Busunju-Kiboga-

152 THE BUDGET SPEECH, 2026 Hoima (145km) and Matugga-Semuto- Kapeeka (41km), among others. UDC also invested in ETATS Construction Company, currently constructing the Bugiri-Namutumba Road (24km) and the Buwenge-Kaliro Road (48km), among others. d) The Government completed the Special Economic Zone at Entebbe International Airport to promote high value exports. Several firms, particularly in the fresh produce exports and light manufacturing, are setting up operations. e) Continued expansion of Presidential Zonal Hubs, which are tackling youth unemployment by providing practical industrial and vocational skills. To date, 82,790 youth have been trained and the number of hubs has grown to 28 nationwide. Mr President, thank you very much for this initiative. Financial Year 2026/2027 priorities for manufacturing and industrial development Mr Speaker, the Government has allocated Shs 1.03 trillion to the manufacturing programme for FY 2026/2027. Priority interventions include: i) Additional capitalisation of UDC to drive industrial development; ii) Industrial infrastructure development, particularly industrial parks including new fully serviced plug and play parks; iii) Value addition to agricultural raw materials and minerals; iv) Supporting market access for Ugandan manufactured products; v) Strengthening the functionality of special economic zones; vi) Industrial research including the establishment of regional industrial incubation hubs. Market access for wealth creators Wealth creators need access to both domestic and export markets. Expanding the domestic market requires higher household incomes and increased purchasing power to stimulate demand for locally produced goods and services. Export growth, on the other hand, requires deeper regional integration to access larger markets within the East African Community, COMESA, and the African Continental Free Trade Area. These opportunities are complemented by preferential and duty-free market access arrangements negotiated with key partners including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Russia, Serbia and the countries in the Middle East. To expand both domestic and export markets, the Government will continue investing in standards, quality assurance, certification and market intelligence to enhance the competitiveness of Ugandan products and services. To this end, the Government has so far implemented the following: i) Strengthened certification services to enhance efficiency. Additional personnel have been recruited and trained to increase capacity of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards to undertake certification, surveillance and enforcement of standards. Following automation, the turnaround time for import inspection reduced from three weeks to four hours. Product testing was reduced from 30 days to 14 days and product certification reduced from 180 days to 45 days. ii) Decentralisation and modernised certification services to enhance access. Construction and equipping of engineering testing laboratories are ongoing and expected to be completed by September 2026. The Government also commenced construction of regional laboratories in Mbale, Gulu and Mbarara. iii) Developed 450 standards for products and services and issued permits to 4,500 products.

86 ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION, 2026 more politeness to non-performers who want leadership for their own ego and personal interests. This is the “ Kisanja No More Sleep”. The story of the NRM and Uganda starts in the early 1960s. Personally, I started waking up our people in 1959 when I visited Mbarara Stock Farm as a junior secondary one pupil at Mbarara High School. Having come from Ntungamo area, which was democratically outside the money economy, and everybody was on okukolera ekida kyonka (working only for the stomach; subsistence) - combined with the school education, when we came to know about the enclosure movement in the UK (Kusiba Sengenge) , for agriculture, the industrial revolution in Europe, etc. By 1965, the sectarian politics of the political groups notwithstanding, our ideas about the socioeconomic transformation had coalesced. It was clear that the small enclave economy of the British, of the 3 Cs and 3 Ts, was a disaster for the majority of the people. You want proof? Just look at the infant mortality and the average life expectancy in 1962. There were 128 per 1,000 live births, and life expectancy was 46.8 for everybody – on the average. We soon grasped the importance of having vertically and horizontally integrated national economies. In the 20 years of chaos between 1966 and 1986, our views were eventually crystallised into the 10-point programme of Kanyaara, where we wrote this document in 1984. Point No.5 of those 10 points runs as follows: “Building an independent, integrated, self-sustaining national economy”. However, for the people to participate in the vertical and horizontal integration of the economy of the country, they had to join the money economy first and move out of the traditional pre-capitalist economy of working for ekida kyonka; working only for the stomach. Since my nomadic family had migrated from Ntungamo to Nyabushozi, it was good luck that we started our activities there. These involved sensitising the population of the cattle corridor to stop nomadism, make enclosures around their land using sengenge, engage in commercial agriculture with ekibaro , cura, and aimar (calculation for profit and maximum returns). As you can see in the videos, let them show us some of the families we started with, if they are featured in the videos, and their testimonies. (A video presentation was made.)

87 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 4 JUNE 2026 Isingiro all the way up to Northern Uganda. Much of the work we have done so far was in the South of the Nile, from River Kagera up to Kiryandongo. They have all changed. That man is in the Ngoma area. The infrastructure is not so good, but you can see they are having a lot of money. That particular one is selling 900 litres of milk per day. The price is low, it is not high, but they still get Shs 21 million a month. You can see that girl there; she is educated because of the money which the parents have used to pay for her in the schools and they have moved from the other smaller houses, which the old lady was showing you, to now permanent buildings to live a better life. That is the testimony from the cattle corridor. That is why this time really, I am no longer interested in non-performers. Between 1986 and 1989, we campaigned for prioritising the enterprise of dairy farming for the small and medium farmers, while the big players would continue with their ranching for beef. By 1995, the cattle corridor had started changing. People were getting income per month from the sale of milk, building better houses, paying school fees for children in schools. Indeed, our late Magaga – Magaga is a husband to the other lady whom you saw, and father of Lt Gen. Kavuma – Is Kavuma here? He is a big general now. (Hon. Kavuma rose_) You can see how big he is; there he is. Their family – the wife (the one you saw) and the husband who died – indeed our late comrade Magaga, the father of Lt Gen. Kavuma, came to me and told me that he did not know what to do with the money. When they started getting money from the milk, he could not believe it. He said, “ Hate essente z’inshobeire okundazigire. ” Once you say you are a leader, you are putting a problem on yourself. If you do not become a real leader, God will not like you; I can assure you of this. Either you lead or you stay in your home: Do not try to be a leader when you do not care about the people. Magaga came and said, “ Essente z’inshobeire nzigyire’nta? ” This is because the milk people are paid every 15 days. This had never happened in Magaga’s life. He had never seen it that a villager is paid money every 15 days. “ Nka ow’omushahara .” That is what he told me. It is as if he was working in a government office and being paid a salary. That was the tragedy of Uganda at that time. Only the civil colonial servants would get regular income. This change in the cattle corridor by the traditional families of abatasoma – because these people had never gone to school. Magaga had never gone to school. His wife had never gone to school - was engineered by us, and it was against the advice of the professionals. The professionals did not believe we could change these people. They would tell me; you are wasting your time, those Banyankole cannot change. They were all saying to a man that the Banyankole could not change from their pre-capitalist lifestyle to a money economy. Moreover, when we were doing this, nobody among the colonial elite would agree to support us. It is only Mzee Byanyima who gave us Shs 20, with my colleague Mwesigwa Black, who died in 1972 in our wars. The only person who helped us gave us Shs 20. That was just short of $3 at the time. A dollar at that time was Shs 7, so $3 would be Shs 21. When we said we were going to mobilise the Banyankole to stop nomadism, other people refused to help us. We used Shs 7 per person to use Mungonya’s bus from Mbarara to Rushere through Ruhumba. That was Shs 14. Out of our Shs 20, we used Shs 14 to come from Mbarara to Rushere. Mwesigwa was a smoker, so he took away Shs 1.20 to buy a packet of Sportsman cigarettes. That left us with Shs 1.80. After holding public meetings at Rushere, we used the Bazalwana bus to a place called Katongole, each using Shs 1.20; that is Shs 2.40. In the Katongole area, we started moving on foot up to Naama, where we spent the night leaning against the harvested millet of one of

When they are speaking Rugwere, they speak Runyankore in their own way, but I can follow everything. They had some local pigs before, but when the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds came in, they bought modern ones. The Bagwere speak Runyankore and mix it with Runyarwanda. Is Kubyara Runyarwanda? - No, Runyarwanda is a bit different. They now have pigs and Ssekkokko . I did not know anything about Ssekkokko myself. They are the ones who exposed me to it. Once people get capital, they will do their own things, like Ms Nabutono there. Uganda has gone through five phases of positive development. These are the recovery phases for bringing back some of the three Cs and Ts of the colonial enclave economy and ending the informalisation of the economy through magendo (smuggling), Kibaanda (forex black market), and okusamula (speculation), following the destruction of the economy by Idi Amin. Expanding the enclave economy and diversifying it - that is how the dairy sector changed the cattle corridor. The cassava is changing many parts of Uganda. These are totally new cash products - Value addition to some of the raw materials, for example, gold, and the knowledge economy of the automobiles, vaccines, computers et cetera. What is “high-sounding sloganeering” there? The other gentleman was saying that it is just slogans. These are achievements on the ground. Let Mr Gawaya go near the Mbale Industrial Park. Show it to us – (A video presentation was made) - how can you call that a slogan? I think they were saying that there were more than 80 factories and 12,000 workers in that area. These are achievements on the ground. How can such a park be a desert with no water, peace, or production? Yes, there are problems with issues like drugs in health centres. Another time, I will discuss the issue of service delivery in more detail. That is why the National Resistance Movement (NRM) introduced democracy from the very beginning by getting people to elect the committees of the Resistance Councils. Especially in the Bukedi area, Force Obote Back Army (FOBA) - the group that was saying they were following Obote - started killing those elected leaders until we crushed it. Elect people who help in exposing those mistakes. You have the power. Another time, I will speak about that because the parishes are in Uganda. Everywhere, there is local leadership, especially at the sub-county level, and there are councillors. Why should things go wrong when all those leaders are there? Of course, even the Government is also responsible because there are the Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs) in every sub-county. Why would things go wrong, and the GISOs or the District Internal Security Officer (DISOs) do not know? The facts of the matter are that with the limited waking up, where 67 per cent of the homesteads, as compared to 9 per cent - in 1962, only 9 per cent of the people were in the money economy. When I checked in 2013, only 32 per cent were. However, right now, it is 67 per cent of the homesteads. Uganda has graduated from the least developed countries to a lower-middle-income country. Our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose from Shs 3.9 billion in 1986 to Shs 69.3 billion by the forex exchange method and Shs 197.1 billion by the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) method. The GDP per capita has risen to $1,278, while the threshold for lower-middle-income status is $1,136. Household poverty has declined from 56 per cent in 1992 to 16.1 per cent now. Life expectancy was 43 years in 1986. It was 46 in 1982, but had come down to 43 by 1986 because of the chaos, which Amin created. It is now 68 years old. The infant mortality rate was 122 for every 1,000 children born alive. It is now 36.

Mr Speaker, allow me to present the Members who will represent our side on the Appointments Committee: 1. Hon. Akumu Catherine Mavenjina. 2. Hon. Avur Jane Pacuto. 3. Hon. Awor Betty Engola. 4. Hon. Birungi Annet, Workers Representative. 5. Hon. Byibesho Sam, Kisoro Municipality. 6. Hon. Challa Elma Kapel, Youth Northern Uganda. 7. Hon. Gashaija Shyaka Steven, Entebbe Municipality. 8. Hon. Katushabe Ruth, Bukomansimbi. 9. Hon. Kisa Stephen Bakubalwayo, Luuka South. 10. Hon. Kitanywa Sowedi, Busongora County North. 11. Hon. Kiwanuka Keefa, Kiboga East County. 12. Hon. Lanyero Christine Awany, Nwoya District. 13. Hon. Linda Irene, Fort Portal City. 14. Hon. Mafabi Asha Nabulo, Sironko District. 15. Hon. Nagujja Judith, Buvuma. 16. Hon. Nakut Faith, Napak District. 17. Hon. Ndeezi Alex, PWD Central. 18. Hon. Ntale Nsereko Madina, Kawempe Division North. 19. Hon. Nyeko Johnson, Lamwo County. 20. Hon. Opolot Okwalinga Simon, Kanyum County. 21. Hon. Rwakimari Beatrice, Ruhaama County. 22. Hon. Rwakoojo Robinah Gureme, Gomba West County. 23. Hon. Tumuramye Genensio, Kashongi County. Welcome back, our brother. 24. Hon. Twalla Fadil, Tingey County. 25. Hon. Wembabazi Beatrice, Hoima District. 26. Hon. Maj. Gen. Kinalwa James, UPDF. 27. Hon. Okot Peter, Tochi County.

79 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 28 MAY 2026 On behalf of the Government of Uganda, I commit to continue building on the strong foundation already in place by effectively leading a robust service delivery team, both political and technical that responds to the needs of our people by strengthening the link between the Executive and Legislature, and by ensuring continued availability of Government business in this Parliament and making sure that the ministers regularly attend and provide timely responses to Parliament. Mr Speaker, the priorities of the NRM Government are very clear as outlined in the National Development Plan IV and the 2026/2031 NRM Manifesto, aimed at wealth creation, improving household incomes and expanding our economy from an estimated $68.4 billion by the end of June 2026 to $500 billion by the year 2040. Mr Speaker, this growth will be anchored on strategic investments in our ATMs, which are: Agro- industrialisation (PDM, Emyooga , et cetera), Tourism development, and Mineral development, including oil and gas, science, technology, innovation, and creative industry development. In addition, the Government will invest in enablers for the ATMs to deliver on planned growth. These enablers are: 1. Peace and security, which is a prerequisite for economic stability. 2. Infrastructure development. Here, I am talking about the Standard Gauge Railway, roads, electricity, and the metre gauge rehabilitation, water, sanitation, and environmental conservation. Honourable members, health, education, information communication technology, electricity generation, transmission and distribution, industrial parks and free zones, administration of justice, law and order, effective legislation and oversight - Mr Speaker, effective management of climate change, environmental and natural resources, and disasters as they occur. Fellow leaders, Ugandans expect quality services from us. We can effectively serve our people through proper implementation, monitoring and evaluation of Government interventions. I want to reassure you that this will enable us to achieve better results with even limited resources. Mr Speaker, leadership is a gift from God. I know that the role of the Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business in Parliament requires commitment, patriotism, teamwork and sacrifice. I, therefore, request your continued support and prayers as we embark on this journey together. Mr Speaker, I recommit to continuing to serve our people to improve service delivery and socio-economic transformation. To the people of Kakumiro District and the greater Kibaale, thank you for electing me to the Ninth, 10 th , 11 th and now the 12 th Parliament. In conclusion, I once again thank you, Mr Speaker and Members, for approving my reappointment as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda. In the same vein, I appreciate His Excellency the President for the trust and confidence placed in me. I pledge continued commitment, collaboration, and teamwork during the “No corruption, no more sleep” term of office, as our country takes a qualitative leap into upper-middle-income status. For God and My Country. (Applause)

Your Excellency, the President, and My Lord, the Chief Justice. My name is Peter Okot, Member of Parliament for Tochi County in Omoro District. I rise under Rule 5 (8) of the Parliamentary Rules of Procedure to move that Hon. Norbert Mao, Member of Parliament for Laroo-Pece, do take the Chair of this Parliament as the Speaker. My Lord, the Chief Justice, let me give a brief background and qualifications of Hon. Norbert Mao. Hon. Norbert Mao was born in 1967 to a mother from Isingiro and a father from Gulu. He spent most of his formative years in Jinja and had most of his secondary education in the central region. That is why he is commonly referred to as “Uganda Made Simple.” My Lord, Norbert Mao had a humble childhood in Lacor and Bwobo, where he benefited from the kindness of many, some of whom were total strangers. As a little boy, he herded goats, helped on the farm, and worked as a cobbler, bicycle repairer, and as an apprentice to a tinsmith. His primary school then had no P.7 class, but on account of his natural brilliance, he went on to do his Primary Leaving Examination at Magwa Primary School, from where he moved on to Wairaka College for two years and then went to Namilyango College, where he sat for both his O and A-level examination before joining Makerere University. His exceptional communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills were recognised early by his peers. While in primary school and even at secondary level, he participated in many debates and seminars where he excelled on account of the courage, clarity, and conviction with which he presented his case. At Makerere University, he was elected President of the Student Guild at a time when coming from Northern Uganda carried a big stigma. He overcame that stigma and rallied students to champion a campaign against the World Bank-inspired policies, referred to as the Structural Adjustment Programme. However, in reality, it required the Governments in the underdeveloped countries to drastically reduce spending on health, education, and livelihoods. The byword of those policies was cost-sharing. The fierce disagreement with the Government led to a strike in which two students lost their lives and many were seriously injured when the police was deployed on campus on 10 December 1990. One of those who was seriously injured was our own late Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah. May his soul rest in peace. Hon. Mao is ever a bridge-builder and peacemaker. Norbert Mao at just 23 years old at that time, reached out to State House and secured an appointment to meet President

Most obliged - than having a presiding officer who does not have an overbearing or coercive influence on Members and is himself not under the overbearing or coercive influence of anybody. Norbert Mao is a patriot and was a firebrand legislator in the Sixth and the Seventh Parliaments, now returned to Parliament after voluntarily leaving it 20 years ago. He left Parliament and went to serve as the district chairperson of Gulu District local government. That is why he is commonly referred to as “Mr Chairman.” He worked alongside others to support the peace process that silenced the guns in Northern Uganda and laid the foundation for post-conflict reconstruction. God has preserved him through many life-threatening situations in order to serve the country he loves for such a time as this. As the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, he has been a champion of alternative dispute resolution, the protection of the intellectual property of the creatives, and a promoter of access to justice in collaboration with the Judiciary. As the political head of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, he supported the completion of the new building housing many of the justice, law and order institutions, saving Government Shs 30 billion annually, in rent. Surely, he will quickly ensure the completion of the new parliamentary chambers so that we do not have to come to the Kololo Ceremonial Grounds every time we have a grand Sitting of Parliament. My Lord, the Chief Justice, in conclusion, Hon. Mao, as the current Chairman of the Summit of the Inter-Party Organisation for dialogue, IPOD, understands what is at stake over the next five years and beyond. At a deeper level, honourable members, Hon. Norbert Mao as a candidate for Speaker is not the issue. The issue is what is at stake as we elect the Speaker; what is at stake is bigger than any

“ WHEREAS the Electoral Commission organised and conducted the elections of Members of Parliament specified under Article 78(1)(a), (b) and (c) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda; AND WHEREAS the Electoral Commission, under General Notice No. 171 of 2026, published in the Uganda Gazette the results of the 2026 parliamentary elections and ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS Oaths were administered to: Name Constituency District/City Political Party 1. Nambooze Teddy Woman Representative Mpigi NUP 2. Nekesa Christine Situma (Col) UPDF Representative N/A N/A 3. Namubiru Rwabushaija Margaret Workers Representative N/A Independent 4. Namuganza Persis Princess Bukono County Namutumba Independent 5. Namukuta Brenda Woman Representative Kaliro NRM 6. Nangoli Umar Northern Division Mbale City Independent

9 THE TWELFTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 14 MAY 2026 56. Kirungi Annet Pamela Woman Representative Kabarole NRM 57. Kyogabiirwe Jackie Muganda Woman Representative Kyegegwa NRM 58. Lanyero Christine Awany Woman Representative Nwoya NRM 59. Logose Sarah Annet Woman Representative Butaleja NRM 60. Lokii John Baptist (Dr) Matheniko County Moroto NRM 61. Lokoru Albert Tepeth County Moroto Independent 62. Lokoru Stephenson Yoyo Chekwii East County Nakapiripirit NRM 63. Longoli Simon Peter Chekwii County (Kadam) Nakapiripirit NRM 64. Lubega George Willy Bugangaizi South County Kakumiro NRM 65. Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira Nyendo-Mukungwe County Masaka City NUP 66. Lugoloobi Amos Ntenjeru County North Kayunga NRM 67. Kiwanuka Sulaiman Nakifuma County Mukono NUP 68. Kuteesa Mary Kamuli Mwenge County South Kyenjojo NRM 69. Kyeyune Ivan Nakasongola County Nakasongola NUP 70. Lakisa Mercy Faith Woman Representative Alebtong NRM 71. Lenia Charity Kevin Vurra County Arua NRM 72. Mutebi Benard Mugoya Bulamogi County Kaliro Independent 73. Katooko Sylivia Damba Woman Representative Kibuku NRM 74. Kayogera Yona Busiki North County Namutumba Independent 75. Kiti Peter T’oo County Bukwo NRM 76. Lolem Micah Akasile Upe County Amudat NRM 77. Locap Peterkhen Bokora East County Napak NRM 78. Linda Irene City Woman Representative Fort Portal City NRM 79. Lokubal Emma Woman Representative Nabilatuk NRM 80. Katusiime Adrine Woman Representative Sheema NRM 81. Loluk Fidelis Logwee Napore West County Karenga Independent 82. Komakech Christopher Aruu County Pader NRM 83. Muzaid Khemis Arua Central Division Arua City FDC 84. Lamwaka Catherine Woman Representative Omoro NRM 85. Kiwanuka Abdallah Mukono County North Mukono NUP 86. Kyeyune Haruna Kasolo Kyotera County Kyotera NRM (The House was suspended at 11.42 a.m.) (On resumption at 1.00 p.m., the Deputy Clerk, Parliamentary Affairs presiding.) 87. Lokwang Hillary Ik County Kaabong NRM 88. Lowila CD Oketayot Woman Representative Pader NRM 89. Lugoloobi Willy Bageyente Bujumba County Kalangala NRM 90. Lugwar Benson Agogo North County Agago Independent 91. Lukyamuzi David Kalwanga Busujju County Mityana NUP 92. Kiwanuka Keefa Kiboga East County Kiboga NRM 93. Maala Zahrah Luyirika Makindye Division West Kampala NUP 94. Makumbi Henry Kamya Mityana County South Mityana NRM 95. Mariam Seif Woman Representative Iganga NRM 96. Mafabi Asha Nabulo Woman Representative Sironko NRM 97. Mamawi James Adjumani East County Adjumani Independent 98. Masaba Karim Industrial Division Mbale City Independent 99. Matembu Chriss Wataka Bubulo County West Manafwa Independent 100. Matovu Emmanuel Magoola Busiro County East Wakiso Independent 101. Mawanda Micheal Maranga Igara County East Bushenyi NRM

2 ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS 6. Abeja Susan Jolly District Woman Representative Otuke NRM 7. Abigaba Cuthbert Mirembe Kibale County Kamwenge NRM 8. Acamfua Topista District Woman Representative Zombo Independent 9. Acan Joyce Okeny PWD Representative N/A NRM 10. Achayo Juliet Lodou Ngora County Ngora NRM 11. Achia Lokiru Gabriel Jie County Kotido NRM 12. Achola Catherine District Woman Representative Pallisa NRM 13. Aber Lillian District Woman Representative Kitgum NRM 14. Acom Alobo Joan City Woman Representative Soroti FDC 15. Aayoo Joyce Makamoe District Woman Representative Abim Independent 16. Acon Julius Bua Otuke East County Otuke NRM 17. Adeke Anna Ebaju District Woman Representative Soroti FDC 18. Adidwa Abdu Bukooli South County Namayingo Independent 19. Agaba Gilbert Workers Representative N/A Independent 20. Agaba Peter Ibanda Municipality Ibanda NRM 21. Ahebwa Wilber Manyisa Nakaseke North County Nakaseke NRM 22. Akello Beatrice Akori District Woman Representative Agago NRM 23. Aine Godfrey Kaguta Mawogola North County Ssembabule NRM 24. Akello Lucy District Woman Representative Amuru FDC 25. Akello Rose Lilly District Woman Representative Karenga NRM 26. Akol Anthony Kilak North County Amuru NRM 27. Akorikin Francis Kapelebyong County Kapelebyon NRM 28. Aguti Sarah District Woman Representative Dokolo UPC 29. Akugizibwe Aled Ronald Buruli County Masindi NRM 30. Akumu Catherine Mavenjina Older Persons Representative Northern NRM 31. Alenyo Marshall Godfrey Jonam County Pakwach Independent 32. Alioni Yorke Odria Aringa South County Yumbe NRM 33. Among Anita Annet District Woman Representative Bukedea NRM 34. Magogo Moses Hassim Budiope East County Buyende NRM 35. Opolot Isiagi Patrick Kachumbala County Bukedea NRM 36. Okwere David Beecham Bukedea County Bukedea NRM 37. Namulondo Sarah District Woman Representative Buyende NRM 38. Pedun Josephine District Woman Representative Ngora NRM 39. Aeku Patrick Soroti County Soroti NRM 40. Alyela Denis Omodi Lira East Division Lira City NRM 41. Akifeza Grace Ngabirano District Woman Representative Kisoro NRM 42. Akugizibwe Lawrence Mwenge County North Kyenjojo NRM 43. Amanya Cohen Kyampene Igara County West Bushenyi NRM 44. Achia Cathy District Woman Representative Kaabong NRM 45. Acom Esther District Woman Representative Serere Independent 46. Amaniyo Draville Sheilah District Woman Representative Mukono NUP 47. Aceng Jane Ruth District Woman Representative Lira City NRM 48. Ajilo Maria Gorretti Elogu District Woman Representative Kalaki NRM 49. Adome Francis Lorika Moroto Municipality Moroto NRM 50. Ameede Agnes District Woman Representative Butebo NRM 51. Amongin Jane Frances Okili District Woman Representative Kaberamaido NRM 52. Angura Fredrick Tororo South County Tororo NRM 53. Angwech Colline Kioga County Amolatar UPC 54. Anifa Bangirana Mawogola West County Ssembabule NRM 55. Anyakun Esther Davinia District Woman Representative Nakapiripirit NRM 56. Acheng Sandra District Woman Representative Kole NRM

4 ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS 103. Kalenzi Victor Bunyangabu County Bunyangabu NRM 104. Basajjassubi Nsereko Charles Nakaseke South County Nakaseke NRM Kawuma 105. Baseke Fred Ntenjeru County South Kayunga NRM 106. Bright Tom Amooti Kyaka Central County Kyegegwa NRM 107. Bazaanya Matayo Bugabula County South Kamuli NRM 108. Begiira Samuel Youth Representative Central NRM 109. Begumisa Protazio Ndorwa County East Kabale NRM 110. Bagiire Aggrey Henry Bunya County West Mayuge NRM 111. Baryayanga Andrew Aja Kabale Municipality Kabale NRM 112. Bassajja Iddi Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality Bushenyi NRM 113. Bigirwa Norah Nyendwoha District Woman Representative Buliisa NRM 114. Bingi Patrick Nyanzi Butemba County Kyankwanzi NRM 115. Birungi Annet Workers Representative N/A NRM 116. Birungi Carolyn Nanyondo Kyamuswa County Kalangala NRM 117. Banya Emmanuel Natal Koboko County Koboko NRM 118. Biara Emmanuel Wepukhulu Bulambuli County Bulambuli NRM 119. Kabarokole Sarah District Woman Representative Bunyangabu NRM 120. Bisaso Abdul Kassanda County South Kassanda NRM 121. Bakashaba Christopher Mbarara North Division Mbarara City NRM 122. Oleru Huda Abason Aringa East County Yumbe NRM 123. Kabanda Minsa Nabbengo Kampala Central Division Kampala NRM 124. Bebona Josephine Babungi District Woman Representative Bundibugyo NRM 125. Baguma Spellanza Muhenda District Woman Representative Kyenjojo Independent 126. Batuwa Timothy Lusala Jinja South Division West Jinja City NUP 127. Byamukama Fred Bugangaizi West County Kakumiro NRM 128. Kadaga Rebecca Alitwala District Woman Representative Kamuli NRM 129. Byamukama Rogers Masindi Municipality Masindi NRM 130. Byanyima Nathan Bukanga North County Isingiro NRM 131. Byibesho Sam Kisoro Municipality Kisoro NRM 132. Byuma Oswald Dez Mawogola County Ssembabule NRM 133. Cadet Benjamin Bunyaruguru County Rubirizi NRM 134. Challa Elma Kapel Youth Representative Northern NRM 135. Chandia Benadette Kodili District Woman Representative Moyo NRM 136. Chemonges William Kween County Kween NRM 137. Chemutai Phyllis District Woman Representative Kapchorwa Independent 138. Cheutich Rufina District Woman Representative Amudat NRM 139. Dramviku Eric Sabiti Terego West County Terego NRM 140. Driwaru Jennifer District Woman Representative Maracha NRM 141. Echodu David Calvin Soroti West County Soroti City NRM 142. Edakasi Alfred Elalu-Olale Kaberamaido County Kaberamaido NRM 143. Ediau Samuel Amuria County Amuria NRM 144. Edopu Peter Edeku Dakabela County Soroti NRM 145. Ekoro Alex Irukan Bunya County East Mayuge NRM 146. Elem Leo Moroto County Alebtong UPC 147. Emaju Peter Paul Kasilo County Serere NRM 148. Eron Tonny Kwania County Kwania NRM 149. Etilu Margaret District Woman Representative Amuria NRM 150. Bagoole Ngobi John Luuka North County Luuka NRM 151. Eunice Otuko Apio Oyam County North Oyam UPC 152. Kamuntu Ephraim Sheema County South Sheema NRM

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As all of you know, Atiak Sugar Factory is a project that is supported by the Government to transform the economy of Northern Uganda. Many of you who come from Northern Uganda know how important that project will be. Madam Speaker, we have funded the Atiak Sugar Factory to do several activities. One is irrigation, and Atiak Sugar Factory is finishing up the irrigation system to help guard against the changing weather, so that there is proper production of the sugarcane. Madam Speaker, as we speak, I know Members are very much concerned with when the sugar from Atiak Sugar Factory will be put on the market. I have good news for you. It will start producing sugar in the month of September this year. The irrigation has ended, and 2026 will have sugar. We should be able to support this sugar factory so that we have it running in September 2026. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, the Budget estimates for Financial Year 2026/2027 were prepared under the theme, “Full monetisation of Uganda’s economy through commercial agriculture, industrialisation, expanding and broadening services, digital transformation and market access”. The budget estimates have been arrived at after extensive consultations with the stakeholders and His Excellency the President. The budget estimates for the Financial Year 2026/2027 amounts to Shs 84.39 trillion, of which appropriation is Shs 47.16 trillion and statutory expenditure amounts to Shs 37.23 trillion. This shall be financed through domestic revenue, Shs 44.18 trillion, the Uganda Petroleum Fund, Shs 1.44 trillion, budget support, Shs 1.22 trillion, domestic borrowing, Shs 11.97 trillion, project support, Shs 11.27 trillion, domestic refinancing, Shs 13.97 trillion and local revenue from local governments, Shs 339 billion. Madam Speaker, Financial Year 2026/2027 will be the first year of implementing the NRM Manifesto for the period 2026-2031. It will also be the second year of implementing the National Development Plan IV, which is the first plan to deliver our first Tenfold- Growth Strategy, aimed at expanding the economy to at least $500 billion by 2040. The budget for next financial year will, therefore, focus on consolidating the gains so far achieved and expanding investment in science, technology and innovations, as well as wealth creation. The key budget priority investments are the ATMS and their enablers. The ATMS are: Agro-Industrialisation, Tourism Development, Mineral-Based Industrial Development, Science, Technology and Innovations, including the creative industry. The Enablers are: peace, security and rule of law, transport infrastructure, which covers roads, railway, air, and water transport. Electricity: industrial parks development, human capital development, which covers education, health and water. Irrigation and environment and wealth creation funds, which cover PDM, UDB funds, UDC and Emyooga, among others. Madam Speaker, I wish to thank you. I also thank the House, the sectoral committees and the Committee on Budget for the support during this process. I submit for the consideration of the House, these combined efforts provided during the progressing and processing of the budget estimates for the Financial Year 2026/2027.

18919 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 24 APRIL 2026 ii. Areas with less desirable levels of compliance with NDPIV include a 21 per cent alignment of local government annual work plans and budgets with NDPIV- there is a lot of work to do with the local governments- and failure of some Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to include output indicator targets in their budgets. They ask for money but they do not set any target. iii. In regard to NDPIV, consistency with the programme budget allocations (measured by the share of the proposed programme allocations against the total budget), the programme budget allocations for the Financial Year 2026/2027 are largely consistent with NDPIV. The details are in Table 2. Madam Speaker, I beg that Members read that. They show the annual budget estimates, the allocations, the targets by NDPIV, the actual allocations as presented today, the variations, and the share of these allocations in the total budget for this coming financial year. iv. The current Charter of Fiscal Responsibility for the Financial Year 2021/2022 to the Financial Year 2025/2026 expires in June 2026. It is, therefore, premature for us to ascertain the consistency of the proposed annual budget for the Financial Year 2026/2027 with the current Charter of Fiscal Responsibility. It is important to note that the Government has encountered consistent challenges in meeting the fiscal rules or benchmarks it has set in the past Charters of Fiscal Responsibility. For instance, the fiscal deficit to GDP has consistently been above the 3 per cent target, the debt to GDP ratio is above the 50 per cent benchmark, and domestic debt interest payments to total revenues have also continued to exceed the 12.5 per cent CFR benchmarks. I hope the next charter of fiscal responsibility will address these concerns. v. In regard to consistency with the Budget Framework Paper (BFP), the proposed programme budget allocations for the Financial Year 2026/2027 are largely consistent with the BFP programme allocations as detailed in Table 9, on the next page. It is important to note, Madam Speaker, in this budget, the Government came back to this House – vi. In addition to the proposed annual budget for the Financial Year 2026/2027, the Government has also provided an additional fund for key funding gaps as recommended by Parliament during the consideration of the Budget Framework Paper, which we presented in January/February. These additional funds include among others, Shs 664.38 billion for the completion of the ongoing road construction projects, Shs 45 billion for rural electrification and connectivity, Shs 100 billion for the procurement of essential medicines and health supplies. Additionally, the Government has given Shs 20 billion to facilitate export promotion. Another Shs 100 billion for cattle compensation in Northern Uganda, Shs 20 billion for the purchase of ambulances and Shs 10 billion for the maintenance and operations. I think we should clap for this. The Government is starting to listen to us. (Applause) So, every ambulance will have a fuel card. 5.3. Gender and Equity Responsiveness of the budget. Section 12(11)(e) of the PFMA Act Cap 171, requires the minister responsible for finance to present to Parliament a certificate of gender and equity responsiveness in consultation with the Equal Opportunity Commission: (i) Certifying that the budget is gender and equity responsive, and (ii) Specifying the measures taken to equalise opportunities for men and women, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups.

18921 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 24 APRIL 2026 e-mail addresses, among others, to enable easy traceability and independent verification. ii) The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should ensure that in subsequent years, the draft budget estimates for state-owned enterprises and public corporations comprehensively capture the detailed budgets of all public corporations and state enterprises as required under Section 12 (11)(f) of the PFMA. Madam Speaker, this House is supplying money to these corporations and we need to know our shareholding and the details of these companies. Where are they and who are the directors? 5.5 Replenishment of the Contingencies Fund Madam Speaker, Section 25 of the PFMA, Cap 171 provides that the Contingencies Fund shall be replenished every financial year with an amount equivalent to 0.5 per cent of the appropriated annual budget of the Government of the previous financial year. The approved budget for Financial Year 2025/2026 was Shs 72,376.481 billion. Therefore, the Contingencies Fund for Financial Year 2026/2027 is expected to be replenished by Shs 361.88 billion. According to the annual draft estimates for FY 2026/27, Shs 361.88 billion has actually been allocated to the Contingencies Fund, which is consistent with the legal framework. I am about to conclude, Madam Speaker. 6.0 Annual budget estimates for FY 2026/2027 6.1 Economic Strategy Uganda’s economy is forecasted to expand by 10.4 per cent by the close of FY 2026/2027, marking a significant growth rate from the estimate of 7.3 per cent at the end of FY 2025/2026. This robust growth outlook will be primarily driven by the commencement of oil production, which is expected to generate a substantial revenue and stimulate productivity through strong inter sectoral linkages. Additionally, the economy will benefit from a sustained investment in the priority sectors outlined in the Tenfold Growth Strategy. The details are provided there, Madam Speaker, I do not have to go into them. This has been in the Budget Framework Paper (BFP) before. The fiscal strategy will continue to be hinged on the fiscal consolidation agenda that will include reforms that will ensure that efforts in domestic revenue mobilisation and resources in the current fiscal framework are reprioritised. Three, issues that affect project execution are addressed. 6.2 Budget Strategy for FY 2026/2027 This is the second budget as reported by the minister in the implementation of National Development Plan (NDP) IV. The goal of NDP IV is higher household incomes, full monetisation of the Ugandan economy and employment of sustainable economic transformation. The goal is supported by the Government to be pursued under the theme of sustainable industrialisation for inclusive growth, employment and wealth creation. The budget strategy for FY 2026/2027 is therefore based on the principles of tenfold growth. That is (ATMS): 1. Agro-industry development; 2. Tourism development; 3. Mineral-based industrial development; 4. Sustainable development of petroleum resources, oil and gas; 5. Development of (petrochemical industries) and knowledge economy. That is mainstreaming ICT and STI into our economy. The budget for FY 2026/2027 will continue to prioritise ATMS and enablers which are outlined and these include security, infrastructure, roads, electricity and railway.

18922 THE SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION (NO.2) BILL, 2025 6.3 The Resource Envelope Madam Speaker, the resource envelope for the Financial Year 2026/2027 amounts to Shs 84.391.74 trillion, a rise from Shs 72.376.48 trillion as detailed in the Financial Year 2025/2026. The details of the resources are in Table 11. So our new budget in the coming financial year is 84.391.74 trillion. 6.4 How does Government plan to spend this money? Madam Speaker, Shs 84.391.74 trillion will be spent as follows: The expenditure allocations in the Financial Year 2026/27 are projected to increase by about Shs 11,917.68 billion compared to the approved budget of the Financial Year 2025/26, as detailed in Tables 12 and 13. This increase is mainly driven by the additional budget allocations to the following critical expenditure priorities. Madam Speaker, this is where the Shs 84.439.74 trillion will go: (i) Transport and Energy infrastructure, especially meeting government’s counterpart funding commitment for flagship projects such as Kampala- Jinja Expressway, the Standard Gauge Railway, the Meter Gauge Railway, electricity for industrial parks, and water supply, etc. The Government plans to allocate Shs 1.38 trillion. (ii) The Government also plans to allocate Shs 111 billion towards the rehabilitation and maintenance of Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) roads, the drainage, and clean up. (iii) The Government has allocated Shs 918 billion for the completion of ongoing road projects, national road maintenance, and District, Urban, and Community Access Roads (DUCAR). (iv) The Government has allocated Shs 200 billion to Science, Technology, and Innovation, including Kiira Motors. (v) The Government has allocated Shs 1.16 trillion towards the enhancement of salaries for primary school teachers, secondary school arts teachers, Business, Technical, Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) staff, enhancement of wage for Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) scientists, and implementation in the welfare of public servants. (vi) The Government has allocated Shs 556.78 billion towards strengthening specialised health facilities, national and regional referral hospitals, and increasing the stock of essential medicines. This was a great development; it was not there before. This is an increment. (vii) The Government has allocated finance for Multi-Sectoral interventions for meeting our commitments to host African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027; Shs 496.3 billion. (viii) The Government has allocated additional financing for security of Shs 318.12 billion. (ix) Furthermore, the Government has allocated Shs 267 billion to support strategic private investments under Uganda Development Corporation (UDC). (x) The Government has allocated Shs 205 billion for infrastructure improvement and research capacity enhancement for all public universities. (xi) The Government has allocated another Shs 205 billion for fast-tracking Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and Petroleum Authority. (xii) The Government has allocated Shs 145 billion for improving operations of Uganda Airlines. (xiii) And among others, the Government has allocated Shs 100 billion for the restocking of cattle in Northern Uganda. I mentioned the ambulance and others.

18922 THE SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION (NO.2) BILL, 2025 6.3 The Resource Envelope Madam Speaker, the resource envelope for the Financial Year 2026/2027 amounts to Shs 84.391.74 trillion, a rise from Shs 72.376.48 trillion as detailed in the Financial Year 2025/2026. The details of the resources are in Table 11. So our new budget in the coming financial year is 84.391.74 trillion. 6.4 How does Government plan to spend this money? Madam Speaker, Shs 84.391.74 trillion will be spent as follows: The expenditure allocations in the Financial Year 2026/27 are projected to increase by about Shs 11,917.68 billion compared to the approved budget of the Financial Year 2025/26, as detailed in Tables 12 and 13. This increase is mainly driven by the additional budget allocations to the following critical expenditure priorities. Madam Speaker, this is where the Shs 84.439.74 trillion will go: (i) Transport and Energy infrastructure, especially meeting government’s counterpart funding commitment for flagship projects such as Kampala- Jinja Expressway, the Standard Gauge Railway, the Meter Gauge Railway, electricity for industrial parks, and water supply, etc. The Government plans to allocate Shs 1.38 trillion. (ii) The Government also plans to allocate Shs 111 billion towards the rehabilitation and maintenance of Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) roads, the drainage, and clean up. (iii) The Government has allocated Shs 918 billion for the completion of ongoing road projects, national road maintenance, and District, Urban, and Community Access Roads (DUCAR). (iv) The Government has allocated Shs 200 billion to Science, Technology, and Innovation, including Kiira Motors. (v) The Government has allocated Shs 1.16 trillion towards the enhancement of salaries for primary school teachers, secondary school arts teachers, Business, Technical, Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) staff, enhancement of wage for Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) scientists, and implementation in the welfare of public servants. (vi) The Government has allocated Shs 556.78 billion towards strengthening specialised health facilities, national and regional referral hospitals, and increasing the stock of essential medicines. This was a great development; it was not there before. This is an increment. (vii) The Government has allocated finance for Multi-Sectoral interventions for meeting our commitments to host African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027; Shs 496.3 billion. (viii) The Government has allocated additional financing for security of Shs 318.12 billion. (ix) Furthermore, the Government has allocated Shs 267 billion to support strategic private investments under Uganda Development Corporation (UDC). (x) The Government has allocated Shs 205 billion for infrastructure improvement and research capacity enhancement for all public universities. (xi) The Government has allocated another Shs 205 billion for fast-tracking Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) and Petroleum Authority. (xii) The Government has allocated Shs 145 billion for improving operations of Uganda Airlines. (xiii) And among others, the Government has allocated Shs 100 billion for the restocking of cattle in Northern Uganda. I mentioned the ambulance and others.

18923 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 24 APRIL 2026 In brief, Madam Speaker, the overall budget of the Financial Year 2026/27 reflects a growth- oriented but also constrained expenditure pattern, with significant increases in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, health, and human capital development, particularly in health and education. There are notable contractions in housing and extractives. Madam Speaker, I refer you to Table 13 for detailed allocations by programme. Allow me to go to page 6.5. The budget priorities for the Financial Year 2026/2027. Madam Speaker, the Government budget priorities for the Financial Year 2026 /27 are as follows, in terms of programmes: (i) Agro-industrialisation with a proposed allocation of Shs 2.264 trillion. This will specifically go to: (a) Agricultural research. (b) Provision of agricultural inputs, including fertilisers. (c) Water for irrigation. (d) Extension services. (e) Agro-processing and value addition. (f) Post-harvest handling and storage facilities. (g) Inspection, surveillance, certification, enforcement of quality standards, and market access. That is where the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) comes in. On tourism development (ii) The Government has given a proposed amount of shs 571.52 billion, specifically under tourism: (a) For branding and marketing of Uganda as a tourist and investment destination. (b) For infrastructure development in tourism sites. (c) For construction of refreshment centres and highway sanitation facilities. (d) Improving and enforcing hospitality standards and training. (e) Promoting health tourism by investing in specialised health facilities. (iii) The Government has planned to put money in mineral-based industrial development, including oil and gas, with a proposed allocation of Shs 435.55 billion, particularly for the following: (a) For continued quantification of mineral resources, starting with iron ore, gold, and copper, and strengthening their tracking system. (b) Capitalisation of the Uganda National Mining Company. (c) Establishing mineral markets and buying centres to enable transparent mineral trading. (d) Expediting finalisation of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. (e) Prioritisation of the construction of the oil refinery. (iv) Science, Technology, Innovation, including ICT and the creative arts industry. The Government has allocated Shs 1.16 trillion. This will go to the following investments: (a) Taking Science Technology Innovation (STI) products to the market, especially Kiira motor vehicles, coffee, dairy, bio- pharma drugs and vaccines, and banana products. (b) Establishing a high-tech city to support the development of technologies and innovations. (c) Additional investment in research and development. (d) Increasing coverage, reliability, and affordability of the internet. (e) Enhancing digitalisation of government services and e-commerce. (f) Promoting business process outsourcing for job creation. (g) Finalising and implementing the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act to protect intellectual property and artistic works. Honourable members, the core set budget priorities under the enablers include the following:

18924 THE SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION (NO.2) BILL, 2025 1. Full monetisation of the Uganda’s economy with a proposed allocation of Shs 2.49 trillion for the various wealth creation programmes including the Parish Development Model (PDM,) which was allocated Shs 1.084 trillion. Export guarantee schemes is Shs 180 billion. Funds for women in business, the GROW project, Shs 75.9 billion; Uganda Development Corporation Shs 454.1 billion; Uganda Development Bank, Shs 442.2 billion; Emyooga Shs 100 billion; Youth programs under the State House Shs 58.5 billion; Microfinance Shs 48.5 billion; and the agricultural credit facility Shs 50 billion. 2. Towards maintaining peace, security and the rule of Law, the Government is proposing an allocation of Shs 10.202 trillion. 3. Towards capital development There is a proposed allocation of Shs 13.521 trillion. And this will specifically go where we are proposing enhancement in a phased manner, starting with 25 per cent. I have already mentioned this; the salaries for arts teachers, primary school teachers, secondary school teachers, and businesses, business technical and vocational education training institutions, with a total financing of Shs 554.4 billion. The Government also proposes to allocate an additional Shs 496.3 billion to finance multi- sectoral interventions towards the preparedness - This is beyond the specific money to AFCON, but there are sectors surrounding AFCON’s success and they are giving an extra Shs 496.3 billion to finance multi-sectoral interventions towards preparedness for AFCON 2027. 4. Infrastructure development, that is roads, railways and energy. There is a total allocation of Shs 10.85 trillion, of which roads, railways, water transport and air transport have been allocated Shs 8.788 trillion, and electricity Shs 2.068 trillion. Priority areas include the SGR, meter-gauge railway, road development, especially express highways, including the Kampala-Jinja Expressway, rehabilitation and maintenance of both tarmac and marram roads, the Bukasa port and ferries, and electricity generation, transmission and distribution lines. 5. Manufacturing, with a proposed allocation of Shs 1.048 trillion. The priority areas include the continued development of infrastructure in priority industrial parks. 6. Environmental and natural resource conservation and protection, there is Shs 514.08 billion for environmental protection and restoration. 7. Administration of justice with a proposed allocation of Shs 651.55 billion. 8. Legislation and oversight with a proposed allocation of Shs 1.226 trillion. Number 6.6 Multi-year commitments. Section 12(3) of the PFMA Cap 171 requires the Honourable Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to present to the House, for the next financial year, a company with a statement for the multi- year commitments to be undertaken by the Government in the subsequent financial year. Furthermore, the statement seeks to require Parliament to authorise Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies responsible for implementing development projects that span more than one year to enter into multi-year obligations in order to properly implement projects within the available fiscal space. Accordingly, the multi-year commitment statement for the Financial Year 2026/2027 indicates that Uganda’s Public Investment Plan (PIP) for the Financial Year 2026/2027 to Financial Year 2030/2031 contains 357 projects, of which 306 are ongoing, and 51 are new, with a total investment value of Shs 138.18 trillion. THE VALUE ADDED TAX (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2026 [Mr Achia]

I agree, Madam Speaker - (Laughter) - He has now lined up Shs 304 billion for Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) and Atiak Sugar Factory, the main client of UDC, will be one of the beneficiaries. In fact, Atiak has been allocated Shs 100 billion. We have so far invested Shs 668 billion in this controversial Atiak Sugar Factory, mainly through UDC. The Shs 100 billion new allocation will bring the total investment in this company to Shs 768 billion. The proprietor of Atiak Sugar Factory, Ms Amina, has invested Shs 125 billion but holds 60 per cent of the company’s shares. Uganda, which has invested more than Shs 600 billion, has 40 shares. The Auditor-General, in his latest report of December 2025, says that in the last 10 years, the Government has, through UDC, invested Shs 1.3 trillion in 22 companies. Eight of these companies are recording net losses. Another eight companies that UDC loaned Shs 238 billion to have not paid the principal or the interest. UDC is expected to operate with a degree of independence, but it is being financed through project-specific funding. The Government releases funds to UDC that are already earmarked for specific projects, such as Atiak Sugar Factory, leaving UDC with no space to conduct proper investment appraisal, according to the Auditor-General. The return on investment in UDC is 0.09 per cent, according to the AG report. The table on page 11 is a summary of what we have put in Atiak Sugar Factory. The Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development (PIBID) – Shs 70 billion The Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development is another controversial investment by our dear leader. It is headed by Prof. Muranga. They want Shs 70 billion for their operations next financial year. The project has become a bottomless pit. I show the money that has so far gone there. I will leave the table summarising the banana initiative and go to page 12, which is on DEI BioPharma Ltd. We would like to inform Parliament that DEI proprietor, Dr Mathias Magoola, has requested for another bailout worth Shs 1.5 trillion. He was seen in Entebbe attending a Cabinet meeting that discussed the Budget. Like Mr Tugume, he has been asked to wait until an assessment of his controversial factory is done. I would like to thank the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for this. Do not be surprised when this request surfaces at some

18937 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 24 APRIL 2026 The hospital-approved staff are 1,273; field, 380. The hospital is operating at 29.8 per cent, and they are urging you to clap. Fort Portal, the regional referral hospital, 1,157. That is the approved staff. The ones recruited so far are 295. They are operating at 26 per cent. They say “do not touch the budget” as if this budget is for one person. I do not have to read the entire list. Just look for your area before you clap and approve. Now I will go to page 37 - I am about to finish. There are delayed health infrastructure projects. These ones are spread in your constituencies because there is no money to complete them, and they are asking you to clap. The table on 38 is showing you these projects. There is no money to complete them. They are white elephants. And Hon. Isiagi and his vice chairperson are saying, “clap”. You can clap - this is Page 38, let us look at the outstanding arrears on Page 39. I do not have to go through them because all this information came from the Committee on Health - you asked us to go and consolidate. However, they did not consolidate because they did not want to touch even a comma. I said “we are in trouble” because the man said do not touch our budget. So, I have helped you to consolidate. It is entirely up to you to pass or not. This is a status and analysis of arrears because all these hospitals are in debt. They cannot pay electricity, pension, salary or water bills, and this information was brought to the committee for consolidation. Maybe, the Hon. Isiagi and his deputy - you should ask them after, to point to a particular page where they consolidated anything. The recommendations are there. Human resources in public health facilities This one has been repeated; forgive me. The delayed health infrastructure on page 43 I do not have to repeat them because they have already captured them. I now want to go - so these ones are repeated. Page 46, I have already referred to it. You can go to Page 48. I have just about two pages to finish. Extractives industry development The Hon. Musasizi was here. He said this is mineral development. In the Budget Framework Paper, Hon. Musasizi proposed a budget of Shs 1.6 trillion for extractive industrial development. Then, when he left, he removed it. What has been brought today for you to pass is Shs 435 billion. Not even what he brought in the Budget Framework Paper. And he says, “The NRM manifesto, as guided by the President, please clap”. Colleagues, you can clap. I am concluding now - Page 48. The UBOS, in their latest report on what they call multi-dimensional poverty, measures not only income but also people’s capacity to pay for hospital care if they fall sick, the number of years they are in school, and access to toilet facilities. This is how they have summarised Uganda - and that is my summary. In Karamoja, people who are suffering from multi-dimensional poverty are 91 per cent. The vice chair comes from there, he says, “clap.” In West Nile, people who are suffering from multi-dimensional poverty, who cannot go to school, have no access to toilet facilities, are 73 per cent. I am waiting to see if anyone from West Nile will clap. This is information from UBOS on multi-dimensional poverty because that is where we are after five years. So, the rest you can read about yourselves - Sebei, multi- dimensional poverty is at 67 per cent – these are people. Busoga is at 59.9 per cent as usual – 59.9 per cent of Basoga are suffering from multi- dimensional poverty. No access to improved toilet facilities or energy for cooking - there are 11 parameters that they measure, not just income. So, as you pass the budget - finally, I want to draw your attention to one table, the last table, which is Annex 1.

18958 THE SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION (NO.2) BILL, 2025 For us, from Northern Uganda, to hear that the Government has listened to us and is saying, “Let us restock -” Please, do not say something else - let us restock for the people in Acholi and Lango to get cows, Shs 100 billion. This is something we were fighting for. It is significant to say that the people of Acholi are going to get Shs 100 billion for restocking. Therefore, we should celebrate. Yes, growth, revenue - just as all of us run our budgets in our households, I am sure even right now, there is something that we would have wanted to buy, but we cannot afford it because we have to prioritise certain things. This is the reality with the budget. We may not have put our case stronger on certain things, but let us celebrate what we have achieved. My brother, economic growth, I even do not want to go into it, but you must know the sources of growth. If this growth in Uganda is coming from agriculture, and you want to get some money through that growth, you must participate along the value chain, either by planting those crops, or processing them, or transporting them. Growth comes through participation. The United Arab Emirates is one of the richest growth, just with one product, oil. However, they have designed a mechanism on how they redistribute that growth. They tax certain people, collect money, and invest in healthcare, better roads, and so on. Growth is happening. Yes, but we must also start discussing how this growth is produced. What are the growth poles of our economy? Is it tourism? We are talking about tourism, mineral, and so on. How do we participate to benefit from it? How you participate to benefit from the growth is a challenge, but it is happening. Maybe we should question how we are distributing that growth. Thank you, Madam Speaker. As the deputy chairperson with my colleague, Hon. Opolot Isiagi, we celebrate the progress that this Government has made in ensuring that certain things are being addressed, which were not addressed many years ago. Growth is happening. The country’s shilling is stable. More income is coming into the country. This is the image that we should celebrate, while highlighting the problems that Hon. Ssemujju has talked about.

18836 THE INCOME TAX (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2026 ii) That implementation of this tax may face considerable challenges as it is difficult to determine when one sells a non-business asset; iii) The committee continues to observe that the traceability of the transactions involving non-business assets such as unregistered land, jewelry, among others, will be difficult, thereby complicating the administration of such a tax; iv) That there is a need to consider the purpose of sale of a non-business asset, as the imposition of the withholding tax may not enable citizens to achieve the intended purpose of sale; and v) The committee observed that a taxpayer who, for different reasons, sells land below the market value will incur a tax obligation, which ordinarily should not exist. The committee recommends that Clause 3 of the Bill be deleted. 4.3 Exemption of Bujagali Hydro Project Clause 4(a)(i) of the Bill seeks to amend 21(1) (A) (b) to extend the exemption of the income of the Bujagali Hydro Power Project by six years from 30th June 2026 to 30th June 2032. The ministry indicated that the exemption in the current law is set to expire on the 30 th of June 2026. The proposed extension is based on the structure of the Bujagali Agreement, where corporate income tax is built into the electricity tariff. If the tax is imposed, the tariff will automatically increase to cover the tax cost. This means that taxing the project would lead to higher electricity prices for consumers rather than generating real net revenue for the Government. In 2025, the Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development recommended in its report that the Bujagali Hydropower Project be exempted from income tax for the seven years’ period, as proposed in the Bill, to be consistent with the power purchase agreement, which runs up to 2032. On 14 May 2025, Parliament debated the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and rejected the Committee’s seven-year recommendation, recommending that it instead gives a one-year exemption. I hereby report the observations of the Committee as follows: i) In 2017, the Bujagali generation tariff was at 13 cents USD dollars, which was very high. The Government, in a renegotiation, offered to waive Corporate Income Tax for five years in exchange for a reduction of the generation tariff to 8.3 cents. The Bujagali generation tariff, as of 30 March 2026, was at 6.34, with a dispatch of 84.1 per cent. Colleagues, you can see the reduction because of the exemptions we have been giving; ii) If the amendment is rejected, the income tax, according to the renegotiation power purchase agreement, shall automatically pass through into a tariff as a cost ranging between 1.8 and 2, and will therefore, increase the cost of power; and iii) The proposed amendment seeks to give a waiver to Bujagali up to 2032. This implies that after 2031, the tariff application should be between 4.5 and 4.7 cents per kWh USD, lower than the current tariffs of Isimba and Karuma. The committee therefore recommends that Clause 4(a)(1) of the Bill be adopted. 2. Correction of the Typographical Error Clause 4(a) (11) seeks to correct a typographic error under 2l(L)(ae)(vii) of Cap. The section provides a tax exemption for income derived from specific activities, specifically manufacturers of chemicals for agricultural use, industrial use, textile, glassware, leather products, industrial machinery, electronic equipment, sanitary pads, and diapers. The proposed amendment is to delete the word ‘for’. The committee observes that the proposed amendment is correct and is a clarification intended to correct technical or clerical errors in this section. The committee recommends that this clause be adopted. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR [Mr Kankunda]

Thank you, Rt Hon. Prime Minister. Seconded? Okay, it is seconded by the Vice President, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Lukia, Hon. Obua, Hon. Leader of Opposition, Hon. Wamala, Hon. ICT, the Northern Region, Hon. Kasolo, Hon. Ogwang, Hon. Balaam, Hon. Esther Ayakun, Hon. Diana, and Hon. Ssekikubo. I want put it on the record, numbers – seconded by Hon. Christine, Hon. Solo, Hon. Jona, Hon. Ssewungu, Hon. Derrick, Hon. Hassan, Hon. Karim, Hon. Ethel, Hon. Nakato, size-mate – Adeke -( Laughter ) - Hon. Juliet, by the whole House. Thank you so much. Prime Minister, would you love to speak to your motion?

18786 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT Points of dissent 1. The Bill proposes to reduce the import age limit for motor vehicles from fifteen to thirteen years, yet offers no convincing evidence that such a measure will meaningfully improve road safety and deliver environmental benefits. 2. The Bill seeks to increase the environmental tax on imported vehicles in a way that disproportionately burdens ordinary citizens, small businesses, transport operators, and those who depend on the used car market; 3. The Bill will make it more difficult and costly for current owners of older vehicles to repair, maintain, or replace their vehicles, further eroding the livelihoods of those already struggling with economic hardship. 4. The Bill focuses primarily on the second- hand vehicles, while other significant environmental challenges, such as plastic pollution, hazardous chemicals, industrial emissions, and untreated wasteful water, are left largely unaddressed. 5. The Bill risks undermining the repair economy, the spare parts trade, and the long-standing principle of reuse and refurbishment, all of which are essential to a responsible and sustainable environmental policy; 6. The exemption of vehicles recalls, calls into question the claim that the Bill is motivated purely by environmental concerns; and 7. The last one is that the Bill, though presented as an environmental measure, appears in substance to be primarily a revenue-raising instrument. The gist of the minority here Clause 1 is the commencement and application Madam Speaker, this clause sets the commencement date and outlines the transitional provisions of vehicles already in transit. While a short adjustment period is permitted, there is no meaningful protection for citizens who already own older vehicles and depend upon them. Reducing the age limit from 15 to 13 years will inevitably restrict access to affordable vehicles. This restriction will be felt most acutely by teachers, traders, transport operators, and families who rely on the second-hand market to meet their transport needs. For more Ugandans, an imported used vehicle is not a luxury but a necessity. It supports small businesses, enables family mobility, and is vital for day-to-day survival. If policy shifts make these vehicles less accessible, the immediate effect will be to exclude teachers, health workers, market vendors, and small business owners from affordable transport. The resulting burden will ripple across the broader economy, increasing the cost of goods and services and diminishing economic opportunity. Transport is central to the functioning of our society. It underpins development, education, commerce, and access to essential services. When the cost of acquiring and maintaining a vehicle rises, it is the ordinary citizen who suffers first and most, not the state. Clause 2: Amendment of section 15 The clause reduces the import age limit; it is the same thing. Let me go to Schedule 3 now. This clause reduces the new environmental tax on imported vehicles, a move that will inevitably increase the cost of transport and place additional financial strain on ordinary citizens. Although presented as an environmental measure, the principal consequence of the new tax will be higher vehicle prices for buyers, importers, and a certain to pass on the cost to the consumers. Dealing in the markets such as Kisekka and Nakawa will respond by raising prices, making THE TRAFFIC AND ROAD SAFETY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2026 [Ms Nabukeera]

18788 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT protection, its structure most closely resembles a revenue measure, raising costs for older imports, narrowing consumer choice and increasing government collections. If the Bill’s purpose was genuinely environmental, Parliament would expect a comprehensive and balanced framework. That would include robust emissions testing, strict inspection standards, effective enforcement against plastics and proper regulation of industrial waste and chemicals. Instead, the Bill appears to target only the most convenient issue, leaving the most significant environmental challenges unaddressed. Recommendation Madam Speaker, we are fully supportive of the road safety reform and responsible environmental stewardship. However, we cannot support a measure that is narrowly focused, that places undue burden on ordinary citizens, and lacks the necessary breadth or enforcement to deliver fair and effective outcomes. We, therefore, recommend that the Bill be amended to preserve vehicle affordability, prioritise emissions testing and roadworthiness over arbitrary age restrictions, address pressing concerns such as plastics, hazards, chemicals and industrial waste, or support the repair and spare parts sectors, and ensure any taxes are fair, consistent and transparently linked to the genuine objectives. In conclusion, in its current form, the Bill risks placing undue burdens on a broad section of the Ugandan public in the name of environmental reform while failing to address the conduct of major polluters. It threatens affordability, undermines the culture of repair, and restricts economic mobility. For these reasons, we dissent and respectively urge the House to make substantial amendments before any passage is considered. I thank you.

18610 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 budget estimates for Financial Year 2025/2026, with the total budget having risen by Shs 91.212 billion, that is a 20 per cent variation. The ministry has verified areas amounting to Shs 402,287,000. Therefore, the total budget is Shs 533.01 billion. The growth was largely driven by significant expansion in the non-wage recurrent budgetary component, majorly attributed to boosting and strengthening functionality of planning and budgeting services, support to UWESO, National Apprenticeship Programme, National Labour Employment and Productivity Reporting Programme and Child Disability Grant. The development budget component, particularly under Programme 12 (Human Capital Development Programme). Notably, Vote function 04 (Labour and Employment Services) recorded the highest increase of 53.0 per cent mainly due to a substantial rise in external financing for the GROW project alongside a sharp increase in funding for labour and industrial relations. However, this upward trend is not uniform across all Vote functions under the Human Capital Development Programme 12. Vote function 02 (Community mobilisation, Culture and Empowerment) experienced a decline of 20.9 per cent, largely attributed to a reduction of non-wage recurrent funding for Culture and Family Affairs. Similarly, function 01 (Administration, Planning and Support Services) registered a reduction of 8.7 per cent reflecting reduced non- wage allocation, despite the modest increase in wage allocation. In contrast, Vote function 03 (Gender and Social Protection) showed steady growth of 9.2 per cent, supported by increased investment in social protection programmes, particularly for the elderly, youth and children. Meanwhile, under programme 19 (Administration of Justice) allocations remained relatively small but stable with a slight 2.0 per cent increase in funding youth and children-related interventions. Madam Speaker, table 7 highlights the cost drivers for the Financial Year 2026/2027 in billions. The list is highlighted. It has 29 items and the total is around Shs 300.3 billion. Allow me to read the list of unfunded and underfunded activities, which are on table nine because there are key areas like Social Assistance for the Elderly (SAGE) that must be handled by the House and the Committee on Budget. 1. Renovation and rehabilitation of ministry institutions (youth and children institutions, including rehabilitation centres for persons with disability, which is unfunded and it requires around Shs 500 billion; 2. 3. There is also an issue of titling of ministry lands across the country, which requires Shs 2 billion, and the justification details are attached in Annex B which is on this list - you will see what those facilities look like currently. There is an audit query that requires that these structures be rehabilitated. 4. Lowering the age of eligibility for SAGE beneficiaries. There is a Cabinet Minute 309 (CT2025) which directed the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to adjust the budget up to Shs 252 billion, in addition to Shs 121 billion so that the age eligibility is adjusted to 65. However, that money has not been provided. What we have now is still Shs 121 billion and we have made some proposals in our recommendations, which I will read through. 5. Appointment of the judges and establishment of regional industrial court centres and registries for labour disputes and court settlements. They have provided Shs 4.2 billion, but there is a shortfall of Shs 3.7 billion. For the last two years, the Judiciary has been budgeting for three additional judges, but the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social

18611 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 Development has not provided other required funds and we feel that if provided, the three judges for the Industrial Court will be appointed.

The Industrial Court judges operate under the ministry for gender, but get subvention from - the salaries for judges are budgeted by the Judiciary, but all operational costs are handled by the gender ministry.

18612 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 In November 2018, the Government announced the national roll-out grant to all districts in the country. The criterion was to begin with older persons who are 80 years and above (with a commitment of lowering the age to 65 years within three years) while keeping those who are already on the programme since 2010. The Cabinet sitting of September 2025, under Ref. CT (2025) 132), approved the proposal to lower the eligibility age under SAGE from the current 80 plus to 65 plus years. The committee noted that whereas the Government was proposing lowering the eligibility age from 80 plus to 60 plus years with the numbers of beneficiaries totalling to 1,048,598, the amount required is estimated at Shs 373.36 billion. However, what is provided in the Financial Year 2026/2027 budget is Shs 121.22 billion, therefore, leaving the funding gap of Shs 252.14 billion. As indicated below - the financial implication of achieving the lowering of age eligibility for SAGE - The table currently at 80 plus years with the required amount Shs 1.21 billion has already been provided in the budget. If we go to 65 plus years, we require the Shs 252.14 billion. We are now making a proposal that they adjust to 70 plus years and they will be able to provide the money as we have made in our recommendation, to avail funds worth Shs 71.47 billion to enable implementation of an additional 75 plus years in the Financial Year 2026/2027. The ministries for finance and gender should subsequently provide funds for the implementation of SAGE in age eligibility from 60 plus years in the Financial Years 2027/2028 and 2028/2029 respectively. That is a proposal made by the committee, but the House will take a stand on it. Appointment of Industrial Court judges – we have already talked about it and the committee has made a recommendation. Special enterprise programme – I have already mentioned it. On the national roll-out of empowering informal businesses into formal growth – the Jua-Kali Programme – the amount required was to roll it out to the whole country. However, only Shs 3.3 billion has been provided. We have made a recommendation that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development provides an additional Shs 15 billion to enable the national roll-out of empowering informal businesses into formal growth – the Jua-Kali Programme. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should provide the balance of Shs 20.6 billion in the Financial Year 2027/2028. Madam Speaker, I have already mentioned the Medical Arbitration Board. The committee recommends that an additional amount of Shs 6 billion be provided. There is also the Labour Advisory Board. The committee has recommended that an additional Shs 5 billion be provided to enable the advisory board to effectively conduct its mandate. There is also the national programme on the operationalisation of the Minimum Wages Advisory Board and Wages Councils. The Minimum Wage Advisory Board and Wages Council Act, Cap. 229 provides for the establishment of Minimum Wages Advisory Boards and Wages Councils and for the regulation of the remuneration and conditions of employment of employees. During the high-level meeting with leaders of trade unions and employers held on 30 April 2025, His Excellency the President accepted requests from workers and employers organisations (National Organisation of Trade Unions, Central Organisation of Free Trade Unions and Federation of Uganda Employers) that, among other things to be set up, is the tripartite Minimum Wages Advisory Board and the Wages Councils to undertake a comprehensive study of the economy and feasibility of fixing the minimum wage in Uganda. The committee was informed that on 1 May 2025, during the commemoration of

Madam Speaker, it is disheartening to hear from the chairperson that there are judges deployed in the Industrial Courts but who cannot work and yet this category is well paid. It is not cost-effective to have judges who cannot work when we have a lot of cases in other courts.

The Industrial Court judges are recruited specifically - In the Industrial Court, we need these judges, Hon. Faith. What we need to do, as Parliament and Government, is to ensure that we give the minister money for operational costs. That is something very small that should be done. Yes, Olympian.

Madam Speaker, there are things that we have to appreciate this Government for. This Government came a long way. When you look at the many programmes that we are running - we are talking about the SAGE, and then we have a programme for the youth. I would like to emphasise that we should look at the age of people in order to achieve this goal. Madam Speaker, on the issue of the age, we have been collecting so much data where you find 80 or 70 years old - I would like to request that we get all those that are 60 years old to also receive this SAGE money. On the issue of bringing their payment nearest to their villages, that is quite difficult. In Northern Uganda, we are now talking about restocking. In the eastern, we are also talking about restocking. We shall complicate a lot of things yet as a country, we are really not very successful. Right now, we have challenges in finance since funds were cut from the Western world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even when you look at the issue of gays - So, our country is really struggling. Therefore, I ask, Madam Speaker, that we focus on the age of 65 years and above. The data should be collected so they can be paid. Thank you.

18619 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 The committee, therefore, recommends and urges the Government to: 1. Publish a project-by-project PAP clearance schedule with quarterly targets, ring-fence Shs 689.5 billion Land Acquisition II budget for immediate release in the first quarter of the Financial Year 2026/2027, and establish independent verification of disbursements to actual PAPs; and 2. Treat counterpart funding for land acquisition as a statutory first call on programme resources in line with the second BCC directive, ensuring it is released before any other discretionary expenditure in the first quarter. Low releases and absorption of external financing In respect to this, the committee notes with grave concern that while Shs 1.4 trillion, representing 34.4 per cent of the external budget was released to the vote, only Shs 193.3 billion was actually spent. This means that 86.2 per cent of the released external funds remained unabsorbed as at half year. Expressed against the original approval budget, only 4.7 per cent of Shs 4.0 trillion external budget was spent by mid-year. This is not a funding shortage but a structural implementation failure rooted in the absence of counterpart resources for land acquisition and PAP compensation, making the large external budget envelope essentially inaccessible despite its formal approval. The committee further notes that with the Financial Year 2026/2027 external financing budget rising to Shs 4.3 trillion, a continuation of 13.8 per cent absorption rate would imply only approximately Shs 606 billion in actual expenditure, leaving Shs 3.7 trillion unspent and generating additional commitment charges. Madam Speaker, the committee, therefore, recommends: 1) Mandatory project readiness certification. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in co-ordination with the Ministry of Works and Transport and the National Planning Authority (NPA), should institute a mandatory project readiness certification process for all externally financed projects before inclusion in the annual budget. No externally financed project should receive budget allocation unless it has; a) A completed feasibility study; b) Approved detailed engineering designs; c) Completed environmental social impact assessment; d) Confirmed land right-of-way availability of at least 80 per cent; and e) A signed and effective loan grant agreement. Projects that do not meet these criteria should be removed from the budget estimates and placed in a pipeline category until readiness is established. 2) The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Works and Transport should negotiate and publish a synchronised annual disbursement calendar with each development partner financing projects under Vote 016. This calendar should align the Government of Uganda counterpart releases with donor disbursement triggers, ensuring that Government of Uganda’s quarterly cash budgeting framework does not create artificial delays in accessing externally financed resources. 7.1.4 The Standard Gauge Railway Financing Gaps and Implementation Risks The Standard Gauge Railway from Malaba to Kampala is Uganda’s single most capital- intensive infrastructure investment and a cornerstone of the NDPIV tenfold growth strategy. As a key component of the East African Railway Master Plan and the Northern Corridor Integrated Projects, the 272-kilometre Malaba-Kampala section, (phase I of a planned 1,700-kilometre network) will link Uganda’s capital to the port of Mombasa, reducing

18623 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 Madam Speaker, the half-year performance data reveal a deeply concerning pattern of under-absorption that, if sustained, renders the expanded external financing envelope largely illusionary. The committee was informed that as at the end of quarter two of the Financial Year 2025/2026, the overall absorption rate under KCCA stood at only 46.1 per cent, with Shs 138.7 billion spent out of the Shs 300.4 billion released. Externally-financed projects recorded particularly weak performance. The KCRRP spent only Shs 65.4 billion of Shs 199.0 billion, while the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area spent only Shs 7.3 billion of Shs 32.5 billion released. The committee notes that although KCCA reports improved performance by March 2026, with overall Vote absorption rising to 73.5 per cent, external financing improved from 32.86 to 56.5 per cent. In respect to that, the committee recommends and urges the Government to; i) Ensure that all prerequisite activities, including utility relocations, right-of-way acquisition, and donor approval processes, are completed before the start of Financial Year 2026/2027 so that construction can proceed unimpeded from quarter one’ and ii) Engage development partners, the African Development Bank and the World Bank, proactively to streamline the no-objection approval processes and reduce approval turnaround times. The persistent implementation delays under the Kampala City Roads Rehabilitation Project (KCRRP) The KCRRP, valued at $288 million – that is about Shs 1.0 trillion – funded by the African Development Bank, the Global Environmental Fund, and the Government of Uganda, is the single largest infrastructure investment in Kampala’s road network. Its timely completion is critical, enhancing transport efficiency and expanding the stock of paved roads in the capital city. However, the project has experienced significant implementation delays across multiple lots. I invite honourable colleagues to go through lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The committee, therefore, observes that the KCRRP commenced in the Financial Year 2021/2022 and has been under implementation for over four years, yet overall progress remains below two-thirds. Lots 2, 3, and 4, which together account for 61.6 kilometres – that is 66 per cent of the total KCRRP scope – are all significantly behind schedule. Of particular concern is that the zero kilometre of paved road has been delivered under lot 2, despite over 50 per cent physical project progress, suggesting that completed works are concentrated in sub-base and drainage activities, with no finished road surface yet handed over. The committee, therefore, recommends and urges the government to: i) Direct KCCA to present a revised lot- by-lot completion schedule with realistic milestones, including monthly paved kilometre targets, to the committee by the end of quarter one of the Financial Year 2026/2027; and ii) Ensure that the Financial Year 2026/2027 KCRRP allocation of Shs 122.3 billion is released in full and on time to prevent further construction stoppages; and iii) Investigate and report to the committee on the specific factors causing delayed progress on Kasubi, Northern Bypass Road, Queen’s Way and Nsambya road/ Hanlon Junction, with remedial action timelines. The slow progress under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme The Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme valued at $606 million and funded by the World Bank and the French Development Agency under a Programme-for-Results financing modality,

18635 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 billion, representing 14.1 per cent of its total proposed budget. Notwithstanding this increment in the Judiciary budget, the case backlog continues to increase, and key activities are underfunded within the budget. The committee notes that the increased travel budget be retained only to the extent that it directly supports judicial work, especially locus in quo visits, estimated at Shs 20.95 billion, out-of-station court sessions, and plea- bargaining proceedings that facilitate case disposal. The committee observes with concern that pre-trial and trial detention remains a systemic challenge within the judicial system, as evidenced by a high proportion of inmates on remand, which is 48.4 per cent. This situation points to a persistent case backlog, yet this matter is not addressed within the budget provisions. In addition, the committee observes that whereas the Judiciary budget has been growing over the years, the same key mandate areas, like the timely disposal of cases, have not attracted substantial funding, hence causing a backlog. Therefore, the committee recommends that the Judiciary budget be realigned and Shs 10 billion be removed from the proposed travel budget of the Judiciary, reducing it to Shs 89.154 billion to Shs 79.154 billion, and the money be reallocated for case backlog reduction and a progress report be shared forthwith. Vote 102: Electoral Commission Following the Presidential directive, the Commission has since January 2023 temporarily relocated its headquarters to the National Housing and Construction Company Limited premises at plot 1-3/5, 7 th Street Industrial Area on a rental basis. The construction of the headquarters at Lubowa, Wakiso, is supposed to be implemented by the National Housing and Construction Corporation, which will provide land, design, construct and furnish the Electoral Commission centre at Lubowa within a period of 18 months. The project is crucial for enhancing operational efficiency, institutional capacity, cost savings in the long term and electoral preparedness for the upcoming electoral activities. Failure to provide the required Shs 62 billion in this Financial Year risks stalling the project and undermining the commission’s preparedness for the upcoming critical electoral milestones. It is the recommendation of the committee that the Government prioritises and allocates Shs 62 billion in this financial year to support the construction of the Electoral Commission headquarters at Lubowa. Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) The URSB plans to construct an archival centre, which is essential for preserving historical records. The centre is expected to streamline information management, enhance accessibility, promote collaboration and ensure the long-term preservation of documents. The project requires Shs 12.5 billion. The committee recommends that the Shs 12.5 billion be provided - honourable colleagues, you remember that these have shifted from rented premises to their home, which they did in record time. Establishment and implementation of the Directorate of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights The URSB plans to establish and implement a Directorate of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights, which aims at protecting intellectual property, fostering creativity and ensuring compliance with national and international copyrights. The Directorate would serve as a cornerstone for a thriving creative economy, promoting fairness, innovation, and sustainable development. URSB requires Shs 2.759 billion to establish and implement the directorate.

Madam Speaker, in accordance with Article 155(4) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, Section 12 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2015 and Rule 149 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, the Ministerial Policy Statements for the Financial Year 2026/2027 were presented before Parliament. In light of the above, I now present, for your consideration and adoption, a report of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources in respect of the policy statement and draft budget estimates for Financial Year 2026/2027, covering the following Votes: Vote 017: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development; Vote 139: Petroleum Authority of Uganda; Vote 019: Ministry of Water and Environment; and Vote 150: National Environment Management Authority. We also cover the following subventions: i) National Water and Sewerage Corporation; ii) Atomic Energy Council; and iii) Uganda Electricity Credit Capitalisation Company. Madam Speaker, the committee considered the implementation trends, funding gaps, staffing constraints, external financing dependencies and the extent to which planned investments align to the national priorities under the current growth agenda and the relevant National Development Plan IV programmes. Madam Speaker, the votes under the committee’s jurisdiction are strategically important to Uganda’s economic transformation because they directly affect electricity access, industrial power supply, extractives governance, water access, irrigation, sanitation, climate resilience, forestry management, wetland protection and environmental compliance. The committee notes that the policy statements for Financial Year 2026/2027 contain a broad array of projects whose successful implementation would have immediate political and developmental significance in the communities across the country, including the oil host districts in the Albertine Graben, electricity transmission corridors in central and western Uganda, industrial parks in places such as Tororo, Mbale, Nakaseke,

18647 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 Luwero, Nakasongola as well as water supply schemes in districts such as Terego, Moyo, Lamwo, Zombo, Agago, Pader, Namutumba, Mayuge, Ssembabule, Mityana, Isingiro, Kazo, Kyenjojo, Bukedea, Kanungu, Moroto, Kakumiro and Abim, among others. Colleagues, I can see that some of you are trying to keep pace. I jumped into the executive summary, which is on page, Page 3. However, the committee also notes material implementation constraints, particularly funding gaps, delayed counterpart funding, stalled contractor obligations, weak operation and maintenance financing, land acquisition delays, environmental compliance burdens, and institutional capacity limitations, which, if not addressed, will undermine the political credibility of the budget. Madam Speaker, the context of this report is that sectors and Votes under the committee’s purview are central to the Government’s broader economic growth for various reasons. First, energy powers production and industry, while the extractives are expected to create fiscal space and employment. On the other hand, water supports life and production, while environmental management protects the natural resource base on which the growth ultimately depends. The committee notes that the significance of these Votes is not abstract. In many constituencies, the Government is judged by whether power reaches the households, trading centres and industrial parks; whether piped water reaches institutions, towns and villages; whether boreholes and small schemes remain functional; whether the first oil is obtained and is properly regulated; and whether wetlands, forests and the fragile landscapes are actually protected for the benefit of all. This means that the budget scrutiny in these sectors must go beyond the aggregate figures and focus squarely on whether planned projects are financed, implemented, and sustained in actual locations where Ugandans live and work. Madam Speaker, I will go straight to Item 7.0: Programme budget allocations for Financial Year 2026/2027. Analysis of Vote 017 Vote 017: Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development contributes to the sustainable energy development programme and a sustainable extractives industry development programme of the National Development Plan IV (NDPIV), with policy priorities covering electricity generation, transmission, distribution, clean cooking, petroleum infrastructure, minerals development, geothermal development, and strategic industrial energy investments. Madam Speaker, the committee notes, from the updated submissions of the budget estimates, that the total budget allocation for vote 017 rises from Shs 1.844 billion, in the Financial Year 2025/2026, to Shs 2.282 billion, in Financial Year 2026/2027, representing an increase of Shs 438.11 billion. Table two thereby gives you, colleagues , an overview of how these resources have been allocated. The committee further notes that the ministry’s functional allocation reflects a major emphasis on transmission, distribution, petroleum, and administration-related land acquisition and institutional costs, alongside continued support to generation, minerals, and clean cooking. Colleagues, table 4 gives us an allocation of resources by major functional areas. Madam Speaker, the committee notes that the ministry has identified substantial project outlay for Financial Year 2026/2027, and the medium term, and many of these projects are location-specific and visible. Colleagues, the major planned projects under Vote 017 represent the following, which I believe is a point of critical concern to most of us here. There is a project of Mutundwe-Buloba- Kabulasoke-Masaka and Kabulasoke-Nkonge-

Thank you. Madam Speaker, on the project on Industrial Parks Electrification Phase II, the intended project is to construct substations and power lines to supply power to industrial parks. This will include the Sukulu Hills in Tororo, Mbale Industrial Park, Kapeeka Park in Nakaseke, the Wobulenzi Park in Luwero, and Nakasongola-Kaweweta Defense Industrial Park, amongst others. Under the Kampala Metropolitan Transmission System Improvement Project, we intend to have an upgrade of the Kawaala, Mutundwe, Mukono, and Buloba-related infrastructure. Madam Speaker, the planned area of benefit is Kampala, Wakiso, and Mukono environs. Madam Speaker, there is the ORIO Mini Hydro and Rural Electrification Project. The ministry intends to undertake construction of the mini hydro infrastructure, 288-kilometre distribution network, and 71,081 last-mile connections, particularly intended for areas in Hoima, Nchweera, Igassa, and Nsongya. Forgive my pronunciation due to cultural challenges. On the Kiba Hydropower Project, the ministry is undertaking a feasibility study, the environmental sustainability impact assessment, and access works and stakeholder engagement for this mini project, which is intended to be constructed in Nwoya and Kiryandongo districts. The Oriang Hydropower Project is still the same, and it is intended to be located in Nwoya and Oyam districts. On the Ayago Hydropower Project, preparatory studies are to be undertaken, as well as stakeholder management activities. The same is in Nwoya and Kiryandongo areas. Under the Buyende Nuclear Power Plant site evaluation is going to be undertaken, including meteorological tower installation, seismic and groundwater monitoring, and a resettlement action plan finalisation. This project will be located in Buyanja Subcounty in Buyende District. Madam Speaker, on the geothermal development, there is an intention to undertake deep exploration and drilling, as well as undertake surface studies. This project will be in Kibiro in Hoima, in Panyimur in Pakwach, in Okidi in Amuru, Karungu in Rubanda, Ihimbo in Rukungiri, and Kabuga in Kasese. The electricity access scale-up project

18649 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 This project intends to ensure the connection of 1,073,500 new connections of people to the electricity grid. The distribution is as follows: Central Region, 497,106; Eastern Region, 216,616; Northern, 140,337; and Western Uganda, 219,441 new connections, all amounting to 1,073,500 new connections. Under the mineral exploration and beneficiation projects, there is exploration and support for the mineral value chains. This is to improve the value of the minerals that are being obtained by the various artisanal as well as developed miners. This is planned for in Ssembabule, Buhweju, Iganga, Luweero, Kyenjojo, Ntungamo, Kazo, Kiboga, Kassanda, Mubende, Nakasongola, Mityana, and Nakaseke districts. On the Kilembe redevelopment and mineral value addition, the Government intends to support mining, processing, and mineral value addition under the Kilembe project. This will be located in Kilembe, which is in Kasese. There will also be Busia, Mbarara, Iganga, Jinja, Tororo, Rubanda, Kampala, and other mineral processing points in the country. Observations on Vote 017 The committee welcomes -

18650 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 straight to Vote 139: The Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU). PAU remains central to Uganda’s transition into the production phase of the petroleum sector, particularly with respect to the independent measurement, regulation, local content monitoring, production oversight, and economic monitoring, as well as environmental coordination. The allocation reviewed by the committee places Vote 139 at Shs 106.87 billion for the next financial year. Madam Speaker, I will invite colleagues to look at the subsequent tables regarding PAU. I would like to request that I go straight and look at the committee comment. The committee notes that additional funding of Shs 28.24 billion was provided to support the establishment of the real-time monitoring centre, and this significantly strengthens our preparedness for the production phase of the oil, which is expected to commence on the 31st July this year. Under the national content and employment, the committee further notes that PAU reports 2,626 companies on the national supplier database, of which 2,257 are Ugandan, and 369 are non- Ugandan, and that over 360 tier-one contracts have been awarded to Ugandan companies in reserved and ring-fenced categories. As of December 2025, the sector employed 21,072 personnel, of whom 18,137 are Ugandan nationals, and 6,631 are from host communities in particular. The committee notes that PAU currently has 222 staff against an approved structure of 278, and it still has 51 positions without wage funding, with a further unfunded recruitment requirement of Shs 11.09 billion. Honourable colleagues, if we are to go into the production phase of the oil, it is important that our Authority, which is responsible for supervising this for us, is strengthened so that it is able to be up to speed. I would like to invite you to go to the section on water and environment, which is Vote 019. Madam Speaker, Vote 019 remains the most politically exposed vote under the committee’s jurisdiction because the citizens encounter the State most directly through access to clean water, functionality of boreholes, performance of piped schemes, sanitation in institutions, irrigation investments, climate information, and visible action against environmental degradation. The committee notes that the total budget allocation for vote 019 in 2026/27 is Shs 1.8 trillion compared to Shs 1.5 trillion in 2025/26, representing an increase of Shs 318 billion. The ministry further reports that its strategic requirement for the financial year 2026/27 is Shs 2.185 trillion, leaving a funding gap of Shs 361.9 billion. Honourable colleagues, I invite you to look at table 9 by yourselves. Table 10 is an additional allocation of resources after the first one. Projects under Vote 019 I think this may be interesting for colleagues for us to go through. The committee commends the ministry for providing a more detailed implementation geography for the Financial Year 2026/27, as always requested by colleagues. This has enabled the committee to identify where the Government intends to undertake actual works and where oversight should be concentrated. Table 11 provides us with projects that are intended to be undertaken in the northern region. The Ala-Ora piped water scheme to 100 per cent completion. This will serve Terego, Yumbe, Madi-Okollo and Nebbi district areas. The refugee settlement and rural growth centres water supply and sanitation project, which is

18651 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 intended for Laropi and Lefori in Moyo, Akoro and Pangila, and Padibe West in Lamwo. The institutional water supply and sanitation project This one is intended to supply the Arocha prison in Apac and the Iceme health centre and surrounding areas in Oyam. The rural growth centre schemes in Ewanga in Madi-Okollo, Edrayo in Terego, Rodo and Nyori in Yumbe. The gravity and piped water schemes are intended for Ambe GFS in Zombo, the Ogili water supply and sanitation scheme in Agago, as well as Pader. The solar-powered schemes for Achukudu solar RGC in Napak. Colleagues, I am sure that the Hon Faith Nakut is now going to give me a bit- Table 12, in the Eastern region. There are rural growth centre piped water projects that are intended for Bulange in Namutumba, Nango in Mayuge, Bubugo- Itanda in Jinja, and Kagumba in Kamuli. Additional rural growth centre schemes, one intended for Oyama RGC in Kaberamaido. The institutional water supply and sanitation schemes in Ivukula prisons and the surrounding areas in Namutumba. The public sanitation facilities are intended for Mulatsi S.S. in Mbale and Lubani SSS in Jinja. The urban and small town water system schemes under the Water and Sanitation Development Facility East. In Manafwa, Bulangira, Bukumi, Kaproron, Kadungulu, Iyolwa, Mukura, Atutur and Mbale Industrial Park. Central region The ministry intends to undertake piped water schemes in Nankondo in Ssembabule, Moone in Nakasongola and Bulera in Mityana. The institutional water and sanitation schemes - Masaka Army Barracks. The solar-powered water schemes in Kyegegwa, Rakai, Namayingo and Buvuma districts. Then the other additional schemes and extensions are intended for Ngoma, Nyanseke, Busaale, Lunya, Kapeeka Industrial Park extension and Kikuube. In Western and Southwestern regions The major towns and cluster water systems. In Nyakashaka and Rubaya in Buhweju and Mbarara, Mabira, Bukiro, and Nyabisirira, Ntungamo Industrial Park, among others. The integrated water management and development schemes Kaliro-Namungalwe and Kyegegwa-Mpara- Ruyonza-Kabagore. This is the learned DAGs area. Isingiro water and sanitation scheme That is for the Isingiro District. Institutional water schemes in Butanda Secondary School in Kabale, Rugazi Health Centre IV in Rubirizi, and Ishekye School of the Handicapped in Sheema. The rural growth schemes Kyampangara and Nyamushojwa in Kazo, Kasaba in Kyenjojo, Rwentuha in Kyegegwa and Buhanda in Mubende. The solar-powered scheme Bikone and Isule-Katebenyangorongo in Kasese; Kagunga Iremera 1, Iremera 2 in Kisoro; and the Rubanda extension scheme.

18652 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 The gravity-piped water schemes are intended for Mbunga-Nyakazinga and Bughema in Kasese, and Mpunga in Kanungu. The climate-span smart wash clusters for Rwere in Kateretere, Bugarama-Karweru and Kagarama-Bushura-Kibuzigye in Rubanda, Kabale and Kisoro areas. Karamoja region schemes Under the institutional water schemes, Nadunget SS in Moroto, Amita Prisons in Abim. Public sanitation facilities There shall be two institutions in Karenga and one in Ngora. Additional water schemes in Kalapata, Lorengedwat, Tokora, Kathile listed under the broader solar and service expansion. The committee notes that the ministry’s water for production portfolio is particularly important in the drought-prone and livestock- dependent areas for expanding irrigation agriculture. Colleagues, we have selected water for production projects, which you will all see. I want to allow you to see them by yourselves. Under table 16, in Isingiro, Kanungu, and then those in Karamoja. Another area that will be covered is Agule in Kalaki, Soroti District, Bulusambu in Mbale, Biduku in Nakaseke, Kiryandongo, Masaka, Oyam, Gulu, Nwoya, among others. There will be solar-powered irrigation water systems also cited in the numerous areas across Central, Eastern, Northern, Karamoja, and Southwestern regions. Colleagues, the other aspects are those that I believe we will go through. I just would like to invite you to the aspect of the unfunded priority under Vote 019. Madam Speaker, the committee notes that under the project 2041- this is 7.6 colleagues: 100 per cent Service Coverage Acceleration project, (SCAP 100, Umbrellas Phase II), the Ministry of Water and Environment has identified critical financing gaps for targeted investments in water pipeline extensions, power extensions to pump stations, off-grid solar installations, and pump stations and drilling of production wells in small towns, rural growth centers, and the six umbrella and water and sanitation projects countrywide. Colleagues, in totality, the SCAP 100 project was in response to His Excellency, the President’s promise that every village in Uganda should have at least one clean water source. So, SCAP 100 was intended to ensure that water sources are placed in districts and in administrative units such as sub-counties, so as to distribute water using piped water systems. So SCAP 100 is crucial because it responds to the Government’s undertaking to the citizens. Here, the committee identified a funding gap of Shs 35.85 billion for Financial Year 26/27, which would support the undertaking of rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation skip schemes, as well as extend 5,000 kilometers of pipeline water to provide for 5,000 new water connections in the various communities of the country. The committee further notes an unfunded requirement under the water and sanitation development facilities that are responsible for the design, construction, and setting up of infrastructure for rural water supply. Colleagues, the unfunded priorities under Vote 019 are provided for under table 18. Madam Speaker, permit me to conclude with National Water and Sewerage Corporation. National Water and Sewerage Corporation remains central to urban water service delivery and to several other sectors, most visible investments in towns and municipalities. The committee notes that National Water and Sewerage Corporation medium-term financial and investment plan covers five projects currently supported by government

18653 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 and development partners, namely SCAP 100, Kampala Water-Lake Victoria and Sanitation Project, the Southwestern Cluster, the Integrated Water Management and Development Project, and the Wakiso West Water Sanitation Project. The National Water and Sewerage Corporation funding gap in the Financial Year 26/27 is provided for under Table 19. In particular, you note that there is a funding gap of Shs 62 billion for SCAP 100, 45 in the seven towns water project between Karuma and Gulu. As you might know, a multi-million thirty million cubic water supply project was set up at Karuma to supply Oyam, Gulu, and the neighbouring districts of Northern Uganda. Therefore, this money is necessary for the distribution of this water. There is need to undertake urgent but critical water projects in Nakawuka, in Kakumiro, and in Bukedea, which remains one of the only districts in Teso currently not covered sufficiently by the National Water and Sewerage Corporation. These provide us with a requirement of about Shs 50 billion, to be specific. Madam Speaker, the committee remains deeply concerned about the continued accumulation of the government water arrears owed to National Water and Sewerage Corporation because this undermines the corporation’s cash flow, weakens its creditworthiness, and constrains its capacity to sustain service delivery and finance new infrastructure investments. The updated arrears information submitted to the committee shows that as at the end of March 2026, the outstanding arrears stood at approximately Shs 75.37 billion. The committee notes that a significant portion of the verified water areas owed by the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to National Water was accumulated over two Financial years and amounted to Shs 24.42 billion as of February 2025. Madam Speaker, you might note that with your leadership and with the work of this Parliament, the Government provided money to clear the outstanding arrears that were owed to National Water by the MDAs. I wish to note here that the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs, in particular, and the Uganda Police Force -

18654 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 iv) Jinja Hospital, Shs 43 billion; v) Mulago Hospital, Shs 4.3 billion; vi) Kyambogo University, Shs 3.4 billion; vii) Gulu Hospital, Shs 1.3 billion; viii) Nebbi Hospital, Shs 963 million; ix) Soroti Hospital, Shs 819 million; and x) Entebbe Hospital, Shs 530 Million. I conclude by raising the observations and recommendations Vote 017 i) The committee recommends that the Government provide an additional Shs 300 billion for the Financial Year 26/27 to clear priority inherited rural electrification obligations and restore visible implementation under the last mile service delivery; ii) The Government should reconsider the decision to restructure the Rural Electrification Agency and reinstate a rural electrification agency or any other institution that is dedicated to providing rural electrification in a non-traditional ministry format, especially in light of the low progress since the rationalisation of the previous institution ; (Applause) iii) We should strengthen the anti-vandalism enforcement and accelerate reform in scrap market regulation and protect, and protect critical infrastructure; iv) Government allocates Shs 10 billion to establish a formal mineral market and buying centre; v) Government prioritises the full compensation and relocation of the 414 affected households in Karuma and Awo villages by allocating the outstanding 60 billion; vi) The ministry submits to Parliament a district-by-district implementation matrix of electricity transmission, distribution, and industrial parks electrification projects, showing the financing, the contractor status, the completion timelines, and the expected beneficiaries. This is because for many times, colleagues are asking the Ministry of Energy about electrification projects without clear responses; and vii) The Ministry prioritises delivery in named localities already committed to its prioritised delivery in named localities, especially those mentioned in its policy submissions, like the industrial parks, the transmission corridors, where economic and political expectations are high. Recommendations under the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) viii) The committee recommends that sustained financing for the real-time monitoring centre, the primary data centre, and the disaster recovery infrastructure, cross- border monitoring, and remaining staff gaps be provided for before Uganda enters into full petroleum production; ix) PAU, through the minister responsible for petroleum, should make quarterly reports to Parliament on first oil readiness, production monitoring capability, national content performance, employment outcomes, and coordination with the Uganda Revenue Authority, the Auditor- General, Uganda National Oil Company, and the Uganda National Environment Authority; and x) Additional budget consideration should be given to unfunded recruitment and technical monitoring tools required for the production of the first oil. Recommendations under Vote 019 i) The Government should increase predictable domestic financing for the operation and maintenance of rural water facilities, small pipe schemes, and rehabilitation of non-functional systems. Colleagues, this will help to remove the burden of repair of boreholes, spring wells, and small water schemes from members of Parliament; and ii) Counterpart funding for strategic towns and other schemes for water production should be protected from disruption during the financial year. Additional resources should be mobilised to narrow the Shs 361 billion financing gap, which threatens universal safe water, climate-resilient, and ecosystem targets.

18656 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 districts, towns, industrial parks, institutions, and the host communities already identified in the official submissions. The committee, therefore, urges the House to support stronger financing for frontline delivery, closer tracking of implementation by location and sharper accountability for agencies and Votes whose budget commitments affect electricity, water, environment, and petroleum governance across the country. Madam Speaker, I beg to submit. (Applause)

18665 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 sharp increase reflects the Government’s priority to accelerate industrialisation and job creation through industrial parks and investment promotion. The main drivers of the increase are: i) External financing; an increase of Shs 281.03 billion, from Shs 90.97 billion to Shs 372 billion, primarily to finance the development of industrial parks; and ii) Government of Uganda development; an increase of Shs 44.9 billion, from Shs 217.97 billion to Shs 262.9 billion to support infrastructure development at Mbale Industrial Park and institutional strengthening of the UIA, including systems, governance, and investor facilitation. Vote 141: Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) The proposed budget for URA in Financial Year 2026/2027 is Shs 917.3 billion, an increase of Shs 40.1 billion from Shs 877.2 billion in Financial Year 2025/2026. The entire increase is on the non-wage recurrent budget. The proposed budget comprises Shs 400.2 billion for wage, Shs 452.3 billion for non-wage recurrent, and Shs 64.7 billion for Government of Uganda development. Refer to Annex 2. These resources are geared towards supporting the URA in implementing the successor Domestic Revenue Mobilisation (DRM) Strategy - meaning what is going out because this one is expiring, so we look at the new strategy of the DRM - and improving taxpayer education and compliance management. Vote 143: Uganda Bureau of Statistics The proposed budget for UBOS in FY 2026- 2027 is Shs 148.4 billion, an increase of Shs 14 billion from Shs 134.3 billion in FY 2025- 2026. The increase is driven by Government development, a Shs 23 billion increase despite a reduction in non-wage recurrent of Shs 8.8 billion. The budget comprises Shs 23.2 billion for wage, Shs 83.8 billion for non- wage recurrent, and Shs 41.3 billion for the Government of Uganda development. The additional development resources will support the construction of Statistics House in Entebbe and investment in modern statistical infrastructure, which are expected to improve data production, dissemination and coordination of the National Statistical System. Vote 153: Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets (PPDA) The proposed budget for PPDA for the FY 2026-2027 is Shs 33.3 billion, an increase of Shs 3.5 billion from Shs 29.8 billion in the Financial Year 2025-2026. The increase comprises Shs 2 billion on wage and Shs 1.5 billion on non-wage recurrent. The budget comprises Shs 16.5 billion for wage, Shs 15.5 billion for non-wage recurrent and Shs 1.29 billion for the Government of Uganda development. Refer to the attached annex. Vote 163: Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA) The proposed budget for URBRA in the Financial Year 2026-2027 is Shs 18.7 billion, an increase of Shs 4.4 billion from Shs 14.3 billion in the Financial Year 2025-2026. The increase is mainly on non-wage recurrent expenses by Shs 4.34 billion. The budget comprises Shs 7.8 billion for wage, Shs 10.1 billion for non- wage recurrent, and Shs 0.72 billion for the Government of Uganda development, plus Shs 0.057 billion in arrears. This allocation is intended to strengthen URBRA’s capacity to regulate the retirement benefits scheme, safeguard members’ savings and deepen coverage for the formal and informal sectors. Honourable colleagues, I have covered all the Votes. Suffice it to say that it is, therefore, prudent that we go straight to the observations of the committee Vote by Vote.

18667 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 c) provides a framework for using a portion of the gaming revenue to finance prevention and rehabilitation programmes. Vote 131: Office of the Auditor-General The committee recommends that: 1. The Office of the Auditor-General be provided with an additional Shs 8.05 billion in the Financial Year 2026-2027, specifically earmarked for strengthening audit coverage in emerging and high-risk areas; 2. The Office of the Auditor-General should be provided with an additional Shs 2.2 billion to conduct an impact assessment and perception survey; and 3. The Finance Ministry, together with OAG, develop a multi-year resource plan that aligns audit coverage with the size, complexity and risk profile of Government operations. Under the Office of the Auditor-General, the committee observed that there are inadequate staff numbers and delayed implementation of manpower plans. Therefore, the committee recommends that the OAG be provided with an addition of Shs 39.99 billion over the medium term to progressively implement its manpower plan, prioritising critical technical and support positions. Recruitment and retention strategies, including competitive remuneration and professional development programs, should be strengthened to attract and retain high-calibre audit professionals. Honourable colleagues, we also noted, as a committee, that there is an insufficient and aging motor vehicle fleet under the OAG. Therefore, the committee recommends that the OAG be provided with Shs 5 billion in the Financial Year 2026-2027 to replace its most critical aging vehicles and ensure reliable transport for field audits. Two, a phased vehicle replacement plan should be agreed upon between the OAG and the finance ministry to avoid future accumulation of obsolete assets and ensure cost-effective fleet management. Under Vote 138: Uganda Investment Authority, the committee recommends as follows: i) That the Government strengthens its project preparation and appraisal framework so that only projects with adequate readiness, land acquired, key approval secured, design completed, and implementation arrangements in place, are submitted for external financing; ii) The Ministry of Finance and Uganda Investment Authority, in collaboration with the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Ministry of Works and Transport and other relevant agencies, develop and implement a clear, time- bound road map to resolve all outstanding bottlenecks and fast-track completion of the Namanve project; and iii) Lessons learnt from the Namanve project be formally documented and integrated into the public investment management guidelines to minimise recurrence of similar delays in future industrial park and infrastructure projects. In conclusion, the Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development appreciates that the institutions under its jurisdiction are critical for achieving Uganda’s socio-economic transformation agenda, including the Fourth National Development Plan (NDPIV) and the Ten-fold Growth Strategy. However, prolonged capacity constraints and implementation bottlenecks continue to undermine their effectiveness. Therefore, the committee is of the considered view that the budget strategy for the Financial Year 2026/2027 will be realised if the identified challenges are addressed and the above recommendations are implemented. In light of the foregoing, it is the prayer of this committee that this House adopts this report and

18691 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 16 APRIL 2026 Budget Allocation It is in the main report, on pages 26 to 32. Budget Allocation for Financial Year 2026/2027 Vote 006: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Proposed budget for the Financial Year 2026/2027 The proposed budget for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Financial Year 2026/2027 is Shs 79.192 billion, including arrears. This reflects a 16 per cent increase, compared to the current financial year. The budget will support six development programs. Members can read the details of the report. Observations 1. The wage category The ministry’s wage allocation for Financial Year 2026/2027 is Shs 20.681 billion, representing a substantial increase of Uganda Shs 6.563 billion from Financial Year 2025/2026. This increment is to support salary enhancements for selected staff as well as the recruitment of 31 new staff members on a replacement basis. 2. The non-wage category, the non-wage budget is Shs 40.497 billion in this coming Financial Year 2026/2027, reflecting 23 per cent increase. This increase is intended to bolster operational capacity and support the ministry’s mandate. Additionally, only Shs 1.448 billion has been allocated for the accumulated Shs 90.231 billion to clear arrears related to contributions to international organisations. 3. Government of Uganda Development Budget The ministry’s development allocation is Shs 14.744 billion in the coming financial year, representing a significant increase of 76 per cent from the current financial year. The Breakdown i) Shs 14.190 billion is earmarked for land purchase to extend the ministry’s headquarters. The valuation report, when you look at Annex 6, the report is uploaded, and you will see the details; and ii) The remaining development funds will support retooling efforts, including Shs 381 million for light ICT equipment and Shs 0.172 billion for furniture and fittings. External financing The ministry has been allocated Shs 1.822 billion to coordinate the Northern Corridor integration projects. Planned activities include organising and participating in various summits, cluster meetings, field visits and infrastructure coordination efforts. Vote 501-538: Missions Abroad - 38 missions The proposed budget for the Financial Year 2026/2027 is well contained in pages 33 to 35. The proposed aggregated budget for Missions Abroad for the Financial Year 2026/2027 is Shs 442.493 billion, representing a 9.56 increase, compared to the current financial year. The budget will support development programmes that are highlighted from A to H. Honourable colleagues can read on pages 33 to 35. Observation Under the wage component, the overall wage budget is projected to increase primarily due to additional allocation for Missions in New York (Shs 995 million), Tehran (Shs 357 million), Doha (Shs 172 million), and Berlin (Shs 249 million). The increments are to support the recruitment of new local staff and address wage shortfalls. Under the non-wage category, the total budget is projected to increase by 2.54 per cent, amounting to Shs 7.920 billion from Shs 303.295 billion in the Financial Year 2025/2026 to Shs 311.215 billion in the Financial Year 2026/2027. Fifteen missions have received additional funding, while

18710 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 Vote 001: Office of the President Recurrent expenditure - Shs 368,225,930,000. Development expenditure - Shs 20,124,000,000. Vote 002: State House Budget item Recurrent expenditure - Shs 453,463,715,000. Development expenditure - Shs 27,772,000,000. Vote 003: Office of the Prime Minister Budget item Recurrent expenditure - Shs 248,940,000,000. Development expenditure - Shs 167,960,000,000. Vote 023: Ministry of KCCA and MA Budget item Recurrent expenditure - Shs 10,457,000,000. Development expenditure - Shs 313,265,000,000. Vote 107: Uganda AIDS Commission Recurrent expenditure, Shs 25,936,453,000. Development expenditure - Shs 557,000,000. Vote 110: Uganda Industrial Research Institute Recurrent expenditure - Shs 22,506,660,000. Development expenditure - Shs 2,893,060,000. Vote 112: Ethics and Integrity Recurrent expenditure – Shs 15,659,957,000. Development expenditure – Shs 64,770,000. Vote 122: Kampala Capital City Authority Recurrent expenditure – Shs 331,950,000,000. Development expenditure - Shs 517,391,000,000. Vote 158: Internal Security Organisation Recurrent expenditure – Shs 297,897,000,000. Development expenditure – Shs 55,241,000,000 Vote 159: External Security Organisation Recurrent expenditure – Shs 126,612,000,000. Development expenditure - Shs 15,702,000,000. Vote 167: Science, Technology and Innovation Recurrent expenditure – She 519,334,000,000. Development expenditure – Shs 76,998,000,000.

18555 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 15 APRIL 2026 ii) Secondly, we learned that emphasis on tangible outcomes and accountability - there is a growing recognition that the continental engagements must move beyond political declarations toward concrete, measurable outcomes, effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting mechanisms are essential to ensure that commitments made at the Pan-African Parliament and related forums translate into actionable national and regional policies. iii) Value for continental coordination - deliberations on frameworks such as the European Union (EU) Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and the AU- EU Summit preparations illustrated the importance of a unified African stance in global negotiations. Coordinated approaches enhance bargaining power, prevent policy fragmentation, and ensure that continental priorities are coherently advanced and at international platforms. iv) Youth inclusion as a driver of innovation and governance. Engagements such as the Youth Day Conference and the P20 Young Parliamentarians Forum reaffirmed the critical role of youth in governance, innovation, and policymaking. Investing in youth leadership, capacity building, and mentorship ensures continuity in democratic governance and brings fresh perspectives to development challenges. v) Harnessing technology and digital transformation was another lesson learned. The discussion on digital innovation and Artificial Intelligence (AI) highlighted the need for African parliaments to embrace technological tools to improve governance, transparency, and service delivery. Strengthening digital literacy, data protection, and AI governance frameworks will position Africa to benefit from the fourth industrial revolution. vi) Integrating justice, equity and reparations into development policy. The African Union’s (AU) 2024 theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations”, underscored the need for justice and equity to underpin all development efforts. Legislators must promote frameworks that address historical injustices, social inequalities, and systemic barriers to inclusive development. vii) Holistic and integrated approach to sustainable development - committee discussions revealed that sustainable development cannot be achieved through sectoral silos. Issues such as agriculture, energy, industry, health, and human rights are interconnected and must be addressed through coordinated policy frameworks that align with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the PAP strategic plan. viii) Multi-stakeholder engagement enhances policy relevance was also covered. The participation of civil society, the academia, AU Institutions, and international partners enriches parliamentary deliberations. Such inclusion engagement ensures that policymaking is evidence- based, participatory, and reflective of diverse stakeholder preparation, thereby increasing legitimacy and impact. ix) Institutional strengthening of the Pan- African Parliament. The sitting reaffirmed PAP’s central role in promoting continental integration, harmonising legislation and advancing citizen-centred governance. Continued institutional capacity building and enhanced coordination with national parliaments will strengthen PAP’s effectiveness in influencing continental policy agendas. x) Continuous learning and exchange of best practices. High-level engagements such as the AI Governance workshop, ASGAP annual meeting, and the Conference of Speakers provided valuable platforms for experience sharing and peer learning. These exchanges encouraged innovation in parliamentary practice, legislative

18570 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 The committee noted that the Government, in its legislative agenda for the Fourth and Fifth Sessions of the 11 th Parliament, committed to tabling the following Bills for the First Reading: (a) The Trade Remedies Bi11, 2024; (b) The Consumer Protection Bill, 2024; (c) The Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill; (d) The Scientific Metrology Bill, 2024; (e) The Start-Up Bill, 2024; (f) The Accreditation (Amendment) Bill; (g) The Scrap Recycling Bill; (h) The Legal Metrology Bill,2024; (i) The Industrial Licensing (Amendment) Bill; (j) The Tobacco Control and Marketing (Amendment) Bill; and (k) The Confederation of the Uganda Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bill, 2024. The committee, however, observed that the legislative agenda was affected by financing in the budgets for the Financial Year 2024/2025 and Financial Year 2025/2026, even after Parliament had recommended that the Ministry for Trade be availed Shs 3 billion to operationalise the Accreditation Services Act and the Sugar Act, in addition to the proposed Bills. The committee was informed that the ministry for trade was engaging the ministry for finance to provide additional funds to fast-track the tabling of the following Bills before Parliament that are at the various stages: (a) The Consumer Protection Bill, 2024 – the ministry for trade has requested for a Certificate of Financial Implications from the ministry for finance. (b) The Trade Remedies, Tobacco Control and Marketing (Amendment) Bill and the Confederation of the Uganda Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bill, 2024 are awaiting approval of their principles by Cabinet. (c) The Scientific Metrology Bi11, 2024 and the Legal Metrology Bill, 2024 – UNBS received the first drafts from the First Parliamentary Counsel for review and stakeholders’ input. Resubmission is planned for May 2026. (d) The Industrial Licensing (Amendment) Bill – the ministry for trade has completed the Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) and is finalising the detailed statement of financial implications. (e) The Scrap Recycling Bill – the ministry for trade realised that within the existing laws, scrap could be regulated. So, the ministry developed the trade licensing regulations for scrap. (f) The Accreditation Regulations to the Accreditation Services Act, Cap. 194 were developed and the ministry for trade is consulting with the Attorney-General to confirm whether the same regulations are in line with the Accreditation Services Act. Recommendations of the committee (1) The Government allocates funds to operationalise the Accreditation Services Act, Cap. 194 and the Sugar (Amendment) Act, 2025; and (2) The Government fast-tracks the tabling of the aforementioned proposed Bills before Parliament for processing. Key issues that needed to be addressed The committee noted that the following key policy issues that were to be addressed in the budget of Financial Year 2025/2026 are, to date, still pending: (1) Multiple legislations governing cooperatives. (2) The repeal of the Industrial Licensing Act, Cap. 73 to align with international standards and eliminate outdated provisions, enhance regulatory efficiency, and promote industrial and scientific innovation. (3) The review of the National Trade Policy – the committee was informed by the ministry that this was done and awaits Cabinet approval.

18571 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 15 APRIL 2026 (4) The completion of the Wood and Furniture Industrial Strategy, the National Startup Strategy, the Parish Development Model (PDM) Marketing Strategy, and Regulatory Impact Assessment for Start-Up Bills. The committee recommends that the ministry expeditiously address the aforementioned key policy issues. The committee further recommends that the Government harmonises and consolidates the Microfinance Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, Cap. 58, the Tier Four Microfinance Institutions and Money Lenders Act, Cap. 61, and the Cooperatives Act, Cap. 107 into one law for harmonised regulation of the cooperative sub- sector. The other issue is the need to adequately fund trade negotiations. Madam Speaker, I will go straight to our recommendations. The committee recommends that Government allocates an additional Shs 1.8 billion to the trade ministry to facilitate deployment of trade attachés in all the four key markets of World Trade Organisation, COMESA, China, and India. On stalled projects under the Uganda Warehouse Receipt System, the committee recommends that the ministry for trade expedites the establishment of the Warehouse Receipt Systems Project given the ongoing decline in value of the warehouse facilities. The committee further recommends that the trade ministry should continue collaboration with development partners to secure alternative funding and ensure swift project implementation. On the establishment of a trade house, Madam Speaker, the committee recommends that Shs 15 billion earmarked for construction of the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) home in the Budget for the Financial Year 2026/2027 be utilised to construct a trade house that will accommodate the ministry for trade, UDC, and all other agencies under the ministry in order to enhance efficiency of limited resources. Two, that the ministry for trade enters a Memorandum of Understanding with UDC in regard to the land that UDC has already secured for construction of the UDC home, to ensure that the two government institutions agree on modalities of establishing a trade house. On delayed implementation of the industrial parks project phase II, the committee recommends that Government, through the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MOFPED), should ensure that counterpart funding obligations are given priority in respective programme ceilings since MOFPED confirms availability of counterpart funding prior to the approval of any loans. The committee further recommends that Government seeks external financing only for projects that are ready for implementation. This will help avoid unnecessary commitment fees from undisbursed loans and ensure funds are used efficiently. On the review of the UDC investment strategy, the committee recommends that UDC reviews its strategy to take into consideration return on investments as one of the key principles in order to free capital for beneficiary companies to also continue benefiting others. Vote 154 - Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) On the issue of recruitment of additional staff, Madam Speaker, the committee recommends that Government prioritises additional funding to UNBS over the medium term to cater for recruitment of additional staff in a phased manner. On sensitisation of harmful products, the committee recommends that UNBS devises better means of awareness creation and sensitisation of the general public on certified products, in addition to the use of its website.

18572 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 The committee further recommends that UNBS should quickly inform the general public of any harmful products that may be in circulation. Vote 110 -Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) On the matter of full operationalisation of Namanve campus, the committee recommends that Government provides Shs 6.2 billion to UIRI for acquisition of additional machinery in the short to medium term. Vote 168 - Uganda Free Zones and Exports Promotions Authority (UFZEPA) On the matter of high litigation expenses, the committee recommends that UFZEPA seeks the services of the Attorney-General in some of its legal matters to reduce on its expenditure on externally outsourced law firms. Votes 601-935 - Local Governments On the need to scale up transitional trade and industry development grants to local governments, the committee reiterates its earlier recommendation that MOFPED sensitise all local governments on the procedures for accessing the transitional development trade and industry grant to enable other qualifying local governments to benefit from the same. The committee further recommends that the budget for the transitional development trade and industry grant be increased to cater for more local governments. Madam Speaker, we will proceed straight to the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife, and Antiquities Ministerial Policy Statements for the Financial Year 2026/2027. Vote 022 - Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities On the matter of inadequate funding to the tourism development programme, the committee recommends that Government adequately funds the tourism development programme for it to contribute to the Ten-fold Growth Strategy and Double-Digit Growth by the end of the National Development Plan IV (NDPIV). The committee further recommends that the Government should explore various means of funding the Mount Elgon Tourism Infrastructure Development Project. On the matter of funding for review of programme policies and regulatory framework, the committee recommends that Government allocates an additional Shs 2 billion to the ministry for tourism to enable the review of the policy and regulatory framework of the Tourism Development Programme. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Madam Speaker, regarding the issue of accountability of local governments on UWA revenues shared, the committee recommends that Uganda Wildlife Authority expedites the process of reviewing the regulatory framework for wildlife conservation, which is to also address the revenue sharing programme. On the absence of governing councils or boards in Uganda Wildlife Research Training School and the Hotel Tourism Training College (HTTC), the committee recommends that the Ministry of Education and Sports expedites the process of developing the regulations for operationalising the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Act to aid the appointments to the governing councils. The committee further recommends that Government should amend the TVET Act to include professionals in the tourism, hospitality and wildlife research, to take into consideration representation of the college’s interests. Vote 117 - Uganda Tourism Board (UTB) On the need to eliminate the cost of hiring law firms, the committee recommends that Uganda Tourism Board seeks for the services of the Attorney-General in some of its legal matters to reduce on its expenditure on externally outsourced law firms.

18573 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 15 APRIL 2026 Votes 601-935 - Local Governments On the need for a formula for the tourism development grants in local government, the committee observed that local governments are essential in advancing and maintaining cultural and domestic tourism across different regions of Uganda. We recommend that the ministry for tourism, together with the ministry for finance, establish a transparent selection criterion for identifying which local governments should receive tourism development grants during each financial year. The committee recommends that Government, through the ministry for finance, increases the non-wage tourism development grants allocation so that each local government receives more than Shs 10.795 million annually. This increase will support more efficient tourism initiatives and boost local economies and cultural preservation. Madam Speaker, the committee considered the Ministerial Policy Statements and Budget Estimates for the Financial Year 2026/2027 of the Ministry of Trade, Industries and Commerce and the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, and recommends that this report be adopted with the following amounts of money allocated to various Votes as indicated in the table below. Madam Speaker, on Vote 015 - Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives: the recurrent expenditure is Shs 500,700,097,000. The development expenditure is Shs 14,260,000,000. The total for Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives is Shs 514,960,097,000. On Vote 110 - Uganda Industrial Research Institute: The recurrent expenditure is Shs 22,524,910,000. Development expenditure is Shs 2,893,060,000. The total is Shs 25,417,970,000. On Vote 154 - Uganda National Bureau of Standards: the recurrent expenditure is Shs 82,425,598,000. The development budget is Shs 48,190,000,000 and the total is Shs 130,615,599,000. On Vote 168 - Uganda Free Zones and Exports Promotions Authority: the recurrent is Shs 36,565,570,000. The development budget is Shs 7,360,000,000. The total is Shs 43,925,570,000. On Vote 022 - Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities: the recurrent is Shs 349,292,825,000. The development budget is Shs 71,816,000,000 and the total is Shs 421,108,825,000. On Vote 117 - Uganda Tourism Board: recurrent is Shs 93,180,791,000. The total there is Shs 96,223,971,000. On Vote 607 - Local Governments, Trade and Industry Grants: the total is Shs 8,482,225,000. Finally, on Vote 605 - Local Governments, Tourism Development Grants: the total is Shs 11,400,000,000. Madam Speaker, I beg to report.

18575 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 15 APRIL 2026 people with a medical background and other specialties working for them, or will they just rely on people from NDA on that point so that we do not have double recruitment? We can borrow the speciality from NDA but have some permanent medical staff also in UNBS. On the issue of industrial parks, we have noticed that investment, at the moment, is not widely spread across the country. You find most of the investment along the Kampala- Jinja Road and now stretching up to the Mbale corridor, leaving the rest of the country untapped properly. For example, an area like the West Nile has a population of almost 4.5 million people without any industrial park. We did have an industrial park in Nebbi that is in -

Hon. Isaac, that is in plan. Government is going to make sure that the industrial parks are all over the areas that have been identified. Let us look at priorities. As I said before, let us not look at unfunded priorities. For now, let us look at what we have in the pocket and what we can spend. We will move from one sub region to another. Not so, Prime Minister?

It is just that the industrial park I am talking about was commissioned about three years ago but nothing has been done. I have not heard of a report regarding feasibility studies done. Are we just opening these industrial parks and leaving them there? On the issue of the Uganda Tourism Board, I feel -

18597 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 15 APRIL 2026 ii) Implementation of the national addressing and postcode system, for which the districts in Central Uganda have already been mapped; iii) Refurbishment and equipping of Post Office buildings to establish one-stop centres for the delivery of government services; iv) Strengthen cybersecurity resilience and data protection privacy; v) Extension of free-to-air TV signals to unserved and underserved areas across the country; vi) The ministry is also focusing on establishing a Fourth Industrial Revolution-compliant laboratory, and lastly vii) Acquisition of equipment for the broadcast of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Table 2 shows the allocation for the ministry. The first two columns show the budget for this current financial year, and then the third column shows the proposal for Financial Year 2026/2027. Overall, the ministry’s allocation is Shs 152.97 billion. This is an increase of Shs 27.83 billion, which means the ministry budget allocation has increased by 22.2 per cent. This exceeds the NDP target, so we should naturally expect this ministry to perform well. This section covers the allocations. Now, the committee observed that the budget allocation to the ministry has increased by Shs 27.83 billion, an increment of 22 per cent from Financial Year 2025/2026 to Financial Year 2026/2027. The increment is on account of an increase in the development budget under the Government of Uganda, domestic, to cater for infrastructure development, with an allocation of Shs 10 billion to the Uganda Institute of Communication Technology for the upgrade of lecture rooms to smart lecture rooms and virtual laboratory rooms, as well as wage provisions. The Government has also provided the ministry with Shs 6 billion, which is prioritised for the rollout of the Government Digital Register to store all the Government application systems. Now, I want to talk about vote-specific issues. Vote 126 - National Information Technology Authority, NITA-U NITA-U, under the RAPEX policy, you are aware that it has been rationalised and is given only a three-year period to complete the ongoing ICT infrastructure extension projects, including the National Backbone Infrastructure and the last mile connectivity, with funding from UDAP-GAV-Net and the Exim Bank of China. NITA-U plays a central role in the digitalisation of Government operations and is equally responsible for maintaining, regulating, and enforcing standards for information technology, both hardware and software. This is achieved through technical advice to the Government on all matters related to information technology, development, utilisation, and deployment. These functions will soon move to the ministry. 6.1.0 Budget performance for the half year The approved NITA-U annual budget for the Financial Year 2025/2026 is Shs 463.575 billion, comprising Shs 81.2 billion from the Government of Uganda and Shs 382.378 billion in external funding. The budget released for the first half of the financial year was Shs 141.012 billion, representing 50.7 per cent of the approved budget. Shs 83.729 billion was spent, translating into a performance of 59.4 per cent as shown in the table below. The low absorption is mainly attributed to lengthy consultative and approval processes by the World Bank for the externally sourced funds. We can look at the table. If you see the table, the release is Shs 141 billion, and the spent is Shs 83.7 billion, which is 50.7 per cent. The committee noted the following achievements from NITA-U.

18598 CONSIDERATION OF THE BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2026/2027 i) Maintenance of NBI infrastructure measuring 4,387 kilo metres length across 57 districts; ii) Installation of 3,931 concrete poles along eight NBI routes in Eastern, Central, Northern, and Western regions under phase four of the UDAP project; iii) Delivery and installation of NBI transport network equipment at 30 transmission sites with the power systems, which have boosted capacity for 40G to 100G at the core rings; iv) Upgraded the capacity of 63 IPS hubs across the country from 1 gigabyte to 10 gigabytes; and v) Enhancement of e-government services through automation, strengthening of cybersecurity, and data protection and privacy. Challenges the entity has experienced i. Inadequate staff to fully execute the mandate of the agency in the limited timeframe following the RAPEX process; and ii. The lengthy consultative and approval processes for the disbursement of funds constrain the timely delivery of services. Table 4 is about the budget for the Financial Year 2026/2027. As you see in the table, the overall budget for this financial year is Shs 344.83 billion. The proposed budget for wages is Shs 11.92 billion. Non-wage is Shs 35.6 billion. The recurrent expenditure is Shs 47.6 billion, and the Government’s development funds will be only Shs 0.02 billion. NITA-U’s funding has been from external sources. External financing for development programmes will be Shs 297.2 billion; total Government funding for NITA-U will be Shs 47.63 billion; and the total Government plus external funding will be Shs 344.83 billion. Arrears for the institution amount to Shs 15 billion, and the entity’s total budget is Shs 359.8 billion. There is no appropriation for the institution’s aid. The committee observed that the proposed budget allocation for the vote is projected to decrease from Shs 463.575 billion approved for the Financial Year 2025/2026 to Shs 344.83 billion for the next financial year, representing a 25.6 per cent reduction in the budget estimate. This is attributed to the significant decrease in the Government’s development budget from Shs 40 billion to Shs 20 million. The institution will receive only Shs 20 million from the Government for development. On the other hand, the wage component of the vote has marginally increased by 15 per cent due to payroll validation, as guided by the Ministry of Public Service. The authority intends to undertake the following during the financial year. The key activities of NITA-U in 2026/2027 will include; i. Extension of the National Backbone Infrastructure connecting MDAs, Local Governments and Priority User Groups to cover an additional 1,700 kilometres, resulting in a total length of 7,387 kilometres. This is the network the institution wants to cover. Madam Speaker, allow me to speak briefly on subventions under the Ministry of ICT. I want to start with the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC). I believe this will be important for us because of UBC’s role in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON). Uganda Broadcasting Corporation was established - this is just a preamble. Let me talk about the budget. UBC budget performance for the first half of Financial Year 2025/2026 i. The committee observed that the corporation has an approved budget of Shs 39.82 billion, of which Shs 16.45 billion was an Appropriation in Aid (AIA) and the remainder was the subvention from the

Madam Speaker, as you recall, during the parliamentary sitting held on 26 March 2026, the issue of sugarcane weighbridges was raised. You directed that we consult further with sugarcane stakeholders, farmers and millers to resolve the pending issues related to weighbridges. Before I present the report, allow me to brief the House on the current status of the sugar industry. A contribution of the sugar industry in Uganda The sugar industry is one of Uganda’s key agro-industrial sectors today, contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment, and exports. i) Size and output: Uganda currently produces about 650,000 to 700,000 metric tonnes of sugar per year, with roughly 450,000 tonnes consumed domestically and 200,000 to 250,000 tonnes exported, making Uganda a net exporter of sugar in the East African Community. ii) Fourteen sugar factories are operational, crushing around eight million tonnes of sugarcane annually, most of which is sourced from outgrowers. iii) The sugar industry contributes 5 per cent of Uganda’s GDP and Shs 500 billion to our tax revenue on an annual basis. iv) Employment and livelihood: The sugar industry directly employs 50,000 people in factories alone, and provides indirect livelihood to several hundreds and thousands more, including outgrowers, transporters, traders and service providers. Categories of sugarcane farmers in Uganda’s sugar industry In Uganda’s sugar sector, farmers supplying sugarcane to millers are broadly categorised as follows; i) Aided or contracted outgrowers These farmers enter into formal or informal agreements with sugar millers under which they receive inputs such as seed cane, fertilisers, and sometimes credit or technical advice. In return, they are expected to supply cane to the contracting millers. ii) Unaided (independent) outgrowers These farmers grow sugarcane with their own resources and are not bound by strong input- support contracts. They can choose which mill to supply, based on the prevailing price and transport conditions, giving them greater market flexibility but often less access to credit and technical support. iii) Nucleus-estate farms These are sugarcane farm plantations owned by millers, as required by the Sugar Act. Madam Speaker, let me now turn to the main subject, which is the weighbridges. Consultations on weighbridges In Uganda’s sugar sector, weighbridges are critical for determining sugarcane volumes, settling payments and preventing theft, but they remain few in number and unevenly distributed. Most are located in key cane-growing districts

18520 THE FORENSIC AND SCIENTIFIC ANALYTICAL SERVICES BILL, 2025 Madam Speaker, I beg your indulgence, in three minutes, to summarise what I have laid. The Budget that I have just laid has been prepared under the theme, “Full Monetisation of Uganda’s Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Industrialisation, Expanding and Broadening Services, Digital Transformation and Market Access.” The projected total draft annual Budget for the Financial Year 2026/2027 is Shs 84,294,163,572,986 only. The Budget has been prepared in line with the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), the 10-fold growth strategy, and it will be the first budget to implement the next National Resistance Movement (NRM) Manifesto for the period 2026/2027 to 2030/2031. The budget has, accordingly, prioritised investment in agro-industrialisation, tourism development, mineral-based industrial development, and science, technology, and innovations, including Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the creative arts industry and the enablers (ATMS). Madam Speaker, under the ATMS, we have categorised the following in summary: Under agro-industrialisation, our focus is on agricultural research, inputs, irrigation, extension, value addition, post-harvest management, storage and enforcing quality standards for market access. On tourism development, we are aiming at promoting Uganda through branding, infrastructure upgrades, sanitation facilities, hospitality standards enforcement and investment in specialised facilities, including health tourism. On mineral-based development, our priorities are quantification, strengthening the Uganda National Mining Company, transparent markets, and projects like the East African Crude Oil Pipeline. On science, technology and innovations (STI), we propose to increase financing to support the commercialisation of STI products like the Kiira Motors Corporation, Dei BioPharma Ltd, coffee and banana; establishing a high-tech city, increasing research and development, affordable and reliable internet, digital government services and e-commerce, the promotion of business processing outsourcing, enforcing of the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act to protect intellectual property and artistic works. Madam Speaker, the enablers of these ATMS include: i) Peace, security, and rule of law; ii) Transport infrastructure, including roads, rail, air, and water transport; iii) Electricity; iv) Industrial-park development; and v) Human capital development – here we talk about education, health, water irrigation, environment, and wealth creation funds; that is, Parish Development Model, Uganda Development Bank (UDB), Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), and Emyooga . The key expenditure drivers for the Financial Year 2026/2027 Annual Budget include increased investment in key NDP IV flagship projects such as the standard gauge railway, the meter gauge railway, the Kampala-Jinja Expressway, the construction and maintenance of critical roads, and electricity for industrial parks, among others. The budget has also provided resources to support readiness activities for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 and enhancement of salaries for primary school teachers and Arts teachers in secondary schools and Business, Technical, Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) institutions. Madam Speaker, we have also proposed the tax policy measures amounting to Shs 1,741 billion to finance the budget. [Mr Musasizi] LAYING OF PAPERS

Thank you. The Votes involved are: i. Vote 15 – Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives; ii. Vote 110 – Uganda Industrial Research Institute; iii. Vote 154 – Uganda National Bureau of Standards; iv. Vote 168 – Uganda Free Zone and Export Promotions Authority; and v. Votes 601 to 935 – Local Governments. I beg to lay. Thank you.

18288 MOTION candidates ill-treated and so on, are critical concerns that have got to be addressed by this Parliament because people are still being abducted. Mr Speaker, on the eve of the election, colleagues, leaders in my political party: our deputy president in charge of Western Uganda, Ms Jolly Jacklyn Tukamushaba, a lady who is well known to you, was abducted. To date, her whereabouts are not known. Also, Ms Lina Zedriga, our deputy president in charge of the northern region, was abducted on election eve and to date, her whereabouts are not known. A gentleman called John Mary Ssebuufu, a councillor, and several others - Mr Speaker, the challenge about these issues is that we keep raising them, and some colleagues say, “but you are pestering us.” Yes, we shall pester you using this platform that we have. It is unacceptable that people get abducted and their whereabouts are not known for one day, for a week; it is now coming to two weeks. Why can’t people be produced in courts? The Government needs to help us understand this. I am not above the law, and no one is. I can be suspected of having committed an offense but what does the law say? Arrest me vis-a-vis the law and produce me in a court of law. Mr Speaker, when you hold me somewhere, and my family cannot access me, lawyers cannot access me - what do you want us to do? What do you want people to do? When we complain about these issues, some people think we are being too much. Perhaps, until it happens to you - and it has happened to colleagues by the way across the aisle - these are critical issues. First detach the political affiliation and whatever you think is the reason for this person’s arrest. Can the law prevail? These concerns have got to be addressed. Mr Speaker, hundreds of people were arrested, including polling agents; people are being held in police cells for more than the 48 hours that are allowed by the law. That is not proper. When we raise these issues, let us address them as people’s representatives. Forget that you are a member of the National Unity Platform(NUP)or the National Resistance Movement (NRM) because it can happen to any of us. These foundational principles have got to be respected and fought for by all of us in this room. Mr Speaker, I can see the good doctor - the ICT minister is here with us. My party leader, Hon. Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert, who is an OB of this House, after the election, had his house raided. He managed to sneak away but I kept seeing the military and the ICT minister here saying, “No one is after him.” However, as they were saying that, the military continuously descended on his home; raided it, broke into it, beat up his wife and family members. The following day, the minister and other dignitaries were saying that no one is after this man. Just like I have made it succinctly clear thus: “Look, no one is above the law.” Mr Speaker, if there is an offense that the Hon. Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert is suspected of having committed, whether it be running for president - some people think it is an offense to challenge the bush war General and so it is an offense - whatever offense it is, why not issue summons to him so that he is able to show up and be charged? Mr Speaker, after the minister again said that no, all is well, people can access – but when his siblings went there yesterday, police officers, several of them deployed there said, “we do not have authority to allow anybody to access his place.” I want to know: is it official that Hon. Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert is under House arrest and for that matter, people cannot access his family and that it shall continue this way? Why are you not summoning him if there is a particular offense that he has committed? Mr Speaker, let us forget that this is the leader of the NUP, which you might not like; that is okay, and keep to the point that this is a Ugandan; this is a leader for all intents and purposes. Why is the law operating this way? COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR [Mr Ssenyonyi]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Allow me to congratulate the honourable colleagues. Although many of us came in different ways - others came through the door and others through the window - all the same, I congratulate everyone. ( Laughter) The clarification I would like to seek from the honourable minister is that the Leader of the Opposition raised a very important concern about the NUP vice-chairperson for northern Uganda, who disappeared. The family is looking for her. What we are interested in knowing is where she is. Where have you detained her, and what charges were preferred against her? Right now, many people are disappearing. Be straight to the point and tell us where those who are lost are. That is where we want to go. Thank you.

18299 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 JANUARY 2026 Mr Speaker, the 2026/2027 financial year is the second year of implementing the National Development Plan IV (NDP IV). This is the first plan to deliver the 10-fold growth strategy of expanding the size of the economy to a GDP of $500 billion by 2040. It is also the first fiscal year of implementation of the NRM Manifesto 2026–2031, and the Charter of Fiscal Responsibility for financial years 2026/2027 to 2030/2031. Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Budget Framework Paper has been prepared in line with the NDP IV priorities approved by this House and the NRM Manifesto 2026–2031. Mr Speaker, briefly, I wish to state that the economy is projected to grow between 6.5 and 7 per cent. For the year ended December 2025, economic activity, as per the perceptions of doing business in Uganda, continued to strengthen. Inflation stood at 3.1 per cent, below the policy target of 5 per cent. The exchange rate remained stable and strong against major currencies, such as the US dollar. At the end of November 2025, exports of goods reached $12.79 billion, with Uganda registering a balance of payments surplus of $2.37 billion, from a deficit of $683 million the previous year. Foreign direct investm ent increased to $3.5 billion for the year ended 31 October 2025, while portfolio inflows stood at $1.7 billion for the same year. Tourism earnings reached $1.7 billion, while remittances from Ugandans abroad totaled $1.6 billion, up from $1.1 billion, in the financial year 2020/2021. Mr Speaker, in the next financial year, Uganda’s economy is expected to grow by 10.4 per cent. The GDP is expected to increase to Shs 290.2 trillion, an equivalent of $76.7 billion, from Shs 251.450 trillion, which is equivalent to $68 billion this financial year. This double-digit growth will be supported by the commencement of commercial oil and gas production; strategic government initiatives, including PDM and Emyooga, and infrastructure investments; increasing foreign direct investment, especially in extractive industries; agro-processing; peace and security; and political stability. It will also be supported by continued strong export growth and a stable macroeconomic environment favorable to private-sector growth and profitability. Mr Speaker, the preliminary resource envelope for the Financial Year 2026/2027 amounts to Shs 69.399 trillion. This comprises domestic resources, both tax and non-tax revenue, grants, and borrowing. Mr Speaker, briefly, the key investment priorities for Financial Year 2026–2027 include maintaining peace, security, and rule of law; human capital development including provision of health care, delivery of free universal education, water for human consumption and production, and social protection; monetization of the economy through wealth creation initiatives that contribute to lowering the cost of money like PDM, Emyooga , UDB, and UDC, among others. Other priorities include infrastructure development with a focus on the standard gauge railway, the meter gauge, road maintenance both paved and unpaved, affordable electricity, water, and ICT; strengthening regional integration to guarantee market access; irrigation to stabilise agriculture; industrial parks for manufacturing including agro-processing; eliminating corruption; environmental conservation and the protection of wetlands and forests; and the vertical and horizontal integration of the economy. Mr Speaker, I wish to thank Parliament and the committees that have considered this Budget Framework Paper. We welcome all comments and commit to considering them at the next stage of this process, especially at the issuance of the second budget-call circular. I beg to move, Mr Speaker.

18314 MOTION year he repeats, you think the Government is working. Namagumba-Budadiri-Nalugugu Road Project. The progress of the project was at 4 per cent against a plan of 4.3 per cent. This one is still in its infancy. The North Eastern Road Corridor Asset Management Project. Maybe I do not have to read each and every project that is here, but you need Members to interact with these projects and I am saying in this minority report, as I try to conclude, that we borrow money to do projects for which we pay a lot of money in interest, but we never complete the work. Part of the reason is that there is no counterpart funding. Anyone who is sensible would not be contracting more loans when they do not have counter funding to finish the ones that they have undertaken. You will see there is one here for the private sector - I think I will stop with that one - which is project 22: Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment Project. The Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment is a collaborative programme between the Government of Uganda, represented by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Bank of Uganda, the private sector and development partners. We borrowed $218 million for this project. The idea was that the project would start in 2022 and end in 2027. However, due to delays in approval, the project effectiveness date was 13 November 2023 and the closing date is 31 January 2027. The project targeted 140,000 medium, small and macro enterprises and 120,000 refugees. Of these, at least 40,000 were expected to be women-led macro enterprises. The larger-sized firms will also benefit from the intervention. The overall project performance was poor, at approximately 0.3 per cent and significantly behind schedule. Even when you want to borrow money to help companies that are employing people, you do not utilise it and then you come to Parliament to say: “Can we borrow more?” I do not know, but maybe Hon. Musasizi enjoys the word “borrowing”. If he ever brings a report that does not have the word “borrowing”, he will feel very bad. You have the Electricity Access Scale-Up Project with the same problem. The upgrade of health centres II to III has the same problem; it is behind schedule. Money was borrowed for Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project, but the project is not making progress. I am saying in this report: do not allow them to borrow until they have completed and made progress on these ones, or else, you will be enlarging the list. You borrow money, you pay. When you look at the report on loans, you will discover that we pay commitment fees on money unutilised, which money we need to do other things that are being listed here -

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity. The Budget Framework Paper emphasised the issue of employment opportunities and the agro-industry. Mr Speaker, we talked about how our youth have gone to the Middle East to find work. They could have easily been absorbed into the industries established in Uganda. There are regions in Uganda where industries have not been built, yet people have given land for their construction. In West Nile, you will find that people have given land for industrial parks, and these lands have remained there for a long time unutilised. Since the Budget Framework Paper has discussed the issue of agro-industrialisation, I will request that action be taken to ensure industries are located in areas where industrial parks are gazetted so that our youth are employed in those areas. That could be the point at which we provide employment opportunities for our youth. Thank you very much.

18324 MOTION experience of the four years I have been here, honourable minister, you know. I have read and understood it, but we need clarification on education majorly. For example, the coding of primary schools. We have many parishes that do not have primary schools - many of them. Then, on issues of water, you find we have districts with town councils. Personally, Kween District has three town councils without water. They should actually be closed. Then, we have issues of power. This is a very serious issue. We have invested money in industrial skilling centres. We are now thinking about many other ways of creating jobs, like we talk about industrialisation. However, the issue of power - Even in the seed schools where we have invested money, you find we have computers, but we do not have power. We have health centre IIIs without power. For the last three years, we have been talking about power. We have gotten money from here, but Members, there is nothing like power in our areas. Therefore, I want to say - this is where I almost agree with Hon. Ssemujju. For example, when he talked about roads, we have the Kapchorwa- Suam Road. They are saying the road is complete, but there are many components that came with the road that are not complete - the town council roads. In my town council, that is Binyiny, we were given three kilometres of town council roads. They have only done one, and everybody is worried. They even prepared the roads that we had to be tarmacked. Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity. I, and even Members, would be happy if such things were clarified. Thank you.

18249 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 16 DECEMBER 2025 Lira. With this road, they will be in Lira in about two and a half hours, saving about four hours. It is, therefore, a very important road because Kayunga is strategically located in the middle of the country, and this is where the road is going to be found. Whereas it is going to benefit the people of Kayunga, the people who benefit most are the ones travelling to the northern region. At the moment, the road is very busy in terms of transporting sugarcane and other products. It is a very busy road, and we have been suffering for a very long time because the maintenance of this road has to be done after every two months if it is going to remain at the standard required for trucks to move in the current arrangement of a gravel road standard. Therefore, it is very important that we upgrade the standard of this road. We want to thank the Government for taking this decision. Mr Speaker, I believe that is enough justification for the construction of this road.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I stand here to support the motion. The southern part of Lake Kyoga lacks infrastructure to connect to the northern part of the lake. I am here to support it because this is one of the roads we have been advocating for in the physical infrastructure committee for the past 10 to 15 years. I am pleased that today this has reached what it is. Mr Speaker, additionally, the people of Serere – Kasilo – Kaberamaido and Kalaki will be beneficiaries of this project. It will improve the connectivity between the northern part and the southern part of Lake Kyoga. Needless to add, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should also look into adding a stop in Nakasongola to Galiraya, so that if you are coming from Masindi, you do not have to go to Kampala. You can connect from Masindi, Nakasongola, Kayunga, Isimba Dam, then to Kamuli, Kaliro, and finally to Pallisa. The other two roads that the minister for finance needs to look into are: Kamuli to Irundu and then Kaliro to Irundu. Once you do those roads on the southern part of Lake Kyoga, you would have improved the connectivity between the northern and the southern parts of the country. Definitely, with the ferries that are already operating and those that we are proposing to introduce on Lake Kyoga, you would reduce the time that we spend getting to Kampala. I could sleep in Kasilo and come here; within two hours, I would be in Kampala from Kasilo, rather than spending five hours. On that note, Mr Speaker, I stand here to support this loan for the construction of this road. Thank you.

Thank you, colleagues, for standing with the people of Bbale, Kayunga and Uganda on the need to upgrade this road. Mr Speaker, allow me to put forward only three matters. Much has been said about the same road, but I see it as a way to reduce traffic congestion in Kampala and on Bombo Road. Given Uganda’s geography, goods exported from the east to the West Nile and the north must pass through Kampala and the Bombo Road. When this road is paved and tarmacked, it will reduce all of that. It will benefit not only the people of Bbale but also the business community and Ugandans in the city. Mr Speaker, I also request that, after tarmacking this road, the Ministry of Works and Transport assess the connectivity from Bbale to Nakasongola, as this is how the objective of reducing the traffic jam can be achieved. This way, all vehicles from the east can branch off from the Nile Bridge to Jinja, Kayunga, Nakasongola and Masindi. Then, the entire burden of the traffic jam will have been reduced. Mr Speaker, for the good of the Members on the other side, this is a road that the NRM Government has promised for a long time to the people of Kayunga. For your information, President Museveni has, on three consecutive occasions while campaigning in Kayunga, promised this road. It is a debt owed by the Government to the people of Kayunga. By tarmacking it, you are paving the way to justify at least some reasonable action for the people of Kayunga. Mr Speaker, I would also like to remind Members about the safety — it is not just security but safety. The connectivity of northern to central Uganda is not only serving a security matter, but ensuring the safety of the people in transit, and the goods can easily move. Lastly, Mr Speaker, the Obote government had promised to tarmac this road; in fact, we have the Obote Memorial Portrait in Kayunga, in Hon. Amos Lugoloobi’s constituency. The Obote government aimed to tarmac this road and name it “Obote Road”. Now that Obote is not in government and he did work on this road, and Tebandeke Charles, on behalf of the people of Bbaale, has toiled a lot and moved - (Interjections) – Members, I even reached the extent of going to the bush and people misunderstood my action. I think the bush has got a lot of results. I am thinking that for any demand, maybe we should go to the bush. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I stand to appreciate the proposal and to enlighten the public that the request being laid on the Floor of Parliament is intended to serve as a connectivity link between Northern Uganda and the central region. Kayunga District is strategically located in the heart of Uganda. In light of the request being laid here, I hereby support it on behalf of the people of Bbale, Kayunga District, the central region, and the north for strategic purposes, development, and any other factor as may be outlined. Thank you so much. (Applause)

18220 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR Supporting the textile sector is important, but not through hurried subsidies, opaque transactions, and a sales arrangement that no one can reasonably verify. If the Government wants a national textile strategy, let it table one. This business of buying T-shirts for tailors using taxpayers’ money is not a strategy; it is a risk and Parliament must not approve it blindly. Agriculture arrears and the geography of favour Madam Speaker, tea seedlings arrears have become a permanent feature of supplementary budgets. Apple seedlings, also supplied on credit, have now joined the queue. This is a system where suppliers deliver for years without a budget and expect Parliament to clear arrears at the end of each financial year. It is not sustainable. Worse still, the same districts benefit repeatedly. Some parts of Western Uganda appear almost every year in the ministry of agriculture submissions. Meanwhile, farmers in Northern Uganda have no tea nurseries, no larger scale seedling support programmes, and no agro-industrial facilities. Equity has become rhetoric rather than practical. Electoral Commission and the mystery of new polling stations The Electoral Commission is seeking more than Shs 460 billion for ballot papers, biometric systems and the creation of new polling stations, yet, they have not provided a list of these new polling stations, nor have they justified the expansion. They also did not present technical documentation for the new biometric system. Election management should not be based on trust. Parliament cannot approve technology we have not seen, or polling stations whose locations are unknown. In an election year, such a process raises serious concerns. Ministry of Works and Transport crisis management The ministry presented a long list of stalled, suspended or slow-moving road projects. These include Moroto - I do not have to read them; the Chairperson read them here. These roads have been under construction for many years and their financing needs were known. Contractors have been waiting for payment and there is nothing sudden about these obligations. They are the result of chronic under planning and poor cash flow management. A supplementary budget cannot clean up years of negligence. Uganda Airlines and the cost of flying without a plan The ministry is requesting for more than Shs 400 billion to purchase new aircraft for Uganda Airlines, yet the country has not recovered from the Bombardier deal where we purchased aircrafts that were already being phased out. Global production slowed, spare parts became scarce and maintenance became a nightmare. The airline has been grounded more than once because mechanics could not source essential components. Madam Speaker, we are now being asked to buy more aircrafts before conducting due diligence on viability, maintenance costs, routes, and long-term sustainability. We are being asked to purchase planes before addressing the problems of the ones we already have. A national airline should be a source of pride, but pride must be backed by planning. Parliament should not approve aircraft purchases that may leave us stuck with obsolete models once again. Before Government buys any new aircraft, a thorough due diligence process must be presented, including maintenance projections and route sustainability. Uganda cannot afford another Bombardier disaster. Even basic legal procedures have not been completed. There must be shareholder resolutions regarding capitalisation, and these must be registered with the Registrar of Companies. We have a report of COSASE which this Parliament approved. That is why I did not include it in the report. In the report of COSASE approved here, COSASE recommended that we should be leasing instead of buying, and Parliament approved. Therefore, it cannot be the same Parliament that approved leasing that [Mr Ssemujju] THE SUPPLEMENTARY EXPENDITURE SCHEDULE NO.1

18220 COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR Supporting the textile sector is important, but not through hurried subsidies, opaque transactions, and a sales arrangement that no one can reasonably verify. If the Government wants a national textile strategy, let it table one. This business of buying T-shirts for tailors using taxpayers’ money is not a strategy; it is a risk and Parliament must not approve it blindly. Agriculture arrears and the geography of favour Madam Speaker, tea seedlings arrears have become a permanent feature of supplementary budgets. Apple seedlings, also supplied on credit, have now joined the queue. This is a system where suppliers deliver for years without a budget and expect Parliament to clear arrears at the end of each financial year. It is not sustainable. Worse still, the same districts benefit repeatedly. Some parts of Western Uganda appear almost every year in the ministry of agriculture submissions. Meanwhile, farmers in Northern Uganda have no tea nurseries, no larger scale seedling support programmes, and no agro-industrial facilities. Equity has become rhetoric rather than practical. Electoral Commission and the mystery of new polling stations The Electoral Commission is seeking more than Shs 460 billion for ballot papers, biometric systems and the creation of new polling stations, yet, they have not provided a list of these new polling stations, nor have they justified the expansion. They also did not present technical documentation for the new biometric system. Election management should not be based on trust. Parliament cannot approve technology we have not seen, or polling stations whose locations are unknown. In an election year, such a process raises serious concerns. Ministry of Works and Transport crisis management The ministry presented a long list of stalled, suspended or slow-moving road projects. These include Moroto - I do not have to read them; the Chairperson read them here. These roads have been under construction for many years and their financing needs were known. Contractors have been waiting for payment and there is nothing sudden about these obligations. They are the result of chronic under planning and poor cash flow management. A supplementary budget cannot clean up years of negligence. Uganda Airlines and the cost of flying without a plan The ministry is requesting for more than Shs 400 billion to purchase new aircraft for Uganda Airlines, yet the country has not recovered from the Bombardier deal where we purchased aircrafts that were already being phased out. Global production slowed, spare parts became scarce and maintenance became a nightmare. The airline has been grounded more than once because mechanics could not source essential components. Madam Speaker, we are now being asked to buy more aircrafts before conducting due diligence on viability, maintenance costs, routes, and long-term sustainability. We are being asked to purchase planes before addressing the problems of the ones we already have. A national airline should be a source of pride, but pride must be backed by planning. Parliament should not approve aircraft purchases that may leave us stuck with obsolete models once again. Before Government buys any new aircraft, a thorough due diligence process must be presented, including maintenance projections and route sustainability. Uganda cannot afford another Bombardier disaster. Even basic legal procedures have not been completed. There must be shareholder resolutions regarding capitalisation, and these must be registered with the Registrar of Companies. We have a report of COSASE which this Parliament approved. That is why I did not include it in the report. In the report of COSASE approved here, COSASE recommended that we should be leasing instead of buying, and Parliament approved. Therefore, it cannot be the same Parliament that approved leasing that [Mr Ssemujju] THE SUPPLEMENTARY EXPENDITURE SCHEDULE NO.1

18221 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 2 DECEMBER 2025 is now saying, buy. People who will read the Hansard will wonder what sort of Parliament this was. Water and energy in disarray Madam Speaker, once again, the Ministry of Water and Environment is requesting for funds to connect 156 villages under SCAP 100, yet they cannot even provide a simple list of these villages. They want to expand umbrella water systems before addressing the same systems that are unreliable and already too expensive for our people. Similarly, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development still has electricity poles standing like abandoned monuments in many trading centres, following the rationalisation of REA. Transformers are nowhere to be seen and hospitals spend hours in darkness. The same ministry is demanding billions for new connections while the old, unfinished work is conveniently ignored. Madam Speaker, this country needs proper sequencing, not a rush to announce new projects. We should complete what we start. It makes no sense to seek more money when already funded work is still hanging. Let us fix what is incomplete before moving on to the next project. Defence and nugatory expenditure hidden behind classified budgets Madam Speaker, the first problem before us is the ever-expanding envelope of classified expenditure. Every year it grows, every year it returns, and every year we are expected to approve billions we cannot trace, verify, or interrogate. That is how nugatory spending hides in plain sight. When money enters a classified corner without clear boundaries, it comes out as a bill to the taxpayer with no evidence of value created. A country cannot build accountability on invisible figures. It is in that context that other concerns emerge. Take the UPDF National Referral Hospital in Mbuya as an example; this is not a classified project yet it appears repeatedly in supplementary budgets with no clear progress, no timelines, and the same items returning like a bad chorus. Even more confusing, the National Medical Stores is seeking supplementary funding to supply commodities for the same hospital, while the Ministry of Defence is also requesting Shs 10 billion to capitalise the hospital. Two different Votes, one hospital, and no clarity on who is actually responsible for what. This is how wastage takes root. Parliament must insist that hospitals are completed, budgets are harmonised, and the taxpayer is not billed twice for the same medicine. UDC and the perpetual bailout model Soroti Fruit Factory is now a yearly visitor to this House. Every Financial Year, it needs capitalisation. Meanwhile, farmers in Northern Uganda watch their mangoes rot in the gardens. Industrialisation cannot benefit one region repeatedly while treating others as an afterthought. UDC must operate as an investment arm with performance indicators, not a rescue agency for struggling factories. State House State House has already spent money under the 3 per cent that does not require prior parliamentary approval, and they are asking for more. In total, State House is requesting approval of Shs 459 billion in supplementary. The approved budget for State House is Shs 479.8 billion. This will bring total State House budget to Shs 939 billion this financial year. This is a revision of 95.9 per cent. This translates into Shs 2.5 billion per day and Shs 107 million per hour, including at night when State House occupants are supposed to be sleeping. Considering that we are spending Shs 1 trillion on the Parish Development Model per year, and you know the Parish Development Model is supposed to finance 3.5 million households, translating into 14 million people, it means that the amount of money we are spending at State House is equal to the amount of money we are spending on 14 million people to get out of poverty.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I rise on a matter of national importance. Objective 3(4) of the National Objective Directives, Principles and State Policy says that institutions and procedures for the resolution of conflicts shall be established and nurtured fairly and peacefully. And whereas this requires institutions of Government and a tripartite arrangement to ensure that at least they handle issues of grievances in the workplaces, to enhance industrial harmony and productivity. Mr Speaker, this has compromised service delivery in a number of areas, and this is at hand. One, we declared industrial action last week by taking the convocation of schools all over the country. All institutions are now at rest. This week, the teachers declared industrial action at the beginning of this third term. This has caused much unrest in our schools. The local government workers have also ended their 90-day notice and are due to declare industrial action. Mr Speaker, this has compromised service delivery and jeopardised our education. My prayers are: one, the government engages in an inter-ministerial dialogue –

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to thank my colleague, Hon. Byakatonda, for raising this very important matter of national importance. It is true, as he stated, that there is ongoing industrial action. There is also ongoing negotiation and dialogue to ensure that we come to a common table and agree.

18021 THE E LEVENTH P A R LIAMENT OF UGANDA W E DNESDAY , 17 SEPTEMBER 2025 Article 65 specifically addresses energy conservation; b) The Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act (1983) sets and enforces standards for products and services, including energy efficiency, labelling, and industrial processes; c) The Physical Planning Act (2010). It ensures all developments, including energy infrastructure, follow approved plans, energy-efficient designs, and environmental safeguards; d) The National Climate Change Act (2021). It provides a legal framework for low-carbon development, mainstreaming climate action, and promoting renewable energy. Part three emphasises public participation and section 22 offers incentives for climate actions; and e) The Building Control Regulations (2020). It guides construction practices to ensure safety, sustainability, and energy efficiency in public and private projects. Our proposal These laws and regulations already provide comprehensive mechanisms for energy efficiency, renewable energy promotion, and sustainable resource management. The proposed Bill largely overlaps with existing frameworks, raising questions about its necessity and potential for duplication. 3. The Bill reflects climate change concerns but fails to align with or reference the Climate Change Act, 2021, creating risks for duplication and policy incoherence. The Bill, in its current form, is trying to address matters of climate change when the country already has a Climate Change Act, 2021. The Bill was not brought in good faith because all the provisions could have been ably handled through a Statutory Instrument issued by the minister responsible for the environment as part of the implementation of the Climate Change Act, 2021. For the avoidance of doubt, it remains unclear whether the minister responsible for the environment or the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) were ever consulted during the processing of the Bill. What is certain, however, is that their input would have been paramount. Given their statutory mandate under the Climate Change Act and the National Environment Act, their contribution should have formed the cornerstone of any serious legislative effort on energy efficiency. The fact that their perspectives are absent from this process casts doubt on the adequacy and completeness of the Bill. Mr Speaker, I invite this honourable House to guide the Executive that efficient utilisation and regulation of biomass use is a function related to the ministry responsible for environment, not energy and mineral development. This can be done through: i) The National Environment Act ii) The Climate Change Act, and iii) Regulation issued by the minister responsible for the environment. Our proposal We reiterate our position that this House should not proceed with the Third Reading of the Bill. Instead, we propose that the House passes a resolution urging the Government, through the minister responsible for the environment, to issue the necessary statutory instruments to extend energy efficiency measures beyond electricity. 4. Uganda already penalises inefficient electricity users The Electricity Tariff, guided by the Grid Code and the Quality of Service Code under the Electricity Regulatory Authority, provides for penalties on industrial users or customers who use power inefficiently. The honourable minister is aware of this.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Briefly on the policy and principles, the minister lists about three parameters at industrial, commercial and household level. My question is on this policy and principles. There seems to be a narrow target of the application of this law to the following: limited to cooking, transport and in transport, they are targeting only motor vehicles and yet under transport, we have railway, aircrafts, water vessels and they are not provided anywhere. When you come to the issue of other sectors, agriculture is targeted and there is a subheading for it. You do not see anywhere issues to do with manufacturing, oil and gas, mineral

18020 RESOLUTION TO BORROW were traditionally not coffee-growing, but are suitable, such as northern Uganda – Zombo – and some new areas. We are still under consideration. I beg to be given time to give a comprehensive statement on coffee in a week’s time. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is true that the policy shifted. However, in our plea as a committee – even when we were rationalising government agencies, we complained to His Excellency the President on the need for more seedlings and the amount that a farmer needs to incur for him or her to plant coffee. In the corrigenda we received during the last budget processes, the Government allocated funds for procuring coffee seedlings. As I am aware, there is a release for coffee seedlings this quarter. However, there is tension. On the ground, farmers want coffee seedlings. In northern and eastern Uganda, gardens are ready for coffee seedlings. The budget was passed, and funds were released in the last quarter, but they were diverted to arrears. I am concerned – and this is something that the House needs to help the nation with. There were appropriated funds for coffee seedlings, but we are now talking about fertilisers, chemicals, and inputs. Are we really fair or equitable?

18030 RESOLUTION TO BORROW Therefore, it will be budgeted for in the Ministry of Water and Environment’s mid- term expenditure framework, and the resources will be made available starting Financial Year 2025/2026. The Certificate of Financial Implications has been attached to the detailed brief. The right of way for all the infrastructure was concluded under Phase I of the project in Nakasongola, Kamuli-Kasambira, and Alebtong. The process is still ongoing in Bugadde-Mayuge-Idudi-Busesa, with the district local government’s involvement. The progress of acquiring the right of way for the entire project is estimated at 75 per cent. What are the terms? The loan amount I stated earlier is 183.309 million. The tenure is 14 years with a four-year grace period. The interest rate is six months euribor plus margin, and the commitment fee is 30 per cent of the margin per annum, which is 0.63 per cent. The margin is 2.10 per cent. The sinosure premium is 7 per cent of principal and interest. The agency fee is $20,000 per year, the arrangement fee is 1.4 per cent paid up front, and the default interest is 2 per cent. The six- month Treasury bill issuance to cater for 15 per cent of the contract sum loan amount is 120.395 billion, which is an equivalent of Euro 29.572. The loan period is a six-month Treasury bill to be determined at the time of issuance. However, it stood at 14 per cent per year as of 12 February 2025. The justification, Mr Speaker, is that the project will contribute to the water and sanitation sector target of 85 per cent by 2030 and 100 per cent by 2040. The project will provide additional access to at least 0.74 million people by 2030 and over one million people in the projected design period by 2050. The project will train 150 people in appropriate urban sanitation, masonry, mechanical artisanry, and waste management. Through this project, the sector is targeting rolling out water and sanitation services to the four future cities and the surrounding satellite town councils within selected districts to cover wider and unserved areas, bringing piped water closer to the town populations and progressively reducing the common sight of women and children carrying water on their heads for long distances from unsafe wells. The water supply services will extend to 51 towns, covering 115 parishes. The project will contribute to improved health and productivity by providing safe water and sanitation services to the target population of approximately 1 million people by 2050. The infrastructure also serves industrial areas in the region, including the cassava processing plant in Nakasongola and the proposed industrial park in Kakooge. In addition, the project will include abstract infrastructure for water for irrigation purposes and support designs for extending water for irrigation within the project areas. The envisaged direct impact of the project includes: i) Access to safe, adequate and reliable water supply to town populations, ii) Reduction in the average walking distances to the nearest public water point, and iii) Reduction in the time spent fetching water at congested water points. The water infrastructure designed for the identified cities and surrounding small towns is a direct response to Uganda’s current urbanisation rate of 5.2 per cent. Sanitation interventions in schools, institutions, and other settings, and the accompanying faecal sludge plants with dislodging units, will have a tremendous impact on the existing challenge of emptying toilets and septic tanks in schools and informal settlements. The project will also provide employment opportunities during construction and

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I join this House and the country to thank the Uganda Cranes CHAN team for reaching such a milestone. I thank every person involved in enabling the country to host such a big tournament; the FUFA president who brought this idea to the East African region, the local organising committee but most especially, the Shadow Minister for Sports. This is because everything has happened during his reign. Madam Speaker, this CHAN tournament unified us all. Right from the northern side, to the eastern side, the whole country was together, represented by both the players and the fans. Therefore, as a country, we are happy for that moment and the boys played well, especially in the white jersey, where they scored many goals -

Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. For the record, I played for Northern Uganda in the ‘60s under Coach Peter Aber. My teammates were Peryo Okech, David Oti and the late David Obua. We were in the Northern Uganda team together. Also, for the record, in 1965, yours truly, Hon. James Baba, was the third fastest man in Uganda. (Applause) I wore the Uganda badge for the first All-Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville. My teammates were Omolo, Odongo Duka, and many others. I congratulate the young men and the coaches for the wonderful display they performed. The journey for your championship going forward is now on. You are soon going to be the champions of football all over Africa and in the world. Hon. Julius has said that sports is a money maker. Aim to be professionals. Be it in Arsenal, Manchester United or my team Liverpool, you will earn tons of money, but my main message is to Honourable Minister, Peter Ogwang. Thank you for all the work you have done. Let us do three other things. One, talent spotting. Establish an institution for talent spotting among the clubs, among the institutions to bring up these young men and put up an academy where they can be trained to become professionals, as you have done in the sports sector. Two, scale up the building of stadiums. Keep close to the First Lady - let us scale up stadiums. We, in West Nile, are waiting for the Inzikuru Stadium, like you have started in Lango and elsewhere. Lastly, the incentives for players must continue apart from supporting the clubs. Let these young men and boys be paid some money at every tournament they play so that they can continue to be encouraged. Thank you very much. (Hon. Olanya rose_)

Madam Chairperson, we propose that clause 2 be amended - (a) by substituting for the definition of the words “Islamic mortgage refinance business”, the following - “Islamic mortgage refinance business” means mortgage refinance business conducted - (a) in accordance with Sharia principles; or (b) through Islamic window;” (b) By inserting immediately after the definition “mortgage”, the following - “mortgage portfolio” means a collection or grouping of mortgages held by a primary mortgage lender each representing a loan made to a borrower to purchase or refinance a property and includes mortgages over land used for residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural purposes; (c) In the definition of the words “mortgage refinance business” in paragraph (c), by inserting the words “for the purposes of mortgage refinance business” immediately after the words “financial instruments;” (d) By inserting immediately after the definition of “mortgage refinance business”’ the following - “pre-financing” means the extension of credit by a mortgage refinance institution to a primary mortgage lender against qualifying collateral other than a mortgage portfolio to enable the primary mortgage lender to create mortgage portfolio; (e) By inserting immediately after the definition of “primary mortgage lender” the following - “re-financing” means the extension of credit by a mortgage refinance institution to a primary mortgage lender against a mortgage portfolio already created by the primary mortgage lender. Justification 1. To provide for the operation of a fully- fledged Islamic mortgage refinance business. 2. To provide for a definition of the words “mortgage portfolio” as it is used in the Bill severally but not defined. 3. To specify that bonds, notes and other financial instruments are particularly for purposes of mortgage refinance business. 4. The words “pre-financing” or “refinancing” as used in the definition of mortgage refinance business are technical terms and thus should be defined. I submit.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. If I can move to the issue of the oxygen plants, 24 high-capacity oxygen plants were procured. However, the oxygen plants for Lira, Mbale, Mbarara, and Hoima were procured by the Global Fund, not the Government of Uganda, and they came in after, not at the same time as the government ones. To date, 15 oxygen plants have been installed and are working. Nine are not. This is because each installation requires a transformer, which the Ministry of Energy was not able to provide. Parliament provided for some, and for the others, we are still waiting for the money. The Chairperson of the Committee on Health has pushed for this several times, but it is true that it consumes a lot of power. We have been pushing that the hospitals be put on the industrial line if we are to maintain them. We have yet to have a breakthrough with this request. The issue of the intensive care unit beds. Madam Speaker, you will recall that this funding was provided at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, we needed intensive care unit beds and oxygen as urgently as possible for the patients. Therefore, they were procured with the intention of having to install them in existing buildings. Some were installed, some were impossible. To date, Parliament has provided funding to construct ICUs at Jinja, Masaka, Mbale, Arua, Hoima, and Kabale. The rest, not yet. We have been requesting, and it is there in our budget. When you go through it, you will

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am happy that the President has communicated on this matter because we met with him and the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development on the issue of these roads. He appreciated that while we may not get all the money in one financial year, he directed that those critical roads be maintained in very usable conditions. The President said we have already started on the Mityana-Mubende Road, so we must finish it. Also, the section between Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo is terrible. As we wait for the funding from the Ministry of Finance, we are moving our unit, which has been working on Jinja Road, to Kyegegwa-Kyenjojo Road to fully rehabilitate that section. We are also already committed to China Railway 18 th Bureau Group, which will work on the Nebbi-Arua Road. They have already started forward maintenance, so they will start rehabilitating the road. A contractor is already working on the Kikorongo-Mpondwe Road. They are doing forward maintenance now, but after that, they will do the full rehabilitation with funds coming in from the Ministry of Finance. We have the Ntungamo-Kagamba-Rukungiri Road. We want to save it before it deteriorates further because it has reached the stage where we can save it with a resurface, just like what we did with the northern bypass, so that road will also be done. As regards Ishaka-Mbarara and Mbarara- Ibanda Roads, we already have a company identified to work on them. It is called Shandong

17686 MINISTERIAL S T ATEMENT Hi-Speed Group Co. Ltd. They will be working on those two sections of the road, and they are already working with the finance ministry on the pre-financing arrangement. I think they are finalising the financial terms with the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development. Others will start mobilising equipment to be on those two sections of the roads. The Gulu-Atiak-Nimule Road also needs attention. We are soon hiring an MTF contractor to work on it. Regarding Malaba-Jinja-Kampala-Masaka to Katuna, this is our artery, and as a ministry, we have decided to focus fully on those roads to address whatever requirements there are. We have been addressing those bad spots with our in-house team. However, as far as the Mukono- Lugazi-Jinja-Malaba Road is concerned, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) is fully committed to that road. Right now, we have called the Katonga Bridge, and it is going to concentrate on that section. They have already made the estimates for Masaka to Kampala. As they are doing the bridge, they will also be doing the bad sections as we address the Kalandazi and Lwera swamps, which they are working on now. We hope that once we get the money, we will pay and encourage Abubaker Technical Services to speed up the Busunju-Kiboga- Hoima Road. He is doing a good job, but he needs our full support to pay him in time. This is a local contractor who has proven himself that if supported, he can do good work; he has already proven this on the section we are seeing between Busunju and Kiboga, but he is supposed to complete up to Hoima, including the Kafu Bridge. We are also rehabilitating the Ssezibwa Bridge on Kayunga Road, which is already being worked on by, again, a local company called Dynaco Engineering that is now doing the remaining stages. They have already done the box culverts to take the extra water, and they can do the bridge. On the northern side of Katonga from Kabulasoke, a local contractor called Rodo Contractors Limited is building the bridge. I can discuss these efforts, and we have images of Rodo Contractors Ltd, which even the Minister of Water and Environment can confirm.

Yours is Nkokonjeru? For that road, we are using our team from the training centre, which you know, Meltek. We want to do a cobblestone project on that road because of its nature. Doing tarmac, it will be washed away very readily. Our team in Meltek, which is our training centre, has already done studies on how to do cobblestone. We intend to pave that road with cobblestone technology. You wait until we start. Then the away road - ( Hon. Lucy rose_) Atiak-Nimule; there is a company called MTF, which will go on that road. The road from Atiak - of course, you know that Atiak- Laropi is already done. For Laropi-Afoji, we are at the procurement stage. ( Members rose_) Tororo-Mbale; that road is under what we call the Northern Road Rehabilitation Project (NERAMP). It is being done by Mota-Engil Africa, under the World Bank. They have so far done the section from Kamdini and have now

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to appreciate the Government for the effort they have put into the road sector. The new districts have received equipment, but it is incomplete. Therefore, we have to seek from the region. The region for Northern Uganda is in Gulu. West Nile is very far from Gulu. I would like to implore the minister to have special consideration for West Nile. Can we have equipment there? West Nile should be a region of its own. The people of West Nile love the people of Gulu and Lango, but we do not want to always be bundled up. Please have consideration for the people of the West Nile. Number two, there is a road which His Excellency – I am in possession of a copy of a written directive to your ministry, honourable minister, directing for not tarmacking but high- grade marram from Pakwach, Rhino Camp up to Difule. This is from 2023, 2024; we are now almost reaching 2026. Please, let us have the high-grade marram as we wait for tarmac. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on 27 November 2019, the honourable minister came to Gulu to commission roads that were funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and at that event, he made a public statement committing that the road from Gulu- Lamwo-Kitgum would be tarmacked. The people of Northern Uganda have waited for that road in vain. Fortunately, it is part of what - last year, he issued a statement in this House, that the Government was already in the final stages of design. It would be good, Madam Speaker, for the honourable minister to clarify. Secondly, he also directed Hon. Musa Ecweru, last year, to go and look at the status of the road from Bank of Uganda through Customs Corner to Juba, which has cost many lives. It would also be good for him to clearly help us understand how far he has gone with that. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Mine is a quick one to the minister that would require to review that directive by the President on the way the Shs 3.7 trillion has been allocated to the roads. Madam Speaker, the President was very unequivocally categorical when he mentioned the road from Mukono-Lugazi-Jinja. It therefore leaves the whole of eastern Uganda missing out on this allocation of the Shs 3.7 trillion. That raises serious concerns because I have received numerous calls and the President brought it out very clearly. Western Uganda is a beneficiary; central is a beneficiary, and Northern Uganda is equally that. Doesn’t this horribly go in breach of the National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy (XII)? It clearly states on balanced and equitable development that, the Government should ensure, in the allocation of the budget or resources, balanced and equitable development or rather sharing out of the resource. That is a serious concern. Secondly, the issue of the false hopes - let me not call them “false hopes,” because I trust you. I have interacted with you and you have promised that this time round, for the Bududa circular road, you have already procured a contractor. However, what would have required your ministry, which is managing the National Roads Maintenance Programme - it covers both paved and unpaved roads. This road has had a very important bridge, which has cut off access to the hospital for the people from Kenya, Namisindwa, Manafwa and the other side of Mbale. We expected, after you made another promise, which has never been honoured, to have had an emergency operation to have that bridge fixed. It was your colleague who made that pledge. Could you please consider it as an emergency that requires urgent intervention, because the hospital can no longer be accessed? Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to raise a procedural issue related to the same regional referral hospital. When the Committee on Health made a visit to the hospital, the board and management raised a pertinent issue related to land grabbing, especially in the northern parts of the hospital land. Would it be procedurally right for the honourable minister to allay the anxiety of this House that the land is safe? Thank you.

Madam Speaker, he is too tall, so for people who are short like me, when you take a photo with him, you look like a dwarf. (Laughter) In brief, he should prepare a stool. Thank you so much. Madam Speaker, I have another question from Hon. Veronica Nanyondo, the District Woman MP of Bukomansimbi. Her prayer is that there is an effect on the implementation of the new lower secondary school curriculum on primary school leavers. Can the Government update us on this matter? My response is that at the moment, primary school leavers transition from the knowledge- based curriculum to competence-based curriculum in secondary school, under the revised lower secondary school curriculum. The process of revising the primary school curriculum to make it competence-based has already commenced to harmonise curriculum designs across primary and secondary level education. Once this is complete, the learners will be introduced to competence-based teaching and learning from primary school and progress with it to secondary education. I got another question from Hon. Ronald Balimwezo Nsubuga, MP for Nakawa Division East. He says that Uganda has very many experienced jua kalis, but they have no industrial parks and have continued to operate in a domestic setting, with very high electricity and water domestic tariffs. This is something that has crippled their businesses, yet they compete with investors who operate in Government industrial parks. These investors in Government industrial parks have always been incentivised in the form of tax exemptions, low electricity and water tariffs. This makes it harder for the jua kalis to compete favourably with them in the same market. His prayer is; When is the Government going to set up jua kali industrial parks? My response is that in this principle, for all Ugandan investors - if they all go through the Uganda Investment Authority, industrial parks have been designed with spaces specifically planned for setting up Small and Medium- sized Enterprises (SMEs), which cater for jua kali artisan activities. SME parks of 20 acres have been planned in all the operational industrial parks of Namanve, Soroti, Kasese, SINO-Mbale, and others. The Uganda Investment Authority also acquired the Mbarara SME Park of 12 acres that has been handed back to Gatsby Group, the SME artisans from Mbarara. The Government’s vision is to develop new industrial parks in phases, depending on the availability of resources in Gulu, Nebbi, Arua, Madi-Okollo, Yumbe, Pader, Paidha, Dokolo, Rukungiri, Isingiro, Oyam, Lira, Hoima, Buliisa, Kisoro, Kakumiro, Nakasongola, Luwero, Nakaseke, Mubende, Mityana, Masaka, Kabale, Bushenyi, Tororo, Rakai, Kamuli, Kween, Busia, Soroti, Gomba, Kayunga, Kyegegwa , and Iganga, where land has been mobilised by districts and already offered to Uganda Investment Authority for industrial development to foster innovation and equitable, sustainable industrial growth. Madam Speaker, the major infrastructure, for example, workplaces with shared common user facilities such as production equipment, showrooms for Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to use as they sell and grow their businesses, will be constructed within the said industrial parks. 10. Hon. Lucy Akello, the District Woman Member of Parliament for Amuru, raised an issue on the lack of radiologists in the regional referral hospitals like Gulu, Soroti, Mbale and others.

Yes, Madam Speaker. The point I am trying to bring home is that the closest subcounty and trading centre to our subcounty and district are connected to power. However, Agago, being the closest, has been left out, yet some years ago, money was borrowed for these power connections’ completion. This question goes to the minister in charge of electricity and the minister in charge of northern Uganda. Why are you leaving Agago in the dark? When are you going to complete that work? Thank you.

So, Rt Hon. Prime Minister, we are aware in this country, there are parts of the country, like northern or eastern, you know, there are parishes without primary schools. There are those communities that are willing to construct a school, but they lack some of the materials. Therefore, can we identify those communities or parishes, for example, I have Ajur in Ogwete, in Otuke, or Gotojwang, where these parishes are really too big, and highly populated. Can we identify these kinds of parishes and give them roofing materials, so that kids can go to school? This is my appeal.

Madam Speaker, the issue I am raising is about the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF IV). I am aware, the World Bank approved NUSAF IV to start in July. I have talked to the Chairperson of the National Economy, and nothing has been presented to the Parliament for approval. As subregions that are supposed to benefit from NUSAF IV are suffering. We have been together with the Members of Parliament from West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja (WALK), and I am being questioned. We want to find out from Madam Speaker when the loan is going -

17594 MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS The ministry currently requires Shs 843 billion in total to complete land acquisition obligations in the Financial Year 2025/26 on all ongoing projects, including those funded by donors, and the list is in the annexes, which I have provided. Impact on ongoing projects, arrears, and claims Madam Speaker, the under-allocation in the Financial Year 2025/26 has further compounded certified arrears carried forward from the previous year, which, as I stated earlier, is Shs 1.71 trillion. These arrears relate to completed or ongoing works for which certificates were issued and approved. Failure to clear these obligations has resulted in the following: 1. Suspension or reduced performance on 27 ongoing projects. The lists are in the annex; 2. Accrual of commercial interest on delayed payments estimated at over Shs 48 billion in Financial Year 2025/26 alone; and 3. Delays in the execution of co-financed projects potentially affecting Uganda’s credibility with development partners. Additionally, the continued accumulation of unpaid certificates discourages private sector confidence, increases future unit costs, and may result in the Government being classified as a high-risk client in the infrastructure contracting market. The impact on paved roads Uganda’s paved road network, now standing at 6,312 kilometres, is experiencing increasing structural distress due to insufficient maintenance, deferred interventions, increased traffic and climate change, and according to the latest technical assessment, 2,460 kilometres, which is 39 per cent of the network, require urgent intervention as follows: 1. 1,993 kilometres require periodical maintenance - like what we did on the Northern Bypass; 2. 260 kilometres require rehabilitation; and 3. 270 kilometres have deteriorated to the level of reconstruction. These include roads like Gulu-Atyak-Nimule, which need total reconstruction. Madam Speaker, periodic maintenance intervention costs about Shs 888 million per kilometre if you do it within time. If not implemented -

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to move and present a petition under Rule 31 of our Rules of Procedure regarding the Uganda Nubian community and this petition was presented to your office. The delegation from the Nubian community are here to witness the presentation of this petition: Madam Speaker, despite being bona fide citizens of Uganda, the Nubian community has continuously faced discrimination and marginalisation. The Nubi feature in the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda as one of the indigenous tribes of Uganda. The Nubi became an indigenous tribe in Uganda as far as 1844, following their migration to Uganda through the northern route from the Republic of Sudan and their subsequent settlement in urban areas, including Bombo. Madam Speaker, the Nubians were integrated fully in the Ugandan communities through business transactions, intermarriages, their military activities, and have greatly participated in nation-building and national development. The Nubian community are marginalised and are facing several challenges which greatly impact their overall well-being and advancement. The Nubian community has been marginalised by the Government in respect of appointment to public offices, including ministries, boards, and foreign services, and barely has representation in local government structures, which has excluded them from political participation. The decision by the President of the Republic of Uganda to grant Bombo Municipality has not been implemented, yet Bombo Town, commonly known as the cradle of the Nubian community, originally enjoyed municipality status from the 1970s to 1996. However, it was consequently relegated to a town council, thus negatively affecting their political and economic privileges associated with the municipality. [Ms Obigah] PETITION

Please lay. Honourable members, the report will be deposited in the Parliamentary Library, for ease of reference. If you want it, please get it from there for you to be able to look at it. II) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION ON FIELD VISITS TO SELECTED INDUSTRIAL VALUE CHAINS IN THE CENTRAL, WESTERN AND EASTERN REGIONS

Madam Speaker, I beg to lay on the Table the report of the Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation on field visits to selected industrial value chains in the central, western and eastern regions of Uganda.

This afternoon, I am sorry. Madam Speaker, I agree with the Chairperson of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure on the issue of Central Government roads. We did rationalise UNRA here painfully - We even now bear more pain as Members of Parliament. Madam Speaker, you mentioned that you moved on a number of roads, mainly in Western Uganda, but how I wish you had moved on the roads in Northern Uganda. Start with the road from Karuma to Pakwach. You cannot believe what is on the road. The grass has grown taller than I am, and the potholes - Madam Speaker, in Pakwach District, on the road from Panyimur-Pakwach-Wadelai, we have lost people within this period of time. We reallocated money to the Ministry of Works and Transport almost four months ago, but nobody has taken the time to explain to Ugandans why UNRA roads are not being worked on. What could be the gaps? What is more painful is that it is we, Members of Parliament, who carried the cross during the primaries.

Honourable members, in the public gallery this afternoon, we have pupils and teachers of Camp Deborah Learners’ School from Wakiso. They are represented by Hon. Ssemujju Nganda and Hon. Naluyima. You are most welcome; thank you so much for coming. We also have, in the public gallery, pupils and teachers of Nakasero Primary School, represented by Hon. Muhammad Nsereko and Hon. Malende. You are most welcome. (Applause) We also have, in the VIP gallery this afternoon, Ms Gloria Laker Adiiki Aciro, a Ugandan award-winning journalist and recipient of the Luxembourg Peace Award 2025, for promoting peace journalism and covering the LRA war in northern Uganda. You are most welcome; thank you so much for coming. (Applause) She is accompanied by her family to observe the proceedings of Parliament. Join me in welcoming them. (Applause) Thank you so much. Yes?

17512 BUDGET SPEECH goods were $9.3 billion for the same period, up from $7.3 billion in March 2024, representing a growth of 26 per cent. The top exports include gold ($3.8 billion); coffee ($1.83 billion), which alone had an annual average growth of 84.9 per cent; industrial products ($626.5 million); cocoa beans ($410.8 million); milk products ($285 million); base metals and products ($230.60 million); sugar ($186.5 million); fish and fish products ($177.7 million); maize ($86.37 million); and other agricultural products like tea, tobacco, cotton, beans, fruits, vegetables, flowers, simsim (sesame), nuts, vanilla and other grains, giving $575.9 million. Madam Speaker, this financial year, for the first time in the history of Uganda, coffee export earnings not only exceeded the $1-billion mark, but are on track to double to $2 billion per year. (Applause) While it took the country more than a century to reach $1 billion earnings per annum from coffee, it has taken just one year to double these earnings. This is an example of the kind of economic leap envisioned under the Ten- fold Growth Strategy. I, therefore, implore Ugandans to grow more coffee and, most importantly, add value to our coffee before we export it for higher earnings. For the year ending March 2025, the Middle East was Uganda’s top export destination, followed by the East African Community, Asia, and the European Union. Uganda recorded large trade surpluses with the Middle East, worth $186.3 million, and the European Union, worth $117.7 million. The main export commodities to these markets were coffee, industrial and mineral products. Madam Speaker, I wish to note that His Excellency, the President’s message and deliberate strategy of increasing the share of manufactured exports in total exports has started producing positive results. New research by the Harvard Economic Growth Lab shows that Uganda has become more complex for its level of income. This means that while earnings from traditional exports like coffee are significantly increasing, their contribution to the total export basket is declining. New products that require more advanced production technology than that expected for our level of income are contributing an increasing share of our total exports. According to the study, in the last 15 years, Uganda added 31 new products to its export basket. Among these are ICT equipment, serums and vaccines, medicines, new pneumatic tires, batteries, gas turbines, electronic integrated circuits, transmission apparatus for radio, telephone and TV, measuring instruments, and instruments for physical and chemical analysis, and light- manufactured products such as steel, processed food, cement, pharmaceuticals, dairy products, ceramics, and cloth. The country also has an opportunity to harness the production of 50 new complex products, which are referred to as strategic bets. Tourism and Foreign Direct Investment Madam Speaker, tourism earnings have grown by 13.1 per cent to $1.52 billion in 12 months to March 2025, from $1.36 billion during the same period in 2024. This impressive growth is attributed to sustainable peace, increased competitiveness of Uganda’s tourism industry, and Government investment in strategic tourism infrastructure, including Uganda Airlines. Remittances from Ugandans living and working abroad were $1.4 billion in 12 months to March 2025, compared to $1.33 billion in the same period in 2024. Uganda has maintained its top ranking as one of the best investment destinations in Africa. Let me repeat this: Madam Speaker, Uganda has maintained its top ranking as one of the best investment destinations in Africa. (Applause) Foreign direct investments were worth $3.4 billion in 12 months to March 2025, compared to $2.99 billion during the same period in 2024. This performance was due to the improved competitiveness of our economy. (Applause)

17513 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 12 JNUE 2025 Fiscal Performance Madam Speaker, revenue collection is projected at Shs 31.9 trillion this financial year ending June 2025, equivalent to about 14.3 per cent of total domestic economic output or GDP. Total expenditure outturn is estimated at Shs 51.53 trillion this financial year, excluding Bank of Uganda securities and domestic financing (debt rollover). The budget deficit is estimated at 7.6 per cent of GDP. The Government plans to collect Shs 37.2 trillion in domestic revenue next Financial Year 2025/2026. This will finance about 60 per cent of the National Budget. The rest of the Budget will be financed through borrowing and grants. The Government has stepped up efforts to mobilise domestic revenue. Going forward, emphasis will be put on the following emisolo : 1. Broadening the tax base through strategic investment in the opportunities in agro- industry, tourism, minerals, including oil and gas, science, technology, and innovation, including ICT, as well as interventions that support wealth creation and the growth of small and medium enterprises; 2. Eliminating corruption at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) through punishing corrupt officers and taxpayers who collude with URA staff, as well as leveraging digital platforms to minimise human interaction. 3. Enhancing the implementation of Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing Solution (EFRIS), digital tax stamps, rental tax solution, and regular audits, especially for transfer pricing; 4. Combating smuggling at border points through extended surveillance using advanced technologies like scanners, drones, and tracking systems, with increased patrols in high-risk areas; 5. Rationalising tax exemptions to focus on only those that support industrial policy and introducing sunset clauses. 6. Amending tax laws to close loopholes that cause revenue leakage and providing clarity to encourage voluntary compliance. 7. Strengthening URA, including recruitment and training of tax officers to effectively administer tax collection; and 8. Supporting local governments and revenue- generating public entities to increase revenue collection. Accountability for Financial Year 2024/2025 and Priorities for the Financial Year 2025/2026 Madam Speaker, when I delivered the Budget Speech for the Financial Year 2024/2025, I made several commitments on Government expenditure priorities for the financial year. In February 2025, I presented a detailed Semi-Annual Budget Performance Report for this financial year to Parliament, in line with the law. In this section, I provide the highlights of what the Government has achieved this financial year. With respect to investing in the people of Uganda, the following has been achieved. Let me repeat this. Madam Speaker, with respect to investing in the people of Uganda, the following has been achieved: Health Madam Speaker, during this Financial Year 2024/2025, the following milestones have been achieved in the health sector: 1. The government continued to invest in saving the lives of Ugandans by providing Shs 721 billion for health care supplies, general and essential medicines under the National Medical Stores. This included additional financing of Shs 100 billion for essential medicines, Shs 116.8 billion for ARVs, Shs 2.9 billion for anti-malarial medicines, Shs 17.8 billion for immunisation supplies, Shs 52.3 billion for laboratory supplies, and Shs 2.1 billion for anti-TB drugs; 2. The government continued to improve the healthcare infrastructure and equipment.

It is Shs 3.05 trillion. These funds are going to be passed on to Ugandans in wealth creation through: PDM, Shs 1.059 trillion; Emyooga , Shs 100 billion; UDB, Shs 1 trillion; Uganda Development Corporation, Shs 187.1 billion; and the Agricultural Credit Facility, Shs 50 billion. Others include Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW), Shs 231.3 billion; Investment for Industrial Transformation and Empowerment (INVITE), Shs 275.1 billion; Presidential Zonal Industrial Hubs and skilling initiatives, Shs 58.5 billion to turn youth into manufacturers; and support to Microfinance, Shs 48.5 billion.

17521 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 12 JNUE 2025 Madam Speaker, I have allocated Shs 430 billion towards direct investment in tourism next financial year. This is in addition to about Shs 2.2 trillion provided for other tourism support investment such as tourism roads, ICT infrastructure in tourism areas, African Cup of Nations (AFCON) infrastructure and security- strengthening in tourism areas. Madam Speaker, the focus next financial year will be on: 1. Branding and marketing of Uganda as a tourism and investment destination. 2. Infrastructure development in tourism sites. 3. Construction of refreshment centres and highway sanitation facilities. 4. Improving and enforcing hospitality standards and training. 5. Promoting health tourism by investment in specialised health facilities. Madam Speaker, the Government has also stepped up investment in missions abroad to promote economic and commercial diplomacy. Every mission is now tasked to bring investors, tourists and open up export markets. Mineral-Based Industrial Development, including Oil and Gas Madam Speaker, the following achievements were registered this financial year: 1. The Government facilitated the establishment of 10 gold refineries, four cement manufacturing plants and one tin processing plant, contributing to mineral processing and refining. 2. In the oil and gas sector, the Tilenga and Kingfisher oil projects are on track for first oil production in 2026. An agreement to construct a 60,000 barrels-per-day oil refinery, which will kick-start the petrochemical industry, was signed between Alpha MBM from UAE and the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC). Once operations start, the oil and gas sector will contribute between $1 and 2.5 billion annually to the country’s revenues. 3. With regard to local content in the oil and gas industry, more Ugandan companies and individuals have benefited from contracts issued and jobs, respectively. Out of 5,693 Tier One contracts, amounting to a total value of $5.4 billion awarded to date, 4,796 contracts (64 per cent) were Ugandan companies –

Yes, 84 per cent, were to Ugandan companies, amounting to $2.25 billion. Also $33.4 million, equivalent to Shs 121 billion, has been spent on goods and services consumed from the surrounding communities in Bunyoro. More than 14,000 Ugandans have been trained in various technical areas and, so far, about 17,000 direct and 39,567 indirect jobs have been created. 4. Kabalega International Airport is nearly complete, and over 700 kilometres of roads have been constructed in the Albertine Region to support commercial production of oil and gas. 5. The Government is expediting the finalisation of the 1,443-kilometre East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), which is now 58 per cent complete, with engineering works at 98 per cent completion, and procurement of the major equipment for the pipeline at 83 per cent. 6. Following UNOC’s commencement of the bulk supply of petroleum products in August 2024, the country has experienced relative stability in supply and pricing. This has been realised due to the elimination of the middlemen and speculative tendencies. As a result, Uganda currently saves up to $72.8 million annually on fuel imports. Madam Speaker, I have provided Shs 875.8 billion next financial year for mineral-based industrial development including oil and gas, for: (i) continued quantification of mineral

17526 BUDGET SPEECH ii) Enhance access to electricity through implementation of the $638 million Electricity Access Scale-up Project covering grid expansion, connectivity and clean energy options for one million new electricity connections. Further, the Government will continue investing in priority transmission lines and sub-stations, particularly to the industrial parks, growth centres and other strategic manufacturing facilities like the clinker factory in Moroto, Karamoja; the fertiliser factory in Kampirigisa, Mpigi; Simba Cement Factory in Mbarara, Western Uganda; Dei BioPharma in Matugga, Wakiso District; and; the Coffee Factory in Ntungamo, among others. iii) Commence development of new power generation plants to meet the growing demand. These include new hydropower plants at Ayago and Oriang in Nwoya District, and Kiba in Oyam District, the development of nuclear power in Buyende District, and the rehabilitation of Kiira- Nalubaale Power Plant. Industrial Development and Manufacturing Madam Speaker, with regard to industrial development and manufacturing, the following achievements have been registered: i) The Government has operationalised eight industrial parks, which include Namanve, Luzira, Bweyogerere, Mbale, Soroti, Kasese, Mbarara, and Jinja industrial parks. We have also supported the development of three privately-owned industrial parks, which are Liao Shen Kapeeka in Nakaseke District, MMP in Buikwe District, and Tian Tang in Mukono. ii) To-date, a total of 628 companies/industries have been allocated land within the various industrial parks, 47 per cent of which are in manufacturing. Out of all the companies allocated land, 307 are fully operational, 195 are undertaking construction, and 122 have commenced preparatory activities. The parks have attracted a total capital investment of $4.5 billion and created 181,403 jobs. iii) Madam Speaker, several industrial parks have become centres of innovation, hosting firms that have introduced new technologies and products, such as: a single HIV pill (Quality Chemicals Ltd); GIS transformers (Orion Electricals); plastic-to-fabric recycling (Fei Long Investment Ltd); locally manufactured electric vehicles (Kiira Motors); the first powder-free surgical gloves (East African Medical Vitals); and import substitution products like fridges, transformers, toiletries, textiles, ceramics, televisions, and blankets. iv) The government has supported industrialisation by investing in strategic manufacturing facilities through Uganda Development Corporation with a total investment of Shs 1.2 trillion. Madam Speaker, next financial year, I have provided Shs 308.9 billion to further support infrastructure development in industrial parks, including roads, waste management, drainage, and utilities; and Shs 187 billion for capitalisation of Uganda Development Corporation (UDC). Security, Good Governance, and Rule of Law Madam Speaker, security, good governance and the rule of law are the foundation for socio- economic transformation. Everybody knows that. During this financial year, the following achievements were registered: i) Strengthened and modernised the security infrastructure to protect Ugandans, investors and our visitors from any security threats. We have invested in security apparatus and more sophisticated intelligence network and border control mechanisms. ii) Provided adequate funds to security institutions, including the Military, Police, Prisons, and intelligence agencies for operations, and improving the capacity and welfare of men and women in uniform. iii) Promoted regional and international relations, including playing a strategic role in peace processes in Somalia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Equatorial Guinea;

17529 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 12 JNUE 2025 3. providing and ring-fencing adequate counterpart funding for multi-year projects. (Laughter) I am about to close. FINANCING THE BUDGET FOR THE FY 2025/26 Resource Envelope Madam Speaker, the total resource envelope for the FY 2025/26 amounts to Seventy-two trillion, three hundred and seventy-six billion, four hundred and eighty-one million, five hundred two thousand one hundred three Shillings (72,376,481,502,103/=). This is detailed as follows: 1. Domestic revenue amounting to Shs 37.55 trillion of which Shs 33.94 trillion will be tax revenue, Shs 3.28 trillion non-tax revenue and Shs 328.6 billion Local Government revenue. 2. Domestic borrowing, Shs 11.38 trillion. 3. Domestic refinancing of maturing domestic debt, Shs 10.03 trillion. 4. Grants and external borrowing for general budget financing is Shs 2.08 trillion. 5. External financing for projects is Shs 11.33 trillion of which Shs 2.8 trillion are grants. Expenditure Allocations Madam Speaker, the following resources have been allocated as follows: 1. Wages and salaries – Shs 8.57 trillion. 2. Non-wage recurrent expenditure – Shs 28.33 trillion which also includes operational funds for institutions, financing for all wealth creation funds, financing for science and technology investment, grants for education and health, medicines, maintenance of infrastructure and interest payments among others; 3. Development expenditure – Shs 18.24 trillion. 4. Domestic debt for refinancing – Shs 10.03 trillion. 5. Debt amortisation – Shs 4.98 trillion. 6. Domestic debt repayment to the Bank of Uganda – Shs 493 billion. 7. Domestic arrears – Shs 1.4 trillion. 8. Local Government expenditure from own revenue – Shs 328.6 billion. Madam Speaker, I have attached the details of the resource envelope and expenditure allocations by Vote for FY 2025/26 as Annexes 2 and 3. The Financing Strategy for FY 2025/26 Madam Speaker, below is the financing strategy for the next financial year: 1. Improving tax administration to raise an additional Shs 1.89 trillion. 2. Introduction of new tax measures to increase domestic revenue by Shs 538.6 billion. 3. Rationalising tax exemptions to eliminate inefficient ones that do not support industrial policy. 4. Repurposing resources in the budget for FY 2025/26 from less productive to high impact areas in line with the Ten-fold Growth Strategy. 5. Mobilising more concessional financing from international financing institutions such as the World Bank, the IMF, the African Development Bank, the Islamic Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, BADEA, et cetera. 6. Mobilising development finance from other innovative sources including public-private partnerships, climate finance, private equity, Sukuk bonds, Panda bonds, and diaspora bonds.

17532 BUDGET SPEECH infrastructure (29.3 per cent), electricity infrastructure including power generation plants and transmission lines (27.6 per cent), water for production and consumption (11.5 per cent), agro-industrialisation (5.1 per cent), education and health (5 per cent), housing and urban development (3 per cent), and development of industrial parks (2 per cent). To maintain public debt sustainability, the Government is implementing the following actions: i) Domestic revenue mobilisation to increase revenue collection and reduce borrowing. ii) Mobilising more concessional financing from international financial institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, the African Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, BADEA, etc. iii) Implementation of the Okusevinga initiative, where Ugandans will invest in Government securities using mobile money. Now, I want to conclude, Madam Speaker – I know I have tired you. In conclusion, Uganda’s economy has taken off. (Laughter) Can I repeat? Madam Speaker, in conclusion, Uganda’s economy has taken off. When I did this ka- thing, people started – (Laughter) We know what we are doing, man. (Laughter) The economic fundamentals – GDP growth, price stability, currency stability, jobs, export, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) receipts – are in good shape and highly competitive regionally and globally – Nekano kankaddemu . The economic fundamentals – GDP growth, price stability, current stability, jobs, export, FDI receipts – are in good shape and are highly competitive regionally and globally. We have met the criteria for graduation from the category of least developed countries (LDCs). Poverty and inequality have reduced. Listen to this: Poverty and inequality have reduced significantly. Our deliberate onslaught on the subsistence economy has resulted in cutting the number of Ugandans working for only the stomach – kida kyonka – to just three in every 10 homesteads. With our renewed commitment to fast-track a full monetisation of the economy and redirect resources towards agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral beneficiation, manufacturing, innovations by our scientists and digital transformation, Uganda is, indeed, unstoppable. Ngambye ntya? Unstoppable! Mwandi badde mu kuba ku ngalo namwe, temumpadde amanyi. (Applause) This Budget, therefore, is for all Ugandans who are ready to create wealth. Fellow countrymen and women, take full advantage of the innumerable opportunities contained in this Budget. To those still in the subsistence economy, the Parish Development Model and other wealth creation funds have been availed to support you to join the money economy in any of the four sectors – commercial agriculture, industry, services or ICT. To the private sector, the 10-fold growth strategy presents many opportunities. Demand for household services and consumables is going to increase exponentially in the next 15 years, on account of rising household incomes. The increase in GDP represents larger demand for intermediate goods and services among businesses. With a larger economy, Government revenue will increase and so will the size of Government contracts to the private sector. To the investors and our partners in development, this Budget guarantees peace, security, easy taxes and a tolerable administration of justice. In Uganda, we protect private property, enforce contracts and repay our debts. To the youth, this Budget offers opportunities to acquire more skills, access finance, innovate and develop new and better products. The Budget also contains huge investments in sports, particularly to upgrade the facilities in preparation for CHAN and AFCON27.

17483 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 5 JUNE 2025 Fellow Ugandans, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, on 9 January 2025, Parliament approved the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV) for the years 2025/2026 to 2029/2030. This plan is our national blueprint for transformation and sustainable development of our country. The Budget Speech that we shall receive on 12 June 2025 is aligned to this National Development Plan. I take cognisance of the contribution of all stakeholders in the formulation and realisation of this plan. Your Excellency, after my communication and if it does please you, I request that before you commence on your address to Parliament – and by extension to the nation - to symbolically unveil the NDP IV, a document that will be a precursor to the Budget Speech, which will be held on 12 June 2025. In line with our vision of being a people- centred Parliament, during the Fourth Session, the Parliament of Uganda held its first-ever regional sitting at Kaunda Grounds in Gulu City, that is, Northern Uganda, from 28 th to 30 th August 2024. During this Sitting, issues specific to the region were deliberated upon, and a series of community outreach and civic engagement activities were conducted. Your Excellency, we take this opportunity to thank you for gracing the opening of that historic Sitting which took place in Gulu City. The legislature will continue to place the common person at the centre of all its parliamentary processes and decisions. We are optimistic that in the near future, Parliament will hold another regional Sitting that will cover other regions of the country. In a bid to foster Pan-Africanism and international collaboration with other legislatures and inter-parliamentary bodies, we continued to further inter-parliamentary diplomacy through active participation and membership in various inter-parliamentary bodies such as the East African Community Bureau of Speakers; the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the African Union Legislatures (COSPAR); the Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU); the Pan-African Parliament (PAP); the European Union, Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (EUACP group) and; the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), to mention but a few. The impressive representation of our sister legislatures at this State-of-the-Nation address is a testimony to our good standing among the international community of nations. I take this opportunity to once again welcome our guest Speakers and presiding officers and thank them for travelling from far and wide to witness this historic occasion. Join me in welcoming our guests. You are most welcome. (Applause) Your Excellency and honourable members, I take this opportunity to thank you for your role in enabling the remarkable output registered by the legislature during the Fourth Session. I will reiterate my appreciation for the consistent support of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The 11 th Parliament draws inspiration from your effective and impactful leadership as a key enabler of societal transformation. We undertake that the Fifth Session that you open today will remain steadfast in effectively executing its mandate in furtherance of the National Vision 2040, which aims to transform Uganda into a modern and prosperous nation within 30 years. As you may be aware, that Article 83(a) of the 1995 Constitution, permits Members of Parliament to leave and join political parties or political organisations of their choice within 12 months before the end of the term of Parliament to participate in activities or programmes of political parties or political organisations relating to the general election. To this end, I am in receipt of notification by the following Members opting to join respective political parties:

17486 ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION The literacy rate has also improved from 43 per cent in 1986 to 80 per cent now. In 1986, more than 90 per cent of the population was trapped in subsistence farming, i.e., working only for food with no surplus to take to the market to get money. There has been a significant reduction in the percentage of households in subsistence agriculture. They are now at 33 per cent – and you hear that at the beginning, they were 90 per cent. These few illustrations show that implementing the mass line programmes is the most effective way of triggering socio-economic transformation. Therefore, in line with the mass line philosophy of the NRM, we must prioritise the following: 1. Peace and security of persons and their property in all parts of the country. 2. Accelerating industrialisation with focus on building factories which use locally available materials as inputs. 3. Export-promotion and import-substitution by boosting the domestic manufacturing capacity. 4. Strengthening the private sector. 5. Increasing market access for our exports, both in the regional markets such as the East African Community, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), among others, and international markets. 6. Skilling our youth through the zonal industrial hubs. The youth will continue to acquire skills in tailoring, carpentry, metal fabrication, welding, shoemaking, weaving, hairdressing, knitting, and baking. We shall also add plumbing and motor mechanics. The training is free of charge, and no prior educational qualifications are required, as you all know. 7. Increasing revenue collection by the Uganda Revenue Authority without hurting businesses. 8. Expenditure rationalisation by restructuring the Government. I thank Parliament here. As you heard, the Speaker was listing those Bills which you passed, which enabled this rationalisation to take place. 9. Fighting corruption. 10. Ensuring that the remaining 33 per cent of the homesteads still practised subsistence agriculture – join the money economy. The general security situation in the country is calm. However, the traditional and non- traditional threats to national security continue to manifest in the form of terrorism, negative political activism, general and cross-border crime, as well as health and environmental risks. The national borders are secure, save for the spill-over effects resulting from the conflicts in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Sudan and Somalia. These include an influx of refugees and asylum seekers, illegal immigrants, and the proliferation of small arms and light weapons. The capacity of the national security agencies, i.e., Uganda Police Force, the Internal Security Organisation supported by the army, the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), has been enhanced in order to combat crimes and guarantee the safety of all Ugandans. You saw how they stopped this young person who blew herself up the other day. She wanted to go where people were, but it was foiled. She was intercepted, and she decided to blow herself up. The security situation in Karamoja Subregion has significantly improved, despite pockets of criminality in the form of livestock thefts and some incursions by the Pokot and Turkana from Kenya. Deployments to stop cattle thefts by some of the Karamojong in the neighbouring

17488 ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION of Statistics (UBOS) shows that the share of Ugandans living below the national poverty line has fallen to 16 per cent, from 20 per cent four years ago, surpassing the 2025 national target of 18.5 per cent. With the continued implementation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), we are on track to completely wipe out poverty in the near future. The same UBOS report revealed that income inequality has also declined significantly over the last four years. The Gini Coefficient Formula, a statistical measure used to determine the extent of income inequality within a population has reduced to 38 per cent from 41 per cent in 2020. In the 12 months to March 2025, export receipts from merchandise trade increased by 26 per cent to $ 9.3 billion. The Ugandan Shilling is the most stable currency in the whole of Africa. During the past 12 months, it has appreciated by 6.1 per cent. Inflation is under control. It is projected at 3.6 per cent in the Financial Year 2024/2025, and Uganda has experienced Africa’s second-lowest inflation rate in the past decade. Foreign direct investment inflows are projected at $3.8 billion, while tourism and remittance receipts from Ugandans abroad are projected at $1.5 billion and $1.4 billion, respectively. During the next five years, it is projected that Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is going to more than double to $ 1.58 billion in 2030, in exchange rate terms, and $2.96 billion, in purchasing power parity terms. These achievements are not by accident. They are on account of deliberate and focused government interventions. Cumulatively, over the last 10 years, the Government has injected Shs 8 trillion in strategic wealth creation initiatives, which have boosted economic performance. These initiatives include: 1. Capitalisation of the Uganda Development Bank (Shs 1.45 trillion) to provide affordable capital to manufacturers and small businesses; 2. Parish Development Model (Shs 3.4 trillion) by the end of this financial year for the poor rural families; 3. Emyooga – Shs 553 billion; 4. Youth Livelihood Programme – Shs 207 billion; 5. Small Business Recovery Fund – Shs 100 billion; 6. Agricultural Credit Facility – Shs 495 billion; 7. Youth Venture Capital Fund – Shs 12.5 billion; 8. Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme – Shs 168 billion; 9. INVITE Project – Shs 800 billion; 10. The GROW Project – Shs 824 billion; and 11. Uganda Development Corporation – Shs 1.2 trillion, among others. Merchandise goods exports grew by 26 per cent, to $9.3 billion, in the year ending March 2025. The top exports include gold ($3.7 billion), coffee ($1.8 billion), cocoa ($410 million), industrial products such as cement ($335 million), metal products such as steel ($230 million), sugar ($190 million), and fish ($177 million). The export value of milk and milk products increased 10 times, from $28 million in 2015 to $285 million in 2024. The total export earnings of goods and services reached $11.81 billion by March 2025. The prices of consumer goods and services have remained low, averaging 3.4 per cent in the past 12 months to April 2025. This is good for savers and investors to be able to plan their investments and plan with certainty. The low inflation was due to a stable exchange rate, a good crop harvest, and the decreasing global prices of liquid fuels. The prices of diesel, petrol, and kerosene reduced by 4.2 per cent, 2.5 per cent, and 1.7 per cent, respectively, on average, for the year ending April 2025. The increased domestic capacity in sugar production has led to a reduction in the consumer prices of sugar by 10.8 per cent in

17490 ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION electronic integrated circuits, transmission operators for radio, telephone, and television sets, measuring instruments for physical and chemical analysis, among others. These new products have contributed to the continued diversification of our exports. Manufacturing is the answer to the challenge of unemployment. Uganda has got the raw materials and the human resources that can support factories specialising in the manufacture of automobiles, electronics, steel, textiles, furniture, food products, pharmaceuticals, aluminium products, etc. Some of the new products, which are manufactured here and are contributing to our export earnings, include: i. An electronics manufacturing plant in Namanve Industrial Park producing 120,000 hair dryers and 60,000 refrigeration parts per year; ii. Pharmaceutical companies producing four million single HIV pills and two million other medicines per year; iii. Dairy farms, which produce 5.3 billion litres of milk and processing plants such as Royal Milk Enterprises, Jesa Farm, Brookside Dairy, Amos Dairies, Lakeside Dairies, GBK Dairy, Pearl Dairy, etcetera, which process about 800 million litres of milk and 365 million tons of cheese per year; iv. Cut flowers worth $120 million being exported to Europe and other countries, per year; v. Two thousand tons of avocados and 4,000 tons of bananas being exported to countries like South Sudan, Kuwait, Thailand, and South Korea, per year; and vi. Electronics, pharmaceuticals, and solar energy products worth $60 million being exported to the regional international markets, per year. Therefore, with the roads and electricity we have now, and with the emphasis on skilled development and the entrepreneurial spirit of Ugandans, the country can increase the share of manufacturing goods in total economic output to the levels of South Korea, Thailand, or Malaysia. In Uganda’s case, this is currently valued at $8 billion. It was only $237 million in 1986. The return on investment in Uganda is high. It averages 14 per cent per year and can be higher in some sectors compared to an average of only 5.2 per cent in Europe in 2022. This is very important for you to understand that when you invest here, you make profits more easily than when you invest in Europe. In Europe, it is 5.2 per cent; here, it is more than 14 per cent. If you invest in Uganda, you get back your initial investment capital in about five to seven years, and the rest is profit, which our laws allow you to repatriate without restrictions. The Government has put in place a strategy to increase the size of the economy to $500 billion by 2040 or earlier. My people talk of 2040, but I want it earlier. This strategy identifies four anchor sectors. These are: 1. Agro-industrialisation; 2. Tourism development; 3. Mineral development, including oil and gas; and 4. Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), that is; taking advantage of the knowledge economy by prioritising investment in research development, Agriculture production and agro-industrialisation The Government has invested in irrigation to boost agricultural production. This is because the provision of water for irrigation reduces the likelihood of crop failure on account of water scarcity. Although Uganda’s irrigation area has increased from 22,000 hectares to 23,000 hectares, the country, however, has an irrigation potential of three million hectares. We have three million hectares that can be irrigated – I hear we have only irrigated 23,000 hectares of the three million.

17495 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 5 JUNE 2025 1. Establishing the quantities of the remaining mineral reserves; 2. Strengthening the minerals tracking system to improve transparency and meet the international rules of origin; 3. Adequate capitalisation of the Uganda National Mining Company; 4. Establishing the governance framework and the fiscal rule for the mining sector; 5. Expediting the finalisation of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline; 6. Prioritisation of the construction of the oil refinery and refined products pipeline; and 7. Commencing the construction of the Kabalega Industrial Park to attract petrochemical industries, among others. Science, Technology, and Innovation I would like to commend the Ugandan scientists for nurturing our nascent knowledge economy. Our scientists have been active in developing automobiles, vehicles – you show them the vehicles. You show these honourables and all these powerful people, Emotoka zaffe banange ziri ludda wa? Muziteekeko. (Whereupon a video clip was played.)

Temulina motoka zaffe? Mulina bakulu bokka? Abakulu tubamanyi. Ah! Bannange, Kiira mugirabye? Kiira , our visitors – freeze it there – Kabagirabire ddala – laba bano – (Laughter)- bagiteekako ne bagijjako ! Freeze it there. Now, those buses are electric buses manufactured by your children here; from zero to the whole thing. They are called “Kiira”. “Kiira” is our name for the Nile. The Nile – other people call it the Nile but we call it “Kiira”. Even the South Sudanese use the same name. That is why His Excellency, Salva Kiir’s name means Nile. His name means Nile. These people are making the buses, the smaller cars, and all other vehicles. Thank you. You can now show the big people. Obalabye ab’ebitiibwa? So, I want to commend the Ugandan scientists for nurturing our nascent knowledge economy. Our scientists have been active in developing automobiles, vaccines, electronics, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other healthcare tools. The innovations include: 1. The Kiira vehicle plant in Jinja, which has an annual capacity of 2,500 vehicles and an employment potential of 12,000 direct and indirect workers. There are 39 buses operating on our roads from Kiira; and 30 buses are under production. The plant has secured a market in West Africa to supply about 3,700 electric buses; 2. Dei Biopharma Manufacturing Facility in Matugga. Can you show us that one there? That one is a clever Ugandan who is heavily supported by the Government, but he has also attracted some support from other places. The Dei Biopharma Manufacturing Facility in Matugga has filed more than 100 patents in the United States, including a cancer treatment technology based on the gene therapy; a highly potent gene therapy technology for red blood cell generation by the bone marrow, an mRNA vaccine that treats brain degenerative tissue disease, an anti-malaria vaccine, a vaccine for HIV, a one-month insulin shot; a type 1 diabetes vaccine, a universal foot and mouth disease vaccine, and a biological molecule for penicillin. All these patents are there. You can check them with your people. Magoola, I do not know whether – is Magoola here? If he is here, he can stand up and you see him; 3. Developing the vaccines for the Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever and the Rift Valley virus; 4. Accreditation of the Alfasan Vaccine manufacturing facility to produce anti-tick vaccines for the second phase of clinical trials; 5. Professor Ogwang’s clinical trials of his natural therapeutics. He is also establishing an internationally certified production facility in Soroti Industrial Park;

17496 ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION 6. The PCR kit developed by scientists at Makerere University to conduct more than two million tests at 50 per cent of the cost of imported alternatives. This has saved the country $37 million in imports per year; 7. Gulu University developed highly effective rapid test kits for crop diseases – for cassava and sweet potatoes; 8. The engineering development and innovation centres in Rwebiteete, Kiruhura District and Namanve are enhancing capacity for industrial technology, metallurgy, electrical and electronics, civil engineering, automotive technology, agricultural mechanisation, and construction machinery. 9. The Presidential Initiative on the Banana Industrial Development (PIBID) plant in Bushenyi – can you show us that one? Bushenyi banange! If you don’t want to die from a heart attack, you eat our bananas. They have got potassium for your heart muscles. The Presidential Initiative on Banana Industrial Development plant in Bushenyi has significantly increased commercial production capacity to 140 metric tonnes of fresh Matooke – “Matooke” is bananas – per day. The plant has sales orders from the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Italy. Over the last 17 years, the NRM Government has prioritised infrastructure development, especially the roads, railways and electricity. We now have a solid foundation to support industrial development. All parts of the country are interconnected using tarmac and good murram roads. This means that whatever is produced in the country can easily reach the markets. It also means that the cost and time of moving goods has reduced significantly, facilitating both investments and trade. The stock of tarmac roads is now 6,199 kilometres, compared to only 1,900 kilometres when the NRM took power in 1986. Of these 1,900 kilometres, only 114 kilometres were in fair condition, while the rest, totalling 1,786 kilometres, were in poor condition. The roads to commence construction to tarmac standard next financial year include: 1. 23.6km., Yumbe-Ure Road and bridge. Are my people from Yumbe happy? Awadifo. (Applause) 2. 69.3km., Katine-Ochero Road – apwoyo, apwoyo, apwoyo – and 2.9 kilometres of town roads in Kaberamaido and Kalaki towns. 3. 105km. of Kyenjojo-Kihura-Bwizi-Rwamwanja- Kahunge and Mpara-Bwizi. Mwebale muno. 4. 56.3km., Iganga-Bulopa-Kamuli-Jinja. Mwebale ino . 5. 127km Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Bukungu – at long last. 6. 10km., Jinja City roads. 7. 115km., Kitgum-Kidepo. Apwoyo, apwoyo! (Applause) 8. 88km, Ishasa-Katunguru Road. Mwebale munonga . 9. 65.3km, Luku-Kalangala-Mulabana Road. Do the bassesse have their own language? Bogera Luganda? Kale bagenderawo. 10. 10.67 kilometres on the seven town roads in Kalangala. 11. 72km, Nabumali-Butaleja-Namutumba. 12. 73km, Karenga-Kapedo-Kaabong. 13. 69.6km, Kotido-Kaabong Road. Alakara noi noi . 14. 25km, Bubulo-Bududa Circular Road. Akaguto ako banange. Aba Masaaba. 15. 21km, Mbale-Nkokonjeru Road . 16. 46.4km, Kabwohe-Nyakambu-Bwizibw - era and Nyakambu-Nsiika Road. Abany - abuhweju, at last. The Government is repairing the 78.9km road from Nebbi to Arua and I am also negotiating for more money to tarmac other roads, namely: Kabujogyera-Kitagwenda-Kamwenge Road – a batagwenda bangye mutebwo amastiko; Muhaanga-Rwamuchuuchu-Kisiizi-Rubaare Road with a branch to Nyakisheenyi and another one to Kebisooni – Abahooro, Abakiga tindabasa kubebwa; Lyantonde-Lumbugu- Rakai – abakooki baffe eyomunda eyo;

17498 ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION In the past, delayed investment in new electricity generation capacity led to power blackouts – Do you remember? And it affected productivity in the industrial services sector. To stop this from happening again, the Government will commence investment in new hydropower plants at Ayago in Nwoya District, 840 megawatts; Kiba in Oyam District, 400 megawatts; and Oriang in Nwoya, 382 megawatts. In addition, work is ongoing for the 8,400 megawatts nuclear power plant in Buyende District. All these investments, when completed, will bring Uganda’s electricity generation capacity to 12,074 megawatts. However, we are aiming at 52,000 megawatts. Human capital The Government continues – Do not mind the long speech; you are the ones who invited me. (Laughter) - to focus on attaining a good standard of health for Ugandans and those living in Uganda. The prevention strategy remains the most powerful tool for fighting diseases. Therefore, I urge all Ugandans to adopt healthy lifestyles by exercising, maintaining personal hygiene, eating nutritious foods, sleeping under a treated mosquito net, refraining from dangerous practices like smoking, sexual promiscuity, etc. While the Government is investing in improving the health infrastructure across the country, it is the responsibility of every individual to ensure that they live in a clean and safe environment to avoid falling sick. Government has invested in a number of health infrastructure projects. These include infrastructure development for the Uganda Cancer Institute and regional cancer centres, the Uganda Heart Institute, intensive care units and imaging centres for referral hospitals. Construction of new maternity wards and staff houses in the health centres II that are being upgraded to health centres III, is currently ongoing. This has significantly increased the health facilities in all districts across the country. For example, when I visited Yumbe District recently, I found out that Yumbe alone has 26 health centres III. This means that our people, especially children and expectant mothers, no longer have to travel long distances when they get sick or when they are going to give birth. This also supports immunisation, which helps to raise healthy children, and supports the detection of dangerous disease outbreaks before they spread. The Government has supported the establishment of a pharmaceutical industrial park at Namanve that is producing surgical gloves and examination gloves, disposable syringes, human drugs like magnesium sulphate and paracetamol. Next financial year, the Government will support the construction of specialised centres of excellence for cancer and cardiovascular treatment, among others. Education The Government has introduced reforms in the education sector, which are aimed at re-orienting the curriculum towards a competency-based approach. This involves equipping learners with practical skills and competencies that are required in the private sector. This will help to reduce unemployment among school graduates. Government continued to implement the Universal Primary Education programme, reaching 8.8 million learners across 12,433 Government-aided primary schools at a sum of Shs 184 billion. The Government, through the School Facility Grant, constructed 413 new classrooms for primary schools and renovated 181 classrooms. Government procured and distributed 334 sets of mini-laboratory equipment to 334 primary Government schools to enhance practical science learning and foster early scientific curiosity among young learners. A total of 593 teachers were recruited to facilitate operationalisation of the newly grant- aided secondary schools in sub-counties. The Government has successfully completed the construction of an additional 50 seed secondary

17421 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 20 MAY 2025 I have not read anywhere in the proposed amendment that the General Court Martial (GCM) is being given unlimited jurisdiction. Actually, it is being given jurisdiction as set out in the law. When it says that, for example, you will have the authority to try offences under any written law, it is the High Court which has unlimited - but some of these offences are actually tried by Magistrates at Grade One. There are other offences that are tried by Chief Magistrates and others by the High Court. When they say that the High Court has unlimited jurisdiction, it just simply means that the High Court can try even that which the Grade One can try but it does not mean that no one else should try those offences. Being subordinate is equal, the GCM does not have jurisdiction which is unlimited. The jurisdiction of any court in this country is granted by Parliament – (Interjections) - let me finish so you can - jurisdiction is granted by Parliament. Even the jurisdiction of the High Court, ladies and gentlemen, is granted by Parliament under the Judicature Act and the Magistrates’ Courts Act is the one that grants jurisdiction. Remember, some time ago, we had started the process of amending the pecuniary jurisdiction of the Magistrates’ Court. That must come to the Parliament. It is not in the Constitution. The Constitution said there will be these courts but the granting of jurisdiction is supposed to be by Parliament. Yes, it is true, I was asked whether I would trust both courts, and yes, I did say I would trust both. What Hon. Odur forgot to answer is that even in our system, we like to go to the professionals in that space, first, then go to the generalised courts. We have the electricity disputes tribunals, the tax appeals tribunal, the industrial court; all those are specialised. In this case, the matter we are dealing specially is military equipment. The person who is best professed with the mandate to deal with military equipment is the army. We are saying that when you deal with military equipment and stuff of military nature, deal with the army first, then come out to the courts, just like we do in other specialised spaces. You said that the limited circumstances are where the Constitution is not in force. No, the Constitution actually told you to create subordinate courts, so we are doing it in accordance with the Constitution. Fortunately, we have both agreed that this was a matter that even the courts agreed is a constitutional matter. You also pointed out something where the courts of law have no capacity to try offences, for example, the shortage of judicial officers. I will leave that to you, Members of Parliament, because I am sure every time we come here, you talk about the backlog and the fact that we need more judicial officers. That is a matter that you have to have at the back of your mind, whether we should bring more matters to the judiciary. The issue here that we are dealing with- this law does not deal with providing jurisdiction of the GCM over all Ugandans. Therefore, it would not be necessary for you to get training and recruited into the army because the army is not asking for jurisdiction over all Ugandans. It is saying that only those who illegally possess killing instruments, which are ordinarily- and the issue here is ordinarily the preserve- So, suppose you find yourself in a situation where you have an AK-47 gun, without a license. In that case, the Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs says that they may be more specialised in dealing with these people who have special skills in acquiring arms illegally. The second one is where you work with the soldiers to commit an offence. If a civilian killed someone with a hammer, a panga , or boxed someone to death, you do not go to the court martial. They take you to the civilian courts. However, if you used a gun or a bomb, then that is when - so it is not that the law is saying

On the qualification of the other two members, Hon. Odur, we thought about that, and – it is not new in our place here. I am sure you are familiar with the industrial court. The industrial court has one lawyer and two other people who are experts on labour issues. These are experts in army affairs, so we are not picking people from the street. However, here, the law has told them that the only a person – and the amendment has clarified it. The decision on matters of law will only be made by the chairperson who is a legal expert, but the decision on matters of fact can be done by the soldiers and I think it is perfectly fine.

Madam Chairperson, with due respect to the submission of the learned Attorney-General, you are talking here about criminal law, criminal trial – the highest standard is needed before court. In the industrial court, tax appeals tribunal – these are civil matters, and the burden of proof is on the balance of probability. However, here you are talking about criminal –

17321 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 15 MAY 2025 3) In regard to alignment of programme allocations, the proposed annual budget programme allocations are consistent with the NDP IV, as indicated in the programme shares against the total budget, respectively - That is in table 5 for the details. 4) In regard to consistency, the high-impact projects of NDP IV, the proposed annual budget for the Financial Year 2025/2026 is consistent with the NDP IV. I beg honourable colleagues to get the details in Annex 3 of this report. Generally, this budget has adopted the implementation of NDP IV and this is a very good observation. Committee recommendations: i) In order to accelerate economic growth, Government should continue to sustain investments in strategic initiatives and strengthen the operationalisation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga , industrial hubs, among others in order to stimulate private expansion, job creation and household incomes. ii) We urge the Government to maintain fiscal prudence, which should remain a priority, with the policies aimed at containing the debt-to-GDP ratio below the 50 per cent CFR target and in present value terms. This should gradually reduce the fiscal deficit to below 3 per cent so that it is consistent with the regional and domestic fiscal policy frameworks of the target of 3 per cent. iii) Government should continue the acceleration of domestic revenue mobilisation by broadening the tax base, particularly in the digital economy through stricter enforcement and compliance mechanisms, such as the Electronic Fiscal Receipting and Invoicing System (EFRIS) and the Digital Tax Stamps (DTS). 2.5. Gender and Equity Responsiveness Madam Speaker, the committee observes that there has been a tremendous improvement in gender and equity compliance at 68.5 per cent compared to the Financial Year 2024/2025 where the score was below 67 per cent. 2.6. On the Contingency Fund, the committee observed that this year in the annual appropriation budget, the figure provided is Shs 169.0 billion, which is less than the expected amount, reflecting a deficit of Shs 2.1 billion. I will go to page 13 on the semi-annual budget performance. Implementation of the budget strategy - the details are outlined on page 13 and honourable colleagues can read that. Page 14. Overview of the revenue performance 3.2.1. Total tax revenue of Shs 14,335.88 billion was collected in the first half of the Financial Year 2024/2025 against a target of Shs 13,993.16 billion for the period, resulting in a surplus of Shs 342.71 billion. This performance was mainly on account of improved tax administration as well as higher than projected profitability of some firms in the first half of the financial year. 3.2.2. Grants The total grants disbursed during the first half of the Financial Year 2024 amounted to Shs 828.31 billion. This was against a projection of Shs 1,620.49 billion, implying a performance of about 51.1 per cent. 3.3. Overall overview of the expenditure Table 6 below shows the release and expenditure performance by wage, non-wage and development expenditure for the different categories for development and expenditure: Aggregate expenditure performance. At an aggregate level, Shs 18,295.2 trillion of the budget, excluding interest payment, was released by the end of December 2024. This equates to 48.7 per cent of the approved budget. The aggregate absorption was very high, at 78.3 per cent. The details on the wage releases performed at Shs 4 trillion of the approved budget. Of this, Shs 3.861 trillion was spent, which represents an absorption of 96.5 per cent.

17326 MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET, 2025/2026 - The Government should integrate the results of the census into the PDMIS data collection and registration model in order to facilitate profiling and identification of subsistence households; and - The Government should prioritise funds to ensure full implementation of the PDMIS and the integration of the WENDI platform to all participating banks. Honourable colleagues, we now go to the last part of this budget report. 4.0 Annual budget estimates for the Financial Year 2025/2026 4.1 The Budget Strategy for the Financial Year 2025/2026 This is the first budget in the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) IV. The goal of the NDP IV is, “Higher household incomes, full monetisation of the economy, and employment for sustainable socio-economic transformation.” The goal will be pursued under the theme: “Sustainable Industrialisation for Inclusive Growth, Employment and Wealth Creation.” To concretise the gains so far achieved during the Third National Development Plan (NDP III) and in order to propel the economy to higher levels of economic transformation towards double-digit growth, the theme for the coming financial year’s budget will be maintained as: “Full Monetisation of Uganda’s Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Industrialisation, Expanding and Broadening Services, Digital Transformation, and Market Access.” The overall objective of the budget for the Financial Year 2025/2026 strategy is to strengthen economic growth drivers that underpin the restoration of the economy back to the medium-term growth path and directly contribute to the expansion of GDP ten-fold from the current $553 billion to $500 billion by 2040 and double to $100 billion by 20 - I do not know that one. I think I have the wrong number. The budget strategy for the next financial year is therefore based on the principles of the ten- fold growth strategy and the gains, the lessons learned and opportunities from NDP III, as well as NDP IV’s new strategic direction. This demonstrates continuity of the socio- economic transformation agenda. This strategy underscores employment, wealth creation, and household income by prioritising key enablers for accelerated growth. The strategy, Madam Speaker, is based on five strategic areas or programmes, in brief called (ATMS) namely: i. Agro-Industry Development; ii. Tourism Development; iii. Mineral-based Industrial Development; iv. Sustainable Development of petroleum resources, that is, oil and gas; v. The development of the petrochemical industries and the Knowledge Economy, that is mainstreaming ICT, Digital Economy, and Science, Technology, and Innovation in our economy. 4.2 Actual Expenditure Lines The resource envelope for the next financial year, as presented by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to the committee and to this House amounts to Shs 72.376 trillion, a rise from Shs 72.137 trillion in the Financial Year 2024/2025 and the 72.376 trillion is broken down as follows: i. Domestic revenue, that is tax and non-tax revenue, is expected to be Shs 37.2272 trillion; ii. Budget support, that is grants and loans, is Shs 2.0843 trillion; iii. Domestic financing, that is domestic borrowing. We are going to borrow Shs 11.3813 trillion; iv. Domestic debt refinancing, that is rollover -

17329 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 15 MAY 2025 export sectors, through the Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment (INVITE) Programme; 2. Shs 90.97 billion for infrastructure development of industrial parks; 3. Shs 47.8 billion for capitalisation of the agricultural credit facilities to support farmers, but mainly agro-processors that focus on value addition; 4. Shs 414.74 billion for capitalisation of Uganda Development Bank in line with the annual line of credit. This will support the entire agricultural ecosystem, the private sector players, to increase stock and quality of tourism facilities, financing of the local production of essential goods as a precursor to achieving import substitution, among others; and 5. Shs 210.17 billion has been allocated towards the Resource Enhancement and Accountability Programme (REAP) with the objective of increasing resource mobilisation, improving planning and public investment management, and strengthening accountability for quality, effective and efficient service delivery. Commercialising agriculture Madam Speaker, these are the priorities proposed: a) Breeding, production, multiplication, and availing animal seed and poultry to farmers across the country through National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRIC&DB) - Shs 96.05 billion; b) Animal feed production on government ranches and farms (NAGRIC&DB) – Shs 25.5 billion. Those people who steal our cows from NAGRIC&DB should stop; c) Development of anti-tick vaccine, STI - Shs 5 billion; d) Research products and services suited for food, feed, market and industry National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) – Shs 24.1 billion; e) Improving access and use of agricultural equipment and mechanisation, through the use of labour-saving technologies under the Ministry for Agriculture – Shs 56.14 billion; f) The National Oil Palm Project under the Ministry for Agriculture - Shs 70.72 billion; g) Agriculture Value Chain Development, again under the Ministry for Agriculture – Shs 73.25 billion; h) Enhancing Agricultural Production, Quality and Standards for Market Access Project, Ministry for Agriculture - Shs 111.35 billion; i) The National Oil Seed Project under the Ministry for Agriculture - Shs 83.46 billion; j) Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project is provided with Shs 76.32 billion; and k) Coffee seedlings to Northern Uganda - Shs 60 billion. This is the first time; Northern Uganda has to embrace coffee production and enhance the economy of Uganda. That is a great thing. We have paid the debt for coffee seeds, and now we are going to get to the seedlings. Transformative transport infrastructure development 1. The construction of the Standard Gauge Railway, Shs 2,175.29 billion; 2. The construction, upgrade and rehabilitation of national roads and bridges - Shs 2,201.34 billion. Some of these include: a) Hoima-Wanseko Road - Shs 185.47 billion; b) Construction of 66 selected bridges - Shs 30.61 billion. The list of bridges is in the annex;

17329 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 15 MAY 2025 export sectors, through the Investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment (INVITE) Programme; 2. Shs 90.97 billion for infrastructure development of industrial parks; 3. Shs 47.8 billion for capitalisation of the agricultural credit facilities to support farmers, but mainly agro-processors that focus on value addition; 4. Shs 414.74 billion for capitalisation of Uganda Development Bank in line with the annual line of credit. This will support the entire agricultural ecosystem, the private sector players, to increase stock and quality of tourism facilities, financing of the local production of essential goods as a precursor to achieving import substitution, among others; and 5. Shs 210.17 billion has been allocated towards the Resource Enhancement and Accountability Programme (REAP) with the objective of increasing resource mobilisation, improving planning and public investment management, and strengthening accountability for quality, effective and efficient service delivery. Commercialising agriculture Madam Speaker, these are the priorities proposed: a) Breeding, production, multiplication, and availing animal seed and poultry to farmers across the country through National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRIC&DB) - Shs 96.05 billion; b) Animal feed production on government ranches and farms (NAGRIC&DB) – Shs 25.5 billion. Those people who steal our cows from NAGRIC&DB should stop; c) Development of anti-tick vaccine, STI - Shs 5 billion; d) Research products and services suited for food, feed, market and industry National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) – Shs 24.1 billion; e) Improving access and use of agricultural equipment and mechanisation, through the use of labour-saving technologies under the Ministry for Agriculture – Shs 56.14 billion; f) The National Oil Palm Project under the Ministry for Agriculture - Shs 70.72 billion; g) Agriculture Value Chain Development, again under the Ministry for Agriculture – Shs 73.25 billion; h) Enhancing Agricultural Production, Quality and Standards for Market Access Project, Ministry for Agriculture - Shs 111.35 billion; i) The National Oil Seed Project under the Ministry for Agriculture - Shs 83.46 billion; j) Uganda Climate Smart Agriculture Transformation Project is provided with Shs 76.32 billion; and k) Coffee seedlings to Northern Uganda - Shs 60 billion. This is the first time; Northern Uganda has to embrace coffee production and enhance the economy of Uganda. That is a great thing. We have paid the debt for coffee seeds, and now we are going to get to the seedlings. Transformative transport infrastructure development 1. The construction of the Standard Gauge Railway, Shs 2,175.29 billion; 2. The construction, upgrade and rehabilitation of national roads and bridges - Shs 2,201.34 billion. Some of these include: a) Hoima-Wanseko Road - Shs 185.47 billion; b) Construction of 66 selected bridges - Shs 30.61 billion. The list of bridges is in the annex;

17334 MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSED ANNUAL BUDGET, 2025/2026 1) The request by accounting officers on the Programme Budgeting System; 2) The need to ensure that the proposed changes by accounting officers do not result in supplementary needs or arrears; and 3) Changes have been proposed to correct errors and omissions that were made in the Budget Framework Paper and ministerial policy statements. In conclusion, Madam Speaker, the net effect of the corrigenda to the draft estimates for the Financial Year 2025/2026 is Shs 419.860 billion, which will increase the budget from Shs 71.957 trillion to Shs 72.376 trillion. Madam Speaker, because of the recommendations we made in this House, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and the Government have addressed more issues that were identified by this House by a tune of Shs 112.03 billion. That is part of that figure, among others. The source of financing is due to: 1) An increase in Non-Tax Revenue. They project Shs 58.03 billion; 2) An increase in local revenue for the next financial year by Shs 9.268 billion; 3) Reprioritisation of fiscal space of projects to free resources for emerging funding needs, amounting to Shs 681.64 billion; 4) Additional allocation amounting to Shs 1.03 trillion; and 5) Increase in external funding to Local Climate Adaptive Facility (LoCAL) project under the Ministry of Local Government by Shs 2.013 billion. In conclusion, Madam Speaker, arising from the corrigenda adjustments, the following figures in the table below are recommended for supply and appropriation as expenditure for the Financial Year 2025/2026. The table below is a consolidation of schedules A, B and C in the annexure, which are there. Honourable colleagues, I hope the annexures have been uploaded. I would like to conclude by saying that as a committee, we feel that for a long time, the Government has listened to this House. Our recommendations on the increase in budget allocation to the Cabinet was to the tune of Shs 4 trillion. The Government came back on our recommendations and addressed most of them to the tune of Shs 4 trillion. This is unique and a departure from the history we faced last year. On behalf of the committee, we thank the Government and the President, who is the ultimate minister for finance, for this support. For example, we recommended that Shs 100 billion be given to the National Medical Stores for drugs, and it was done. We recommended ambulances; they have given money for that to the health centres. They have given Shs 60 billion for the PET centre for cancer, among others. (Applause) They have given close to Shs 60 billion to Northern Uganda. Most of the changes, including the last one, under Annex 3, which were done yesterday, were as a result of the recommendations of this House. We commend the Government that in this process of consolidation, this spirit should continue to address the needs of our people. I beg to move. Thank you. (Applause)

NDPIII as well as NDPw strategic direction. Ttris demonstrates continuity of the socio-economic transformation stratery. Ttris strategr underscores emplo5rment, wealtlr creation, and higher household incomes by priorittdng key enablers for accelerated growth. fire strategr is based on five strategic anchor areas/progranrmes (ATUS) namely: 1) Agro-Industry Dwelopment; 2) Tourism Development; 3) Mineral-based Industrial Development; 4) Sustainable development of petnoleum resources: Oil and Gas 5) Development (petrochemical industries) and Knowledge Economy Mainstreaming (ICT, DT, STI). 4.2 Overlsw of tte Budget -F1fZUlE.l(J[5 Rt. Hon Spealrer and Members, the resouree envelop for the nent financial year amounts to UGX. 72.376 trllllon, a rise from UGX. 72.137 trlllion in F"f 2024125, broken down as follows: i. Domestic Revenues (Iax/Non-Tax Rwenue): ii. Budget Support (Grants and Loans) iii. Domestic Financing (Domestic Borrowing|: iv. Domestic Debt Refinancing (Rollover) v. Project Support (Grants and loans): UShs. UShs. UShs. UShs. UShs. 37,227.2 billion 2,084.3 billion 11,381.3 billion 1O,O27.8 billion L1,327.1 billion GRAITD T|(yrAL UShs.7!l, 376.5 blllloa Ftom the above nesource envelop, the following commitments take a flrst expenditure call: Project Support (Dlternat Financing) Amortization Domestic Refinancing Interest Pa5rments Appropriation in Aid (I,Gl) Domestic Arrears i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. 4E: UShs. LL,327.1 billion UShs. 4,985.8 billion UShs. LO,O27.8 billion UShs. LL,332.7 billion UShs. 3L9.4 billion UShs. 1,400.0 billion UShs 493.0 billion Debt Pa5rment (BoU) ( # W 25 lPag s s\ E= \.Iy

$ g) Generating Growttt Opporhrnities and productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW)- UcX 231.33br h) UGX l4Z.t,bt to Uganda Development Corporation i) UGX121.15ba towards Social Assistance Grants for Empowerment (SAGE) and UGX 16.Obn for Special grants for Persons with Disability; j) UGX l.4ofn for domestic arrears for Ft 2025126 k) Cattle compensation for Acholi, Lango and Teso - UGX 8(bn Indurtrlallzatlon aad Hvete Sector Dcvelopnent 1) UGX 275.09bn for SMEs in the marrufactr.rring and export sectors through the Investrnent for Industrial Ttansformation and Employment fIIWITE") programme; 2) UG|X 9o.97tn for infrastnrctr.rre development of industrial Parks; 3) UGX 47.6Ebt for capitalization of the Agrictilture Credit facility to support farmers but mainly agro processors that focus on value addition; 4) UGX 414.74 for capitalization of Uganda Development Bank and line of Credit. Tttis will support the entire agricultr.rre ecosystem, the private sector players to increase the stock and quality of tourism facilities, financing of the local production of essential goods as a precursor to achieving import substihrtion, among others. 5) UGX 2l,O.l7bn towards the Resource Enhancement and Accountability Programme (REAH, with the objective of increasing resounce mobilisation, improve planning and public investment rnanagement, and stnengthen accountabilit5r for qrality, effective and effrcient service delivery. ComnelcfdLf ry ftrtsrlturc a) Breeding, production, multiplication and availing animal seed and poultry to farmers cor.urtrywide (NAGRC&DB) - UGX 96.OSbn; b) Animal feed production on Government ranches and farms (NAGRC&DB) - UGX 25.5bn; c) Dwelopment of anti-tick vaccine - SU - UGX Sba; d) Research products and services suited for food, feed, market and ind (NARO) - UGX 24.I,blo;; e) Improving access and use of agricultural equipment and through the use of labour saving technologies - (MAAIF) - UGX 55.14bn 0 National Oil PaIm project- (MAAIF) - UGX 7o.712bo, gl Agricut ,hrre Value Chain Development (MAAIFI - UGX 73.25b1 s dgftr; F e I s

h) Enhancing Agricultural Production, Quality and Standards for Market Access Project (MAAIF) - UGX 117.35bn r) National Oil Seeds Project (MAAIF) - UGX 83.46ba j) Uganda Climate Smart Agriculhrral Ttansformation Project (MAAIF) - UGX 176.32bt, Lf Coffee seedlings to Northern Uganda - UGX 6Obn Transpott Infrastnrctule Developneat: 1) Constnrction of Standard Gauge Railway - UGX 21175,.29 blllloa; 2) Constnrction, upgrade and rehabilitation of national roads and bridges - UGX 2r20l.g4 blllloa. Some of these include: a) Hoima- Wanseko Road - UGX 185.47 b) Constmction of 66 Selected Bridges - UGX 30.61bn; c) Rwenlnrnye -Apac- Lira -Acholibur Road - UGX 166.25bn; d) Kisoro-Nkuringo-Rubugiri-Muko Road - UGX 1r260.9tbn; e) Moyo-Yumbe-Koboko road - UGX 125.OEbn; 0 Rehabilitation of Mityana-Mubende Road (lOOKm) - UGX 2lbn g) Pnoposed upgrading of Kyenjojo (Kihura)- Bwizi-Rwamwanja- I(atrunge (68Km) /Mpara-Bwizi(37Km) - UGX 109. 14bn h) Upgrading of Iganga-Bulopa-Ikmuli Road (57.2Km) - UGX42.55ba 4. Rehabilitation of District, Urban and Community access roads (DUCARI will continue under the Ministry of lVorks and Ttansport - UGX 91.78bnf 5. Road F\rnd Management - UGX 91.78bn TbltttEntDetnloprnsnt a) UGX 11.16bn for the Mt. Rwenzori Tourism Infrastnrcture. This improving the existing trails and establishing shorter ones, the existing bridges tahing into consideration of the flush floods, providing more ecofriendly accommodation facilities, improving safety of tourists by establishing rest points along the trails, among others. b) UGX 21.52bn for the development of Museums and Heritage Sites for Cultural Tor.rrism c) UGX 10.15ba for the development of Source of the Nile tor.rrism \$ infrastnrcture that includes for boats, and other amenities. piers, docking places ag e6 q + 1 I

ArIilEXES SUPPLY SCHEDULE A€ RECITRREIIT BITDGEI ESTIUATES FIOR APPROPRIAflOIT FWIOiIS / 26 .s L ( VotG DcclDttm romA(IICXO0O'l 001 Office of the Prresident 324,998.288 oo2 State House 479.892.365 003 Offrcr of the Prime Minister 136,702,231 o04 Ministnr of Defence 2,829.837.0s3 o05 Ministry of Rrblic Serrrice 34.372.227 006 Ministry of Foreim Affairs 58,508,947 oo7 Ministry of Justice and Constihrtional Affairg 180.085.754 008 Ministry of Finance, Plannine and Economic Derrclopment 2.2L2.569.306 009 Ministry of Internal Alfairs 56,161,364 010 Ministrfof Agricultur:e, Animal Industry and Fistreries 188.455.147 011 Ministry of tocal Gorrcrnment 64,795,807 oL2 Ministry of lanrds. Housins & Urban Derrclopment 202,497.221 013 Ministry of Education and Sports 483.229.263 o14 Ministry of Health 205,074,513 015 Ministry of Ttalle,Indusfir and Co-Operatives 2L5,gLL,344 016 Ministry of Works, and Ttansport 803.669.546 ot7 Ministry of Energr and Minerals 123,600,351 018 Ministry of Crender, Labour and Socid Derrclopment 299.Ll9.088 019 Ministry of Watcr and Environment 48.s89.602 o20 Ministry of Information. and Communications Technoloev 192,481,913 02L Ministry of East African Alfairs m 4,327,O99 I o22 lftnistry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities ruW 763 o23 Ministry of IGrnpala capital city and Metrropolitan hffi 7 110 Usanda Industrial Researctr Instihrte ruIRIl 17,689,292 tt 111 National Currictrlun Derrclopment Centne (NCDCI \- 37 1 LL2 Directorate of 39 lPa f -$(

Yot OaoAnUcl lmnt(rexOOOl 103 IaElrector General of Gorrcrnnent's Office(IGG) 22,797,LBL 104 Pgrliamentarfi Qs"n"?rissien(PARt) 20,805,900 105 Law Reform Commission(LRCl 378,011 106 Uganda Human Rfubts Commission UHRCI 6.765.97L 107 Ueanda Aids Comnission (UACI 557.370 108 National Planning AuthorityNPAl 44,917,O50 110 Uganda Industrial Research Instihrte (tIIRIl 2.893,060 111 National Curicrrlum Derrclopment Centre (NCDCI 395,000 tL2 Directorate of Ethics and InterritvlDEll &.770 114 Uegnda Cancer Instihrte (UCD 149.543.059 115 Usanda Heart Instihrte (UHII 69,527,635 116 Usarda National Medicd Storcs 1,432,600 LL7 Umnda Tourisn Board ruTtsl 43,180 119 Umnda Reeistration Senrices Buleau ruRSBl 3,900,000 t20 National Citizenship and Immigration ContnolNCICl 20.541.900 122 I(anpala Capital Citv AuthoritvffiCCAl 491.889.620 123 National totteries and Gamins Rernrlatorv Boad 1,000,000 L24 Equal Opportunities Commission 790.000 L25 NationalAnimal Genetic Resource Centne and Data Bank(NAGRC&DBl 96,370,842 L26 National Information Technolosies Autlroritv 237,215,050 L27 Umnda Vinrs Research Instihrte fi,rt/Rll L28 Umnda National Bramination Boad ruNEBl 10.408,O00 L29 Financiat Intellisence Authoritv IFIAI L,475,720 131 OtEce of the Auditor General IOAGI 1,565,702 L32 Fducation Service CommiseionESCl 1.583.666 133 Directorate of Rrblic Pnosecution(DPfl 18.336.749 L34 Health Seryice CommissionHSCl 7.O47.520 135 Directorate of Crovernrnent Analytical Laboratorv IDGALI 22.734.546 L37 National Identification and Rcsiutration Autlrority (MRAI 13.895.400 138 Uganda Innestncnt Authoritv (UIAI 308,997.082 r39 Petnoleum AuthoriB of Usanda (PAUI 31.s68.786 t4L Uganda Rerrcnue Authority (URAI 64.788.OOO L42 National Asriculhrral Researctr Organization(NAROl 101,163.251 L43 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (LJBOSI 18,360,000 L44 Usanda Folice 268.2tO.569 t 145 usandaPrisons^ I -/ )ffi .t' 6L.252.664 \ \s 51

17248 THE HIDESAND SKINS (EXPORT DUTY) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2025 overs from NDP III. However, due to the large funding gap, it will be impossible to undertake the activities in the work plan, with the potential catastrophic effects on the state of roads across the country. In line with this shortfall, the Ministry of Works and Transport has made allocations prioritising payments of arrears and acquisition of land for ongoing works. Most of the ongoing projects have not received sufficient funding to cover the planned scope of work. For example, the Mityana-Mubende Road requires an allocation of Shs 130 billion but was only allocated Shs 21 billion. Kampala-Jinja requires Shs 90 billion but was only allocated Shs 7 billion. Mbarara-Ishaka was not allocated any resources, despite being in very bad shape. The allocation projects are located in Annex 3 and if no extra funds are allocated, the result will be an increase in the domestic arrears, including interest on the unpaid sums. Impact of the funding gap Madam Speaker, the funding gap I have described will negatively impact the ministry’s ability to undertake land acquisition, complete ongoing projects, carry out urgently required maintenance works on the network, and commence strategic projects like from Bobi- Corner Ayer to support our expected AFCON 2027. This budget shortfall will also affect the implementation of externally funded projects, as resources are required for counterpart funding and land acquisition for the projects. Honourable members, if the extra allocation is not made now, the Government of Uganda will have to pay more in the long run due to the following factors; 1. Interest on delayed payments will increase. The estimated interest in the Financial Year 2025/2026 due to delayed payment is approximately Shs 48 billion. 2. In cases where contractors demobilise, when work resumes, it will include the extra scope of work to cover the damage done to the structure when the contractor was not on the site. You may have seen this in Ibanda; 3. Contractors’ claims for the demobilisation and also reputational damage to the country, which will cause contractors to increase their future bid prices to cater for the risk of non-payment; 4. Delayed utilisation of external finances, which results in increased financing costs for the loans; and 5. Increased accidents at the abandoned sites and across the road network where interventions are required. In addition to the direct costs mentioned above, Madam Speaker, there is a larger risk of losing the value of the road assets that the Government of Uganda has invested in over the last 15 years. The total paved network currently stands at 6,306 kilometres, as of Financial Year 2024/2025. This paved network is increasingly at risk of deterioration due to under-investment in timely maintenance. As a result of the underfunding, already, 615 kilometres of the paved network have deteriorated beyond maintenance levels and will require expensive interventions in the form of rehabilitation or, in some cases, full reconstruction. Madam Speaker, it is much cheaper to undertake periodic maintenance interventions such as resealing and local repairs compared to the full rehabilitation that is usually required when a road is neglected. The cost of the periodic maintenance ranges from Shs 646 million to Shs 1.14 billion per kilometre, while the cost of rehabilitation ranges from Shs 2.28 billion to Shs 2.66 billion per kilometre. The periodic maintenance activities renew the life of the road. A good example is the Kampala Northern Bypass, where the periodic maintenance currently being implemented will give the road a new lease of life at a reasonable [Mr Ecweru] MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

17263 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA W EDNESDAY, 14 MAY 2025 The committee was informed that the proposal is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and innovation. The committee observed that: 1. The three-year exemption period is a good proposal given that the majority of the new businesses started stand to benefit from this exemption. It has been noted that many businesses in Uganda rarely reach their fifth anniversary of their operations; 2. The proposal will promote formalisation of the SMEs by encouraging business registration as a requirement for qualification for an exemption; 3. The proposed registration with an investment capital not exceeding Shs 500 million is a reasonable threshold for many start-up businesses; and 4. The Bill provides for a business to be registered with an investment capital not exceeding Shs 500 million. The provision, as it is, is subject to misinterpretation that the investment capital must be registered. However, the provision intends to have a registered business with an investment capital not exceeding Shs 500 million. There is need to amend the provision to reflect that it is a registered business, which has invested Shs 500 million. The committee, therefore, recommends that Clause 2(b)(i) should be amended to reflect that it should be a registered business, which has invested capital not exceeding Shs 500 million, other than a business registered with an investment capital not exceeding Shs 500 million. 4.4 Exemption of tax on chemicals for agricultural use Clause 2(c) provides for insertion immediately after the words “agricultural use”, the word “or”. The committee noted that this would provide clarity on the existing exemption relating to chemical manufacturers. It clarifies that the exemption applies only to chemicals intended for agricultural or industrial use, thus removing the ambiguity. The committee recommends that chemicals intended for agricultural use be exempted from tax as proposed in the Bill. 4.5 Exemption of capital gains tax on transfer of assets Clause 3 of the Bill proposes to substitute section 76(4)(a), to amend the definition of reorganisation to indicate that the transfer of business assets can be made by a natural or a legal person and not a company alone. The committee was informed by the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development that the proposal is intended to offer roll-over relief to permit businesses to restructure for efficiency and strategic flexibility without being burdened by the capital gains tax when there is no significant change in underlying ownership of the business. The committee observed that the amendment will make it possible for individuals who own assets to transfer them to companies that they own or control as part of the restructuring of the business without having to incur capital gains tax. Further, by removing the tax barrier for such transactions, the amendment will enhance efficiency, simplify restructuring, and provide clarity in the law. The committee, therefore, recommends that the proposal to exempt businesses which are transferring assets to another person other than an individual controlled by the transferor or the shareholders should be adopted. 4.6 Increase in Digital Service Tax Clause 4 of the Bill proposes an amendment to Section 86 of the Principal Act, to provide for a new subsection (5), indicating that the section shall not apply where a non-resident person is deriving income from providing digital services in Uganda to an associate in Uganda.

17286 THE HIDESAND SKINS (EXPORT DUTY) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2025 Clause 2(3) of the Act provides that no levy shall be payable for any item in Schedule 2 to the Act. Schedule 2 provides for exemptions from export duty. The committee was informed that the removal of these exemptions is driven by the following key policy recommendations. 1. A surge in glue stock export, which has contributed to depletion of the raw material for the local industries; 2. A shortage of raw materials for tannery industries undermining their productivity and growth; 3. Promotion of import substitution and export- oriented industrialisation, in line with the Government’s policy of encouraging local value addition, and strengthening domestic manufacturing. By eliminating these exemptions, the amendment seeks to enhance availability of raw materials for Uganda’s tannery industry, support local value addition, and align with broader economic strategies aimed at industrial growth and export orientation. The committee observed that the imposed amendment seeks to limit export of raw hides and skins, which are inputs of local industries to produce leather products. There is an innovation to process hides and skins as processed food for export in (Ponmo). This value addition enterprise has benefited from the tax exemptions and promoted value addition in Uganda’s local industry. The rejected hides and skins from tanneries are transformed into processed food, and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has categorised Ponmo under glue stock, and has not assigned it a separate product category. Therefore, Madam Speaker, the committee recommends, The proposed charge of $0.8 or rather 80 cents per kilogram be charged on raw hides and skins exported out of the country, and we propose that that be adopted. URA should exempt this category of Ponmo from export duty. Conclusion, the committee recommends that, “The Hides and Skins (Export Levy) (Amendment) Bill, 2025” be passed subject to the proposed amendments. I beg to submit.

By the way, when I mentioned the approval, I put the question. I did. Hon. Goli, didn’t I? Honourable minister, move a motion. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT TO AUTHORISE AN ADDENDUM BY GOVERNMENT TO THE PROPOSAL TO BORROW UP TO EUROS 162,445,674.1, AN EQUIVALENT OF $178,276,661.7 FROM THE EXPORT- IMPORT BANK OF CHINA (CEXIM) TO FINANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL PARKS - POWER SUPPLY TO INDUSTRIAL PARKS AND POWER TRANSMISSION LINE EXTENSION: INCLUSION OF SINOSURE INSURANCE PREMIUM

Madam Speaker, I beg to move a motion to authorise Government to amend, by way of an addendum, the proposal to borrow up to Euros 162,445,674.1, an equivalent of $178,276,661.7 from the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM) to finance the development of industrial parks - power supply to industrial parks and power transmission line extension: Inclusion of SINOSURE Insurance Premium.

Madam Speaker, on 30 January 2020, Parliament passed a resolution authorising Government to borrow up to Euros 162,462,445.694 from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to finance the power supply to industrial parks and grid upgrade and power transmission extension project. Six months later, the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development moved a motion to amend the same resolution of Parliament by substituting Industrial and Commercial Bank of China with the name EXIM Bank of China, as evidenced in the revised drawn agreement between the Government of Uganda and the EXIM Bank of China. The minister informed the House that during implementation, the government of China had indicated that the financing institution would be the Exim Bank of China, not the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, as had previously been stated, and intimated that the same terms and conditions would apply. Based on the statement by the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development that the terms and conditions were the same, Parliament, by resolution, authorised the Government to change the creditor. On 23 rd January 2025, I presented an addendum to provide for the insurance premium of 7.06 percent on the loan principal and interest of the approved borrowing up to Euros 164.445 million, an equivalent of $178.276 from the Export- Import Bank of China to finance the same project. What does this mean to the cost? Everything in the cost remains unchanged. To bring the House up to speed, I can go through the terms. The total amount is Euros 162.45 million to finance 75 per cent of the commercial contract that will deliver the same project. The terms are the following; Maturity period is 15 years, grace period is 5 years, and the repayment period is 10 years. the interest rate is 6 months EURIBOR (Euro Interbank Offered Rate), plus 2.6 per cent margin per annum, and the management fee is 1 per cent of the loan amount. The commitment fee is 0.5 per cent, the insurance cost - this is the Sinosure that we are bringing in as an amendment, is 7.06 per cent of both principal and interest. The effective interest rate without [Mr Mpuuga] MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

17295 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA W EDNESDAY, 14 MAY 2025 insurance is 5.16 per cent, the effective rate with insurance changes now to 5.85 per cent. The effective interest rate with insurance on principal only is 5.63 per cent. Madam Speaker, with this information, I pray that the House considers the Motion so that we can proceed with providing the necessary infrastructure to the industrial parks.

Like the minister mentioned, this loan was approved by Parliament on the 30 th but at that time, the assumption was that there was going to be no insurance. Up to today, no disbursement has been made since 2020 because the terms were amended later, and we are supposed to pay insurance. That is why there is that change. Therefore, the amount remains Euros 162 million or $178 million, but this time including insurance. The only change is on insurance. Because of that, we have one observation on the delayed presentation of the addendum. The committee observed that the loan agreement was signed by both the lender and the borrower in May 2024, following the Parliament’s initial approval in 2020. The committee also observed that China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation approved the insurance policy on the 29 th 2022. The committee noted that the processing of this loan facility had been riddled with significant time lags and, as such, had affected the implementation of this project. The committee recommends that the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development does a comprehensive loan approval submission. The minister should ensure that all the key components of the loan facilities, including associated insurance covers such as Sinosure, where applicable, are clearly outlined and submitted to Parliament at the time of the loan approval request to avoid piecemeal approvals and associated delays. The committee further recommends that the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development should be held accountable for any omissions or delays in submitting complete information to Parliament and should institute internal checks to improve the quality and timelines of borrowing proposals. This will enhance the credibility of the projects implementation timelines. Madam Speaker, that is one of the key proposals we had, and in conclusion, the committee noted that as part of the loaner conditions for effectiveness, the borrower should provide the lender the evidence of payment of an insurance premium. That means it has to be paid before. In this case, the insurance policy is to be issued by the insurance company, which is Sinosure. Without this insurance payment, no disbursement can be affected. That is why, since 2020, no financing would be available from this source for the power supply to industrial parks and the power transmission line extension. Given the fact that this loan had been approved, as highlighted in the background, the committee proposes that; 1. The House considers the approval of this request in line with the committee recommendations that the insurance premium be computed based on the principal loan amount and not both the principal and interest. Additionally, the provision within the financing agreement to waive sovereign immunity should be done away with, given the interest premium charge, which the committee believes is sufficient and offers assurance that the loan is secured. 2. Going forward, the minister for finance presents complete loan terms and conditions to Parliament for consideration and approval

Honourable Members, I now put the question that the Parliament approves an addendum to the proposal to borrow up to Euros 162,445,674, equivalent to $178,276,661 million from Export-Import Bank of China, to finance the development of industrial parks, power supply to industrial parks and power transmission lines extension, inclusion of Sinosure Insurance Premium. (Question put and agreed to.)

Madam Speaker, I am doing a follow-up; last time you required the Attorney- General to give us the correct position on how he will deal with the issue of the election of the MP representing Workers so that the regional balance is taken care of, and the Attorney- General had committed that he was going to carry out consultations, come back and brief the House on how Northern Uganda would -

Madam Speaker, the Value-Added (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was read for the first time on the 27 of March 2025 and referred to the Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development for consideration and in accordance with Rule 135 (1) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, the committee scrutinised the Bill in accordance with rule 135(2), (3) & (4) of the Rules of Procedure and now begs to report. The object of the Bill is to amend the Value Added Act, Cap. 344, to: 1. Provide for the anti-fragmentation rule for imported goods; 2. Exempt biomass pellets and solar lanterns from Value Added Tax; 3. Zero-rate the supply of aircrafts; and 4. Prescribe the United Nations-related agencies and specialised agencies as listed institutions. Methodology While considering the Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, the committee utilised the following methods. Meetings The committee held meetings with the following entities: 1. The Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; 2. Uganda Revenue Authority; 3. PricewaterhouseCoopers; 4. Certified Public Accountants of Uganda; 5. Private Sector Foundation Uganda; 6. Uganda Manufacturers Association; 7. Birungyi, Baraata and Associates; and 8. American Chamber of Commerce, the French Chamber of Commerce, the British Chamber of Commerce, the Netherlands Trade and Industrial Platform. We received written submissions from the Attorney- General, Kikuubo Entrepreneurs Initiative and Bawunha & Badebye, Certified Public Accountants. Under document review, the committee reviewed and made reference to the following documents: 1. Submissions from the stakeholders mentioned above; 2. Policy Note: the VAT Exemption for Biomass Pellets in Uganda from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; 3. Policy Note: Imposition of VAT on supply of billets from the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development; 4. The Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill explanatory notes; and THE VALUE-ADDED TAX (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2025

17221 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 17 APRIL 2025 (ii) Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB) has now been merged to form Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board; (iii) The Directorate of Industrial Training, under the Ministry of Education and Sport, has also been merged to form the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board; (iv) Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board, under the Ministry of Education and Sports, has been merged to form Uganda Health Professionals Assessment Board under the Ministry of Education and Sports; (v) Uganda Allied Health Examination Board, under the Ministry of Education and Sports, has also been merged under the Health Professionals Assessment Board in the same ministry; and (vi) Management and Technical Advisory Centre (MTAC), under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, together with Nakawa Vocational Training Institute, under the Ministry of Education and Sports, have been merged to form the National Vocational Training College under the Ministry of Education and Sports. The approved budget for the rationalised institutions amounts to Shs 62.45 billion, as at the end of Quarter three, Shs 49.12 billion had been released, leaving a balance of Shs 13.33 billion. The balances of this financial year under the rationalised institutions will be transferred to the receiving entities to ensure continuity and seamless transition of service delivery. Arising from the above, the details of the required budget transfers are as follows: (i) Vote 162: Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority - an amount of Shs 2.55 billion to be transferred to Vote 008: Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development; (ii) Vote 165: Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board - an amount of Shs 9.36 billion to be transferred to Vote 169: Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board; and (iii) Vote 013: Ministry of Education and Sports, Directorate of Industrial Training, Shs 1.42 billion to be transferred to the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board. Mr Speaker, I wish to note that there are no savings from the above rationalised institutions in the Financial Year 2024/2025 because the terms of employment have not changed for the months up to June for UMRA staff transitioning to the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. Similarly, under Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, the terms of employment have remained the same. I submit.

Mr Speaker, under total balances for transfer, the schedule has approved the budget for the Financial Year 2024/25 and we have total releases and a column, which gives you Shs 49.12. Then we have total balances for transfer under the Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority (UMRA) transfer to the ministry for finance, Shs 2.554 billion, under the Uganda Business and Technical Examination Board, Shs 9.363, and under the Directorate of Industrial Training, Shs 1.415. When you total this, it will give you Shs 13.33 billion.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Compliance with the law All the ministerial policy statements under the committee’s purview complied with the requisite laws and regulation. Therefore, it is in order that the honourable member peruses through some of those annexes. I invite Members to focus on Vote 016: Ministry of Works and Transport, as I give observations and recommendations. Unpaid certificates Delayed payment to contractors has been and continues to be one of the major factors negatively affecting the construction industry in the works and transport sector. Long outstanding payables are an indication of poor budgeting and cause a risk of litigation and payment of penalties for delayed periods. Consequently, contractors lose the properties they use as collateral to acquire loans to execute government projects. Commercial banks, who are the main financiers of the industry, are losing confidence in government- funded projects, making these projects less competitive. The committee noted that the proposed budget for the Financial Year 2025/2026 has a budgetary requirement of Shs 1,735 billion, that is Shs 1.7 trillion towards areas and unpaid certificates for the National Roads Department, and yet only Shs 150 billion has been allocated, leaving a funding gap of Shs 1.5 trillion. The committee, therefore, recommends and urges the Government to provide additional resources to a tune of Shs 1.5 trillion to clear the outstanding debt, in order to avoid paying interest, which creates an additional financial burden to the taxpayers. Rehabilitation of the Tororo-Gulu Railway Line The committee was informed that on 13 April, 2023, the Government of Uganda, through the Ministry of Works and Transport and the Uganda Railways Corporation, as the implementing agency, signed a contract with the China Roads and Bridge Corporation to rehabilitate the 382 kilometres of Tororo-Gulu Metre Gauge Railway at a cost of Shs 199 billion. This project is fully funded by the Government of Uganda and was supposed to take a period of two years, with the completion date set at July 2025. The metre gauge railway will support the Government’s efforts to increase stock and quality of strategic infrastructure in order to accelerate Uganda’s competitiveness. The committee noted that while the ministry had budgeted for Shs 90 billion towards compensation, rehabilitation and supervision of civil works along the Tororo-Gulu Metre Gauge Railway, only Shs 46 billion was provided, leaving a funding gap of Shs 44 billion. The committee takes cognisance of the crucial role that the Tororo-Gulu Metre Gauge Railway will unveil for northern Uganda and Uganda as a whole, upon completion, in terms of boosting economic growth through facilitating trade and transport, connecting the region to global markets and boosting key value chains like agriculture, cement, oil and gas. Therefore, it recommends and urges the Government to provide an additional Shs 44 billion for the metre gauge railway, if it is to be completed by the end of 2025. The committee further recommends that the metre gauge railway to Gulu be extended to Pakwach because the railway line infrastructure originally terminated at Pakwach and is still in existence, although it needs rehabilitation.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The 10 new cities have operated in the last four years without road equipment, and severally, on the floor of the House, they have promised us that they will provide money to secure road equipment for them. I would like to be certain that the ministry has provided for that money. Secondly, the Busega-Mpigi Express Highway is part of the East African Northern Transport Corridor. Funds were secured. Mr Speaker, I saw you on that route on an oversight visit on our behalf. When you were there, works began to move, but currently, there is no work being done. We want to know the reason for the delay of this very important infrastructure that is connecting Uganda to the business world in the West. What is happening honourable minister? I submit.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I really thank the Government for the Shs 1 billion which has been provided for local government; in Dokolo, it has helped us a lot. Thank you. Having said that, I know that roads under the spirit of programme budgeting support issues related to industrialisation. In programme budgeting, we are talking about industrial parks. We have planned for about 22 industrial parks, but the budget for them is always a challenge. My proposal is, why don’t we have those districts which have industrial parks added at least half a billion, so that they have one and a half billion, to be able to start developing their parks, by opening the roads and then also have electricity. Having said that, I want to reiterate what my brother mentioned, the Dokolo-Namasale Road. The importance of that road is that it will reduce the transport distance by 164 kilometres. It will also reduce the consumption of fuel by 40 per cent. If that happens, that is what we call competitiveness, which a road is supposed to bring, by supporting a process of industrialisation, which I have talked about in my earlier comment. My request is, kindly let us plan for roads to develop the place well, especially if we do not have municipalities. We are expecting a municipality in Dokolo, but as we wait for it, let us have incentives which come with the municipality in terms of an increase in areas for roads. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the Chairperson of the Infrastructure Committee. In September, the President of Uganda directed the Ministry of Works to locate a ferry on Mutunda-Atura Road but I have not heard it anywhere in the budget. The minister should also explain why it is missing. Recently, they opened the Karuma Bridge and my brothers and sisters from Northern Uganda were extremely happy, happy over an old bridge, yet the Government has been promising to construct a new bridge. The contract was signed but the committee does not emphasise and tell us when the project will commence. On the road infrastructure protection, many road signs have been vandalised as the ministry keeps looking on. What remedies do they have to protect our road infrastructure? Finally, since when did our Rules of Procedure allow Members of Parliament to come dressed in clothes that have wings or tails, like my brother has donned today? Thank you (Laughter) .

Thank you so much, Mr Speaker. I would like to join my colleagues in thanking the committee for the well-elaborated presentation. On behalf of the people of Lango, we would like to thank the Government for the Apac-Rwenkunye road and the rehabilitation of the Soroti-Kamdini Road. Lango is the third highest payer of taxes in this country, but our road bitumen coverage is three per cent, and these are mainly roads that the former Governments constructed. Since the inception of this Government, it has constructed only the Apac-Rwenkunye Road. I request that the Lira-Aloi-Abim-Kotido Road be especially put in this budget. This has been in the manifesto for two consecutive terms. There was even a time we were called for a handover; the ministry disappeared up to date. This would boost business because we have enough industries to supply northern Uganda. We need a connection. Thank you so much. (Applause)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The principle of equity demands that we must share what is available. When you look at the report, the ministry now wants Shs 6.4 trillion because of the implementation of the Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Expenditure (RAPEX) projects. Mr Speaker, I was going through documents in my research and noticed that Northern Uganda, the biggest of the regions in the whole country, with a size of 82,000 square kilometres of roads, has only 639 kilometres of tarmac roads, representing 14 per cent. Eastern Uganda has only 19 per cent. That means that the eastern and northern areas have only 34 per cent of the tarmac roads. Western Uganda has 41 per cent. Central here has only 25 per cent, yet we all pay taxes. I would like to appeal to the committee and the Members of Parliament that, before we adopt this report, the Minister of Works and Transport should tell us how much money is going to the north, the west, the south and the central, and which roads they are going to work on. When we pass it blindly, other regions are going to miss out. We are seeing what is happening. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. We want to know the fate of the land titles of the people of Amber Court, Kimaka - generally, people affected by the Jinja-Mbulamuti-Kamuli-Bukungu Road. This road has been promised since 2001, it is now 25 years later, yet it had reached a high stage of procurement to make it now a bitumen class 2 road, and that was under Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA). Unfortunately, UNRA is now rationalised under your docket, honourable minister, so we do not know its fate. When are you going to progress and deliver that road, or have we now seen the end of that promise? But along with that road, Jinja City was promised 20 kilometres, which were to pave the roads within the city. I cry for the road that goes to the industrial area. In that area, we find BIDCo Uganda Limited, a company that is paying a lot of tax. It is one of the 10 highest tax-paying companies in Uganda, but along with that, there are still rolling mills; there is one making iron sheets. That road serves industries. So, we would like to know the fate of this project. It was on a pre- financing arrangement, and we were ready to receive it, but we do not know whether, when you took UNRA, we also lost the project. Otherwise, people are eager to listen to you on that. Lastly, at a national level, the substances that make a road like aggregate, marram, and maybe in the near future bitumen, are going to be locally sourced. What is the cost of the road? Why is it so high? Are we paying for the skill? (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Let me commence with this, respectively, to persuasively convince you to accept some of these statistics that some of our own have burned the midnight candle to research on. Hon. Ebwalu drew exactly from what our alternative budget had researched. The truth of the matter is that even the National Development Plan has a map. There is what they term the Uganda National Development Plan map, and it locates its basis in the regions. Incidentally, the northern region carries the largest geographical part, followed by the eastern, but look at the percentages. We are not saying that Western, having 41 per cent tarmac road coverage, is concentrated maybe in your area, but we were looking for instance at the Albertine Graben, then draw down there – (Interjections) - someone whispered DRC, no, we did not go to DRC. These are the statistics that are emanating from reliable sources: eastern – 19 per cent, northern – 14 per cent, central – 25 per cent. If you add northern and eastern, you cannot even equate it to western.

I would like to give him information. Mr Speaker, I was among the members who went and supervised the activities of the oil in the 10th Parliament. When we went to Buliisa, where the Total camp is based, we were shocked to learn that as they were exploring oil from the underground, but from the northern side of Uganda, using technology. When we look at these oil projects, there are a number of social corporate responsibility activities by that these companies are doing by where of building hospitals, schools and so on. Why did they choose to explore the one from Northern Uganda underground? They should have gone live on the ground so that some parts of Northern Uganda would have also benefitted from these roads, which are constructed under oil and also other projects. I also do not understand that rationale because the congestion would not have only been in the Bunyoro area. It would have also gone to Northern Uganda. If the roads, schools, and hospitals in Bunyoro have been worked on under the oil projects, why did we choose to get the one from Northern Uganda underground using other technologies? Was it a deliberate sabotage? We are also asking these questions.

I was looking at Northern Uganda, and the minister knows that at 639 kilometres, compared to Western Uganda with 2050 kilometres - Mr Speaker, allow me to read what the Constitution says. I actually admire the reason and the logic with which you articulate this argument about Western maybe having more of the roads in the Albertine Graven.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the committee for giving us a very good report. My first question is to the Minister of Health: Sometime back, you called us to Nakasero to receive ambulances. When will Oyam District get the pledge of the ambulance? People are asking day in, day out. Secondly, I would like to address myself to the issue of counterpart funding arising from President Trump’s Executive Order because it has affected HIV infected persons. It has affected malaria and Tuberculosis control – where we have children, women, and others also infected. The committee has recommended Shs 9.6 billion, Mr Speaker. I think when you look at our population, and the people affected from these diseases, this Parliament can find room to provide this money. Thirdly, I would like to add my voice to the issue of cancer in this country. We recommended that the PET machine be bought. The whole of last year, I was in the Uganda Cancer Institute with my late dad and the congestion there – We are now in the rainy season; when it is raining, you will find attendants outside and beaten by rain. If there is something that this Parliament can do, again, let us buy this machine and secondly, focus on decongesting the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago by providing money for Mbarara Satellite Centre and then the Northern Regional Centre. When we look at the Uganda Cancer Institute, from congestion to lack of drugs, inadequate staff, you will find that we have a big problem as far as this disease is concerned. Then, finally, I would like to talk about the maintenance of equipment. We have bought equipment in many regional referral hospitals but we do not have the technicians to service and maintain them. It, therefore, looks like we are moving one step forward and two backward. Money has been spent but the equipment works for about two to five months or even a full year and then they are down and remain there. When the patients come in, they are referred to private facilities. I would like to thank you and I pray that this Parliament finds room to accommodate the budget, especially for the Uganda Cancer Institute in Mulago. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Chairperson. Yes, we adjourned and agreed to do more consultations. I want to report to the House that we have held consultations with the farmers, millers and members of Parliament from the sugarcane- growing areas, namely Busoga, Bunyoro, some parts of northern Uganda, and to confirm that after the consultations we have agreed on a number of things, including the composition of the council, the formula, and we are now ready to continue the process of legislation. Also, we want to thank you, Mr Chairperson, for the work and time you put in this Bill. You chaired almost four meetings, and you have

17065 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 15 APRIL 2025 commercial charcoal use to bring charcoal from the greater northern part of Uganda. The greater northern part of Uganda used to be very green, but now most of the indigenous trees, such as - I know it in Ateso: it is called Ekunguru. (Interjection) It is the shea nut tree. It makes very good charcoal, but most of those trees, in northern Uganda, are endangered because of that. Mr Speaker, charcoal burning is a source of revenue to the local communities and that is why they are unwilling to stop it. A truck will leave Acholi, Lango – (Mr Amos Okot rose_) – It is just an example, honourable colleague - and come all the way from – (Member timed out.)

Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I thank the chairperson for the wonderful report. We need to state facts. I do not know whether Members know that the power lines that we have are so weak. The power outage is too much. We have lines passing by in our constituencies, but every day, power is not there. We have power once in two weeks. I want to know and inquire from the minister why it is happening? What is the problem? If there is an incapacity, tell us. If you cannot control and manage electricity, hand it over to a person who can. Secondly, we have not talked about the power tariff. Our people cannot afford; industrial and domestic, it is too high. Why don’t we provide something in the budget to subsidise? We know our people cannot manage. We are talking of

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Before the encroachment of Kei Natural Forest, our home was the last home towards the forest but I saw people encroaching on this forest while the officials of the National Forest Authority were watching on. It appears as if it is a strategy because once people deplete this part of the forest, they go and start planting eucalyptus and teak. It is as if the encroachment is a good strategy for them to deplete the forest, then they go ahead and plant these other species and yet these have been a natural resource and natural trees. Therefore, when you go there, the indigenous tree species are disappearing while they are planting new ones. The question is, “Who are those who are planting these trees?” They have not come out clearly. It is as if there are people within the National Forestry Authority who look into this and use it as a strategy to plant their own trees. I, therefore, do not support this. Hon, Ann Adeke had said here that many of these people who deal in charcoal come all the way from Northern Uganda up to Kampala and the dealers keep on bribing. Actually, the people who have been bribed are National Forestry Authority staff. Therefore, claiming that they need more money for protection, I do not support this because I see what they do. When they were – (Member timed out.)

17092 APPROVAL OF BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2025/2026 Whereas the expansion of the Judiciary to 25 operational High Court Circuits is commendable, it has created a serious challenge in regional office operations since they have not matched that expansion. It is increasingly becoming challenging to cope with all the required court appearances given the long distances of up to or over 300 km from regional offices’ respective courts, moreover with only one vehicle and yet some regions have more than four High Court Circuits. In 2026, the ministry expects an increase in cases requiring defending Governments in courts relating to electoral petitions, which have a very serious time-bearing. Currently, the ministry does not have regional offices in the following 17 High Court Circuits, and we have named them down here. The ministry requires Shs 8.37 billion to cater for rent, utilities, furniture and fittings, conferencing facilities, security equipment and power, among other utilities. Out of the required total amount of Shs 8.337 billion, only Shs 2 billion was provided, leaving a funding gap of Shs 6.33 billion. It is our recommendation, as a committee, that this money be provided this financial year to enable the ministry to properly dispense justice to the Ugandans. v) Court awards, Arrears and Compensation The ministry is faced with an outstanding bill of Shs 30.2 billion resulting from court awards and other compensations. Non-payment often results in the accumulation of interest, thus increasing the overall debt. Additionally, delays in paying individuals or business owners by the Government significantly hinders their ability to invest or operate effectively. The committee has learnt that the Government has made an allocation of Shs 4.5 billion to cater for ex-gratia in the Financial Year 2025/2026, leaving a funding gap of Shs 25.7 billion. We recommend that the Government prioritises payment of court awards and arrears to reduce the principal amounts that attract interest by providing an additional Shs 25.7 billion. vi) Cattle compensation to war debt claimants The Government agreed to compensate war debt claimants in Teso, Acholi and Lango subregions for the loss of livestock and other property during the insurgency in northern Uganda. The committee commends the Government for providing Shs 40 billion during the Financial Year 2024/2025 and an allocation of Shs 80 billion in the Financial Year 2025/2026 for compensation of war debt claimants. However, the committee was informed by the ministry that the total liability for cattle compensation, verified by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs after verification by the district officials, amounts to Shs 521.698 billion. Mr Speaker, this is a very serious political issue in the respective areas. The committee recommends that the entire outstanding bill of Shs 521 billion be settled during this financial year. (Applause) vii) Establishment of a comprehensive war debt compensation policy The committee notes that the ongoing war debt compensation scheme is limited or restricted to only three subregions of Teso, Lango and Acholi, with no clear timelines on when other affected areas in the country will be included or considered in the process. Therefore, there is need for the Government to establish a War Victims Compensation Fund, catering for all war-affected areas in the country. This policy would acknowledge historical injustices, promote healing and reconciliation and support post-conflict recovery and development in affected areas. The committee recommends that the Government establishes a comprehensive compensation policy for all regions that have suffered the effects of war and conflict since independence.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity. I thank the committee for the very good report. I tend to associate with the committee recommendation on the establishment of a fund for compensation of war victims. The country is conspicuously very quiet about compensation of war victims in West Nile. Since 1979, there have been war victims in West Nile, but nobody has compensated them. On 24 th and 25 th of January 1981, there was the Ombachi massacre where 90 people were killed and those have never been compensated. The victims of the West Nile Bank Front and Kony wars have never been compensated as well. I thought my good friend, Hon. Jonathan Odur, would not have restricted his report to Lango, Teso and Acholi. I thought the brotherhood of Northern Uganda would have included the West Nile. I am very surprised for the first time that Hon. Jonathan is very selfish. (Laughter) It is my prayer that this fund is established and the whole region is looked at. The President has just come from West Nile and we have reminded him of all these war atrocities in the region. You can imagine that in the country, the war mongers are compensated, but the victims of the war are ignored. It is very absurd. I, therefore, thank the committee for that recommendation. On the minority report, I agree with Hon. Jonathan on a number of the recommendations. However, he has recommended a legal

16950 APPROVAL OF BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2025/2026 Return on Investments by Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) UDC has established to promote and facilitate industrial and economic development in Uganda. As the Government’s investment arm, UDC drives industrial growth by establishing subsidiary and associate companies, forming private partnerships with commercial industries or agriculture enterprises, promoting, facilitating and implementing public-private partnerships. UDC also assists in financing and managing projects that promote industrial or economic development and conducts research into industrial development. The committee observed that Government through UDC has been investing in various Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) The committee received information from UDC on the current impact of investment, which reveals that the investment has created over 2,000 jobs in the agro-industry and over 1,500 in infrastructure services. There is an annex. The committee observed that the Government’s investment in a number of UDC projects, as seen in annex 1, has supported the economy through job creation, export earnings, and tax revenue. However, by December 2024, some investments had only contributed to job creation without any impact on export earnings or tax revenue. These include Budadili Arabica Coffee Mills, Atiak Sugar Factory, Nauzila Limited, Fine Spinners Uganda Limited, and Speak Resort Convention Center. The committee recommends that UDC, as the Government’s investment arm, ensure that private entities in which the Government invests funds have higher economic returns in terms of tax revenue and export earnings. Inadequate Funding of UDC for investment The committee observed that during consideration of the National Budget Framework Paper Financial Year 2025/26, 2029/30, UDC had a total budget of Shs 14 billion, only catering for Shs 11 billion wage and non-wage 21. There were no funds to fulfil UDC’s ongoing capitalisation commitments, such as to Abubaker Technical Services and General Supplies which is Shs 26 billion and new commitments to already appraised funds. Mr Speaker, following Parliament’s recommendation to capitalise UDC with at least Shs 361 billion for the various projects, Additional funding was allocated to UDC, increasing its budget to Shs 125 billion. This will enable it to cater for investments in some projects, though it will leave a funding gap of Shs 266 billion. Below is the table of investment projects for the Financial Year 2025/2026, with its figures in billions. Colleagues can read. Observations on UDC: Mr Speaker, the committee noted that while some projects have more proposed allocations than indicated in the National Budget Framework paper, others receive less. For instance, Biyinzika Enterprises received a funding requirement of Shs 28.9 billion but has a proposed allocation of Shs 39.77 billion in the draft budget estimates for the financial year 2025/26, while Investments in Grain Afrokai has a proposed allocation of Shs 9 billion against a funding gap of Shs 25 billion. The Committee noted that Biyinzika Enterprise Limited was reported to be an integrated poultry enterprise engaged in the production and sale of day-old chicken animal feed. However, by the time the committee prepared this report, it had not been furnished with sufficient information, to provide a basis for

16951 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 10 APRIL 2025 appropriating Shs 39.77 billion to Biyinzika Enterprise Limited. The committee notes that fine spinners received Shs 30 billion in the Financial Year 2024/2025 and that Shs 30 billion has been proposed in Financial Year 2025/2026, out of Shs 31 billion that was required. Other projects, like Lira Spinning Mill, which required Shs 59 billion to purchase and revamp the factory and undertake the spinning of the farmers’ cotton, have no proposed allocation despite a feasibility study being completed. The committee notes that while enterprises like Bundibugyo Cocoa processing factory have completed a feasibility study, no proposed allocation has been made for the Financial Year 2025/2026. The ministry informed the committee that UDC lacks sufficient capitalisation and requires Shs 5 billion to fulfil its mandate. Recommendations for UDC The committee recommends that Government capitalises UDC with additional funding in the short to medium term to enable term to enable it invest in appraised projects. The committee further recommends that the proposed allocation through UDC to Biyinzika Enterprise Limited and Fine Spinners be reallocated as follows: The allocation of Shs 39.77 billion to Biyinzika Enterprise will be deferred as the committee undertakes due diligence on the proposed investment. It was reallocated as follows: 1. Uganda Shs 6 billion should be reallocated to Bundibugyo Cocoa factory to support its start-up, promote the export of value- added cocoa as opposed to raw materials, and earn the country higher economic returns from the cocoa value chain. 2. Shs 4 billion should be reallocated to invest in a chlorine manufacturing plant, improving the country’s trade balance through a reduction in the cost of importing chlorine, a key ingredient in wastewater treatment, pure water treatment, and disinfectants. 3. Shs 25 billion be allocated to Fine Spinners Limited to fulfil its obligation in a phased manner and enable investment in other projects. E, page 49 4. Shs 10 billion be reallocated to Lira Spinning Mill to initiate the purchase and revamping of the factory to undertake the spinning of farmer’s cotton in Northern Uganda. 5. Shs 5 billion be allocated to Luwero Food Factory to start up investment since the feasibility study and the business plans were completed. 6. Shs 5 billion be relocated to Nwoya Fruit Factory to start master designs, environment and social impact assessment and geological studies and preliminary site preparation. 7. Shs 6.7 billion be allocated to the Iron Ore processing to save the importation of iron and improve the country’s trade balance through a reduction in the cost of importation of iron ore. 8. Shs 8 billion, be allocated to Sanga VET to purchase active ingredients, special equipment and working capital for manufacturing of animal drugs and acaricides. Management and Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC) Recommendations of MTAC The committee recommends that the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development ensures that MTAC’s budgetary provision is

16952 APPROVAL OF BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2025/2026 provided for in the Financial Year 2025/2026 to enable it to continue service delivery. Below is the detail of inadequate funding for the Management Training and Advisory Centre. Mr Speaker, the committee recommends that the Government should, in the short to medium term, support MTAC by funding the proposed interventions above. Uganda Cooperative Alliance Limited (UCAL) Revival of Uganda Cooperative Bank I will go straight to the recommendations because of time. The committee recommends that the Government allocates Shs 2.5 billion to UCAL to mobilise resources and conduct research to facilitate the re-establishment of Uganda Cooperative Bank. Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) Retention of staff The committee observed that the budget for UNBS for the Financial Year 2025/2026 increased from the indicative figures in the BFP, as summarised in the table below. Honourable colleagues can read through the table. The committee observed—that is, on page 53— that in Financial Year 2024/2025, the budget for UNBS was Shs 59 billion, which has been increased to Shs 138.3 billion. While the wage component has not increased, the non-wage and development budgets have increased by Shs 46.7 billion and Shs 30 billion, respectively. Mr Speaker, the committee takes note of the increase in UNBS’s non-wage budget and development budget to address the decentralisation of UNBS’ services, as recommended by Parliament. However, the committee is concerned that the provision of an additional wage bill to cater for staff salary enhancement to match that of other scientists and retain staff has not been implemented and may pose a challenge to implementing the budget, with no critical staff to execute it. Below are the salaries of other scientists in the other entities compared to UNBS. I will go straight to the recommendations on page 54. The committee recommends reallocating Shs 10 billion for non-wage component of UNBS, as follows: a) Shs 5.8 billion for enhancement of salaries for existing staff; and b) Shs 4.2 billion for recruitment of more staff. Vote 110 – Uganda Industrial Research Institute Inadequate funding for Uganda Industrial Research Institute a) The committee recommends that the Government allocates Shs 9.8 billion to Uganda Industrial Research Institute to ensure that the above critical activities are undertaken in the short to medium term. b) The committee further recommends that the Government facilitate Uganda Industrial Research Institute’s decentralisation of services across different regions of the country. c) The committee further recommends that incubators domiciled at Uganda Industrial Research Institute, Nakawa Campus, graduate in a timely manner to give new incubators an opportunity to showcase and build their capacities. Uganda Free Zones and Exports Promotion Authority Staff recruitment The committee recommends expediting staff recruitment under the Uganda Free Zones Authority to facilitate the implementation of the Uganda Free Zones and Exports Promotion Authority’s planned activities for the remaining part of the Financial Year 2024/2025 and the new Financial Year 2025/2026.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I also thank the chairperson and the Committee of Trade, Tourism and Industry for the comprehensive report presented. I take note that Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) and Management Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC) are very critical institutions that, when allocated more funds, can introduce significant skills, equipment to our people. For example, some of us always endeavour to bring trainees to these institutions. When they have sufficient funds and these trainings are decentralised to

Thank you, Mr Speaker and thank you, Chairperson and members, for this important report. We take note of just a few points because of time. One is appreciation to the committee or the contribution of this sector to our GDP. This is mainly the industrial sector, which contributes 27.3 per cent, manufacturing contributes 16.5 per cent, creating 1.4 million jobs. This has been because of the policy of import substitution. We can see that the products that we are producing here are replacing those that we used to import. There are quite a few concerns that were raised, namely, on the funding by Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) to different companies. One, I want to clarify on Biyinzika Poultry International Limited. Mr Speaker, it is an indigenous company, which is interested in investing in animal feeds. We thought that this sector, which is growing, should be supported by the Government. The requirement that we need is Shs 45 billion. The amount of money that appeared previously was Shs 28 billion, but when we received the final figures from the minister for finance, the allocation proposed was Shs 39 billion. That explains the difference. We think that by supporting this company, we are actually impacting on the import substitution of animal feeds, and growing this sector. We are of the opinion that this money should not be reallocated. Instead, it should be increased. The second point is about Fine Spinners Uganda Limited. Mr Speaker, we have already signed an agreement, and we are investing more money in the cotton sector. I do not know whether Members have visited the Fine Spinners Uganda Limited factory here in Bugoloobi, which is doing a fantastic job. We are investing Shs 58 billion. We have already paid Shs 28 billion to the company. The remaining Shs 31 billion is to import the factory lines. We are of the opinion that reallocating Shs 5 billion to other companies that are not ready will just stop the importation of this equipment. Mr Speaker, I pray that as we go into the final arrangement to maintain the Shs 31.5 billion, so that we import the equipment and start the factory. If we do not do that, how shall we import part of the equipment? Unfortunately, you cannot import part of the equipment. You must import all the equipment that you need, and we are at the tail end. Mr Speaker, I beg that as we finalise, we maintain this Shs 5 billion so that we can import the equipment. You are familiar with manufacturing. If you are ordering equipment, you cannot order 95 per cent of the equipment; it must come as a whole. The other issue was about certification, and it was raised by the honourable colleague opposite me. I would like to inform you that the Ministry of Trade, working with the Ministry of Agriculture, has prepared a project to address all issues related to exports, including standards, radiation and all that. A project of around €174 million will be coming to this House by the Ministry of Finance to address post-harvest handling and all these issues, including certification. Then, we shall impact on the exports that we have. Finally, there was the issue about the sugar mill of Busoga - (Interruption)

Thank you, honourable minister. Please, we are done. No, we are done with this. Sorry, honourable colleagues, I want to give this guidance. I have listened to the chairperson and I have read through the report. I have listened to the minister. It seems there was a gap. Honourable minister, it seems there is additional information for which the committee requested clarification, but you never gave it. For them, they had to process the statement based on the documents they had. Okay? Therefore, on the issue of Biyinzika, fine spinners, please, provide the committee more information and clarification, so that it is very clear before this money is redistributed, so that at the Budget Committee level, we can have it well harmonised. Okay? Number two, I have seen and read through different reports and noticed that the committee on tourism has processed vote 110, committee on presidential affairs has processed vote 110. I think we need to start moving together as a Government. You see, this is - colleagues and members of the Cabinet, this is a matter of the law. Okay? The law is here. The Uganda Industrial Research Institute Act, 2006, places it under the minister in charge of industry. I do not know how the Secretariat for Science and Technology works. I have the law here. Even if you go, I have the law here. The directors, the heads, are appointed by the minister in charge of industry. Therefore, the interpretation in the Uganda Industrial Resource Institute Act, 2006, says thus: “Minister means the minister responsible for industry.” If you do not amend the law, you cannot work in anticipation. If you want to change something, go and amend the law. If you do not amend the law, we will go with the existing law. Simple! Therefore, the Committee on Presidential Affairs, please - I will not disturb you with Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI). I am even seeing discrepancies in figures. Let us - if the Government wants the institute to go under the secretariat, because it is not a ministry, the secretariat of science and technology, let them amend the law. They should bring a proposal. Otherwise, we shall look shabby here if we continue that way. Honourable chairperson, do you want to make any clarification?

16978 APPROVAL OF BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR FY 2025/2026 headquarters, including the acquisition of land. The land has already been acquired, 27 hectares, but we need 50. The remainder, which was pledged by His Excellency the President, has not been accomplished hence the need for this Shs 5.4 billion Uganda shillings. I will remind you of the fact that the Afro- Arab Youth Conference will be convened here during the course of next financial year; actually towards the end of this calendar year. It is going to be headquartered here in Uganda, therefore, the urgent need for this money. Vote 002: State House The State House is quite clear. We have to support the graduates of the skilling programme. We have 19 hubs, but we need to expand. On that, we recommend that the Government provides the State House a start- up support for skilling programme graduates, and also expedite establishment of a SACCOs where the skilling programme graduates can submit proposals to access funds to expand their enterprises, in the Financial Year 2025/2026. The committee further recommends that the Government explores the possibility of expanding the industrial hubs to have a national outlook. Poverty alleviation model villages; we have 36. We need many more, and to expand them, we have recommended that the Government provides Shs 6 billion to enable the State House to effectively roll-out 10 more model villages, to other parts of the country. Uganda AIDS Commission Uganda AIDS Commission is currently going through dire straits, because of what you all know regarding funding from the United States of America and other donor agencies. They have sort of halted their support, and they are getting it a little bit hard. The committee established that the dissemination of HIV prevalence messages is inadequate and therefore needs more funding. We recommended that Shs 18.2 billion be provided to vote 107 to facilitate packaging and dissemination of HIV prevention messages in the whole country. The committee further recommends that Uganda AIDS Commission considers repackaging the HIV prevention messages for dissemination that depict the true dangers of living with HIV/AIDS and also adapting other new methods of communication. Vote 110: Uganda Industrial Research Institute (UIRI) We have been guided, but it is clear there. I will not go into those details. Ethics and Integrity is doing quite some good job but is very poorly funded and has funding gaps, which we identified here. We recommended that Shs 3.935 billion be provided to Vote 112 to facilitate the retooling of the Directorate of Ethics and Integrity. They do not even have computers and their desks are completely worn out. It is a sad story in that office. Internal security organisation: That is Vote 158. The details are very clear there. We only identified one important issue, and that is enhancement of technical infrastructure. Given the current trend of technology, the organisation needs to upgrade their technical capacity and they need Shs 50.06 billion but only Shs 2.5 billion has been made available. We therefore recommend that the excess gap of Shs 49.06 billion be made available to enable internal security organisations to move with the times. The threats and mandates are clear. I would not waste a lot of time taking you through those details. Vote 159: External Security Organisation (ESO). Their mandate is derived from the External Security Organisation Act. They do a lot of

I am very sorry, Mr Speaker. I thought it was on. I always see people come and just talk. Vote 122: Kampala Capital City Authority We looked at one major problem here and that was solid waste management. We are recommending that Shs 78.3 billion be provided to Vote 122 to enable KCCA to deliver on its mandate in as far as solid waste management is concerned. You all know the issue of Kiteezi – all those details are put there. We further recommend that the management of Kampala Capital City Authority explores the possibility of investing in sustainable waste management through recycling, like it is done in many other modern countries. Vote 003: Office of the Prime Minister Office of the Prime Minister is quite a wide one, but we do not have very many recommendations on this. We only request that, one, the budget enhancement for the Office of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Government Chief Whip and minister for general duties be enhanced by at least Shs 12 billion. Finally, we also talked about northern Uganda, Karamoja affairs, Luweero Triangle and Busoga affairs portfolio. We put our recommendations very clearly. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, the committee appreciates the total funding gaps that have been indicated in all the MDAs under this jurisdiction, but it is also alive to the challenges associated with the resource envelope constraints. The committee, therefore, calls upon the Government to consider enhancing allocation to the presidency, KCCA and Office of the Prime Minister in interventions it has deemed critical as highlighted in this report. I wish to report. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to correct something. When he signed, he told me to take the document to the office of the Clerk and I did that. Let me go straight to the areas of dissent. In accordance with Rule 205 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament of Uganda, the minority members of the committee dissent from the opinion of the majority committee, on the following grounds; 1. Failure to lay on Table the Ministerial Policy Statement of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Mr Speaker, pursuant to Rule 146 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, each minister responsible for a Vote, ministry or head responsible for a Vote shall by the 15 th day of March submit to Parliament a policy statement for the preceding financial year for the ministry or Vote. To that fact, Vote 167 and Vote 110 – Science, Technology and Innovation and Uganda Industrial Research Institute, respectively – failed to lay on Table their Ministerial Policy Statements for the Financial Year 2025/2026. They acknowledged this before the committee, that they were unable to table their Ministerial Policy Statements on time. 2. Concerns regarding the proposed increase in the facilitation budget for RDCs in six districts – as named in the observation of the majority report The majority report, on page 8, recommended that Shs 12.424 billion be provided for facilitation of Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and that the size and nature of each district be among the key factors considered. The districts are; Kasese, Isingiro, Ntungamo, Wakiso, Tororo and Sironko. Based on the recommendation, each Resident District Commissioner is expected to receive Shs 2.071 billion, annually. This is twice the budget of the district road fund. Each RDC is supposed to receive that – if you compute – annually, which translates to Shs 172 million per month. To put this into perspective, this is an amount equivalent to the annual roads maintenance budget for a typical township. A case in point is that Wakiso District currently has five Deputy RDCs, each assigned to oversee a specific area. Entebbe has a Deputy RDC, Kira has a Deputy RDC, Kasangati has a Deputy RDC, Makindye has a Deputy RDC, Makindye-Ssabagabo has a Deputy RDC and Nansana Municipality also has a Deputy RDC. In addition to these RDCs, there is an overall RDC for the district. Furthermore, the President recently appointed five Assistant RDCs in Wakiso, bringing the total number of appointees in the RDC’s office to 11 individuals. This level of staffing in a single district raises concern of overstaffing, especially at a time when the country faces numerous critical funding needs in essential sectors. The proposed allocations, if implemented without efficiency checks and accountability could divert substantial resources from priority areas such as health, education and infrastructure. What do we propose? We propose that additional funds should not be provided to facilitate the RDCs, based on the size and nature of the districts. In fact, the number of

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to start from the issue regarding the RDCs. Honourable chairperson, you mentioned some districts including Kasese, Nsingiro, Tororo, Wakiso and others - about six of them but I urge you to have a national lens - Honourable Alex, I am talking to you but you are engaged elsewhere. (Laughter) Why didn’t you have a lens towards the northern part of Uganda? A case in point is a district that I represent; Oyam, which is very big and my RDCs are really suffering because of the big size of the district. Mr Speaker, the number of the RDCs that we have now is enough. For example, we have four who can traverse the entire district if they are fully facilitated. Secondly, I would like to add my voice to the Youth MP’s voice about the Afro-Arab Youth Conference, which our country is about to

Much obliged, Mr Speaker. However, it is at the back of our minds that out there, we are going for something. Aware of that, I really wanted this committee to look at the presidential pledges so that the name of the President is saved, and some of us who support those presidential pledges are also saved. This is so that they do not remain empty tins surrounding the constituencies. Two, I support the proposal to give remuneration for the RCCs, RDCs and Assistant RCCs. Arua City has nine RCCs, with deputies and assistants and there is no space for those nine people to sit. You find all the Assistant RCCs packed in one room. When people who need the services come, you have nowhere to put them. The population that needs the services from these offices have nowhere to sit. Therefore, I urge the committee to look at that so that office space can be given to these Assistant RCCs and their deputies. Lastly, these industrial hubs are doing wonders in the regions and constituencies, but the manner in which these youth are selected is not clear. You realise that people have already been taken for the training, but when you come back to your constituency – in your wards or parishes – you find that the youth were left out. I also wanted the committee to look at that. As we support the industrial hubs, we should have

16828 BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR THE FY 2025/2026 Would it be procedurally right that you first allow the minister to bring that document he committed to, before we move to approve this? Some Members here raised concerns about how the Government is allocating money to places that ideally should not be getting money from the Government, but he is deliberately, ignoring some communities that ought to get Government attention. You can only be able to answer all these questions if we look at the NDP IV document, which the minister committed to bring. I, therefore, invite you, that since this budget will be based on the National Development Plan IV, it is important we appreciate what the Government intends to do in different parts of this country. We already know areas like Northern Uganda are very poor – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I now come to my justification of the motion. Briefly, the theme of this year’s budget is: “Full Monetisation of Uganda’s Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Industrialisation, Expanding and Broadening Services, Digital Transformation, and Market Access.” The total resource envelope is Shs 71,956,621,530,685. The areas of focus in the budget are the ATMs, which means Agro-industrialisation, Tourism, Mineral-based industrial development, and Science, technology, innovation, including ICT and the creative art industry. The key enablers are 10, which we have identified, and they are the following: 1. Maintaining peace, security, and the rule of law; 2. Human capital development, including health, education, water, and social protection; 3. Full monetisation of the economy through the Parish Development Model (PDM) and other wealth programmes; 4. Infrastructure development, including roads, railways, and electricity; 5. Regional integration; 6. Irrigation through bulk water to stabilise agriculture; 7. Manufacturing with a focus on industrial parks; 8. Eliminating corruption; 9. Environmental and natural resource conservation; and 10. Vertical and horizontal integration of the economy. We have attended to crucial issues that were raised by Cabinet, Parliament, the NRM Parliamentary Caucus, and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Budget, and some of the recommendations of Parliament at the Budget Framework Paper stage have been taken care of. We have also taken care of key policy commitments, mainly the domestic arrears in the areas of agriculture, health, education, including African Cup of Nations (AFCON), Electoral Commission, and the general election roadmap, the wage shortfalls in the local governments, unfinished infrastructure in the roads due to counterpart funding, among other things. I appeal and invite colleagues to support this process. I also inform colleagues that this motion I am moving is basically for ushering us into receiving the ministerial policy statements. Afterwards, I will move another motion for supply, which will lead us into appropriation. Thank you, Mr Speaker, and Members for listening to me. I submit.

Yes, Mr Speaker. That is why I am talking about equity and balancing of this. When you subdivide this Shs 1 billion in a district with more than two counties, like in mine, it is supposed to be about Shs 300 million, or something like that. When you compare a district with the one county and with small geographical coverage – That is why I am saying, if we can consider the equity and balancing of that resource – The same thing applies to PDM. We have parishes which are too big, like in Northern Uganda where you go and it is even bigger than a subcounty. The Shs 100 million that you give is just peanuts. The subcounty itself, the villages, the parishes are as big as – In Agago, we have about 1,200 villages in a district and the parties are as huge as that. I would like to find out from the committee, and especially the ministers, the level of the staffing. What percentage are we now in the local government? What is the coverage? How are our civil servants? You will find that this is where we have to supervise and follow up even these little resources. However, if the employment level is below 50 per cent in a district then I consider that we have to increase the wage amount for this. Finally, I have an appeal to the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. We should not conclude this term and then find that the newly created subcounties and town councils are not getting the money, which is supposed to be given to them for these smaller roadworks. At least we should change it in this financial year so that as we are going for the new campaigns and forming another Government, we do not keep carrying the same burden and questions. Let us identify these subcounties which are not getting their little money for the small road works. The Ministry of Local Government should come up with a full list covering the country and then we immediately create – without going more than five months after the passing of the Budget. I thank you, Mr Speaker.

16867 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 9 APRIL 2025 as the Ministry of Local Government, going down using our Commissioner in Charge of Local Council Development to establish our own numbers. We shall base on those to advise the ministry for finance to increase the funding. Subdividing the parishes will not help because the numbers are the reason why we need more money. Hon. Asiimwe talks of a cash bonanza. I wish to express my anger over such a comment from a Member of Parliament. When we see these people eating money, we should take action there and then. If you see them in bonanzas and giving you fake documents, we should work very hard to ensure we curb thieving of government funds in our constituencies. Mr Speaker, we have been advising that the mother district, out of which the city was curved, should lend the machines to the city. Most cities are doing that, as we work out their own road equipment, having supplied 15 new sets of road equipment to the newly created districts. Local revenue collection. During our visit – I am the one who covered northern Uganda. I was in Kole, Arua, and others - Yes, there are delays but I want to confirm that the money will come. However, when the money comes, the problem is the district. The Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs) - I went to Kole and found a very big scandal. The money was coming back but it was not being given out. Check on your CAOs. The money may come late and the ministry for finance has an explanation, but giving out money should be supervised by all of us. On the roads that hon. Patrick Bingi brought up, we have decided to supervise the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development Program (USMID) funded roads. However, the nature of the roads is not ordinary. They install culverts and they make pavers. The quality and the amount of murram put is not just a matter of mere scattering. Hon. Bingi, you should go, look at the bills of quantities, and then come and bravely say 120 is too much because the quality of the work is bad. If it is bad, we shall reprimand them and make them repeat it. For Hon. Kwizera, the Speaker has answered you ably. I do not need to go through that again. I am touched by Hon. Hellen Auma’s comments. How do they recruit? Why recruit people outside Busia? We should avoid tribalism. We recruit considering qualification, suitability of the work, and expressing that physically in the interviews. These days, they do written and oral interviews. You are free to work in Kabarole, and my people are free to work in Busia, if they meet the qualification demands. For only two teachers, I do not think it is true. For local government, the district service commissions are open and the CAO’s duty is to give information and submit the vacant positions. The Minister of Public Service will allude to that but I know our CAOs submit. Where they do not submit, bring arguments and then we will hold them responsible. Regarding reduction of our budget, we are complaining to Mr Musasizi. Honestly, when you reduce the money, you reduce the services and it means our people will not get the required services. For Hon. Amos Okot of Agago, we are compiling the list and the Speaker gave me time to present. My turn is coming next Tuesday. I will provide the list, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker, I am sorry for this typo, but I was careful when reading. I corrected and read Financial Year 2025/2026. The resource envelope for the Financial Year 2025/2026 will be Shs 71,956,621,530,685. Mr Speaker, next year’s budget is focused on growing the economy tenfold through the ATMs and the enablers as follows: (i) Agro- industrialisation; (ii) Tourism development; (iii) Mineral-based industrialisation; and (iv) Science, Technology, Innovations, including ICT and the creative art industry. The enablers are the following: (i) Maintaining peace, security and the rule of law; (ii) Human capital development, including health, education, water and social protection; (iii) Full monetisation of the economy through the Parish Development Module (PDM); (iv) Infrastructure development. Here we are looking at roads, railways and electricity; (v) Regional integration; (vi) Irrigation through bulk water to stabilise agriculture; (vii) Manufacturing with a focus on industrial parks; (viii) Eliminating corruption; (ix) Environmental and natural resources conservation and protection; and (x) Vertical and horizontal integration of our economy. In this budget we have attended to crucial issues that were raised by the Cabinet, Parliament, the NRM Parliamentary caucus, the presidential advisory committee on budget and the national Budget Framework Paper. We have also addressed other critical policy commitments, mainly in domestic arrears, agriculture, health, education, including the African Cup of Nations 2027, the Electoral Commission and the General Elections Roadmap, wage shortfalls in the local governments, unfinished infrastructure projects due to counterpart funding, amidst the constrained fiscal space.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like confirm to you that during one of our oversight visits as Members of Parliament, I happened to attend one of the functions that UDB was undertaking after giving money to a seed company called TOTCO in Lira, Lango sub-region. This company had been in operation for a long time, but needed a major funding source to uplift their services because they are a very big grain company, and it is at that point that I realised that UDB is doing a great job for those who are playing at the levels that they are supporting. I also know that not all areas may have benefited from UDB because of the qualifications required. But I want to support UDB because I know that this time around, when they get this money, they will make the TOTCO of this country more financially stable and empower other seed companies in northern Uganda. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I welcome your guidance, but let us support the deployment for the sake of peace for the people of Uganda, especially those from northern Uganda and those running businesses in South Sudan. It is for the betterment of our country. Peace in South Sudan will mean peace in our country, Uganda. I beg to support.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I thank the honourable member for raising the issue. There is no reason why the Government cannot share NDP IV with Parliament. This is because the document has been prepared for Ugandans, including MPs. Secondly, it is also not true that as we plan and budget, we leave out particular parts of the country. We know for a fact that the northern part of the country was affected by war and conflict for a long time. However, from technical studies, there is evidence, from what we call the “Gini coefficient”, which measures issues of inequality, that there is great improvement in the north - (Interjections)- yes. There is a way we measure inequality. The point I am making is that while that part of the country – (Interruption)

Okay. Madam Speaker, facts speak for themselves. For example, 13 per cent is going to Eastern Uganda, 11 per cent is going to Northern Uganda. This means north and Eastern Uganda, which is a half of Uganda only receives 23 per cent. Imagine this imbalance. I think this is not fair. Madam Speaker, we even now need to talk about the army. When you look at promotions - there was some promotion of 35 from the level of Major to Major General. Thirty five out of 40, were coming from one region and that is in defence. In the Constitution, recruitment should be balanced in our UPDF but it is not balanced. Even yesterday, there was some promotion of some people to Major General; three of them and all of them come from one region. I think it is not fair - (Member rose_)

Or a Speaker. Let me not go into that debate but I can also tell you that poverty levels have increased in Kigezi from 12 per cent to 27 per cent yet Kigezi is not in Northern Uganda. Let us debate as nationalists. I agree that the distribution of the cake should be looked at – (Interjections) - and that is what we have been doing in this Parliament because the Budget is passed by this House. The question was, the NDP IV -

16770 THE MORTGAGE REFINANCE INSTITUTIONS BILL, 2024 Vote 122: Kampala Capital City Authority – Shs 6.711 billion The committee was informed that KCCA provided Shs 6.71 billion to cater for shortfalls in the city cleaners’ wages. Shs 6.594 billion resulting from the increase in the number of workers and the new terms of employment for the cleaners, and allowances for parish chiefs for PDM monitoring. The committee recommends approval of Shs 6.711 billion to vote 122. Vote 131: Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) – Shs 17.2 billion; The committee was informed that the Office of the Auditor-General requires Shs 17.2 billion for restoration of the budget for OAG to enable efficient operations for the rest of the financial year. The committee recommends approval of Shs 17.2 billion to Vote 131. Vote 137: National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) – Shs 436.872 million NIRA required this money for the civil registration department was received from URSB during RAPEX. The committee recommends approval of Shs 836.872 billion to Vote 137: NIRA. Vote 138: Uganda Investment Authority – Shs 5 billion The committee observed that the Uganda Investment Authority required Shs 5 billion from contractual obligations for the owner’s engineer for works at Kampala Industrial and Business Park Namanve. The committee recommends approval of Shs 5 billion to Vote 132. Vote 142: National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) The committee observed that the National Agricultural Research Organisation required Shs 70 billion: i) Out of which Shs 10 billion was for the management of aflatoxins in cereals and other related products. NARO has developed aflatoxin mitigation products and established a production and research facility with the capability to produce the desired tonnage of aflatoxin mitigation in the country. It required 60 billion for the roll-out of the anti-tick vaccine. This will enable NARO to roll out the anti-ticks’ vaccine, after which the facility will be self-sustainable. NARO has completed the clinical trials of the vaccine, and it has been proven to be 95 per cent effective. This supplementary will enable the production and distribution of 20 million doses of the vaccine. The committee recommends Shs 70 billion to Vote 142: National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) Vote 167: Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation – Shs 60 billion The committee was informed that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation required Shs 60 billion for the completion and operationalisation of the Coffee Value Addition Park in Ntungamo. The funds are for completion of the standards and certifications, and working capital to enable purchase of coffee from farmers, operational funds for running the coffee processing hub, marketing and branding. The committee recommends the approval of Shs 60 billion to Vote 167. Vote 301: Makerere University – Shs 5 billion The committee was informed about the shortfalls in education material, support for research and support for gender and equity interventions to replace donor funding which has ended, as we all know. The committee recommends approval of Shs 5 billion to Vote 301. SUPPLEMENTARY EXPENDITURE SCHEDULE NO.3 FOR FY 2024/2025 [Mr Kateshumbwa]

16690 THE ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS BILL, 2024 through other means, most especially through tree planting and river reclamation. Recommendations The committee recommends that: 1. Kampala Capital City Authority should construct a modern waste-to-energy plant that enables the daily consumption of waste generated in the city. This will save money for the decommissioning of the Kiteezi landfill and establishing another landfill; 2. Work in collaboration with public institutions such as the Uganda Industrial Research Institute and Kira Motors Corporation, among others, to design the bodies of garbage trucks, which is much cheaper than importing the trucks; 3. Ensure the segregation of waste at the point of collection to enable segregation at disposal and encourage recycling; 4. Scale up tree planting in the city to counter the effects of environmental degradation and the climate; 5. Embrace technology with regard to air pollution sensors in various parts of the city and use the data generated to inform policy action towards countering air pollution; 6. Increase the number of garbage collection equipment and make the same available in all areas of the city; and, 7. Engage in mass sensitisation and engagement regarding proper waste management, and incentivise city cleaners by providing them with enhanced pay and permanent employment to ensure increased garbage collection and enhanced welfare. The committee also visited the education sector in Kenya’s county governments. Nairobi City County runs 211 primary schools, 216 early childhood development education centres, and 193 secondary schools. Whereas Education in public schools in Kenya is free, feeding the learners remains a challenge -

16667 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 6 MARCH 2025 Aware that this is now becoming a security threat, the prayer of our people is as follows: 1. The security personnel that are already evicting people from this piece of land should be addressed so that our people can peacefully continue using this land. 2. In the National Resistance Movement (NRM) manifesto, the President, at the beginning of this term, offered an industrial park to Tororo. We have been grappling with where to find this land. Our people are saying 360 acres of land is sufficient to host the industrial park where they can benefit from the same. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The Rt Hon. Prime Minister, my matter is also about the wildlife attacks in Rukungiri District. Since the beginning of this month, between the 2nd and 5th of March, a herd of elephants has been coming every day, attacking gardens, coffee plantations, banana plantations, animals, cows, and goats. People are not sleeping. I have heard you talk about the districts of Kitugum and northern Uganda that you have called address, but Rukungiri is nowhere. We have Queen Elizabeth National Park, where these elephants come from. The last time I talked to the minister of tourism, he was heading to Kanungu on the side of Bwindi while Rukungiri continues to be neglected. People need a quick response about this matter. You have also talked about the electric fence several times. Kanungu and Kasese have been fenced. Rukungiri is in the middle of these districts, but it has been left out. Can you give us-

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank the mover of the motion for a good motion. I support the motion on three grounds, that is, simplicity, customer convenience and cost-effectiveness. Mr Speaker, I have three concerns that I need to raise to the mover of the motion as well as the Minister of Information, Communications Technology and National Guidance. One is the legal and regulatory framework implications. There is a current law that provides that leverage for us to be able to do that. Number two is the technical complexities associated with mobile number portability. Have you interrogated them? Number three is related to the demand side of the service, which requires creating awareness within the user community. Last but not least is the issue of service provider competition amongst the industrial actors; the telecom companies. Finally, Mr Speaker, this is a motion that can be extended to international mobile number portability within the East African Community, Africa and globally. Thank you.

16588 THE CONTRACT FARMING BILL, 2023 to replace aged machinery and upgrade technologies to increase the value of farmers’ green leaf; 8. The Government supports investments in product diversification and marketing of new tea products; 9. The Government creates and guarantees markets for farmers to sell green leaf; 10. The Government supports cottage tea processing units to supplement big factories; 11. The Government provides a pruning grant of Shs 5 billion to support the pruning of 30 per cent of tea out growers’ gardens; 12. The Government provides electricity to tea processing factories at $5 per cent per kWh as is done in industrial parks; and 13. The Government effectively intervenes to recover Uganda’s tea industry from the crisis. As I said before, 4.0 is the methodology, and we have outlined different people and groups that we interacted with, including the stakeholders in Kenya. Observation and recommendations. (a) Performance of Uganda’s Tea on the International Market The committee observed that the performance of Uganda’s Tea at the international market through the Mombasa Tea Auction is affected by various factors, including: (1) The Quality of Uganda’s Tea The committee established that the sale of Uganda’s tea at the international market is at the Mombasa Tea Auction, which is the largest Tea Auction Centre in the world. The tea is sold through an online auction system, which is open to all trading parties, and prices are determined based on quality and not country of origin. All teas compete at the same level, and the prices are determined based on the quality of the tea. The committee provided a table, and you can see Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, and Tanzania. On that table, you can see that countries like Rwanda, with few Tea growers, fetch the highest price based on the online transaction and sampling that is done there at the auction. The committee was informed that the quality of Tea is established through a sampling process, and it is through this process that the quality of Uganda’s Tea has been proved to be very poor and therefore not competitive at the international market compared to other Teas in the market like we saw in the schedule. The committee learned from the study conducted by Economic Policy Research in Uganda that teas are classified and priced based on qualities such as strength, aroma, liquor, and appearance. Whereas most Kenyan teas are classified as medium to best, most of Uganda’s teas are classified as plainers. This directly speaks to the price, where the better quality Kenyan tea and that from other countries, as you saw, attract higher prices than the poorer quality teas. The committee discovered that the poorer quality teas, for instance, from Uganda, are popularly referred to as price reducers as opposed to premium brand teas, for instance, those from Rwanda, which attract internationally competitive prices. The committee observed that the number of factors that are responsible for tea’s poor quality include the following: 1. The lack of affordable quality fertiliser on the market The lack of affordable quality fertiliser directly affects the quality of tea picked from the farm on the producer. The committee noted, for instance, that the Kenya government subsidises fertilisers for farmers by about 30 per cent, making it affordable and accessible to SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT [Mr Edakasi]

16591 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 4 MARCH 2025 consumption is 83 per cent of all tea produced in the country. Recommendations a) The committee recommends that the Government should invest in diversifying the tea market to reduce over-dependence on foreign markets by, for instance, investing in value addition, product diversification like beer, soap, oils; venturing into other markets like Sudan and DRC. Uganda currently produces predominantly Crushed Tear Curl (CTC) black tea. Therefore, the Government should consider investing in research for the production of other varieties like orthodox and green teas, which fetch better prices on the international tea market; b) The Government should leverage platforms like the Africa Continental Free Trade Area to expand Uganda’s intra- Africa trade on tea; c) The Government should invest in the promotion of tea consumption in the country to boost domestic consumption; and d) The Government should invest in research, development and promotion of various local tea types and blends. 3. Tea barriers The committee noted that whereas Uganda’s tea, through the Mombasa Tea Auction, is mostly for export, it is not treated like other teas. The tea pays VAT, it pays a custom bond of 2.5 per cent paid at the border, and it pays a warehouse bond. The committee noted that the imposition and expiration of these bonds before the tea is released to the buyer is an added cost and takes time, which delays the transactional time for Uganda’s tea, while teas from countries like Kenya are zero-rated and easily traded and exported by buyers. The Value Added Tax Act of Kenya has Kenya tea for export or auction as a zero-rated commodity. The committee further noted that Mombasa County in Kenya has introduced an agricultural process which covers all teas distilled from Mombasa at the rate of Kenya Shs 7,000 per truck of seven tons and above. This poses an extra charge on the Ugandan teas. Recommendations The committee recommends as follows: 1. The government should ensure tea for export is a zero-rated good, which should encourage local consumption of tea. This reduces the quantities at the auction, and may, in turn, drive the auction prices up; 2. The government should engage in bilateral agreements with the Kenya Government to address tea barriers; 3. The government should support infrastructure development, including railways connectivity with Kenya, which would considerably reduce the related costs of logistics; 4. The government should standardise power tariffs at $5 cents per kilowatt to tea factories as it is done to other industrial parks to reduce the cost of production and ultimately the cost of tea on the local market to enhance domestic consumption; 5. The government should increase its participation and that of the Uganda tea stakeholders in the EATTA activities and other stakeholder engagements to ensure the visibility and competitiveness of Ugandan tea; 6. The Government should invest in marketing and blending Uganda tea as “Uganda Tea”; 7. The Ministry for Trade should offer a certificate of origin for Ugandan tea to give it tax-free access to other international markets besides the market provided by the Mombasa auction. This would provide a viable alternative market for Uganda tea. Currently, there is only an

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank the presenter for the excellent report. Honourable minister, the Leader of government Business now, the signals are very clear that we in Government must begin to put priorities on the kind of agricultural produce, which would pay attention to and invest money and tea is one of them. I come from a formerly tobacco and cotton growing area but in my travels around this country, tea estates are some of the most beautiful sceneries in this country. How come we are producing poor quality tea, yet the sceneries are so beautiful? Honourable minister, our tea is sold in the Mombasa auction, and it is all exported as Kenyan tea, not even Ugandan tea anymore. What fights are we putting into making sure it is Ugandan tea, hence the branding that people are asking for? The report talks about fertilisers. Hon. Opendi’s area, Sukulu, has vast deposits of fertilisers. We have been talking about phosphorus since kingdom come. There is another mineral in the Mbale area called the vermiculite. That mineral has the advantage of water retention in the soil. It would help a lot of crops around this country. What are we doing about it? Lastly, the issue of value addition. We are establishing several industrial parks but none of them are using any of our raw material - (Member timed out.)

When you go to Mbale Industrial Park, you notice that there is no single raw material input in those factories. I have been to Kapeeka; the Chinese are sewing textile material, school bags, and making shoes all with imported material. Even their Goodwill tiles; no raw material is from us. Our country’s base is agriculture. All these investors we are attracting, their first priority should be agro-processing and tea should be one of those key areas that can market this country. Thank you.

Achomai Primary School is actually in the Speaker’s constituency. They had also inflated the number. Friends, we are in that digital era as a Government. The questions the Speaker has raised are pertinent. We cannot digitalise you when you do not go there to have your fingerprints and facial recognition captured. We cannot digitalise you when we do not verify your academic papers physically at the station where you are meant to teach, and this is what we are doing. I thank you very much. MR DENIS OGUZU (FDC, Maracha County, Maracha) Madam Speaker, let me start by observing that digitalisation can only be effective where there is power. Globally, poverty is linked to inaccessibility to power. Madam Speaker, today I got hold of a document where the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development has initiated a procurement process where they want to do last-mile connections in the country. Arising from this, we are going to have 444,600,000 connections in central Uganda and 153,000 connections in western Uganda. The east and northern Uganda, comprising Karamoja, Lango, Acholi, and West Nile, are only getting 138,000 connections. I would like the Prime Minister to explain to us how this decision was arrived at. We want to see equity in the country. This is a public document and we would like to understand this precisely so that we know we are at the table of sharing. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The distribution of elec - tricity in this country is at various stages. The last-mile connection focuses on areas where we have infrastructure and where there are lines already. For northern Uganda, we have finished a survey because we realised that it did not have the basic infrastructure to benefit from the last-mile connections. The intervention for northern Uganda is extension of lines; delivering the lines. Even if we gave northern Uganda the connections, the infrastructure to deliver electricity to the last mile is not there. So, we are focusing on the extension of lines in the region. (Interjection) We have just finished a survey in northern Uganda to take electricity to the subcounties. Thereafter, we shall follow with the last-mile connections.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In reaction to the heat wave issue, Northern Uganda is the worst hit and one of the contributing factors is indiscriminate charcoal burning and charcoal trade. Prior, charcoal would be transported in open vehicles but now with box bodies, they cannot

16472 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION be detected. There is need to come up with strong regulations on the charcoal trade in this country. I request that another committee go and look at the current situation because it is not the people from northern Uganda burning it, they are from outside. Secondly, on the issue of afforestation, it should not just be planting trees but what type of trees we plant. We are cutting down mahogany trees but replacing them with pine trees yet a mahogany tree absorbs 20 times more carbon dioxide than a pine tree. That means even if you plant the pine tree, you will not address the issue of the heat wave. Therefore, as we are coming up with the ministerial policy statement, the issue of policy of what kind of trees we are planting should come up. I recall in the 1990s there used to be a tree census. I do not know when the last time was or when we are going to have another tree census to know how many trees we have as a country. Thank you.

16473 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 2025 temperatures have soared to 40 degrees Celsius and they have told us to brace ourselves for even higher temperatures. The most affected areas are especially in northern Uganda, and I hope the Government knows that agricultural production has been affected too. The heat wave is killing some people like the examples we have heard; people are collapsing and so on. Agriculture is being affected because crops are failing and animals are dropping dead. Maybe the Government needs to come up with a comprehensive response to this matter so that we know how to proceed and people can be guided. Madam Speaker, in the last 10 decades, our forest cover has been eaten up to 41.6 per cent. That is the forest cover we have lost in the last 10 decades, and every year, it keeps becoming worse. That is the reality before us. The Government needs to help us understand what the plan is around these things because these are man-made disasters that we see coming and can impede. What is the plan around that? I also join you and this House in sending sympathies to the Holy Father. We pray that he recuperates pretty soon. I am not a Catholic but I pride in the leadership of the Holy Father because I have heard him speak severally about injustice across the world and that touches my heart. I have also seen that same message trickle down to our priests here in Uganda. Every so often, you will hear them talk about equality and injustice, saying that all of us should be equal before and under the law. That is a critical thing, especially when it comes from our religious leaders. Some of the critical issues that hon. Atkins Katusabe has been talking about are what we address here and what leaders under the Holy Father talk about. We pray that they continue to talk about these issues and that he recuperates. Finally, on that issue, when hon. Atkins raised the question of our headquarters being razed and so on, you rightly said we tasked the Attorney-General and the Government to respond. Maybe we need to put a timeline to that because whenever we do not put a timeline, the Government does not respond. With experience, whenever we put timelines, they are under pressure to come back to us. Maybe we need to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the minister and also the shadow minister for the minority report or response to the statement. When the lower secondary curriculum was being rolled out, at that time, there was a concept of a Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT) certification. The curriculum indicated that at Grade 2, which is Form 2, a child will be able to get a certificate from the Directorate of Industrial Training on the vocational side of education. I am surprised by the minister’s statement. We do not know when the ministry abandoned that. What happened or is it in the continuous assessment? How does it add to the general results for a student? We need to know that. Madam Speaker, I am very concerned because Hon. Dr Kaducu is the minister in charge the primary education. When we are discussing the curriculum, it is a very important subject for this country. I expected the substantive minister for higher education to be here because you can understand these issues better when you even see the demeanor of those who are giving the submission. It looks like the ministry has many ministers, but the one in charge of secondary school education has to be here. Finally, this curriculum is new and I expect – (Member timed out.)

Thank you. Honourable members, maybe to just remind you of what I had forgotten; I got a list of petitioners from northern Uganda, specifically from Lango, and the petition was about the representation of workers in the House. Their claim is that there is no inclusivity, fairness, and equity in the representation. They believe that in the representation of youth, people with disabilities, and the elderly, all regions are represented. In their considered view, they think Section 8(3) of the Parliamentary Elections Act on the election of Workers MPs should be amended to include regional representation, not just gender. This is because Section 3 says that there shall be one woman out of the five and does not specify that all regions must be represented, like other interest groups. The petition was brought and I think we will have an amendment to that effect.

Madam Speaker, I move under Rule 30 of our Rules of Procedure to present a humble petition of the lead petitioner, Mr Bosco Onyik Ogwal and 11 others who jointly petitioned this Parliament to review the provisions of the election of Workers Members of Parliament. The brief statement of facts read as follows: “Article 78(2) of the Constitution and Section 8(3) of the Parliamentary Elections Act grants Parliament the powers to review the representation of special interest groups in this Parliament. This review requires a resolution supported by not less than two-thirds of the Members of Parliament, in accordance with Section 8(3). Your humble petitioners have noted that the election of the Workers Members of Parliament, for the last 25 years, has caused a lot of challenges, in terms of regional balance, equity, and inclusivity and therefore, the northern region has missed out on the opportunity to elect its Workers’ representative to this Parliament. In the last 25 years, the western, eastern and central regions have been the only regions that elected Workers’ Members of Parliament. Your humble petitioners, therefore, pray that this Parliament, by a resolution, reviews the provisions of the law relating to the election of the Workers’ Members of Parliament to provide for regional balance, inclusivity and equity to allow the Workers from the northern part of this country to have the opportunity to elect, in line with the special interest groups such as the youth, the elderly and PWDs who are all elected in this Parliament, based on a regional basis.” This petition is supported by the signatures of 11 petitioners and I am now pleased to lay before this House a copy of the petition for your onward guidance, Madam Speaker. I beg to lay.

Thank you so much, Hon. Odur. Attorney-General, do you have anything to say? The petitioners are saying that when we are electing the youth, we specify that these Youth MPs come from Northern, Eastern, Central and whichever. The Persons with Disabilities are also distributed according to the regions. The elderly are also distributed according to the regions. However, when you look at Section 8(3) of the Parliamentary Elections Act, it says, “There shall be a woman.” It only talks about gender; it does not talk about regionalisation and that is the basis of the petition. So, the humble petitioners are seeking an amendment of section 8(3) to include the different regions; North, East and Central.

16350 MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS The first issue is on the definition. His Excellency the President would like us to reconsider the words “arbitration” and “adjudication”. Adjudication is a legal word that is majorly used by judicial officers, and His Excellency the President felt that we should remove the word “adjudication” because – here, we were saying Labour Officers, under the Act, are the first court of instance for labour-related disputes between the employer and employees. The two words that we had given for the purpose of the power of the Labour Officer is to “adjudicate” and “arbitrate”. However, the President is saying the power of adjudication should remain with judicial officers and we retain the power of arbitration with the Labour Officers. That is the first issue – His Excellency the President feels that we narrow the power to arbitration only. The second issue is the casualisation of workers. In the Bill, Clause 6, which proposed Section 34A(2), provided that when a casual employee works with an employer for six months, it becomes mandatory for his employment terms to be transitioned or converted from a casual labourer to a permanent one, without any condition, without any assessment and without any criteria. His Excellency the President gave an example that in Karuma Hydropower, we had over 5,000 casual workers and those positions were not anywhere in the structure of the hydropower plant construction. He also gave an example of Tian Tang Industrial Park, where you have over 2,000 casual workers who come on a daily basis, and they work and go away. You cannot accommodate 2,000 casual workers in the structure of the organisation. Therefore, if you say that after six months, it is automatic and compulsory that you transition a casual worker to a permanent worker, first, you are violating their right. This is because everybody has a right to consent if they want that form of employment or not. Secondly, all the employers have the right to also decline, based on the assessment of the workers and the availability of the positions. Thirdly, international law also requires that there are certain criteria and procedures you follow when you are converting an employee from casual to permanent. Therefore, His Excellency the President guided that we should delete the provision that makes it compulsory that immediately after the six months lapse, the person compulsorily becomes a permanent employee. The other issue which His Excellency returned is the definition of “foreign recruitment agency”. In the Bill, which was sent to him, we were defining “foreign recruitment agency” to be an agency that has been accredited by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. However, under international law, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development does not have jurisdiction to go and accredit a foreign agency in another country. We cannot go to the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia or London and accredit a foreign recruitment agency. So, His Excellency the President guided that we return it and say that the accreditation be done by the Ugandan Mission responsible in that particular country, so that the employees here and the companies here can link up with our embassy that has vetted and accredited those foreign employment agencies. Those are the areas and the rationale for returning the Bill.

Madam Chairper - son, Clause 4; Amendment of Section 13 of the principal Act. Clause 4 is substituted with the following- “4. Amendment of Section 13 of the principal Act Section 13 of the principal Act is amended in sub-section (1)(a), by repealing the word, “arbitration”. The justification is: 1. To reinstate adjudication as one of the methods that a Labour Officer, who is the first point of contact in a labour dispute, to apply in settling a labour dispute. 2. To ensure proper case management of matters in the Industrial Court by reducing on the referrals made to it under Section 4(1) of the Labour (Arbitration and Settlement) Act 227. 3. The amendment is in line with the recommendations of HE the President.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The fundamental question about this exemption of Bujagali should be on how it is going to lower the end-user electricity tariff. Already, the generation tariff by Bujagali has threatened to go up to almost US cents 10 and the extra-large industrial consumers will be up in arms because they were only waiting for this to happen.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Member for the question. I am going to inform and also direct UWA to make sure that that is covered. Secondly, we also had a problem in northern Uganda to mention, Kitgum and Agago in the Kidepo area. We are also struggling to make sure that we fence it. We are lucky that we have tried to fence, but those small loopholes will be covered I promise.

Honourable Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, would you move a motion? THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) (Ms Esther Anyakun): Madam Speaker, the Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was read for the first time on 9 January 2024 and referred to the Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development in accordance with Rule 129 (1) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. The Bill before you was drafted within the approved policy context of employment, namely, the National Development Plan III through the human capital development programme, objectives of improving population health, safety, and management in order to reduce workplace injuries, incidents, and health hazards.

16166 THE OCCUPA TION A L S A FETY A ND HEALTH ( A MENDMENT) B ILL, 2 0 2 3 6. The Platform for Labour Action; 7. The Uganda Small-Scale Industries Association; and 8. The Safety and Health Association of Uganda. Then we also met Dr Ekwaro Obuku as an individual. 6.2 We reviewed documents like the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2006, and The ILO Convention, 155. 6.3 We also had a field visit, where we visited Land Industries Uganda, Sino- Uganda Mbale Industrial Park, and Tembo Steel Uganda Limited. We also had a benchmarking visit. The committee sent a delegation for a benchmarking visit to Nairobi, Kenya, coordinated by Kenya’s Central Organisation of Trade Unions. The delegation held meetings with staff of the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health Services in the Ministry of Gender and Social Protection. The report has been laid on the Table. 7.0 General observations and recommenda - tions: 7.1 Limited scope of the Bill in addressing the defects in the current OSH law. The committee observed that whereas according to the memorandum of the Bill, the Bill intends to expand the scope of the application of the OSH law and provide for the changes at the workplace arising from the new dynamics and rapidly evolving sectors such as telecommunication and extractive industry, the Bill does not effectively address this defect. For instance, the committee observed that the submissions of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development; Federation of Uganda Employers; Uganda National Association of the Community and Occupational Health, that whereas the Bill sought to provide a proposal on the new changes arising at the workplace from the new work dynamics, like new hazards in the telecommunications and extractive industries, the Bill did not provide for internationally-recognised OSH standards and practices, like the obligations of an employer to call out safety and health risk assessment and health surveillance plans which evaluate health related hazards at the workplace and monitor the safety and health of workers. Secondly, the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and Uganda’s small- scale industries informed the committee of the need to regulate OSH practitioners, who are currently not being licensed under any law, and as a result, there is a lack of standardisation of OSH assessments and reports done at the workplaces. In addition, the Federation of Uganda Employers noted that the current provision of first aid was archaic and did not provide for internationally-recognised practices like an employer to put in place a first aid assessment plan. The committee recommends that the additional proposals should be adopted to form part of the Bill to enrich the intention of the Bill. 7.2 Compliance with occupational safety and health standards by enterprises The committee assessed occupational safety and health status in selected factories during the consideration of the Bill and observed that whereas certain workplaces had put in place safety and health measures for their workers, in others, there were still gaps that needed to be addressed. The committee recommends that the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development regularly follow up on issues of compliance and effective implementation of occupational safety and health laws and measures in all workplaces. 7.3 Absence of occupational health services for employees at the workplace The committee observed that the current law does not have provisions obligating the employer to provide occupational health services for his

Madam Speaker, in the report, there are specific observations and recommendations but they touch on the amendments. Reading them would mean doing it twice because there is already one. In conclusion, currently, there is a big work force due to high economic growth, increased industrial developments and new technologies in the country. This has also led to and increased new risks, challenges, hazards that affect the safety and health of workers at the workplaces. The amendment of the current Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2006 seeks to strengthen safety and health measures and expand the application of the law. The committee recommends that The Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill, 2023, be passed into law subject to the following proposed Amendment. I beg to report.

Yesterday but one, a retired Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer told me that he was recalled to service and they were meant to go to Somalia between 2020 and 2022. Unfortunately, along Tirinyi Road, the truck got involved in an accident. Many of them got injured. He was unfortunate because his arm got under the truck, which was rolling on the tarmac and it was nearly cut off. However, by God’s grace, doctors managed the situation. Today, he cannot even lift up a cup of water using that hand. This man was given Shs 3 million but, remember, he can no longer do any work that is meaningful. I have his document that I am going to submit to you after this. Madam Speaker, the real issue that I want to bring out is that, in this report, I have not heard from the committee as to how many of these people – who suffered from these injustices of occupational nature – they have heard from. They are the ones who can tell you the real story. How many of them came before this committee so that they could tell the suffering that they have gone through? I have also heard from a young girl who worked in an industrial area, that they have decided to lock her out. The Indians do not want to see her within their premises. Did you hear from such people, so that they could give you the real story that could help you to inform what we need to do in this law? I now want to say that, one, we need to see how we can put, in this law, the aspect of ensuring that entities provide the budgets for occupational safety and health. That would be a good thing. Number two, the issue of recruitment should be a command that comes through the law. We are not just going to recommend to the ministry for gender. If we are saying that every district should recruit – and I guess this is a Government Bill. If it is not, let the Government allow that we should recruit people who are going to do this. What are the functions of the board, which is doing the occupational safety work? We should be able to do audits to see whether people are not flouting what is in the law. If they are flouting the law, we should withdraw their certificates –

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I will first answer the question about the challenges of operationalising the law. Honourable colleagues, the law focused on workplaces with not more than 20 workers. The amendment to this makes the law apply to all workplaces, and training is catered for under section 13 of the old law. On the issue of the board, we know very well that before rationalisation, there were also those other boards that were supposed to be established, but for this particular one, we did not have the money to operationalise it and the advisory is not a standing board. Therefore, due to financial implications, we have not been able to have the board in place. A Member asked about the person who suffers from injustice. The Workers Compensation Act addresses this issue. The Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) is still centralised, especially for those who are asking why it is not decentralised. OSH is still decentralised. At the moment, we are using our labour officers to handle most of the disputes affecting staff of the local governments. Also, industry staff are delegated to work with the labour officers at the district level. There was a question about the inspectors. I want to say that we have limited numbers; that is true. We know about the issue of the wage and we are currently not in position to have this but if we are given the opportunity, we will be able to have as many inspectors as possible. However, so far, we can only work with the ones we have in the major industrial regions.

Madam Chairperson, when we talk about the workplace, we tend to limit it to an industrial setting. Let us assume that you are in a medical facility and operating X-ray machines. Some of them can also be dangerous. Are they saying that this ministry can actually prescribe the training and certification required?

I put the question that clause 1 be amended as proposed. (Question put and agreed to.) Clause 1, as amended, agreed to. MOTION FOR THE HOUSE TO RESUME THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) (Ms Esther Anyakun): Madam Chairperson, I beg to move that the House resumes and the Committee of the whole House reports thereto.

16203 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2025 REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) (Ms Esther Anyakun): Madam Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of the whole House has considered the Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and passed it with amendments. MOTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE HOUSE THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR GENDER, LABOUR, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) (Ms Esther Anyakun): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the report to the Committee of the whole House be adopted.

I put the question that the report of the Committee of the whole House be adopted by this House. (Question put and agreed to.) Report adopted. BILLS THIRD READING THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2023 THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR GENDER, LABOUR, AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) (Ms Esther Anyakun): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that “The Occupational Safety and Health (Amendment) Bill, 2023” be read the third time and do pass.

16114 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT The Office of the Leader of the Opposition organised an oversight visit to Inspire Africa Coffee Factory in Ntungamo District. I undertook this oversight visit on 11 December 2024, together with the shadow ministers. The visit was in line with Section 6E (1) of the Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Act, 2005, which empowers the Leader of the Opposition to play the oversight role and keep the Government in check. During the Financial Year 2023/2024, the Government undertook to establish a tertiary hub for last-mile coffee value addition in Ntungamo District through the Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat in the Office of the President under a private partnership arrangement with the Coffee Investment Consortium Uganda and Inspire Africa Coffee, both privately registered entities. The construction of this coffee value addition facility began in October 2023 and had been projected to be completed by December 2024. We were told that the factory is expected to produce various coffee products including instant coffee, drip coffee, malt coffee, coffee energy drinks, as well as beauty cosmetics. However, since this strategic Government intervention was initiated, various stakeholders, as well as policymakers have expressed concerns with respect to the implementation arrangements. Some of these concerns include: (i) Rationale followed to establish this coffee value addition factory in Ntungamo; (ii) The selection criteria followed to procure the private investor; (iii) The reason behind the decision by the Government to support the building of a coffee factory in Ntungamo District, while not paying attention to other areas known to produce a lot of coffee in Uganda; (iv) Capital investment - the exact amount of money that the government of Uganda is injecting into this project, because that is not known yet. (v) Projected economic benefits in terms of the anticipated employment opportunities as well as export revenues. Therefore, the primary objective of this oversight visit was to further interrogate and verify all matters related to the above- mentioned concerns as elaborated briefly before. During the Financial Year 2023, the Government earmarked and allocated Shs 37 billion, which is about US$ 10 million in the national Budget to support coffee value chain development under a newly created Vote 167 in the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat in the Office of the President. Also, according to the annual budget estimates of the Financial Year 2024/2025, an additional Shs 75 billion was provided for in the corrigenda to the budget and approved by Parliament to support coffee value addition initiatives. To date, a total of Shs 112 billion has been appropriated by Parliament towards support for coffee value-addition initiatives. Some of these initiatives include the promotion of Uganda coffee globally through coffee trade hubs and the establishment of a tertiary hub for last mile coffee value addition in Ntungamo District, implemented by Inspire Africa Coffee, which according to Mr Nelson Tugume, the proprietor, is at an estimated cost of US$ 122 million, that is about Shs 451 billion. It is important to note that these coffee value addition initiatives are not directly implemented by the Government, but rather through partnerships, such as the Presidential Advisory Committee on Exports and Industrial Development that is chaired by Mr Odrek Rwabwogo, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Duties. [Mr Ssenyonyi] REPORT ON OVERSIGHT VISIT

16115 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2025 There is also the Coffee Investment Consortium, a privately registered entity comprising about 21 coffee companies interested in promoting coffee production and providing value addition in the coffee value chain, and Inspire Africa Coffee, an affiliate of Inspire Africa Group, a human resource organisation initially established primarily to address the challenges of youth unemployment on the African continent. Government argues that the initiatives will significantly increase the country’s coffee export earnings through the export promotion of processed, ready-to-drink coffee instead of raw coffee beans. However, since the above- highlighted coffee value addition initiatives were earmarked and subsequently funded by the Government, various stakeholders as well as policymakers have expressed serious accountability, legal, and policy concerns with regard to the implementation arrangement of these initiatives. Therefore, it was paramount to further interrogate and verify all matters related to the implementation of these initiatives, to ascertain their feasibility and value for public funds in line with the existing legal and policy frameworks. Let me run through the areas of concern, Madam Speaker. (1) Funding and transparency queries In the financial year 2023/2024, the Government of Uganda allocated resources through the Science, Technology, and Innovation Secretariat under the Office of the President towards the establishment of a modern industrial coffee park in Rwashamire Town Council in Ntungamo District. We found that there is no memorandum of understanding between the Government of Uganda and this private entity. So, the manner in which money was extended to this entity is not clear. Madam Speaker, it is wrong for taxpayers’ money to be spent without any clearly defined binding relationship between the Government and any entity, and in this case, Inspire Africa Coffee, and no documentation whatsoever. The proprietor told us that there was a co- investment arrangement that was ongoing between the parties, that is the Government and them, but there was no clarity on whether this arrangement would result in a joint shareholding, a grant arrangement, or a bailout. We recommend, together with my colleagues, as follows: (i) The Government should come out clearly on the relationship that exists between Inspire Africa Coffee and the Government that warranted the disbursement of public funds to this private entity. (ii) Parliament should stop any further disbursements to this entity until a clear and rational memorandum of understanding is reached between the Government and this entity. (iii) The Government ought to come out with a clear procedure on how private entities can get Government support. Uganda has many young and innovative entrepreneurs who only lack funding. If the Government comes out clearly on the formalities, then more Ugandans could benefit as opposed to just a few. (2) Unfulfilled Government commitments. Uganda is currently the leading coffee exporter in Africa and the second largest coffee producer in Africa having exported 6.13 million bags in Financial Year 2023/2024, valued at over US$ 1.14 billion. In order to handle the value additional call, the Government stipulated under the National Development Plan NDP III that two modern industrial coffee factories would be established, one in Bugisu and another one in Buganda, because these are the highest coffee-growing regions in the country. These two factories were to be constructed by the end of June

15871 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 30 JANUARY 2025 was higher than the projected growth rate of 6.0 per cent. So, we achieved much better. ii. The structural transformation of the economy driven by industrialisation is not being fully realised as would have been expected but the contribution of the industrial sector to the total GDP has fundamentally changed, averaging 26 per cent from the Financial Year 2020/2021 to 2022/2023. This is so despite the Government’s injection of funds into the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) and other financial institutions because of the COVID-19 effect. iii. Despite the observed improvement in GDP growth, growth is still considerably non-inclusive, as income inequality, as measured by the Gini Coefficient, has remained rather high and unchanged. The committee recommends that, with the forecast that Uganda’s GDP is to expand by Shs 27 trillion being hinged on the ten-fold economic growth areas, it is important that this realism is shaped by adequate resource allocation to match the agro-industrialisation, tourism, and manufacturing. This intention can only be achieved with more resources to the ATMs areas. It is also important for the Government to clarify when exactly the commercial production of oil and gas is expected to commence because it is a factor in the calculation of the ten-fold growth and projections. Inflation The committee observed as follows: i) The headline and core inflation outturns of 3.2 and 3.0 per cent, respectively, are in the projected range of 3.4 and 3.0 per cent, respectively. We are comfortable there; and ii) Core inflation outturn of 3.0 per cent is considerably lower than the policy target of 5 per cent, which is commendable. We thank the managers of the fiscal space. Private sector credit Mr Speaker, the growth in the private sector credit has slowed down. The average growth in credit in the private sector was 7.7 per cent in the Financial Year 2023/2024. It came down from 9.9 per cent in the Financial Year 2022/2023. This slowdown was primarily due to a decrease in the shilling-dominated lending, which grew by 9.6 per cent, down from 12.1 per cent in the previous fiscal year. Similarly, the average annual growth in foreign currency-denominated loans declined to 3.2 from 4.7 per cent in the previous year. Currently, other depository corporations’ Private Sector Credit (PSC) growth has softened, reflecting the impact of increased Government borrowing, probably crowding out the private sector, which constrained private sector access to credit. Observations The committee observed that the slowdown in the private sector credit could suggest looming economic uncertainties. It could also suggest that high lending rates, partly as a result of the Government’s increased borrowing from the domestic sector has led to high costs of doing business and constrained the private sector to borrow from the same space. In the external sector, Uganda’s recorded overall balance of payments position deficit of $1,155.4 million is a deterioration from that of $50.4 million recorded in the Financial Year 2022/2023. The deterioration was largely attributed to the 8.2 per cent expansion in the current account deficit to $4,174.7 million due to the deterioration in all its sub-accounts except the merchandise trade account. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) FDI inflows in the Financial Year 2023/2024 reached a high record of $3,034.11 million, from $2,950.6 million, recorded in the Financial

15872 THE NATIONAL BUDGET FRAMEWORK PAPER FOR THE FY 2025/2026 - 2029/2030 Year 2022/2023. FDI inflows have increased steadily year after year, largely reflecting the ongoing activity in the oil and gas sector and a positive business outlook for our country. International Reserves As at the end of June 2024, the stock of International Reserves stood at $3,234.03 million. The reserve cover in future months of imports (excluding oil-projected imports) was equivalent to three months. This is much lower than the 3.8 months of import cover recorded at the same time in the previous year. Observations The committee observed that a sustained Balance of Payment (BoP) deficit could spell economic challenges and vulnerabilities over the medium-term if access to external financing is not restrained amidst low foreign exchange reserves. It is, therefore, paramount that effective implementation of export-promotion and import-substitution strategies is prioritised over the medium-term as a more sustainable way of building foreign reserves. The committee recommends that export promotion is prioritised and agencies such as Uganda Export Promotion Board (UEPB), our diplomatic missions, and other related bodies, are financed sufficiently in this budget to promote exports in order to improve the balance of payment situation in the country and promote economic growth and employment. This can only be achieved through strategies and interventions such as: i) Focusing on a few export sectors that can be coordinated effectively using the capacity and resources available to ensure successful implementation of the export strategy; ii) Promote and spearhead the development of entire value chains for the priority export products; iii) Strengthen the institutions charged with quality surveillance and monitoring, including with relation to the manufacture, importation, and distribution of agricultural and industrial products; iv) Invest in the public infrastructure necessary for quality assurance along an entire value chain for selected priority products; and v) Encourage, through the provision of appropriate incentives, the private sector to invest in the infrastructure necessary for quality assurance along the entire value chains for the selected priority products. Public Debt Mr Speaker, on public debt, Uganda’s public debt remains sustainable over the medium- and long-term. The ratio of public debt to GDP was 46.8 per cent in the Financial Year 2023/2024. This is below the limit of the Charter for Fiscal Responsibility of 52.4 per cent. This is great. Observations The committee observed that though the debt levels as a percentage of GDP has remained stable at 46.9 per cent in the Financial Year 2023/2024, up from 47.1 per cent in the Financial Year 2022/2023, the domestic debt rose to 20.1 per cent as a percentage of GDP in the Financial Year 2023/2024, up from 18.7 per cent in the Financial Year 2022/2023. This is a growth of 17.6 per cent of domestic debt. I think that is the challenge. The sudden rapid growth in debt over the last year was a bit worrying. We, therefore, recommend that the Government should gradually scale down on domestic borrowing because it is becoming unsustainable. It is also negatively affecting private sector credit growth in the country and increasing the number of non-performing loans indirectly.

15874 THE NATIONAL BUDGET FRAMEWORK PAPER FOR THE FY 2025/2026 - 2029/2030 budget cuts, which hindered the budget and made it difficult to achieve fiscal objectives. Supplementary spending continues to undermine the credibility of annual planning and budgeting, especially considering that activities for which these expenditures are made are foreseeable. In addition, supplementary budgeting heightens macroeconomic risks. The committee recommends that the Government should limit supplementary spending to only unavoidable expenditures as the rest of these other expenditures tend to distort the budget and have continued to distort the budget. Mr Speaker, that is a very strong point and it is shown in most of the figures. Financial performance at the programme level Mr Speaker, I will let honourable members read the financial performance by activities shown there on Table 6. Let us go to the Budget Strategy that we are going to implement on page 27. Budget Strategy for Financial Year 2025/2026 Mr Speaker, the Financial Year 2025/2026 National Budget Framework Paper is the first in the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP IV). The goal of NDP IV is higher household incomes, full monetisation of the economy, and employment for sustainable socio-economic transformation. The goal will be pursued under the theme: “Sustainable Industrialisation for Inclusive Growth, Employment, and Wealth Creation.” To concretise the gains so far achieved during the fourth National Development Plan III in NDP IV and to propel the economy of Uganda to higher levels of socio-economic transformation towards double digits, the theme for this coming financial assistance budget will be maintained as, “Full Monetisation of Uganda’s Economy through Commercial Agriculture, Industrialisation, Expanding and Broadening Services, Digital Transformation, and Market Access.” That is our theme for this coming financial year. The overall objective of the Financial Year 2025/2026 budget strategy is to strengthen economic growth drivers that underpin the restoration of the economy back to the medium- term growth path and directly contribute to the expansion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ten-fold from the current $53 billion to $500 billion by 2040 and double it to $1000 billion by Financial Year 2029/2030. The budget strategy for the next financial year is, therefore, based on the principles of a ten-fold growth strategy. The gains, lessons learned, and opportunities from NDP III as well as NDP IV’s new strategic direction: This demonstrates the continuity of the social- economic agenda. This strategy underscores employment creation, wealth creation, and high household income by prioritising the key enablers for accelerated growth. Mr Speaker, these are the priority areas for the budget strategy. This year’s budget strategy outlines four major key areas: i) Agro-industrialisation. With a focus on fully commercialising and formalising farming as well as undertaking strategic value addition for export; ii) Tourism development. With a focus on increasing tourism arrivals by five-fold under the current spend per tourist and length of stay strategy; iii) Mineral-based industrial development, including oil and gas. With a focus on undertaking quantification of mapped mineral deposits and their governance regime and delivering fast oil in this financial year; and iv) Science, technology and innovation. With a focus on fast-tracking the commercialisation of ongoing innovations in pathogen control and management for vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. STATEMENT [Mr Achia]

15877 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 30 JANUARY 2025 Priorities and the indicative budget performance for Financial Year 2025/26 The fundamentals of the economy are there. I would like to briefly go - Agro-industrialisation is key. Tourism development is key. The proposals are there. Mineral-based industrial development, including oil and gas, is there; they are outlined. The oil and gas details are there. Science and technology - those are the activities that the Government intends to do in those areas that will inform the allocation of resources; the ATMIS. Committee observations The committee recommends that the following priorities should be included as part of the Budget Framework Paper: i) On agro-industrialisation, Mr Speaker, it is important to increase access to appropriate agricultural mechanisation and farm power tools. Because to grow and increase production, there must be mechanisation; ii) We must look at the exchange system in the country, especially specialised training to equip people and facilitate exchange workers; iii) Establish and operationalise appropriate post-harvest handling; iv) Increase market access by establishing and maintaining appropriate market infrastructure like developing and integrating the National Coffee Traceability Modules, the Geospatial Coffee Registry, and especially funding to the Uganda National Bureau of Standards; it is the one that verifies our standards and does the testing and certification. If we do not fund and improve the standards of products in this country, our agro- industrialisation is going to be constrained. Someone could even say it is going to be a challenge. Tourism The outline is there with recommendations of the committee. Tax Policy The committee observes that over the years, the domestic revenue mobilisation efforts have been hindered by the lack of a national tax policy that would form the basis for tax legislation and administration. The committee was informed that the Cabinet Memorandum on a Draft National Tax Policy was submitted to the Cabinet for consideration. We recommend that the National Tax Policy is expedited in order to inform the tax bills and proposals for the coming Financial Year 2025/2026. Mr Speaker, on part two, I think at this point I need to lay the minutes and discussions. All the discussions, minutes, documents, attachments, revisions and budget reports from all the 15 sector committees are here. The official, signed report is also here. This time around, unlike previously, in the annexes and at this policy stage level, we decided not to restrict or to start crossing the propositions and suggestions from the committees. We, therefore, decided to lift the recommendations of different committees in their entirety and make them an annex; the proposal of the committees, to the Government. So, it is up to the Government so that we do not constrain and stop the committee from making suggestions to the Government at this point. Therefore, we have lifted all the recommendations of the different committees and attached them as an annex, so it is up to the Government to consider them. However, in the discussion –

15880 THE NATIONAL BUDGET FRAMEWORK PAPER FOR THE FY 2025/2026 - 2029/2030 Committee on Public Service and Local Government Major highlights: The criterion for allocating the Parish Development Model (PDM) funds does not take into consideration the poor regions, populations, and other factors. There is a need to re-examine these criteria in order to increase allocation to poor regions in the spirit of equity. We recommend that all districts affected by the creation of new cities should be given Shs 1 billion to build new headquarters. Committee on Presidential Affairs The major issues: i) The committee was concerned about the criteria for selecting presidential pledges for implementation and requested for the list of pledges that will be fulfilled in this financial year. We are still waiting for that list to guide us in discussing the next budget. ii) The committee noted that the Government programmes on skilling youth by His Excellency the President is a very good programme. However, most of the beneficiaries are too poor to afford the necessary tools to practice the acquired skills after training. They recommended that the Government needs to develop a mechanism for providing beneficiaries of the programme with the tools to help them utilise the skills acquired. iii) The committee requested for the return on investment on projects under the Science, Technology and Innovation Secretariat. For example, what has happened to our vaccines where we invested a lot of money? And what is happening to the whole sector? iv) The committee was concerned about the lack of funds for Kitezi landfill under KCCA. v) The committee observed that it is important for Government to revive the NUSAF project as well as DRDIP for northern Uganda. F) Committee on Gender, Labour and Social Development There were major concerns here and that is where the focus of the country should be. i. The committee observed that it is important to have labour attachés to Uganda’s Foreign Missions. The committee was, however, informed that some Uganda Missions abroad have labour attachés but they are not facilitated. ii. It was also observed that in the last budget, the President gave Shs 34 billion to cultural leaders and they were paid Shs 60 million per month, but in the current budget, their emoluments have been reduced to Shs 5 million per month. The committee is concerned about this move. The committee recommends that this anomaly be rectified so that our cultural leaders get what they had already started getting. iii. The committee was concerned that the funds proposed to be allocated to the ministry for gender for election of special interest groups could be duplicated in funds allocated to the Electoral Commission. Mr Speaker, the Government needs to look at the resources that are going to go into the coming elections. The ministry for gender wants them, Uganda Police Force wants the same – everybody wants the resources. They need to come up with a strategy on who should really get the money, how much it should be and how that resource must be managed. iv. There was also a concern on the exodus of Ugandan girls to work abroad, and

15893 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 30 JANUARY 2025 Secondly, what we must take seriously is where we are failing to have harmonisation between the NDP IV and the Budget Framework Paper – where the other one talks of Shs 90 trillion and the other talks about Shs 57 trillion. That is important because, ideally, in this process, we need to harmonise the two documents. I want to know the commitment and how we should go about it. When we remain at the current budget figure in the Budget Framework Paper – the other is talking of Shs 92 trillion – how do we harmonise and get to one common figure and ensure that we move in tandem? Thirdly, Mr Speaker, when you were presiding over one session last year, tree nursery operators came here. These are people who borrow loans and put up nurseries, but there is a public outcry: they have never been paid. So, under climate finance, can we focus on this and see how we can help to handle this matter? On human resources development, I am happy that during the last sitting, you mentioned that you went to Mbale Industrial Park, and it has caused some results. However, as workers’ representatives, we normally have challenges where quite often, machines are cutting workers in those areas. There are no remittances or collective bargaining agreements, yet Uganda is one of the constituencies of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). How I wish we could see how we could move and ensure that we have this. Still, on that aspect, how do we consider the primary school teachers and other lower cadres? Are they catered for under this human resource development fund appropriation? This is very important. These are very core issues because we find that there are already gaps between S cience and A rts teachers and other workers. So, under the human resource development fund, is there an indication that the primary school teachers will be catered for? Otherwise, going forward, I think we can move and ensure that we get better. The other disturbing aspect is when NDP is talking of Shs 2.4 trillion for agro- industrialisation – and of course, when we talk about import substitution, we can only reduce imports by actually producing and exporting through value addition. That is very important. By so doing, the committee has assured us that they are looking at aspects of research, as important. However, we find that institutions such as the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) are underfunded. Even in terms of staffing, they are at below 40 per cent, yet when you talk of the PDM, these people require quality planting materials, but they pick anything and plant, under PDM, and then the returns on their investment are jeopardised. Lastly – Mr Speaker, it is good you mentioned it. Under UNBS, the solution was given. Institutions such as NDA and Uganda Wildlife Authority are using non-tax revenue to supplement their budgets. The same applies to Management Training and Advisory Centre. Why don’t we ensure that we close this gap and ensure UNBS is facilitated through such an arrangement? I beg to submit.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank the committee for its report. However, it is disturbing. I know we have already discussed the issue of the Shs 10.3 trillion shortfall in the budget compared to the NDP IV. When you look at this budget, and specifically the minority report – allow me to thank Hon. Ssemujju for his minority report – there are areas that we can do away with and focus on areas that affect the population. There was a slogan, “Kisanja hakuna mchezo”. I still want to implore the Government to get back to that and stop the issue of “ mchezo ” because at the end of the day, the people who sustain us – the ordinary people who pay taxes – do not benefit. When you look at the funding to the health sector, Mr Speaker, there are funding gaps in medicines and in upgrading of health facilities from health centres II to health centres III. We still have subcounties without health centres III and subcounties without health centres IV. As I was seated there, a mother passed on and will be buried today because of a lack of timely access to services. There are subcounties where people have to move long distances when a mother is referred to a higher facility with a doctor and a theatre and there are no ambulances. Therefore, Mr Speaker, I want to request the Executive that this is within their power. Let us do away with some of these wasteful expenditures. I am paid by a taxpayer. I am smartly dressed. Does the taxpayer have to again spend on me to dress me? I believe that the budget for dressing - whoever is benefitting from that budget - let us limit it to the President and all the other beneficiaries. The Shs 132 billion shillings can be spent on other areas, Mr Speaker. When you look at the funding gap in the education sector: On the issue of the new curriculum, we are going to have a challenge. We are going to have exam results released soon and you will be shocked at the performance of many children, specifically in the upcountry schools. There is a funding gap of Shs 12 billion. Can we prioritise that and ensure that we have the children learn and understand this curriculum so that they can also benefit and move on with their education and not drop out of school? Mr Speaker, we are aware that we have a challenge with the vocational training in this country. It still remains expensive and the majority who are in the rural schools, dropping out at Senior Four, would actually go to vocational schools or technical schools. However, they cannot do this because it is expensive. I would like to request - moving away from that, when you look at the infrastructure sector, we have a funding gap for the metre- gauge railway. We have grappled with this. SOGEA was actually working on this metre- gauge railway line from Tororo all the way to northern Uganda. SOGEA pulled out because the Government failed to fulfil its part. We had to procure a new contractor and now, in procuring a new contractor, there is still a funding gap of Shs 44 billion.

15901 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 30 JANUARY 2025 We rely so much on road transport and it is becoming costly because when you look at the trucks that move from Malaba to northern Uganda via Tororo, there are so many on the road and yet we do not even have enough funds to maintain the roads. We have talked of expanding the road to at least four lanes. On the eastern route, if you move now, from here, there is traffic jam all the way to Iganga. It is after Iganga that you are a bit free and you can move. Mr Speaker, over-reliance on the road sector is a challenge. Can we prioritise and ensure that the goods that come to this country move via rail? Shs 44 billion - If I look at some other wasteful expenditures like the ones I have seen, we can ensure that these funds are availed so that that metre-gauge railway line can be worked on. Mr Speaker, I want to move on to the issue of rationalisation. We sat here and we asked whether we could stagger. It was rejected and we were told it must be immediate. We had said agencies like UNRA, you know, I do not know which other one should be given at least a year or two, and then we rationalise. We said, “No” here and the agencies were rationalised. Now, seeing a gap of Shs 169 billion to pay UNRA workers, Uganda Road Fund - and I am sure others - there is that gap and that is their package. People are now confused. They are not working. If you go to most of our UNRA stations upcountry, there is only one staff and people are seated. Can we pay these people their money because we are the ones who took the decision - and this was a Government position? Therefore, honourable Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, I want to request that the Executive prioritises that because we heard you loud and clear and we had to act based on what you told us. Mr Speaker, the other one - can I complete on the issue of domestic arrears? It pains me that people supply or do work for this Government and at the end of the day, three years or four years down the road, people are not paid. Businesses have collapsed. Can we ensure that we prioritise that in this budget? You cannot put a mere Shs 200 billion; that may be paying just one supplier or one contractor, yet what is outstanding is about Shs 5 point- something billion. The other money went to the Bank of Uganda, which according to the committee report has already been catered for. The Auditor-General has annually raised this as an issue. Can we prioritise the issue of domestic arrears so that people can continue their businesses? Let us be kind to Ugandans.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to submit on four areas - agriculture, health, staffing levels, and the issue of programme-based budgeting. As a country, we have taken four areas to concentrate on to boost our productivity levels. Area number one is agriculture, followed by industrialisation, particularly industrial production, ICT, then services. The issue of increasing agricultural productivity goes hand in hand with agricultural mechanisation. When you analyse the National Resistance Movement (NRM) manifestos - if you start with the manifesto of 2016 and the current one of 2021, you will get to know that the Government promised to give tractors to every subcounty in this country. Since then, our district has received only one tractor. That one tractor was provided without the disks. This has remained the case since February. On the allocation to the agriculture sector - much as we look at agriculture as our priority, the allocation to this sector does not speak to the energy we put in, in terms of talking about agriculture. I think we need to revisit this and allocate more money to the agricultural sector, and also fulfil the manifesto’s objective that every subcounty must have a tractor –

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the committee chairperson for the report. In the budget reading for the Financial Year 2023/2024, agro-industrialisation, tourism, and mineral development were the sectors pointed out to propel our economy to the $500 billion dollars in the target of 2040. However, indications are that in this Budget Framework Paper, all the sectors which are supposed to propel us to that area have been cut or underfunded. For example, mineral development to which we allocated Shs 46.1 billion in the previous financial year, has been allocated zero this time. Mindset change, which was allocated Shs 69.3 billion in the previous financial year, has been allocated zero, despite the problems we have with the Parish Development Model (PDM). The tourism sector which is now doing very well with receipts exceeding $1 billion, has had its budget reduced from Shs 297 billion to Shs 176 billion. If we go to the petroleum development where we are targeting to get a lot of money from oil, it was allocated Shs 835 billion in the previous financial year but zero this financial year. How are we going to achieve the target that we were moving to? Even manufacturing to which we allocated Shs 318 billion, it has been cut to Shs 226 billion. We have industrial parks, even in West Nile to which we allocated money. They are all there as skeletons. Nothing is being put in and we are cutting budgets in manufacturing. Mr Speaker, I would like to point out something a little on health. A number of honourable colleagues have spoken about the Uganda Cancer Institute, which is indeed

Fr Onen? FR CHARLES ONEN (Independent, Laroo-Pece Division, Gulu City): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for granting me this opportunity. I join my colleagues to thank the chairperson of the Committee on Budget and Hon. Ssemujju. There should be consideration for the Local Governments. In 2021, new administrative units were created – new cities, divisions, municipalities and districts – and yet in all these cities, only administrative units are operating without road equipment. For nearly four years, they have been hiring that equipment. If the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development could consider giving road equipment to the new cities. People have been talking about the cancer issue. Last year, I was with my brother at Uganda Cancer Institute for six months; eventually, he passed on. I was with him and the issue of crowding – I am a witness. We need an infrastructure expansion policy for the cancer centre. So far, the Government has prioritised regional centres in northern, eastern and western Uganda like Mbarara, Mbale and Gulu. At the same time, all these centres are

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Northern Uganda was ravaged by war for over 20 years. It is the mandate of the Government to fulfil its promise because it promised to compensate the people of Northern Uganda. In his statement, the Attorney-General stated that about Shs 139.4 billion had been released to compensate the people who have been affected. If I may ask, who are these people being compensated? This is because in the Lango Subregion, there are people who lost about 300 to 500 heads of cattle but were compensated with one or two cows only. Is that really compensation? Is that being fair to our people? Is this Government ready to compensate our people after suffering for over 20 years? The level of poverty in Lango, Acholi, Teso and West Nile is alarming. We need clarification on that. Two, we have the issue of data cards that were issued but are being paid for. The Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) and Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs) are getting money from the beneficiaries to get the data cards. I would, therefore, like to seek clarification on that because even when people are compensated, it is not enough, and they even extort the little money that our people get. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I thank the minister for the report that he has given. However, I would like to seek clarification on whether the Government does enough research on what they are about to implement before they do it. As everybody is yearning for compensation to take place, the process is not being handled the right way. First of all, when we saw people registering to be compensated, even those who were not born then were registering, and that is a problem. It is a very big problem because the numbers increased yet they had nothing. Mr Speaker, apart from that, people have spent a lot of money to do this registration; keep moving up and down. However, I would like to seek clarification. What is the use of these affirmative ministries, especially the one we have in northern Uganda, Teso, and other areas? When such things that

Thank you, Mr Speaker. My concerns are very few. One, I want to understand whether the Attorney-General can get us a comparative analysis so that we can compare which group and which region has benefited more from these compensations. Secondly, is it possible for him to also get for us the percentage that has been covered? This is because when you look at the general issue as it is, it will not give us clarity on what we want to understand as Members. Thirdly, Mr Speaker, I do not know whether it is possible to change the format of the compensation. On the ground, we just hear through whispers that “A, B, C and D got money or A, B, C and D were picked and taken to a certain bank and were given a certain amount of money”. I do not know whether the Attorney-General is aware of that. Can they change the format of the way they are doing it? Lastly, I understand there are a lot of complaints on the compensation side, but when you look at northern Uganda and the central region, we have a lot of challenges with the people who were given the mandate. Do you remember what happened in the compensation of the cooperatives? All those issues were not settled and we need to understand what went wrong. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. During the LRA war, many individuals or communities from northern Uganda, especially Acholi, Lango, and Teso, migrated to Kiryandongo District—my constituency; Kibanda North: Karuma and Bweyale. Most of these communities or people lost their animals because they were displaced and migrated to Kiryandongo. Mr Speaker, these people lost their animals— the groups that settled in Kiryandongo. Unfortunately, the team from the Attorney- General’s office has never visited or interrogated these communities in Kibanda North. Through you, I implore the Attorney-General’s office to send a team to Kiryandongo, especially in areas of Karuma and Bweyale to come and have an interface with these communities so that they can also listen to them. In case there is an opportunity for compensation some other time, they should also be considered. Thank you.

15843 THE E LEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY , 29 JANUARY 2025 why they did not roll over because when the Attorney-General was reading his response for one financial year, I noted that while Shs 50 billion was budgeted for, nothing was released. Why wasn’t it rolled over to the subsequent financial year? Then, another question to the Attorney- General is: when it came to compensation of the identified and verified claimants, did you also use the pro-rata basis because you used it for districts? If yes, then, how come some claimants did not get compensated because if it is on a pro-rata basis, everyone would get within the limits of what is available? Did you also apply it when it came to top-up, as you said? Mr Speaker, compensation is touching. My senior, Hon. Fox Odoi, said that what we are discussing is actually ex-gratia. I support the committee that we need a comprehensive policy, to that effect. If what has been identified by Hon. Mujungu is not sufficient, we then need that comprehensive policy. This is because it would imply that the criteria would be very clear. It would have the law, and if need be, would have the regulations, which would really simplify everything. Hon. Cuthbert Abigaba, thank you for bringing up that issue. When one comes from Ankole, they will not think that it was ever affected. Hon. Basil Bataringaya raised issues here. When we were young - I am sure, Mr Speaker, you remember - Mbarara was in tatters. There was a group of people called the Anyanya - you would not go to Mbarara. It was put down. The Allied Defence Forces (ADF) from the Tororo Subregion terrorised Ibanda and some parts of Ankole. Hon. Cuthbert said during the Christmas celebrations of 2023, the ADF activities were still going on there. Hon. Cuthbert, for your information, more than half of the people who died were from Ibanda. Mr Speaker, in the circumstances that we need to have this comprehensive policy, we should note that even Western Nile was affected. Do not hear these issues of only northern, Teso and some others. That would mean, considering a cut-off - all those would be catered for within the policy and the Government would handle the issue of compensation with guidance either to finality or in bits. Otherwise, minus that, it will be done in bits or piecemeal, and it will remain ex gratia without any formula. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I think leaving out West Nile was an oversight. I remember this day vividly, March 8 th 1996 , I was supposed to travel to Koboko, but for some strange reason or by an act of God, I did not travel, and the Lord’s Resistance Army did what it did best; there was an ambush on the Karuma Pakwach Road, where 130 people died and 70 vehicles were burnt. Therefore, I would like to join my colleagues in supporting the fact that there should be a level of compensation to West Nile much as the LRA insurgency did not occur in the subregion but there are many people who were in transit who lost their lives and also the businessmen like Nile Star and Gateway - not the Gateway of Koboko, but the Gateway Bus Service - were always being burnt. To this date, they have not been compensated. Mr Speaker and colleagues, I would also want to join the colleagues in support of a policy on compensation, and my question to the House and colleagues would be, is monetary compensation enough, or should we look at things beyond the monetary compensation to service delivery, recognition and so forth? No issues like the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF), I would like to ask the colleagues from Northern Uganda to push forward so that NUSAF can come back because it was a social action fund for Northern Uganda. It may not necessarily distribute finances to an individual, but the social services that come with such a fund should not go unrecognised. Mr Speaker, I would like to rest my case, and I pray that these resolutions are considered. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving us the opportunity to mourn our past. The losses that we are reflecting on, on lives, on property, on missed opportunities, rape and defilement, require us as a country to heal from our past. The policy is good, but it must be backed by a strategy, and within the strategy, truth-telling and reconciliation are necessary. Countries like South Africa have created a National Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I want to salute the leaders of West Nile and the Acholi Subregion for initiating a process of truth-telling and reconciliation. Can that be nationalised? Mr Speaker, this policy that we are proposing cannot be implemented without having a national strategic framework linked to the National Development Plan and other future plans with the programs and projects to ensure these things that we are talking about are linked to resources that we must appropriate as this House. A structure is necessary, Mr Speaker. A haphazard way of providing, whether an ex- gratia or compensation, may not do much. Good enough, we have set regional ministries: the Minister of State for Northern Uganda, the Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs, and so on. These ministries were set for affirmative action. Implementation should be delivered through these affirmative action ministries. I submit. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. When it comes to compensation, there are mainly two ways; either the tangible or intangible. When you talk of the tangible, the calculation is, at times, a big problem, according to my colleague and learned friend there. The calculations are normally not well done because, at the end of the day, when someone has lost, say, 200 cows and you pay him half a cow after maybe 30 years, it is not fair. So, the tangible kind of calculation is also not right because you are not taking into consideration inflation and everything. If somebody gave you one cow, after 30 years, you should give him maybe 20 because they would have multiplied. So, you are not taking that into consideration. I find it a bit unfair. It is not only about animals. When it comes to intangible compensation, how do we help those who have lost everything get back on their feet? I wish this country continued with its plan, where every region had its cash crops. For example, we had coffee here; northern Uganda had cotton; eastern Uganda had tea, including Mairungi . When you look at, for example, my friends from northern Uganda, you had cotton and Lira Spinning Mill. We had – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. This compensation issue was initiated when a few people from the regions of Teso, Acholi and Lango went to court. In his wisdom, His Excellency the President said that let us not just look at these few people but compensate all those who suffered all over the country. However, the Attorney- General’s office has concentrated on only those who suffered in those regions. Maybe, we need clarification if His Excellency the President meant all the areas like West Nile and Karamoja. That is the first issue. From the report, it shows that in three years, only 25 per cent of the amount budgeted by the Government has been paid for Acholi, Lango and Teso. That means that if we are moving at that rate, it will take another 12 years to finish just those three regions. The Government has suffered since the time of COVID-19. We cannot expect the Government to do so much. Are we going to support it to bring a loan request of several trillions just for compensation? We need to also find another way out. My recommendation would be that the Government organises some kind of restocking exercise in each of these areas where cattle were taken. People who received cows in year one, by now, they should have about 10 cows or maybe more. The Government could initiate a restocking exercise in each of these regions so that the cows can keep multiplying and they keep giving them out to those people. Secondly, I would suggest that the ministries involved - they talked about the ministries for Bunyoro, Teso or northern Uganda affairs. All those would be the ones to channel these names and basically handle the compensation. Lastly, when we went to northern Uganda for the parliamentary sitting, West Nile and Karamoja kept on complaining. They kept on saying “northern Uganda” and bundling West Nile and Karamoja with Acholi and Lango. However, when you talk of northern Uganda, everyone thinks of Acholi and Lango. Teso, Karamoja and Bunyoro have ministries; can West Nile also get a special West Nile ministry? (Interjections)

15780 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT [Mr Odoi-Oywelowo] of the “bucket system” in Luzira Maximum Security Prison, and a fresh coat of paint had been applied to the walls, which were all commendable developments. Dr Besigye, however, highlighted some personal concerns; i) He is detained in a highly restricted section, which he described as “a prison within a prison,” requiring passage through five gates to reach his cell. He expressed fear for his safety, particularly as he is held alone in a cell with a toilet, and a shower, within the northern wing which accommodates a total of 18 prisoners; ii) He shared concerns about unexplained late-night activities in the prison, such as padlocks being opened and closed without anyone entering his cell. He fears being poisoned or harmed in such an environment; iii) Dr Besigye lamented that he is not allowed to interact with fellow inmates and the rules applied to him are more restrictive than those applied to other prisoners; and iv) He is not allowed to attend prayers with other inmates in the prayer houses within the prison. 5.0 Observations and recommendations of the committee Food for prisoners The committee observed that the food provided by the Uganda Prison Service to the prisoners lacks variety and does not meet the minimum standards of a balanced diet as provided for in the law on account of the limited budgetary provisions. To mitigate this, the Commissioner-General informed the committee that Uganda Prisons Service allows inmates access to their own non- cooked food supplies from external sources. The committee recommends that the Government should provide adequate funding to Uganda Prisons Service to exploit the prison farms for purposes of producing food crops for the provision of nutrition to prisoners. Conditions of detention The committee observed that interventions have been instituted to improve the living conditions of prisoners in Luzira Maximum Security Prison, as confirmed by Col (Rtd) Dr Kiiza Besigye, who stated that there had been remarkable improvements. The reports of running water, waterborne toilets, the abolition of the “bucket system” in Luzira Maximum Prison, and the fresh coat of paint are commendable. The committee recommends that the “bucket system”, as far as possible, should be eliminated from all facilities in the country. The Government should increase funding to Uganda Prisons Service to facilitate the construction of waterborne facilities in all prisons in the country. Congestion The committee noted that the rate of occupancy of Luzira Maximum Security Prison exceeds 500 per cent since the facility was designed to hold 600 prisoners, but currently holds 3,292 inmates. The committee recommends that the Government should prioritise setting up new prison facilities or expanding the existing ones to address the issue of congestion. The Government should take practical steps through the Judiciary to urgently address the issue of case backlog. Separation and classification The committee noted that the current incarceration of convicts, the condemned and prisoners on remand in the same facility results in prisoners on remand, who should be presumed innocent until proved guilty, being treated as convicts, whereas, as much as possible, their rights should not be severely curtailed to the same extent. The committee recommends that the three categories of prisoners should be housed in

Honourable colleagues, I welcome you to today’s sitting. We shall be handling all matters of national importance during the Prime Minister’s Time. I received the statement from the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs on the ongoing voter verification exercise, which was supposed to be presented by the Attorney- General, who, unfortunately, was called by the President and is in Mayuge. Therefore, we shall do this on Tuesday. However, the statement is ready. Next item. ADDENDUM TO THE PROPOSAL TO BORROW UP TO € 162,445,694.1 FROM THE EXPORT-IMPORT BANK OF CHINA (CEXIM) TO FINANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL PARKS (POWER SUPPLY TO INDUSTRIAL PARKS AND POWER TRANSMISSION LINE EXTENSION)

Let us resume from where we stopped. Minister for Finance. ADDENDUM TO THE PROPOSAL TO BORROW UP TO € 162,445,694.1 (EURO ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-TWO MILLION FOUR HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED NINETY- FOUR ONE CENT) FROM THE EXPORT- IMPORT BANK OF CHINA (CEXIM) TO FINANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL PARKS (POWER SUPPLY TO INDUSTRIAL PARKS AND POWER TRANSMISSION LINE EXTENSION)

Mr Speaker, I beg to lay on the Table a proposal to borrow up to £162,445,694.1, equivalent to $178,276,661.7 from the Export-Import Bank of China, to finance the development of industrial parks, specifically power supply to industrial parks and power transmission line extension.

Honourable minister? THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR GEN - DER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOP - MENT (LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) (Ms Esther Anyakun): Mr Speaker, first of all, I wish you a Happy New Year. I would like my colleague to first of all thank us as a ministry, where we got the girl from and relocated her from where she was - this action was taken as soon as we got the news. Right now, the girl is in the hands of the Government and she is still on treatment. She had fractures on both legs and that is why we ensured that she is in better condition to take a flight to come back home. I will be in Riyadh on Monday and I will come back with the girl. (Applause)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Before I comment on the report, I want to take this opportunity to thank you very much for your recent visit to Mbale City Industrial Park. It has been a few weeks since your visit and I can confirm that there has been progress, because the welfare of most of our people working there has slightly improved. One of the bridges that connects the community to the industrial park, I can confirm, was constructed – the Chinese have constructed it. The community, mainly the employees who are working around the industrial park, now has access to the park. So, thank you very much, Mr Speaker. About the report, I want to thank the chairperson and the entire committee for the very good report. One of the issues that you have noted concerns the land being prone to land grabbers, specifically in Mbale City. When you look at the land in Mbale, it is not fenced and they do not have a title. I expected that one of your recommendations would be for the Government to find ways of titling and fencing off this land to protect it from land grabbers. This should be one of the key things because when you look at one of the pictures, you have shown that one of the dogs killed a goat and if our people were not good, they would have probably sold that meat to us, the people. So, once we fence off this facility, it will prevent such scenarios or circumstances where even dogs have access to the slaughterhouse, which is quite dangerous to the community. The second issue concerns electricity that was cut off, mainly in Mbale. We need to come up with a permanent solution. When you look at most of the Government facilities, including the central markets and other facilities, they are facing challenges to do with electricity. In conclusion, now that Umeme is being taken over, the Government needs to come up with a proper plan on how to subsidise mainly electricity and water for most of these facilities to enable them to continue running effectively. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

15686 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT Richard Wanda, the Chairman of Bugisu Parliamentary Forum - they hosted me for two days in Mbale and we did great work, where I went beyond my duty as a Deputy Speaker and engaged the proprietors of Mbale Industrial Park. We had a lot of problems and by the time we left, we had solved like 90 per cent. (Applause) We found that the workers were using nearly Shs 4,000 every day on transport from their homes to the park and back, yet these people could construct a small bridge and gate that would connect them by only 400 metres to the city. It had been a bone of contention, so we managed to engage with the proprietor and like he has said, it has now been constructed. I received many messages from the young people in Mbale. (Applause) They also wanted a showroom because the products are manufactured in Mbale, but the people come to buy them in Kampala. Mr Zhang has briefed me that he is going to put up - I think they have already started; it is under construction. He is going to put up a showroom in Mbale for all products, so that the community can benefit. The other issue was that the youth wanted to have a workshop. Let us say you have brought all these investors, but as young people who have our own small businesses, we do not have anyone to help us. When we engaged with him, he agreed to build a workshop for them on one acre, equip it for free and they use it. Also the facilitation – (Hon. Masaba rose_) - Yes?

6 FINDINGS: According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), animals are slaughtered in different spaces, namely: a) Slaughter slabs: there are 1,003 slaughter slabs spread in 93 districts. b) Slaughter houses: Central (23), Eastern (7), Northern (7), Western (7) and Karamoja (1). Table 1: Distribution of Slaughter Facilities in the country Region Specie (cattlel Swine Poultry Central 6 5 T2 Eastern 2 3 2 Western J I J Northern a 2 c Karamoia 1 0 0 Source: MAAIF The findings ofthe oversight are provided according to regions and the details for the abattoirs are provided on a case-by-case for each facility in the district, municipality and city visited. This section of the report presents hndings of tl:e oversight visit to abattoirs/ slaughter houses where nine cities and four district local government were covered. These included; Masaka City, Mbarara City, Fort Portal City, Hoima City, Masindi District, Jinja, Mbale, Lira and Kampala City. 6.1 Masaka City In Masaka, the committee visited the Masaka city Abattoir and Masaka city Pork Slaughter house. k W 9 FLC

15553 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 9 JANUARY 2025 The committee recommends that the Ministry of Water and Environment should scale up its efforts in the project implementation methodology in order to adequately and timely execute the projects and realise value for money. Need to reduce the cost of water tariff The committee noted that the cost of water per unit is Shs 5,000 at the level of domestic consumption. It was also noted that whereas National Water and Sewerage Corporation charges Shs 25 per 20 litre jerry can for community/kiosks, some vendors charge the end user up to Shs 200 thus, further making water unaffordable for the ordinary person, limiting consumption, which in turn affects revenues of the agency. This cost is prohibitive to the majority urban poor. National Water and Sewerage Corporation informed the committee that the high cost of Shs 5,000 is brought by high cost of electricity and other maintenance costs incurred by the agency. They also informed the committee that the cost is likely to come down since power tariffs are reducing. The committee recommends that: i) Water tariffs should be reduced so that it can be easily made affordable by all, regardless of socio-economic categories. (Applause) ii) National Water and Sewerage Corporation should come up with a circular regarding the price of water for vendors, beyond which they should not charge the ordinary customer. (Applause) iii) Punitive measures should be put in place for those who do not adhere to this directive. Need for enhanced water supply in the country The committee notes that the high growth of the country’s urban population, in addition to rapid urbanisation of the rural areas has increased demand for domestic, industrial and water for agriculture. However, several challenges are still faced in the water sector, such as scarcity, climate change and water quality. The increasing rate of waste water production with inadequate wastewater treatment resources and systems often lead to affluent discharge into water systems. This does not only lead to the degradation of downstream ecosystems but also causes healthy problems to humans and the environment. The committee recommends that the Government should prioritise budgets for the water sector as guided by Agenda 2030, Sustainable Development Goal number Six, in order to address water and sanitation demands for the increasing population. Need for inter-sectoral coordination The committee noted the continued destruction of the road infrastructure by utility service providers, such as telecommunication companies, electricity, and national water itself. This destruction increases the maintenance costs of the service lines. Recommendation The Ministry of Works and Transport should spearhead coordination of activities of all utility service providers and incorporate service lines in all new road infrastructure designs to mitigate future destruction. Conclusion The committee recommends that the proposal by Government to borrow up to Euro 45 million from the Agence Française de Développement , additional support to Kampala Water - Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation Project at a revised interest rate of six months Euribor, that is, -1.74 per cent as at 25 September, 2024; be approved subject recommendations herein. I beg to move.

Colleagues, we still have challenges in land fragmentation, land ownership, and there are distortions that constrain production. I think Government, together with the House, will address those issues. Despite existence of abundant resources of land, minerals, and tourist attractions, there is limited value addition. Uganda’s leading exports in 2023/2024 were in low-value commodities like coffee, maize, fish and its products, and tea. Regarding coffee, 6.12 million 60-kilogramme bags were exported, fetching only $1,143.8 million at a mere $3.1 per kilogramme. If we added value, we would have gotten more money. Those are the issues making us not earn money. Therefore, we should prioritise value addition. High transportation and electricity costs constrict the country’s economic growth and competitiveness, the tariffs and so on. Another challenge we are facing is the high cost of capital. Interest rates in this country are very high. You borrow money to do business; you borrow money to do development but the interest rates are very high, including the moneylenders who are siphoning all our people’s money. Uganda is also heavily reliant on rain-fed agriculture with limited irrigation, limited fertilizer and limited mechanisation. We have to invest so that we can earn more. Investment and use of science, technology and innovation is still low. We are still doing things mechanically. We need a lot of research, investment in research and knowledge growth so that we innovate a number of products that can earn us more money. Domestic revenue generation is still inadequate to finance our development. We now mitigate by borrowing and so on, where Hon. Ikojo has been begging for approvals. There is also indiscipline where we undermine effective planning and budget implementation and we fail to realise the results. Our plans are prepared and left to the dust. Implementation goes a different direction. That is why we must all pay a keen eye so that when we plan, we plan properly, and we must stick to our plans. That is what we are going to emphasise for all. Industrial parks and free zones are inadequately developed to drive value addition and the industrialisation agenda. Water, roads, electricity, internet connectivity are very limited in our industrial parks. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

15566 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION to effectively monitor implementation of the National Development Plan. In addition, the committee recommends that the Office of the Auditor-General carries out annual special audit on the implementation of the NDP IV and report to Parliament. The other observation is realignment of the ruling party manifesto with National Development Plan. The committee observed that after approval of NDP IV, the ruling party manifesto in 2026 may be inconsistent to the NDP IV’s strategic controls and direction. This inconsistency may hinder implementation of the plan, regardless of which government takes power in 2026. Therefore, the committee recommends that in order to ensure consistency of the ruling party manifesto and the National Development Plan, the NPA should conduct annual and mid-term reviews of the NDP IV as per Regulation 10(2) of the NPA Regulations, 2018. The other observation is slow implementation of public investment projects. The committee observes that all growth strategies of the NDPs are anchored on public investments, especially in their core projects/ high impact projects, and other attendant projects. However, project delays are still a challenge, in particular for externally funded projects. Over the last six years, externally financed projects have spent only 44 per cent of their allocated budgets over the same period. With delays in the acquisition of rights of way such as land and compensation and all resettlement for project affected persons, procurement delays, which in turn affect project implementation, increase in direct costs of non-performing projects, including commitment fees, insufficient real- time monitoring of projects, poor sequencing of projects, insufficient feasibility, and appraisal studies of projects cited as the main reasons for the under execution. The committee recommends the following five things: a) The NDP IV should focus on the incomplete strategic projects carried out by the NDP III. These projects are largely in the railway, roads, energy, and oil and gas sectors, basing on plans to develop industrial ecosystems around iron ore, oil and gas, and phosphates, there is a need to continue investing strategically in electricity power generation. b) There is a need to undertake project due diligence through rigorous feasibility assessments to gauge the viability of government projects. This will ensure that projects are well structured, commercially viable, and will provide value for money. c) Government undertakes real-time monitoring of development projects annually and biannually. d) Government fast-tracks the development of a policy on the acquisition of the right of way and corridors for the development of infrastructure to ease planning and avoid delays in infrastructure development. e) Finally, the government sequences projects with priority given to those generating a bigger growth dividend. One of the other observations the committee made was on the Parish Development Model as a flagship intervention. The committee observes that the goal of the NDP IV will be achieved through full monetisation of the economy, accelerated by full operationalisation of the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga , and other wealth creation funds. The PDM is a government last mile delivery approach to improve citizens’ livelihoods and well-being. From this, the committee observes that: (i) Parishes are not homogeneous. They vary in population density, geographical size,

15570 MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION The committee recommends as follows: a) The Government should set aside adequate resources in the domestic arrears budget to clear the current stock of domestic arrears over the medium term; b) The Government should consider new approaches to stop the accumulation of new domestic arrears and sanctions should be enforced to penalise errant accounting officers, as per the requirements in the PFMA Act. The other observation is on the effectiveness of industrialisation strategy. Honourable colleagues, I am about to finish. The committee observes that the theme of the national planning framework has consistently been “Sustainable Industrialisation for Inclusive Growth, Employment and Wealth Creation”. However, the contribution of the industrial sector in total GDP has not fundamentally changed overtime, averaging 26.8 per cent in 2020/2021 to 2021/2022. The ratio of manufactured exports to total exports has also stagnated at about 13.5 per cent for the first two years of NDP III. The committee further observed that structural information of the economy driven by industrialisation was not realised during the first two years of the implementation of the NDP III adequately. The committee recommends as follows: a) There should be deliberate effort by the Government to fast-track the industrialisation agenda. Development of industrial parks should be at the centre of promoting industrialisation. The Government should focus on ensuring functionality of all the industrial parks with adequate provision of electricity, water, interconnection roads, among others; b) Based on plans to develop an industrial ecosystem around iron ore, oil and gas and phosphates, there is a need to continue investing strategically in electricity power generation. We have not yet reached there. This will minimise the cost of transmission and distribution of power industrial clusters; c) There should be deliberate effort by the Government to fast-track the industrial - isation agenda through establishment of specialised financial institutions targeting small- and medium-scale indigenous-run industries. In this way, Ugandans will be participants, not observers, in the industri - alisation drive; d) For agro-industrialisation to be realised, there is a need to holistically champion this strategy through large-scale programmes such as the Parish Development Model, private sector development programmes centred on production zones and setting up a conducive environment for private sector participation in this industrialisation process; and e) Develop Public-Private Partnership strate - gies to enhance financing of the industri - alisation agenda because the Government cannot do it alone. Legislation, oversight and representation programme The committee observes that paragraph 525 of the proposed NDP IV does not reflect the current status of the Legislature programme, for instance, reference made to nonexistent institutions and inaccurate human resource information. The committee observed that the book needs some cleaning. The committee recommends that that paragraph, particularly, should be deleted because it is not up to date – it should be expunged. Alignment of the administration of justice programme and the governance and security programme The committee observed that some interventions under the governance and

Okay. The industrial courts, LDC interventions that contribute to justice service delivery, court-related forensic analysis interventions, LC courts, DPP interventions that contribute to justice service delivery are more directly related to the administration of justice programme. Therefore, the committee recommends that all the interventions currently under the governance and security programme that relate to the enhancement of equitable access to justice for social economic development and the strengthening of justice service delivery systems should be transferred to the administration of justice programme. It is an issue of alignment of the 18 programmes, as highlighted above. Regionally balanced development The committee observes that although commendable progress has been registered in reducing poverty, regional disparities have, however, remained and increased vulnerabilities across regions. The chairman had mentioned it, so, I will not read it. The committee recommends that the Government prioritises the development and implementation of regional development plans, including comprehensive regional physical plans, to ensure balanced economic growth, equitable service delivery, and equitable resource distribution. I would have asked for an investment map, but the committee did not allow. Promotion of games and sports The committee observes that the National Development Plan (NDP) IV provides for several interventions for promoting games and sports but does not provide interventions relating to physical exercises for health reasons, amateur sports for mass participation and professional sports for commercial benefit. In addition, the committee observes that the NDP IV high-impact projects focuses only on the establishment of four regional sports stadia and 14 district sports grounds in the traditional sub-regions of Uganda. These do include international and national stadia. Further, the committee observes that the desired high-level programme results by the year 2029- 2030 provide insufficient information in regard to niche sports rankings. This hinders the effective monitoring of the high-level program results. Therefore, the committee recommends two interventions. a. That the NDP IV is amended to incorporate interventions for physical exercises for health reasons, amateur sports for mass participation and professional sports for commercial benefit. b. NDP IV high-impact projects should be amended to include three international stadia, Namboole, Hoima, and Akii- Bua, 10 KCCA artificial surface grounds (Rubaga, Kawempe, Makindye, Nakawa and Central Divisions) and 15 national stadia (Arua, Moroto, Soroti, Mbale, Tororo, Iganga, Jinja, Lugazi, Luwero, Masaka, Mbarara, Ntungamo, Kabale, Kasese and Fort Portal. Railway master plan The committee observed that the NDP IV mentions that in order to lower the cost of doing business, the focus will be on improving the transport infrastructure. However, the NDP IV is silent on the need to develop a railway

15498 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT It is also consistent with the Charter of Fiscal Responsibility and satisfies the requirements of gender equity responsiveness and balanced development. It is in two parts; Part 1 highlights the economic growth strategy, the medium-term macro-economic forecasts, the medium-term fiscal framework and forecast, compliance with the Charter of Fiscal Responsibility, the resource envelope for the Financial Year 2025/26, the policy measures, the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework for the Financial Year 2025/2026 and the fiscal risks and mitigation measures. Part 2 provides details of the proposed programme plans and interventions. Mr Speaker, allow me to reaffirm to the House that Uganda’s economy has fully recovered and is on the right growth path, driven by investments in the 10-fold economic growth areas. Currently, there is high business and investment optimism in Uganda, with inflation contained at 2.9 per cent, way below the policy target of 5 per cent. Mr Speaker, in line with the 10-fold growth strategy, the Fourth National Development Plan, and the NRM Manifesto, and the guidance by His Excellency the President, the Financial Year 2025/2026 budget will continue to prioritise the following economic fundamentals; Peace and security, roads, railways, electricity, irrigation, reducing the cost of capital, human capital development in health, education, water, international relations and disaster management. These will be driven by the full monetisation of the economy implemented through the ATMs. These are agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral-based industrial development, science, technology and innovations, including information, communication technology, as well as the creative arts industry.

Thank you so much, Mr Speaker. IDP camps came in northern Uganda, Acholi sub-region and they left, thanks to the armed officers and the Commander-in-chief. The IDP camps left us with a very stubborn and stringent weed to the point that when our farmers do agriculture, this weed does not succumb to herbicides and it is affecting crop production. We thought the tractors that His Excellency gave us that were launched by our honourable minister, Nobert Mao, and the Minister himself, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, would help us in cultivating the wheat, but the tractors have no plough. Up to today the tractors you gave us do not have any ploughs and are just packed in. The question is: when is the Ministry of Agriculture sending specialists to first name that weed and deal with it? Secondly, Rt Hon. Prime Minister, when are we having the ploughs for the tractors? Thank you so much.

Mr Speaker, in March 2020, the Government commenced the construction project for the Gulu Logistics Hub, a very strategic facility serving the entire Northern Uganda, Uganda and the neighbouring countries. However, the project affected several families. The Government had made a commitment to pay them in the form of compensation and severance packages. Some were paid but families that are mainly tenants of Uganda Railways Corporation were not paid. We made several attempts to have them paid. I have personally travelled to the Ministry of Works and Transport more than 12 times; I have been counting but we have not heard any positive feedback. Therefore, I would like to ask the Rt. Hon Prime Minister, if she can very kindly, as usual, compel the Ministry of Works and Transport to have these affected persons, who have been struggling for almost five years now. Some of these families have nowhere to stay. They are in Gulu City. You can imagine the life! My request to the Rt. Hon Prime Minister is to prevail over the Ministry of Works to pay these people. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, Honourable col - leagues, for the issues you have raised about UNBS. UNBS has a mandate to ensure the safety of the lives of Ugandans but also ensure the standards of the products that we produce in the country so that they can meet interna - tional standards and access the markets both domestically and internationally. As a result of the expansion of our industrial sector - as you recall, the industrial sector has grown. We are now contributing 27.4 per cent to our national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with manufacturing alone contributing 16.5 per cent. It has grown from 85 factories in 1986 to now 9,400 factories. This requires capacity to monitor all these activities and ensure that the products are inspected and the standards are kept. Therefore, the length of time that we take should be an average of two months. We shall get the report and circulate it to all Members of Parliament to see how many have applied and how long we have taken to certify them. Some of the reasons they take long is because some companies do not give information in time and yet we must ensure the safety of these products. Therefore, I am happy that this afternoon there seems to be a consensus coming out of members of Parliament that UNBS needs to be supported and be given enough resources to recruit enough people for enforcement and certification. On the second point of harmonisation of UNBS laws and the National Drug Authority (NDA), we proposed an amendment to the National Drug Policy and Authority Act. We are working together with the Ministry of Health. Actually, tomorrow we have a consultative meeting to harmonise and see which products are handled by UNBS, which ones are going to be handled by NDA. The Attorney-General is providing guidance on this matter; on why we are still applying the External Trade Act vis-a-vis the new Act that was enacted. As far as we understand, the External Trade Act has never been repealed. Therefore, it is still a law that is applied in Uganda. Madam Speaker, we will be ready – (Interruption)

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Bill, 2024 was presented, as the Speaker says, in this August House on Tuesday, 26 November 2024, for the First Reading and consideration by Parliament. This Bill seeks to establish an employer- led Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system that is functional, effective, efficient, to meet the demands and priorities of the labour market. The Bill proposes harmonisation, synchroni - sation, and merger of the functions of various TVET assessment bodies into one homoge - neous function, to reduce costs and ease of co - ordination, in line with the Cabinet’s Directive on Rationalisation of Government Agencies, Commissions, Authorities, and Public Expen - diture (RAPEX). Specifically, it proposes the transition and merger of: a. Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board, (UBTEB) and the Directorate of Industrial Training, into the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board. b. Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board and Ugandan Nurses and Midwives Examinations Board, into the Health Professionals Assessment Board. I submit, Madam Speaker.

15426 THE TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING BILL, 2024 h. To provide for the establishment of a TVET Assessment Board; i. To provide for the establishment and management of Skills Development Fund. Methodology 3.1 We used desk research. The committee reviewed the various legislations, and these included; a. The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995; b. The Business Technical, Vocational Education and Training Act. Cap. 244; c. The National Curriculum Development Centre Act, Cap. 254; d. The Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act, Cap 262. The committee reviewed TVET policy 2019 meetings. The committee invited eight stakeholders, held meetings and received memoranda from them. They include: a) The Minister of Education and Sports; b) The Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB); c) The Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA); d) The Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examinations Board (UNMEB); e) The Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board (UAHEB); f) The Directorate of Industrial Training (DIT); g) The Federation of Uganda Employers (FUE); and h) The Management Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC). Findings In the objectives of the Act, clause 3 of the Bill provides for objectives of the Act as spelt out earlier in this report. Committee Observation The committee observed that the aspect of licensing of TVET trainers was not provided for under clause 3(f) of the Bill. Recommendation The committee recommends that clause 3(f) should provide for the aspect of licensing of TVET trainers. 4.2 The Technical and Vocational Training TVET Council Clause 4 of the Bill establishes the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council and a composition of the council is provided for under clause 8. The Bill proposes that council shall be composed of a chairperson and six members and that 66 per cent of the council membership shall be employers. The Uganda Manufacturers Association (UMA), in its interaction with the committee, proposed that the Bill should specify that one of the employers proposed in the council membership should be a manufacturer, since they are the biggest consumers of TVET services. Committee observations The committee perused paragraph 7.2.1 of the TVET policy and found that one of the policy objectives of the formation of a TVET council as a regulatory body, representing the demand side of the TVET policy, with two-thirds, that is 66 per cent of the council members being employers from the industry. The policy further states that the institutional mandate for employers, through the TVET Council, will be to regulate TVET through establishment of standards, qualifications, registration, and accreditation systems for institutions/ providers, programs, and trainers.

15431 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2024 tenure should tally with the tenure of the TVET Council. Recommendation The committee recommends that clause 83 of the Bill be amended to provide for the tenure of members of the TVET Assessment Board as four years. 4.11 Deputy Executive Secretary of the TVET Assessment Board Clause 92 of the Bill provides for the Deputy Executive Secretary of the TVET Assessment Board and the clause provides for two deputies, one of the TVET assessment and another for TVET development and management of the curricula. In its interaction with the committee, UNMEB proposed to the committee that the position for two deputies be adjusted to deputy executive secretary responsible for nursing and midwifery and another responsible for allied health professionals. Committee observations The committee observes that since the Uganda health professionals board is merging the two bodies; the Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board and the Uganda Nurses and Midwife Examinations Board, specifying the two deputies is necessary. The committee further observes that the deputy executive secretary of TVET, Development and Management of Curricula, under the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board, should be added as a role of Finance and Administration to ensure that the function of the Finance and Administration is effectively handled. Recommendation Clause 92 of the Bill be amended to specify the two deputy executive secretaries of the Uganda Health Professionals Board and add the role of finance and administration to the deputy executive director in charge of TVET development and management of curricula. 4.12 Transitional provisions in the Bill Clause 126 of the Bill provides for transition applicable to the TVET Assessment Board. Clause 126(5) of the Bill provides that the staff in employment of Uganda Allied Health Examinations Board and the Uganda Nurses and Midwifery Examinations Board in existence, immediately before the commencement of this Act, other than the Board members shall be merged and continue in the employment of the Health Professionals Assessment Board as the Minister may determine and subject to the availability of vacancies. Clause 128(2) of the Bill provides that the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board may on the effective date of its operations, accept into its employment a person who, immediately before the commencement of this Act, was an employee of the Directorate of Industrial Training on permanent and pensionable terms and who was given an option to serve by the board and be opted to serve as an employee of the board subject to the availability of vacancies. Committee observations The committee observes that clause 126(5) leaves the transition of the staff of the two bodies to the determination of the minister and subject to availability of positions. This will render some staff unemployed and is thus unfair. The committee further observes that the provision in clause 128(2) requires the board to give a staff member the option to serve which is also unfair. Recommendation The committee recommends that: i) Clause 126 be amended to provide that staff in employment of the Uganda Health Examinations Board and the Uganda Nurses and Midwifery Examinations Boards should continue in employment in the Uganda Health Professionals Assessment Board; and

15432 THE TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING BILL, 2024 ii) Clause 128 be amended to provide that the employee of the Directorate of Industrial Training is the one to give an option on where he or she wants to serve on the board or not. 4.13 Management Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC) Clause 121 of the Bill repeals the Management Training and Advisory Centre Act, Cap 253. The committee interacted with and received written recommendations of memoranda from the Management, Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC), who submitted that the Bill sought to repeal a non-existent law, as the MTAC law was repealed by the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act of 2001. MTAC attached a legal opinion to this written submission, dated 19 September 2014 from the Solicitor-General, that stated that the MTAC law was repealed by the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001. The legal opinion further stated that the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act (Register of Public and Private Tertiary Institutions) Legal Notes No.14 of 2008, lists Management, Training and Advisory Centre as a public tertiary institution under Part B. The Minister of Education and Sports stated that following the Government policy of rationalisation of Government Agencies, Commissions, Authorities and Public Expenditure and Cabinet Memoranda CT (2018)128, it was decided that MTAC would be merged with Nakawa Vocational Training Institute. Furthermore, the Minister of Education and Sports stated that prior meetings were held with MTAC on the Bill and were, therefore, informed about the merger with the Nakawa National Training Institute and the repeal of the MTAC law. In a meeting with a committee, MTAC indicated that the dissolution of MTAC has far- reaching implications as argued below: (a) That dissolution of MTAC will undermine the execution of the projects that informed the establishment of MTAC. (b) The dissolution of MTAC will significantly undermine the implementation of the micro, small and medium enterprises policy. (c) The dissolution of MTAC would erode the relevance of MTAC in the region. (d) The dissolution of MTAC would suffocate the growth of MTAC business incubators already established in Ntungamo and in Mbale. (e) A dissolution of MTAC would significantly undermine the implementation of the National Development Plan, the Uganda Vision 2040, and the Africa Agenda 2063. Committee observations The committee observes that MTAC law was not repealed by the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001 as is and is still in force. The committee observes that the matter of rationalisation of MTAC was approved by Cabinet under CT (2018)128. Recommendation The provisions of the Bill in regard to the Management and Advisory Centre (MTAC) should be maintained in the Bill. Conclusion The committee understands the pertinent need to regularize and promote the TVET sector and the committee’s interaction with the various stakeholders depicts their readiness of rationalisation which is necessary to make the TVET sector better. The committee recommends that the Parliament adopts the committee report and passes the Bill, subject to the proposed amendments. I beg to submit, Madam Speaker. (Applause)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am a committee member and I want to give information about the issues which they wanted clarification on. This Bill merges a number of entities that had different accounting officers. In this Bill, the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examinations Board, the Directorate of Industrial Training and the assessment body for the allied - that section of the paramedics and all that are being merged here. All of them will be under this one council. Actually, there are almost four entities that have different accounting officers which will be merged and there will be one executive officer who will be supervised by this council. Let us not look at it as a stand-alone. We are actually merging many things into one. This council will be the body to oversee it. Thank you. (Applause)

I think the matter she raises is very important. Before, there were cases where people would go through the Directorate of Industrial Training and they would do their skilling in whichever trade and be able to get a Certificate of DIT. Arising from the current proposal, it seems like that which used to happen and has been very helpful in the society will be omitted. The clarification I want to receive, which would also address the concerns of the other colleagues, is; does the National Craftsperson

Madam Chairperson, Clause 128 was for former employers of the Directorate of Industrial Training on permanent and pensionable terms. It is amended in sub- clause (2) by deleting the words, “was given the option to serve by the Board and...” Justification To ensure that the employee is the one to give an option on whether he or she wants to serve on the board or not. I beg to move.

Sorry, I am reacting to your communication in regard to the floods that are ravaging the entire country. As you are all aware, yesterday in Northern Uganda experienced terrible floods. So many people were stranded for hours that they were not able to cross, and I also send my condolences to the family of the engineer who died in the flood. I always wonder, for how long are we going to keep on acting on emergencies? Why don’t we prepare ourselves as a country to curb such emergencies? When it comes to the Tangi River, which bursts its banks every year, the Uganda National Roads Authority just goes and piles hard-core and marram, and that is it. In a matter of days, it is washed away. Why can’t we get a lasting solution to this bridge or river that keeps on bursting its bank over the years so that, at least, it does not surprise us when such national calamities happen? This has happened time and again and if you drive along that road, - because that is the route we are currently using, to and from northern Uganda, or Gulu in particular - the bridge is washed and much as it is no longer being used, the railway is hanging. Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) should wake up from its sleep and - Ministry of Works and Transport - sorry, forgive me, I am still used to UNRA.

15378 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT STATEMENT [Mr Ssenyonyi] use of its fertile soil around Lake Victoria and Lake Kyoga, coupled with good rains. However, the persistent poverty in Busoga continues to raise questions about whether cane cultivation is benefiting farmers. Uganda Bureau of Statistics 2020 figures show that Busoga has 1.2 million poor persons; this is 2020 and it could be different now, of which 400,000 are living in food poverty. Food poverty, often referred to as household food insecurity, can be triggered by a crisis in finance or personal circumstances. It encompasses both the affordability of food and its availability within local communities. The Economic Policy Research Center asserts that Eastern Uganda, particularly Busoga, has the largest sugarcane milling capacity, accounting for 35 per cent, followed by Central Uganda at 27 per cent, then Western Uganda at 26 per cent, and Northern Uganda, the newest entrant in sugar milling, at 12 per cent. Despite the importance of sugarcane, farmers face persistent challenges that threaten their income and well-being. These are some of our findings: 1. Low cane prices Farmers sell sugarcane to millers at extremely low prices, often below production costs. For instance, in 2023, last year, the price per tonne was Shs 98,000, a decline from previous figures, which would at times go to beyond Shs 200,000. Even then, what the farmer eventually gets is so meager due to the other operational costs such as harvesting, cutting, loading, and so on. 2. Delayed fulfilment of the presidential pledge to construct two sugar mills owned by farmers. In 2021, the Government pledged to construct two sugar factories in Busoga that very year, owned by the farmers, as a way of empowering them. These factories were to be constructed in the districts of Buyende and Luka, in 2021. However, to date, no construction has taken place. Rather, there has been a back and forth by Uganda Development Corporation, despite the release of more than Shs 8 billion for the purchase of land. 3. Delayed payments Many millers delay to make payments to farmers, leaving them cash-strapped. Farmers reported that at times, they would wait for up to six months for their payments. 4. Recovery cost The millers charge the sugarcane farmers that supply cane 9 per cent per ton as recovery costs for the milling of the cane. 5. VAT charge These sugarcane farmers told us that they are charged 18 per cent VAT on the sugarcane, which is not in tandem with the tax laws of Uganda. VAT is charged on finished products, not raw materials. That is why it is referred to as “Value Added Tax.” What is even more bothersome is that it is doubtful that the millers who collect this money eventually remit the same to Uganda Revenue Authority. 6. Formula for pricing of sugar The price of sugarcane is calculated based on only one by-product, that is sugar, and yet there are many other by-products from sugarcane. Some of the social and infrastructure issues that we discovered include: i. Limited access to inputs Farmers struggle to afford fertilisers, pesticides, and high-quality seedlings. ii. Poor infrastructure Poor roads delay the transportation of harvested cane to mills, leading to losses in weight and quality.

Madam Speaker, as usual, I received a question from Hon. Hellen Kahunde, District Woman Representative, Kiryandongo, on e-waste management. According to her, it is a crucial component of development and environmental protection. It involves the safe disposal and re-use of electronic products such as computers, cell phones, printers, and other digital devices that are no longer in use. Her prayer is: what are Government’s e-waste disposal and management interventions in Uganda? Madam Speaker and colleagues, my response is that the Ministry of Information, Communica - tions Technology and National Guidance coor - dinates –(Interjection)- Madam Speaker, I beg for your protection. The Ministry of Informa - tion, Communications Technology and Nation - al Guidance coordinates the implementation of the E-Waste Management Policy supported by the E-Waste Steering Committee, which in - cludes the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) and Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA). These institutions collab - orate to ensure sustainable management of e-waste. The E-Waste Management Policy, 2012 provides an overarching framework for e-waste management. Madam Speaker, this is augmented by the Strategy for Electronic Waste Management, 2013 and Guidelines for E-Waste Management in Uganda, 2016. The revised National Environment Act, 2019 established a legal framework for waste management and provides for aspects of e-waste management schemes, including Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and equipment return to vendor (take back) schemes. The National Environment (Waste Management) Regulations, 2020 further include specific provisions on the management of e-waste separate from hazardous waste. Madam Speaker, the Government through the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) and National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), in collaboration with other stakeholders, launched the E-Waste Management Collection Centre located at plot 66, 6 th Street Industrial Area in Kampala in June 2021. The centre carries out rudimentary management of e-waste including collection, sorting, and dismantling. Additionally, private e-waste management handlers, such as BIN it, Nabugabo Updeal Joint Venture, Meridian Waste Uganda Limited, have been licensed by NEMA to handle various aspects of e-waste management including collecting, sorting, dismantling and disposal. Cognisant that the country’s e-waste management infrastructure is still rudimentary and insufficient, the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, with funding from the World Bank, is undertaking a project to establish a central e-waste management centre and regional collection to facilitate effective and sustainable e-waste collection. Plans include subsequently progressing to refurbishment and recycling of e-waste in the long term. Madam Speaker, the Government is currently undertaking the following measures due to the increased need to address e-waste management; i) Review of the E-Waste Policy, 2012; ii) Needs and readiness assessment of e-waste collection centres; iii) Infrastructure and process requirements evaluation for e-waste management facilities; iv) Capacity building of handlers on e-waste management; v) Training of stakeholders on e-waste management; vi) Assessment of the operations and capacity of stakeholders and the e-waste collection

15401 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2024 The project is pending approval by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) 8. Hon. Mapenduzi Ojara (Bardege-Layibi Division, Gulu City) According to him, the Government promised to provide updates on the progress of Northern Uganda Social Action Fund IV, (NUSAF IV) but it has taken several months with no feedback. His prayer is that I update Ugandans on the progress of NUSAF IV. My response The Cabinet, in its meeting of 24 January 2024, authorised my office to design the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund IV projects - that is NUSAF IV – with the support of World Bank to address the high poverty levels in the greater northern Uganda. Noting the satisfactory performance of the previous NUSAF III project, where 3,031,690 poor and vulnerable persons from 606,338 households benefited from the project funds in 5,299 villages, 1,536 parishes in the 67 participating districts, the proposed NUSAF IV will provide effective income support to build the resilience of poor and vulnerable households in northern Uganda. The project design and consultations have been concluded by the project design team, consisting of my office, National Planning Authority, the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Ministry of Health, Inspectorate of Government, and other relevant ministries, departments and agencies. National Planning Authority has issued clearance for the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to make arrangements for negotiations with the World Bank and proceed with financing. The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has notified the World Bank and negotiations on the project are still ongoing. The project shall also require approval of the World Bank and Parliament before commencement, which is anticipated in January 2025. 9. Hon. Julius Acon Bua (MP, Otuke East County) His prayer is for me to inform the people of northern Uganda on the steps the Government plans to take for them to tap into the global demands for shea nuts? My response is that shea nut is a tree wildly growing in eastern and northern Uganda. Currently, efforts have been mainly at community and local government, on conservation of these naturally growing trees in the wild not to be taken up by the charcoal business. However, as Government, we note the economic importance and nutritional value of these trees and will look into the measures to propagate them. The Government is currently engaging with development partners to incorporate additional oilseed crops including shea nut, cashew nut, macadamia and Hass avocado into the national oilseed project, supported by oilseed crops. Government is confident that integrating these priority crops will lead to focused efforts to enhance their contributions to the oilseed and vegetable oil value chain in both regional and international markets. Madam Speaker, farmers also have the option of selecting shea nuts as an enterprise to undertake the parish development model. 10. That can I update this house- it came from Hon. Lagen David, Agago County. His prayer is that, can I update this House on the status of implementation of national oil seeds in Northern Uganda? That there are no signs of any impact of this project.

Appreciate that these questions come from members. So, I try to make sure that we answer them and give answers satisfactorily. Thank you so much. My response is that the National Seeds Project (NOSP) is a seven-year initiative that started in 2021 to 2028, jointly implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Local Government. Building on the successes of the Vegetable Oil Development Project(VODP) Phase 2 that started in 2010-2020, NOSP operates in 81 districts, clustered into hubs, that is West Nile, Northern, Eastern, Mid-Western and Karamoja. In Northern Uganda, the project is active in 17 districts including Lamwo, Pader, Kitgum, Gulu, Amuru, Nwoya, Omoro, Agago, Kwania, Otuke, Lira, Alebtong, Amolatar, Apac, Oyam Dokolo and Kole. The project aims to address the shortfall in domestic oil seed production and increase the local output of vegetable oil and related by- products. Its primary development objective is to accelerate commercialisation in the key oil-seed value chain, thereby improving livelihoods and resilience of smallholders involved in oil-seed production and marketing. Actual implementation of the project activities commenced in the financial year 2023/2024. The following have so far been carried out: i) The National Oil Seed Project has provided inputs such as soybean foundation seed and fertilisers to 48 clusters in the region for multiplication to ensure availability of quality declared seed closer to the farmers. This in turn supports farmer groups in growing the seed as grain to increase production and productivity, improve nutrition, and enhance backward and forward linkages within the region; ii) Extension service. The project has provided refresher training for 273 district extension staff to support farmers in the implementing seed value chain activities and to enhance production and productivity. iii) MAAIF, through the project, procured and distributed 162 motorcycles per district to ease mobility - two motorcycles per district- enhance service delivery, and boost the production and productivity of agricultural commodities; iv) Clustering and formation of farmer groups to enhance oilseed production and productivity, contribute to crushing [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

Madam Speaker, the Pader Woman MP is my mulamu – my sister-in-law. I have been to Pader a number of times. The issue of ex-gratia is not only in Pader or northern Uganda; it cuts across the country. In a report by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in Cabinet last week, it was observed that there was under- budgeting by some local governments. So, we are handling the matter, not only for Pader but also other parts of the country. We shall rectify the problem.

15300 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT [Mr Komakech] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR You made a pronouncement regarding tractors that were given to northern Uganda by the President of the Republic of Uganda. The pronouncement was simple, that the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and the minister for finance should make sure the tractors that they gave to the peasant farmers in northern Uganda, specifically Acholi sub- region, do have ploughs with them. Up to this date, tractors are parked, they are rusting in the district, peasant farmers move by and only have a glance at the tractors; they are not being used. Madam Speaker, with the powers that you have, could you, kindly, request or maybe direct the ministers so that they provide ploughs so that our farmers can benefit? Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, Hon. Ekanya has gone on record, challenging the competence of the Government Chief Whip. I would like to state to you, my senior honourable colleague – because you came to this Parliament as the Youth MP for Eastern Region and I, equally, joined as the Youth Member of Parliament for Northern Region. My competence is not in doubt. I am competent 360 degrees – (Applause)- in all aspects. (Laughter)

15289 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 2024 universities and other teacher training institutions, through increasing the number of school practice from two to three can adequately ensure that the teacher trainees get adequate hands-on practical skills under the supervision of competent staff that enable them to qualify as competent professional teachers. They need to review their teacher education programmes and have school practice in each of the three years of the education degree trajectory. Kyambogo University further questioned if the ministry will have the financial ability for the management of the supervision of the teacher trainee internship programme. This is because most primary and secondary schools lack the basic facilities and equipment needed for effective teaching and learning to take place. There is a need to look into the facilitation and motivation implications of regular teachers and head teachers and the ministry officers to carry out supervisory roles and responsibilities in a sustainable manner. Busitema University proposed that internship placements should be left entirely to the training institutions. They also raised questions regarding the ministry’s preparedness to handle internship placements, citing its current challenges with the placement of intern doctors. KOFTU wondered what motivated the change from school practice to internship. They stated that industrial, commercial, scientific and social works establishments prefer this term. They were not certain that the head teacher can manage being the supervisor supposing the head teacher is incompetent or has lower moral turpitude. They proposed involving third parties such as the district education officers and universities. That was their view. Soroti University indicated that the Bill does not include teachers’ welfare during the internship. That was their view. EAN made a proposal for recognition of prior learning experience and equating these other present qualifications they hold to equating and equalising or substantial reduction of the 12-month requirement for internship in the third schedule in the event that the same consideration is missed in the regulations. Therefore, according to EAN, it is inconceivable to have a person already teaching at higher institutions of learning with a master’s degree or a PhD to do a 12-month internship teaching. The committee’s benchmarking visit to Ghana revealed that the Ghanaian government has compulsory national service for all students who complete degree programmes from any profession. The Government caters for all costs of the students under National Service Commissions or programmes. (Applause) Committee observations The committee observes that it is not fair for a teacher to undertake internship as well as school practice. The Ministry of Education and Sports failed to show the committee how school practice has been ineffective for a teaching force. (Applause) The committee observes that the period of one year is too long after a teacher has completed a degree and is subjected to another year of training in addition to school practice. Teachers should only be required to do teaching practice and school practice, which is the same. The committee further observes that the Government is facing considerable challenges in handling intern doctors in the medical profession. Given the resource constraints that always affect the internship requirements in the medical profession, it is thus questionable if the government will effectively handle the compulsory internship for teachers. Committee recommendation The requirement of internship for teachers be deleted from the Bill but in the alternative, teachers should be required to do school practice in each year of the teacher training course.

15120 THE NATIONAL COFFEE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024 that is, Science, Technology and Innovation, to support what was called Strategic Pharmaceutical Industrial Investment and particularly Dei Biopharma Limited. In fulfilment of Sections 6A and E of the Administration of Parliament Amendment Act 2006, I led a delegation of some members of the shadow cabinet to visit Dei Biopharma Limited on Thursday, 19 September 2024, to establish value for the taxpayer’s money invested in this company and assess the progress of operations of this company. Dei Biopharma Limited, a drug and vaccine manufacturing plant, is located at Matugga in Wakiso District, and its director is a one Mr Matthias Magoola. This pharmaceutical company was launched on 6 July 2021, and it set out to produce all forms of essential medicine, including vaccines. Mr Magoola came into prominence in March 2020 following his claims to have discovered a cure for COVID-19. He promised to produce medicine for COVID-19 but that never saw the light of day, Madam Speaker and Members. To date, Dei BioPharma Limited has received a cumulative total amount of Shs 723.4 billion in funding from the Government. This financial support began with an initial allocation of Shs 70 billion, which was granted during the Financial Year 2023/2024. This was followed by an additional Shs 75 billion in December 2023, and finally, the most recent significant amount of Shs 578.4 billion that was provided through the supplementary schedule you have talked about. The bailout money was intended for the Government to acquire equity and become a shareholder. However, the funding allocated to Dei BioPharma Limited became contentious during the Parliamentary discussions, with the minority report raising multiple concerns, which included: 1. Lack of evidence of a special board resolution granting the Government shares in this company. 2. There was no evaluation and valuation of this company by the Chief Government Valuer to ascertain the company’s worthiness and viability. 3. There was no memorandum and articles of association to establish the actual owners of the company. 4. There was no disclosure of beneficial owners as a new requirement in the Company Act to curtail money laundering. 5. There was no memorandum of understanding or agreement spelling out key obligations. And these are questions we asked on that day in this House, Madam Speaker. The Government promised that after the supplementary request was approved by Parliament, they would set out to do all that due diligence. This position was not tenable to a number of us in the House because we did not want to put the cart before the horse. We told the Government that providing money to a company whose worth is not ascertained is like shooting first and aiming later. Despite our concerns, the supplementary request was approved. The delegation of legislators that I went with interacted with members of the board and management, who provided some insights into the company’s initiatives and challenges. They offered perspectives on regulatory compliance and pharmaceutical practices, including research developments and production capabilities. The objectives of our oversight visit included: 1. Assessing the progress of setting up the plant and establishing whether there was value for taxpayers’ money thus far. 2. To verify whether there was progress regarding Dei BioPharma Limited’s pledge to manufacture vaccines and other essential medicines. 3. To ascertain the extent of the Government’s shareholding in Dei BioPharma Limited. 4. To determine if a proper valuation was conducted and whether an agreement exists between the Government and Dei BioPharma Limited. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR [Mr Ssenyonyi]

Madam Speaker, I come from northern Uganda. At a time when the President was addressing the country, he told the country that of the crops that contributed to the development of the country, number one is coffee. Moreover, I did not understand the importance. Recently, we have done our best to make sure that in our talk show and in our community mobilisation, we mobilise our people to plant coffee. I must tell you, I am happy and excited when I see the pressure in the House when it comes to a situation that is touching coffee in the country. I have been interacting with many Members of Parliament who come from areas where coffee growing is and it looks like we are under pressure from the voters who are saying, protect areas where we are receiving our money and they think something is going wrong when coffee is touched. Madam Speaker, something which is very important in this world is what we call change. In addition, when change is coming, people will always be threatened. They do not know exactly what will happen after the change; whether it is going to be positive or negative change. They will not understand it at all. I know a situation where we were also informed, for us, we do not sit in the caucus. The same environment we are facing now is also what was going on in the caucus meetings. Therefore, that shows you something has not been done right. If this is something that is bothering us, why don’t we get a proper way to make sure people understand this situation well? That is why I like the question you asked. In addition, I wish we had given us time with soberness so that the minister could explain and we understand whether this Authority will be dissolved and if it is going to be dissolved, personally, I will not support it. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I want to believe that when you decide to create an entity, you create it with specific targets and intentions and repeatedly, you have to review or assess whether that entity is performing to your expectation. It is a fact that the Government created this entity. It is the responsibility of the Government to assess and determine whether the entity is performing to its expectations. It is also the mandate of the same Government, after review, to determine whether there is need to create a new direction. I think the intention of the merger is probably to create a more effective strategy as far as the promotion of coffee is concerned. Madam Speaker, as I conclude, the committee painted a beautiful picture yesterday as far as the work of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority is concerned. However, I want to say this: I think we should also recognise the fact that there are parts of the country that would have done much better in coffee if the authorities had paid attention. That is northern Uganda. As we plan to rationalise, the Government needs to put a very particular interest in ensuring that the things that the Government did not do in promoting coffee development in northern Uganda are taken more seriously. I support that the merger goes on. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The role of UCDA is to promote and oversee coffee. For 30 years, UCDA has done this excellently, but in selected regions of this nation. (Applause) The people in the northern part of Uganda, especially in West Nile, have just woken up to coffee when it was – (Interjection) - excuse me. Madam Speaker, can I have my privilege as a Member of Parliament?

Madam Speaker, through the Parish Development Model, the Government has outlined seven enterprises that are lucrative and coffee is at the top of those enterprises. However, for 30 years, what has UCDA done in West Nile and northern Uganda? That is one. Two – (Interjections) - Madam Speaker, I beg for my privilege as a Member of Parliament to speak in this House.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It is not the fault of Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) that the northern region has not been majorly growing coffee. You should know that it was the Government’s programme to zone Uganda, allocating different products to different regions. The Government earmarked the northern region for cotton. Therefore, it was not UCDA and we must not blame it for that. (Applause) Number two, I have heard people saying that the Government established UCDA and, therefore, it should have the privilege of taking UCDA. Let me mention this – [Lt Col (Rtd) Rwamirama: “Clarification.”] Can you be patient? Could you have a pen and paper and write?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I thank the chairperson of the committee for the wonderful report. I liked every bit of it because she brought it out that there was nothing repeated. The conclusion is where we deviated from each other. My point here is that when you look at history - we had cash crops - coffee, cotton, tobacco and tea. All those cash crops were actually mapped out - cotton was for the northern, tobacco was for West Nile, and then tea, parts, and parts. There were organisations that ran all these. There was a Lint Marketing Board for cotton. There was coffee - (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The intensity of this debate shows the seriousness of the subject. We are in a country, which is struggling for opportunity for people. Now, I have listened and I would like to make some comments. First, the political economy of the so-called allocation of specialised crops in various parts of Uganda. It has a colonial history; first of all, the British told us a big lie that coffee does not grow in northern Uganda. Because they were white and better educated than us, we believed them. However, there is an old man called Wilson Lutara, another one called Peter Abby, and another one called Semei Nyanzi. They planted coffee in their compounds in defiance to challenge that lie. Why did the British do this? They subjected the people from the Upper Nile, which is northern Uganda, to the seasonal crops, which require a lot of hard labour. It is not as rewarding. You are tied down to only your garden; you cannot even operate a shop. Unlike the people in the south, who had the perennial crops, like tea and coffee, while the coffee is making money for you, you are able to do other things. The hidden purpose was to force the people of the North to enroll in the army and choose salaries over self- employment. I thought I should share that aspect of the political economy. (Applause) So, I think it is inappropriate to say we are not to blame; that you never caught up with the coffee. It is important that we understand it as a matter of fact. Secondly, and finally, there is a false dichotomy here. We are not choosing between the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries and the UCDA. They are both part of Uganda. What we want to achieve is to share our real experiences vis-à-vis what the government policy is. When you are choosing between your experience and what you are being told, I am sure you choose your experience. Madam Speaker, my wife is a coffee grower. The coffee is now flowering; she is even picking. I have not seen UCDA on the farm nor have I seen the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. That is my experience. Madam - (Interjections) - do not shout, improve your argument.

Honourable members, I welcome you to this morning sitting. As you are aware, yesterday, there was a tragic accident, where a fuel tanker overturned in Kigogwa, on Kampala-Gulu Highway, and later exploded into flames, leaving scores dead and destroying various roadside buildings and businesses. Over the last few years, we have witnessed similar cases, notably: in January 2021 at Namungoona, on the Northern Bypass, where at least 33 people died; and in Rubirizi in 2019, where 20 people died. Such incidents point the need to sensitise our locals on public safety during such incidents. We condole with the bereaved families and pray that the Lord comforts them during this trying time. It was such a bad moment, but God’s timing is never our timing. May we rise and observe a moment of silence for those who lost their lives. (Members rose and observed a moment of silence.)

15030 THE NATIONAL COFFEE (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024 Madam Speaker, via Rule 53, I would like to present this very brief report of the oversight visit that I carried out with some colleagues to Atiak Sugar Factory on 7 October 2024 and I begin by tabling a copy of this report. Madam Speaker and colleagues, the shadow cabinet, conducted an oversight visit on Monday 7 October 2024, at the Atiak Sugar Factory in Amuru District to assess its operational status, economic impact and challenges. The factory located in northern Uganda is a Government- supported initiative aimed at reviving the sugar industry in the region, providing employment and promoting economic development in post- conflict areas. Atiak Sugar Factory is an investment located in Atiak in Amuru District that was initiated by a private company Called Horyal Investments Holding Company limited. Herein, after called Horyal. It was incorporated on 11 April 2013 as a private limited liability company, to set up a plant to process sugarcane into sugar and its by-products. The Atiak Sugar Factory began as a private community partnership, in the sense that land was provided by the people of northern Uganda. The construction of the company was envisaged as a milestone in facilitating economic recovery in northern Uganda through the creation of thousands of jobs for local workers. Additionally, the factory would also promote women empowerment, since they would become the main suppliers of sugarcane. However, Horyal soon contracted very expensive short-term credit from a number of financial institutions for the purpose of setting up the factory. Upon experiencing difficulty in servicing the expensive loans, Horyal sought financial support from the Government of Uganda on the grounds that this investment was very strategic for the people of northern Uganda. The factory was officially launched on 22 October 2020. The capacity of this plant in Phase 1 was targeted at 1,650 tonnes of cane crushed per day, to be expandable to 3,500 tonnes of cane crushed per day in Phase 2 and 5,000 in Phase 3. According to the shareholder agreement that the Government of Uganda, through Uganda Development Corporation, signed with Horyal, Government intervention would be solely for completion of the factory up to Phase 1. Unfortunately, despite Government intervention in this factory, production at the Atiak Sugar Factory was halted on account of a persistent shortage of sugarcane and was closed in April 2022. Between Financial Year 2017/2018 and Financial Year 2019/2020, the Government of Uganda, through its investment arm, Uganda Development Corporation, progressively purchased and acquired equity shares worth Shs 81 billion in Horyal. During Financial Year 2017/2018, UDC provided two shareholder loans worth Shs 20 billion and through NAADS, released Shs 54.68 billion in Financial Year 2019/2020 to support sugarcane out growers in Amuru and Lamwo districts to sustain sugarcane supply to this factory. Additionally, the Government of Uganda made available a transport subsidy worth Shs 16 billion in the Financial Year 2019/2020 to transport sugarcane from Busoga to Atiak. All this investment had the sole objective of enabling Horyal to complete the factory to Phase 1. In the Financial Year 2021/2022, UDC, through a supplementary budget, provided Shs 108 billion meant for mechanisation and shares and in the Financial Year 2022/2023, the Government, through UDC, added Shs 274.1 billion meant for preference shares. Unknown today is the total percentage shares that the Government of Uganda has in Horyal because it has continuously injected more funds into this company since the acquisition of equity shares has broken down. I have COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR [Mr Ssenyonyi]

Thank you, Madam Speaker. To ensure the long-term success and sustainability of the Atiak Sugar Factory, the following actions are recommended. 1. The Government, through UDC, needs to fast-track the conversion of its preferential shares into ordinary shares, to increase the negotiating power, strong decision making and voting powers in this company; 2. UDC should improve oversight and management of the factory’s operations by ensuring efficient management and transparency in the use of public funds, and put in place clear performance targets as well; 3. The Government should conduct a thorough audit of this company to establish whether it is a going concern; and 4. While the company is desirous to receive more money from the Government, we think it is prudent for the already invested Shs 553.71 billion to be accounted for first. There must be value for all this money before we think of investing more. In conclusion, Madam Speaker, the Government of Uganda’s investment in Atiak Sugar Factory, through UDC, was intended to revitalise northern Uganda’s economy, promote agro-industrialisation and create jobs. However, all the challenges in place have made it difficult for these intended benefits to accrue. The Government should, therefore, update Parliament on these three issues. a. The exact stake of Government in this project; b. The plans that are there to see that the Shs 553.71 billion injected by the taxpayer does not go to waste; and c. How northern Uganda and Uganda at large can reap the promised benefits from this project, which the taxpayer has injected heavily into? Madam Speaker and honourable colleagues, I beg to submit. (Applause)

Madam Speaker, we need a period of five to ten years to establish the systems and structures that will lead us to get accreditation as a nation. Madam Speaker, I have proposed that in these five years of transition, the Government of Uganda should provide adequate funding to promote coffee in northern Uganda including Lango, Acholi, Karamoja, and West Nile. This area has been waiting for a perennial cash crop for a long time. I have also made a recommendation, Madam Speaker, that in these five years, UCDA should be provided additional money for coffee seedlings to the farmers that are required by farmers strategically to help us meet the 20 million bags and meet the target of 2030. Fourthly, the Government should put in place a fertiliser loan scheme to avail fertilisers to the farmers who need them. Madam Speaker, I have also proposed that the Government should expedite the establishment of “The Food and Veterinary Drug Regulatory Agency”. It should be this agency, in the future where we put coffee and other food crops that need regulation – (Interruption)

Exactly! We struggle and fight to see that some of the industrial parks or some of the investors can come to these rural places so STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT

15111 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2024 that our districts can also create some revenue. Madi-Okollo is on the list for industrial parks but we still do not know. When the minister came here, there was nothing clear to say these are the districts that are getting industrial parks. These are some of the areas where we can collect local revenue. Thank you.

14984 THE COTTON DEVELOPMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024 to get on the market and are developed by specialised teams. This is a continuous activity, season after season. Therefore, the two entities mandate not only differ but are also too unique and do not overlap. We must note that the ministry does not have the capacity. It has insufficient budget funding. It is also struggling with too much bureaucracy, which will affect efficiency and effectiveness. The above is coupled with the laissez-faire syndrome of permanent and pensionable staff that has seen the ministry to date fail to come up with fisheries and aquaculture regulations to protect our fishermen, even after this 11 th Parliament passed the Bill. The MAAIF has failed to come up with the T-Regulations up to date, even when Parliament resolved that the minister in charge of agriculture come up with the T-Regulation. The ministry gave out tractors without ploughs and other spare parts in Northern Uganda and in other parts of the country. MAAIF has occasionally failed to regulate the fake agricultural inputs on the market, like pesticides, fertilisers and the agrochemical inputs. Equally important to note is the fact that MAAIF has failed to guide the Government on the long-delayed Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) which are flooding our market. MAAIF has failed to implement water for production projects in most parts of the country. Technically, the ministry has been launching these projects and failed to complete them and they end up not handing over anything to local governments. This has been evident in Moroto, Karamoja Sub region and other parts of the country. MAAIF has failed the mechanisation centres across the entire country. They are dysfunctional wherever they were established. A case in point is Kiruhura District where the committee, at one of its oversight roles, visited and discovered that officials upon discovering that the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries was going to visit the place, carried two tractors, slashed around and poured some murram so that their presence avails. In actual sense, they are non-functional. This was the same in Agwak, Dokolo and in Mbale. Madam Speaker, the Agricultural Cluster Development Project has terribly failed under MAAIF. The ministry has constructed factories for cooperatives for cotton and other products across the country, where there is no electricity to run these factories, rendering these them mere white elephants abandoned in the areas where they were established. For instance, in West Nile, where they built a cassava drying and peeling plant which has never kicked off up to date. We observed that monitoring cotton, processing and marketing plus quality control requires swiftness and high-level efficiency, which can only be provided by a specialised and accredited agency like the Cotton Development Organisation. Madam Speaker, with the overwhelming demand for textile products in Uganda and abroad, the task ahead is so enormous that it requires empowering and supporting the Cotton Development Organisation (CDO) to mobilise farmers to grow more cotton, quality assurance, consolidate and build on its achievements. Mainstreaming CDO into the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), will lead to failure to promote quality and loss of market. The minority report notes that in countries like Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, which liberalised their cotton industry without setting up a regulator like CDO, the sub-sector collapsed. The minority report also observed that regulating on-farm and off-farm cotton activities is a function that requires full- time attention by a specialised agency that is internationally accredited. Such a role is not duplicated anywhere in the mandate of MAAIF or any other Government agency. Accreditation

I rise to support the majority report on mainstreaming or rationalising the Cotton Development Organisation. Madam Speaker, I come from Northern Uganda, where at one time, cotton was one main cash crop. Today, even with the Cotton Development Organisation, the main team driving the cotton agenda are the ginners and exporters. The private sector is the one leading the production and exporting of cotton. The Cotton Development Organisation at one time would determine a lower price and farmers would not accept them until the private sector

Okay. So, he is young. Madam Speaker, the issue I want to raise, actually, falls within his docket. Yesterday, I teased it out, but we agreed that since there was the absence of colleagues on the front bench, we would tease it out today. In carrying out our critical mandate of oversight – keeping the Government in check – there are entities that we keep going to. Last week, on Monday the 7 th , together with some colleagues, we went to Amuru District in northern Uganda – to Atiak Sugar Factory. Good enough, they did welcome us, unlike ROKO, which I was giving you an update about - they took taxpayers’ money, but do not want to be held accountable. We shall probably pursue that one as we go along. However, with specificity to Atiak Sugar Factory, there are a couple of concerns, Madam Speaker – and, hopefully, the minister for finance and the Government generally, can provide some answers. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR [Mr Oguzu]

14797 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2024 The taxpayers have so far injected Shs 553.71 billion into the Atiak Sugar Factory project. This is a project that excited many people because it sounded good – it set out well. It sounded good for northern Uganda; people were going to get jobs. It was considered good for Uganda, generally. However, along the way, there are too many questions that need answers. The factory has not been operational over the years, and they are not sure when they will get to operate and produce sugar. They have their own concerns and frustrations as well towards the Government, just like we have our concerns about the project generally and the Government’s involvement and all of that. Madam Speaker, the company spends money on a daily basis, even though there is no sugar being produced, because they run machines which -

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I wish to respond as the shadow minister of health in a short but very elaborate way that the problem of shortages of medicine in the country needs us to find well-defined solutions to settle; if you look at it from the angle of malaria, which is the biggest disease burden. In 2022, the World Health Organisation, which is an authority in matters of health, indicated in its report that there are 12.7 million cases of malaria in Uganda annually, meaning every day 34,000 Ugandans get sick with malaria. In the same report, 17,556 are estimated deaths, which means 48 Ugandans die daily of malaria. Malaria is a curable disease and that gives us a better understanding of what medicines we need in the country. I have been with the Committee on Health and we have gone through various hospitals in Northern Uganda, eastern and western. It hurts to get into those hospitals and knowing that 48 Ugandans die daily, you find no malaria drugs in those hospitals; in Padibe, Moroto and Kabale - yet the same drugs are on the shelves at National Medical Stores (NMS) in Entebbe. What is missing is the money to fuel a truck to transport the drug from the shelves in Entebbe to that distant health facility to save the life of the five-year-old child or the life of a mother. I looked at the documents of National Medical Stores, during the budget process, the cost of logistics for National Medical Stores is only 7 per cent. Our prayer has always been that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development front-loads that money, 7 per cent is small. For a quarter, National Medical Stores needs 25 per cent. But this logistical support is only 7 per cent. They can do it in one quarter. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In our northern Uganda report, we did a very extensive review on what is driving the drug shortages. Front-loading was an issue that happened last financial year but was addressed this financial year. We also have the issue of artificial shortages – the drug is actually available at the facility, but the patients cannot access it. This is what we observed when we went on the ground; this is why we made a very strong recommendation, that we must digitalise the drug system itself so that from National Medical Stores (NMS), you can trace the patient who received that Panadol, antimalarial or injection. There is still a big gap in that particular area. However, we take note of this and we will continue to see what else can be done to strengthen that area.

14810 THE NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AUTHORITY, UGANDA (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON THE STATUS OF HEALTH FACILITIES IN NORTHERN UGANDA

14811 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2024 Dr Agnes Apea, thank you for your question, however, all this comes back to our own communities because every health facility has got a management committee. We need to go back, as legislators and representatives of the people, and find out whether these management committees really go to these health facilities. This is because a management committee can even recommend to a Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) or District Health Officer (DHO) that there is an errant health worker who does not come here or who steals drugs and these people will be dismissed. Hon. James, I have heard your cries from Adjumani and I would like to tell you, Members - most of you raised the question of SMS - sometimes we change numbers and then they remain sending on the old number - because some people are saying they get them, others are saying they do not get them. So, I will take the information to NMS so that everybody receives the medicines. Hon. Linda from Fort Portal City, thank you for appreciating that at least you get the messages and also that you saw trucks delivering drugs. Now, your next step should be to check whether these drugs are being used in health facilities or in private people’s clinics. Dr Acuti said that drugs are delivered but patients do not get them. This comes to the same thing - the management of these hospitals. These are management officers who are picked from the community nearest to these health facilities. Therefore, if they were monitoring well - you know, a drug is not a pin or a needle; it is something a little bulky and so when you carry it out of the hospital sincerely, if you are not seen by a colleague then an askari will see you. If the askari has not seen you, the community alone should report such people, even if they are beneficiaries of these stolen drugs. Hon. Sauda, I would like to thank you for your good question on NMS not sending messages nowadays and also having no electricity in some of our health centres. In my next report, I will be giving a status report only on Northern Uganda, but we have also written to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to make sure they take an extra mile to connect facilities that host people like schools and hospitals, to electricity. Madam Speaker, you have given your own experience where a person died while being referred from a bigger hospital to a smaller one. We do not allow that at all. You cannot have a general hospital and then refer someone to a health centre IV. A health centre III is even worse because it does not have a theatre. Therefore, I wonder which people did this and whether they were reprimanded. This is because as a ministry we have a rewards and sanctions committee which is supposed to handle such characters who misbehave in the health sector. Hon. Atima and Dr Hon. Ebwalu also talked about thefts – I have called you doctor – be a doctor for once. Anyway, yes, we really need to honour that doctor who separated conjoined twins in Soroti, but Mulago National Referral Hospital has also done several of these - by Dr Sekabira – he is a senior surgeon and I have met some of the conjoined twins that he has separated. Thank you, honourable members, for all these questions and we are open to meeting with you and discussing, even one-on-one, in my office so that we can see how to sort out the many difficult problems. Thank you.

On the report, Madam Speaker, some of the issues that I did not address related to the money that is supposed to come to Mbale Industrial Park, for infrastructure development including roads and culverts. About Shs 66 billion had been budgeted for both Kapeeka and Mbale Industrial Parks and Shs 32 billion which was not released was meant to come and do work in Mbale. Perhaps, the minister can enlighten on why Mbale Industrial Park was left out. One of the key projects that was supposed to be done is a drainage channel that runs around the industrial park, to prevent it from flooding. Some work was done by the investors; they just did manual digging with machines. The channel was supposed to be constructed, but this has not been done. As a result, some of the houses that are along the border with the industrial park have collapsed. The land is collapsing because it is about 10 metres deep and about a kilometre above the industrial park. That is one of the key issues that I needed the minister to clarify. The second was about the renovation of the one-stop centre in Mbale. Perhaps the minister can give more information on when it is

The other issue concerns the management of the industrial park that was handed over to the investor, Tian Tang Group. There have been several allegations concerning the selling of this land. An acre is going for about $150,000 to $200,000, yet this is supposed to be free. Those of you who have been following what has been happening in the media, actually, the Chinese have started fighting against each other because of the allegations that once they come and set up the factories, they are supposed to give shares to the management and the chairman, Paul Zhang. A lot has been going on. Perhaps, the minister can enlighten us. I am told - because some of them approached me - that they have even been prevented from going to see the President. They have raised queries on several occasions and have failed to reach out to the President to be helped. The locals cannot access the industrial park or get land in the industrial park. Maybe, the minister can tell us how Ugandans can get land because many have tried and have failed to get land in the industrial park. Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I am happy that the honourable minister is here because yesterday, I raised an issue. Madam Speaker, you are aware that for the last few weeks or months now, the Uganda Investment Authority has been in the media, not for very good reasons. Even yesterday, the media got flooded with different kinds of negative stories. We are aware that the Uganda Investment Authority plays a very critical role, especially in promoting and facilitating investment plans, as well as advocating for a competitive business environment. I would like to hear from the honourable minister whether this constant negative energy that we see being written daily in the newspapers, is good for the face of the country, especially as far as the promotion of investment is concerned. It is important that the ministry addresses some of these issues because it has very bad implications, especially for those who want to invest in this country, but are reading and seeing only negative stories. Finally, I know that some years back, when I was chairman of Gulu, the Uganda Investment Authority got in touch with Gulu District Local Government. At that time, we were not yet a city. The intention was to establish an industrial park. We did our best and provided land. Unfortunately, 13 to 14 years down the road, the whole thing went quiet. Recently, I started hearing goalposts being shifted that we are going to have the industrial park in Nwoya. It would be good for us to be assured where exactly we are going to have this industrial park. Do we still have a plan of having an industrial park in Gulu City and if so, what do we need to do? How far has the ministry gone in trying to handle that? Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. About the eight industrial parks, Iganga had been identified as one of the areas, which were to benefit from this programme of having an industrial park, specifically at a place called Busowobi. The Uganda Investment Authority, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and the former Rt Hon. Prime Minister, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda kept visiting that place and engaging stakeholders in a bid to establish an industrial park. Recently, we were told that positions changed. So, I would like to make use of this debate today to know exactly what is happening to this industrial park. Is it there or has it died a natural death? If it has died, what is the way forward; we feel this is one way of changing

14718 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT the trend where Busoga has been rated as one of the poorest regions in Uganda. We felt the industrial park would address some of these challenges we have. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Eight years ago, the Government secured land in Kabale Subcounty in Hoima District for the construction of an industrial park. The Government paid money and relocated people, but currently, this land is being encroached on by some people in Government – (Interjections) - it is not for today. I will come with evidence next time, but my question is –

My question is: “When is the construction of the industrial park going to take place?” That is my concern. It has taken a long time and people are waiting. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity. I need clarification from the honourable minister. First, I thank the committee for the report. Fort Portal was one of the areas that were gazetted to be given an industrial park that would serve the entire region; Tooro/ Rwenzori region. Land was secured and it is still there up to now but since that time, there is nothing taking place. This industrial park would boost the entire region. Given the fact that we border Congo, it would boost our trade between Uganda and Congo and bring economic activity to that region, but unfortunately, up to now, nothing is taking place. Can I now get information from you, honourable minister, when something will be done to ensure that the industrial park in Fort Portal that would serve the entire region is going to be constructed? Thank you.

We know his brand; Information Technology (IT). When they talk about an expert in IT, you should rise but on issues concerning the poor people - (Laughter)- thank you, Madam Speaker. When they establish these industrial parks, people acquire plots in them. They are largely meant to promote industrial growth in that particular area. In addition to what you have asked the minister to provide, we would also be interested in knowing the people who acquired plots, like companies, because they have made it a business. They go to Namanve and apply for plots. A plot in Namanve is very expensive. Using company law, they trade it and you find that a company that acquired land in 2002 in Namanve has nothing because it has sold it over and over. So, we would be interested in having the minister also give us that list. Secondly -

The reason we are asking her for an inventory is because it would help the Government and the Parliament to make a good follow-up through our committee. This is because people who have since first applied for these plots of land have sold and transferred them and nothing is taking place. My major and biggest concern is those industrial parks that have been established in rural areas. We are interested in the Government also delivering the infrastructure like power, water and other necessities that would at least provide – and of course the internet to make it easy for them to be real industrial parks. They buy land as an industrial park but it remains a forest. Who is going to go into a forest with no power, water, roads, with nothing? Which investor is going to go to that place?

14720 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT buy it. We gave the Government land for an industrial park. They have not yet done much on it but I also appreciate that their budget is not handsome enough to do all the industrial parks. I propose that the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) enter into an agreement with the local government on how to use the land, not them taking the land. In the agreement, they should agree on who is going to do what - UIA needs to do the planning and design of the park. After designing it, we, in Dokolo, will start working on the infrastructure by tapping into the resources that they have given us for infrastructure. We need support on incentives like power; good power coming up to Dokolo. The other issues of dividing the land and giving it out; leave that to the local government so that it is not given to anybody just like that. So, I propose that we need to rework and start working. Otherwise, the budget for UIA will not allow the development of these industrial parks the way they are now. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to seek the indulgence of the minister on some policies. To begin with, the country has had a soft spot for foreign investors as opposed to local investors, giving them more incentives. The question I am asking the minister is: what is it that you have done to improve foreign investors, and to encourage foreign investors? Honourable members – ( Interjection) – local versus foreign investors. Sorry, honourable members, there are issues associated with only encouraging foreign investment. For example, capital flight. The other issue I would like to raise is the location of industrial parks. It is good to encourage industries in every district, but the Uganda Investment Authority has to guide on what type of industries should be in particular locations because this is a time bomb for environmental issues. You have seen a school besides an industry, and there are public health concerns. The other question is the calibre of investments we are attracting. When you walk along these industries, you see a column of workers that you can rightfully say that they are mostly casual workers, who earn little, and the trickle- down effect is low. It would be very good if most of these industries were employing an army of graduates or diploma holders. That way, we would have the growth of the country sped up - (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I take this opportunity to move a motion since most of my colleagues are asking about where their industrial parks are, like in the case of Iganga, what the land should be used for. It is my humble prayer that we give the minister time to respond to whatever they have put forward - (Interjection) - since we are going to Prime Minister’s Time, such that we put in our queries because we have so many issues that we want to give the Prime Minister. Thank you.

14723 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2024 nothing was done. For example, if you look at the design, construction, and/or the building of access roads, drainage, and sewage plants, all these are behind schedule, and that is Mbale. When you go to the design and the construction of the sewerage treatment plant, there is no sign of any activity starting, yet money was released. In addition, when you go to the industrial parks, it is a white elephant. What is shown here, madam minister - your accounting officer must be behind bars by now and if not, together with you. (Laughter) I am telling you, I have no kind words because while I was the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Government Assurance, Madam Speaker, we visited these industrial parks. They are white elephants. You might take things lightly, but once the Speaker gave this, take time and look at – (Interruption)

Madam Speaker, the Member from Mbale highlighted that issues are emerging from the industrial park in his area. A few days ago, we saw Kapeeka’s various products being exhibited from the industrial park there. One of my colleagues also talked about the industrial park in Namanve, from where we are getting many products. Is it in order for Hon. Ssewungu to misinform the country that the industrial parks are completely white elephants when there is evidence that something is being done? I think this kind of checking of the Government must be informed and based on facts. This is what I would like to invite my colleagues to –

Honourable members, there are industrial parks. I think you need to take a tour of the Kapeeka and Mbale Industrial parks and see how beautiful they are. They give a lot of our people jobs. I can ably talk about where I come from, Mbale. It is doing very well. It is not a white elephant per se. Maybe in others, there could be challenges that need to be worked on.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am an English teacher and, unfortunately, some Members like Hon. Lee can use words I have not put in my statement. I said “white elephant” not completely. There is a difference between a white elephant and not it being completely a white elephant. Leaving that aside, political responsibility can make you go behind bars. We had Hon. Mukula, one of my good friends from the Teso Subregion who once went to prison. Hon. Mukisa too - I think he passed on or is he still around? These people were arrested and taken to jail because of political responsibility, and, you will not run away from it. Why I am talking about industrial parks - and I want to complete my submission as a former LOP of yesterday. There is a report that will come on this Floor from the Committee on Government Assurances talking about industrial parks. The moment that report is tabled here, you will believe what I am saying. They are saying that industrial parks are performing well but the intended beneficiaries are not benefiting. Those two things are different. You might put everything in place, you show them in pictures or in the newspapers but when the value intended for the people working in them is nowhere to be seen. Therefore, when we talk to the minister for investment, Hon. Anite – with whom we came together here and who is now ex-officio – we are requesting you to take time and read this report in depth. Look at the accountability issues and do something with your accounting officer. That is why the Speaker has supported my submission on Article 164. Otherwise –

Yes, and that we will come up with the Treasury Memorandum within six months to make good of the recommendations and observations of the committee. Now, to the issues that my colleagues have raised, I will start with the first person, Hon. Karim. You asked why Mbale was left out. I want to make it very clear to you that Mbale was not left out. We actually did the budget for Mbale, Kapeeka and Namanve industrial parks. The only challenge was cash flow. That is why we have not even released the money for the two industrial parks – Mbale and Kapeeka. However, for Namanve Industrial Park, that was a loan, which was approved by the Parliament of Uganda and the money is available. I will speak later about that project since there was a question about it. You asked a question about the renovation of the One-Stop Centre. The challenge has been cash flow. We did a budget as Parliament, but we did not get the exact release for the One- Stop Centre in Mbale. You talked about selling land in Mbale Industrial Park. Madam Speaker, I would like to give information, as far as the concession on Mbale Industrial Park is concerned, that it is an investor called Mr Paul Zhang, who came to this country as an industrialist and his first industries are in Mbalala around Mukono.

14726 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT [Ms Anite] Mr Paul Zhang came to Uganda, went to His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, and requested to be allocated 619 acres of land in Mbale. Therefore, the President directed the relevant ministries, which is the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and my ministry as well, to work with the Attorney-General’s office to sign an agreement to lease the 619 acres to Mr Paul Zhang. The understanding and the condition is that the Government provides the infrastructure for the industrial park but Mr Paul Zhang would have to travel abroad and attract investors to that park. Madam Speaker, that park was land that the Government acquired from Bugisu Cooperative Union, and we paid for it. However, the land was encroached on. There were squatters who were planting mayuni , sweet potatoes and maize, among other things, for about 10 years, until the Government got Mr Paul Zhang, who has now established 50 factories in that industrial park. Madam Speaker, I thank you very much for recognising the efforts of the industrialists in that industrial park. Therefore, there is no land for giving out to any investor in that place. We have leased it out for five years until the investor fails. I want to say that he is on time, he has not failed and we have 50 factories there; which are in steady progress. Madam Speaker, I continue to the next question about the failure to access the industrial park. Of course, it has been privatised. The government leased that entire land, so, one cannot just wake up from their house and walk into that industrial park. The public land is that of Namanve Industrial Park, which you can wake up and walk into. Hon. Betty Naluyima, asked a question about the land at Namanve, the only land for the National Forestry Authority (NFA), that the Government wants to take away. Hon. Betty, I would like to assure you that that is not going to happen under my watch because I believe in protecting our environment and so does the President of the Republic of Uganda. (Applause) We shall not take that forest land. I am very honest about it and you can say “ah ah” but the truth is, we will not encroach on the forest land. Be assured! Madam Speaker, Hon. Betty Naluyima again asked another question about the Accounting Officer releasing Shs 800 million. Everyone in this country has heard me talk about the corruption in the Uganda Investment Authority. There is nobody who does not know that there is corruption there. Even I, as the minister - where is Hon. Ssewungu? Hon. Ssewungu said that I should be behind bars. For saying that corrupt people are there? Madam Speaker, my heart is bleeding that the corrupt in Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) are getting protected. They are corrupt, they have to be behind bars like yesterday. However, they are getting protected, what can poor me do -(Interjections)- Nothing! Madam Speaker, allow me to proceed to a question from Hon. Juliet - I have done my part as the minister responsible. I know the extent to which the law empowers me. The law empowers me that if I am not sure - if I detect corruption -

Madam Speaker, allow me to rush to save time for the Prime Minister’s Time. There was a question from Hon. Juliet, that the project at Namanve is not being done in time. That is true. The project is lagging. It is at 50 per cent. It should have been completed by the 19th of January this year, but we are behind schedule. Today we are in October and the project is only at 50 per cent. When you speak, they say you are bad. Madam Speaker, Hon. Tumusiime, asked a question about the Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) of 10 per cent, and that we have not released the money. On that point, I agree with the committee’s recommendation and observations. Hon. Dr Atim, that we appropriated a cash budget and they did not spend the money. I also agree with the recommendation that the Accounting Officer should be held responsible – (Interjection) - yes because you did your part and released the money, which was not utilised. Madam Speaker, you did allude to that fact too. Hon. Mapenduzi, I would be very excited if you told me where the land is in Gulu because there is a huge interest from people who actually want to do an industrial park in Gulu. The last time I wrote to the Gulu District Local Government, they told me they did not have land and in the Acholi Subregion, the only land that was availed to us was in Pader. Madam Speaker, the unfortunate bit of it is that as Government, we have not gotten money to do the infrastructure development in Pader. I apologise to the people of Pader. We will make good by making sure that we mobilise more resources to do the project there.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. There was a question from Hon. Milton, that I should give the status of the industrial park. He is talking about the land in Iganga. The land that the former Prime Minister, Rt Hon. Dr Ruhakana Rugunda had started negotiating about with the people of Iganga, is available. However, the challenge was that we did not have money to acquire that land. To that extent, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda guided that we must go to areas where people can make local government land in their districts available free of charge. Madam Speaker, I would like to report that when we wrote to the local governments - I personally did land mobilisation - we were able to get land in 28 locations in the 18 zones of Uganda. I thank the Member of Parliament for Masaka because I was looking at a nationalistic character, regardless of the political party - I reached out to the former Leader of the Opposition, and he made land available in Masaka. I assure him that we will develop that land. Hon. Pius said that in Hoima District, land has been available but there are Government officials who are - Hon. Pius, if you can just tell us those Government officials who are - you can even come and tell me in secret; you might be fearing - I will read their names out. (Laughter ) I need to know who in Government is taking this land. In Hoima, the truth of the matter is that it is an oil region; we want to develop that industrial park. Hon. Ibanda, the Fort Portal Municipality land - we have land in Kabarole, and it is for the Fort Portal region. However, it has wrangles between the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the Uganda Investment Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, especially the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO). We have been wanting to solve the issue. I reached out to my senior colleague, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze and we are working on how to get the case out of court because the former Member of Parliament dragged us to court and we want to resolve that matter. Now the matter is in the hands of the Attorney-General who is here. Hon. Moses Aleper said that the Uganda Investment Authority has spent a lot of money

14728 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT acquiring land. Hon. Aleper, allow me to educate you that we have not done that. The land that we have got from the people has been free of charge. Hon. Tinkasimire said, “Promote industrial growth in industrial areas - the people sell land - this is corruption” and it is true. Today you saw, my senior colleague, Hon. Matia Kasaija summarily dismiss - the current Leader of the Opposition - by the way, congratulations, said that – yeah, because I did not see you. (Laughter) Madam Speaker, the truth of the matter is that Hon. Matia Kasaija decided to take the action he took today of summarily dismissing the board because there was a sale of land, resale, double allocation, complete and total mismanagement. He thought the power you gave to him under Article 5 of the Act empowered him to remove - and so, he was dismissed and is appointing a new board. Hon. Amos said that UIA should enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the local government. We took that discussion because His Excellency, the President guided us that we must work with the local governments to make land available such that we do not limit growth in our local government areas. We would like industrialisation to happen everywhere in Uganda such that you can – (Interjection)- even in Sembabule, make land available regardless of the corner of Uganda you are in. If you have land available, my job as the Minister for Investment and Privatisation is to encourage Ugandans and also ask foreigners to come and put their money in that land because we do not want to discriminate against the growth of Uganda by concentrating development only in the capital city, but rather want it to happen in every local government, and I am happy to work with the local governments. (Applause) Hon. Agnes, you have raised the point and said the Government has given more incentives to foreign investors. I would like to tell my colleagues that the incentives that you hear us talk about are given by law. And there is nobody in this land other than the Parliament of Uganda that has the mandate to make the law. Therefore, the incentives that we have, that we talk about, are what you have permitted us to talk about. However, if the need is that we must give more incentives to the Ugandan investors, then we will come back here and ask you to amend the Investment Code Act to allow us to offer more incentives to the Ugandan investors. However, as it is, I cannot work outside the law to reinvent the wheel of Parliament that I respect and give incentives to others, outside the law. Therefore, what we are earmarking is within the incentives. I am only left with three questions and then I will sit down. What type of industrialists should be attracted and in which particular areas? And who is an investor? Madam Speaker, you cracked a joke when said, “Is it the person who is coloured; who is red? You actually said the person is ‘red’. No, an investor is defined by law and it is this Parliament that defined it. For a local investor, you should have an investment licence and for you to qualify to have an investment licence, you should have a minimum of $ 150,000. If you are a foreigner, you should have an investment of $ 300,000. This law was passed by the Parliament of Uganda and is well- defined. The question that Hon. Lee raised; he said that he sees so many coloured people, who go into their villages and set up shops. My response to that question is that the investors are defined. If you see anybody doing trade, ask Hon. Bahati because that is under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives and Ministry of Internal Affairs (Directorate of Citizenship

Thank you, Hon. Anite. When you allocate land in an industrial area, it is presumed that after five years - if you do not use the land, it is reclaimed. Do you warn the person before it is reclaimed by the Uganda Investment Authority?

Let me go to question two. Since Members are going to read. Question number two came from Hon. John Amos Okot- Agago. His prayer is that what are Government plans to fence Kidepo Valley National Park to mitigate elephant invasion in areas around the National Park. Madam Speaker, despite concerted efforts aimed at preserving and managing elephants within Kidepo Valley National Park, incidents and conflicts involving straying elephants and humans are on the rise. This trend is primarily linked to the availability of resources that influence seasonal movement. Elephants naturally migrate in search of water and food. In Kidepo, the scarcity of pasture and water, especially during dry periods, exacerbates the situation. This inherent behaviour can result in heightened elephant activity on community lands at specific times of the year. Madam Speaker, investing in electric fencing for our protected areas is the only conservation measure but a step towards safeguarding our national heritage, ensuring sustainable development and the well-being of our community. Electric fencing has been identified, as I have already told you, as a highly effective measure in mitigating these challenges. It serves as a deterrent to both wildlife straying into human settlements and unauthorised human entry into protected areas. Successful implementation of electric fencing in other countries like Kenya and South Africa has demonstrated significant reductions in human-wildlife conflicts and poaching incidents. Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President recently directed the honourable Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities to prioritise the fencing of Kidepo Valley National Park starting the Financial Year 2025/2026. In response to this directive, the ministry has commenced initial surveys and studies for designs, costs and fence alignment. Extensive consultations with local communities to ensure their concerns and suggestions are incorporated into the project that will be undertaken this financial year are ongoing. In the interim, we are continuing to manage the human-elephant conflict through chilli fences, patrols by rangers, community wildlife scouts and beehive fences. The third question came from Hon. Gilbert Olanya and he gave a narrative that His Excellency the President issued an Executive Order stopping massive tree cutting in Northern Uganda. That as he spoke that time, there was continuous tree-cutting in Acholi Subregion, the army officers and other security officers were the PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

14733 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2024 ones escorting the charcoal dealers and he wanted to find out the plan for helping the President in enforcing this Executive Order. Madam Speaker, my response is that on 19 May 2023, His Excellency the President issued Executive Order No. 3 banning commercial harvesting and trade in charcoal in Northern Uganda and North Eastern parts of Uganda (Karamoja, Teso, Lango, Acholi and West Nile). This followed the uncontrolled cutting of trees for charcoal burning in the above- mentioned places that left the entire landscape almost bare. The line ministry, that is the Ministry of Water and Environment through the Forestry Sector Support Department (FSSD), District Forest Services (DFS) and the National Forestry Authority (NFA) has put in place the following measures to implement the ban; i) On 27 September 2023, the Minister of Water and Environment provided comprehensive guidance to districts on how to implement the ban effectively. ii) We stepped-up enforcement. iii) There were awareness campaigns that were intensified. iv) Engagement with Uganda Revenue Authority. v) Withdrawal of forest produce movement permits. vi) Strengthening the Criminal Justice System. Madam Speaker, while significant progress has been made, challenges persist. These include impunity among some illegal traders, community collusion with perpetrators, logistical difficulties in enforcement, and the need for greater public support. Nevertheless, the Government remains committed to addressing these issues through ongoing engagement, capacity building, and resource mobilisation. The Government remains dedicated to implementing the ban on charcoal from Northern Uganda under HD Executive Order No.3 of 2023. Question number 4 came from Hon. Juliet Achayo, Member of Parliament, Ngora County. She said that in an effort to stop the degradation of the fragile ecosystems, H.E. the President directed that all persons who are hither-to occupying wetlands to vacate them. And that the people of Ojukai, Komolo, Agule, Atoot – and those other villages in Ngora County appreciate the environmental concerns and are willing to obey the presidential directive and stop cultivating the wetlands. However, for a long time now, their livelihood has been revolving around the wetlands and as such, the directive is likely to render them vulnerable and destitute. Her prayer was that can Government immediately find an alternative means of survival for the affected persons? Madam Speaker, the Government has promoted three interventions, including restoration and management of 936 hectares of degraded Agu wetland in Agu, Odwarat Subcounty and associated catchments, improved agricultural practices and is providing alternative livelihood options in the wetland catchment and strengthening access to weather and early warning information targeting local communities. In appreciation of the commitment by Ngora Local Government, the Ministry of Water and Environment has provided alternative livelihoods. i) A water retention reservoir of 10,000 cubic metres was established to support the regeneration of Agu wetland and up to 1,000 households, who voluntarily left the wetland have since started receiving alternative livelihoods that are making them more resilient to climate change. ii) The Ministry of Water and Environment also constructed five fish ponds and stocked them. iii) The ministry has also established a mini- irrigation scheme that benefits surrounding communities by growing and marketing

14736 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Water and Environment is implementing the Integrated Water Management and Development Project across the country. Subcomponent 1.2 of the project targets construction of water supply and sanitation systems in refugee-hosting districts in Western Nile and northern Uganda. The refugee-hosting districts that were targeted to benefit from the project include Moyo, Madi-Okollo, Terego, Yumbe, Adjumani, and Lamwo in West Nile and Kiryandongo District in the mid-western. A total of six solar-powered water supply systems in six rural growth centres of Awoba, Rodo, Goboro, Lomunga, Lobe and Nyori were planned to be constructed in Yumbe District. Furthermore, Enyau Gravity Flow Scheme will cover part of Ariwa Sub-county, including Zone 5 of Bidi-Bidi Refugee Settlement. A total of 26 sanitation facilities will also be constructed along the water supply system in Yumbe District. Due to foreign exchange losses, the project is not able to implement all the activities as had been planned. Furthermore, the feasibility studies and detailed engineering designs have recommended the inclusion of water treatment processes due to the quality of the underground water that required full-scale conventional treatment that was not envisioned at the project proposal. The inclusion of the water treatment processes ultimately made the system costlier as compared to the planned cost. As a result of these changes, the project had to be reprioritised by reducing a number of systems to be implemented across the project districts to match the available resources. The water supply systems that were ultimately chosen for implementation are those that provided the highest impact. I mean those with high yielding borehole sources and covering large populations. Therefore, this reprioritisation affected the mentioned rural growth centres of Nyori, Rodo, and Awoba. Madam Speaker and Members, with available funding, the project will therefore construct the three solar-powered water supply systems of Goboro, Lomunga and Lobe, and Anyau Gravity Flow Scheme which will also cover parts of Ariwa Sub-county and Zone 5 of Bidi- Bidi Refugee Settlement in Yumbe. Government will continue to source for finances to construct the remaining three solar- powered water supply systems of Rodo, Awoba and Nyori in Yumbe and the other systems that have been left out in other districts as well. The designs for all the systems have been completed and will be implemented as soon as funds are available. Hon. Byakatonda again, the question is: Why are pensioners attached to Mbale Hospital have discrepancies in their pension payments whereby officers with same seniority, that is, title and duration of service, but who retired in different years, would be paid a different monthly pension? Madam Speaker, my response is a statement of law and facts: i) The Public Service Pension Scheme is an un-funded PAYGO and non-contributory, Defined Benefit (DB) Pension Scheme. The Scheme rules are provided under Article 254 (1) of the 1995 Constitution, which for avoidance of doubt, states that, “A public officer shall, on retirement, receive such pension as is commensurate with his or her rank, salary, and length of service.” ii) Article 254(2) on the other hand, provides that, “the pension payable to any person shall be exempt from tax and shall be subject to periodic review to take account of changes in the value of money.” iii) The parameters and formula used to compute pension and gratuity are further provided by the Pensions Act, Cap 89, and Regulations therein. And these are: [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME

14737 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 3 OCTOBER 2024 a. Regulation 4 of the Pensions Regulations which states that, “Subject to the Act and these Regulations, every officer holding a pensionable office in the service of the Government, who has been in such service in a civil capacity for ten years or more, may be granted on retirement a pension at the annual rate of one five-hundredth of his or her pensionable emoluments for each complete month of his or her pensionable service.” b. Regulation 18 provides the general rule as to qualifying service and pensionable service and specifically considers the pensionable service to include the period of appointment to a pensionable office to the period of retirement under pensionable circumstances. Madam Speaker, I request that Members go through all that. Let me go to the last question from Hon. Lamwaka Catherine, Woman Representative, Omoro District, on the status of coffee production in Northern Uganda. The northern region has just started growing coffee as a value-chain enterprise with the advocacy and sensitisation by His Excellency the President, in the region on the four-acre model, but the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has stopped distribution of seedlings to the farmers this year. The demand for seedlings and readiness of farmers is being frustrated by difficulty in accessing seedlings. Her prayer; what strategy and assurance can the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries give to bring on board coffee farmers in the northern region, particularly Acholi and Lango sub-region that have just rolled on coffee farming? Madam Speaker, my response is that the Government is currently implementing the Parish Development Model (PDM), whose adoption brought along a policy shift from the hitherto distribution of inputs to farmers, to now farmers acquiring inputs on their own with support from loans obtained from the parish- based SACCOS financed by Government Grant. The strategy under PDM is to push funds into the parish-based SACCOs from where farmers can borrow and acquire inputs of selected enterprises. Madam Speaker, Government continues to support existing new potential farmers across the country and in particular, the coffee- growing districts of northern Uganda, through ensuring availability of quality seedlings through certification of nursery operators. There are currently 14 certified nursery operators spread across the districts of Northern Uganda. Farmers have been encouraged to buy coffee seedlings from certified nurseries with the enterprise funds being accessed from Parish Development Model (PDM). Madam Speaker, provision of tailored coffee extension services through regional managers and coffee extension officers attached to each coffee growing district. There is also a coffee technical officer or engineer for the regions, and these will continue to guide the farmers, both existing and prospective, on proper agricultural practices, post-harvest handling and coffee processing. The Government has also planned to procure and distribute value-addition equipment in the form of solar dryers, cover-crop seeds, and motorised pulpers. The above interventions demonstrate our continued commitment and efforts to support the development of the coffee sub-sector in northern Uganda and other parts of the country. I beg to submit.

Madam Speaker, animal movement is governed by law. Anybody moving animals whether for trade purposes, marriage or customary practices, if you have a permit from where you picked the animals, and you have clearance to where you are going, including the northern region, because the northern region has not been stopped from trading cattle. On the Balaalo - nomadism indiscipline; the Executive orders prescribed how we can deal with it. There is no enforcement officer who should stop anyone moving with a permit; be it a police officer or a soldier, they have no right to do that. Let me get the details from the honourable Member of Parliament and we shall get to know which officer stopped them and I will report that officer to the Rt Hon. Prime Minister for disciplinary action. Thank you.

14680 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT financial statements at their correct values, which should be depreciated over their useful life in accordance with the accounting systems. Madam Speaker, I am happy that the people of Busiro twinned us and I am being assisted by honourable. On receivables of Shs 21.42 billion, we make observations on page 15 and recommend that the accounting officer should ensure that strict measures are instituted to collect all outstanding receivables without any excuses. On outstanding payables of Shs 1.90 billion, we make observations and recommend, on page 16, that the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development should ensure that sufficient budget provisions are made for outstanding payables to enable their full settlement. On delayed revaluation of the authority’s land measuring 27,877 acres, we observe on page 17 and recommend that the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development should provide the requisite funding to the authority to do land titling and regular the revaluation of its land to ensure accurate financial reporting and maximise the land’s potential for increased revenue generation. It is an issue that Parliament has pronounced itself on in a couple of seconds or microseconds ago. On the development of the infrastructure design and the building of Kampala industrial and business park, Namanve, Madam Speaker, we observed, on page 18, that there are delays in the implementation of the project. Based on the observations, we make the recommendation on page 19 as follows: (i) The accounting officer should expedite the completion of the project to avoid unnecessary cost overruns; (ii) The authority should improve on project planning, management, and oversight to ensure timely implementation in order to achieve the intended objectives of the programme; and (iii) The Government projects should enhance environmental protection and preservation by avoiding wetlands except in the clearest of cases based on absolute necessity. On cumulative achievement of project activities, the committee makes observations on page 20 and recommendations thereon that the accounting officers should ensure that before starting projects, proper coordination between stakeholders like NEMA, UMEME, NWSC, NITA-U, etc, is undertaken to harmonise the designs and avoid challenges of rejection of some sites that cause delays in project completion and service delivery to the beneficiaries. On absorption of funds under the KIBP- Namanve Project, we observe on page 21 and recommend as follows: (i) That the accounting officer should institute robust monitoring and evaluation of the new interventions meant to ensure that the project activities are completed at the right time with quality and minimal cost to realise its intended project objectives; and (ii) The authority should improve its financial planning and management, streamline bureaucratic processes, and ensure timely and effective implementation of the funded projects. On the delivery of services from implemented activities, we made an analysis from pages 21 to 22 and also observations on page 22 with the attendant recommendation that this being a minimal and well-explained query, it should be dropped. On the status of Uganda Investment Authority land utilisation, we make an analysis on pages 22, 23-24 and observe on page 24 with recommendations that: (i) Uganda Investment Authority should develop and implement inclusive land use plans that consider the needs and

14681 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2024 potential of each region to ensure balanced development and promote sustainable use of available land; (ii) The authority should allocate resources, including funding, technical assistance and infrastructure development fairly across the districts to ensure all regions have an opportunity to develop; and (iii) The board and management of the Uganda Investment Authority should explore mechanisms of expeditious land dispute resolution. I noticed that the board has since expired and we are waiting for the appointment of a new board. On the status of the implementation of presidential directives on industrial parks, we made an analysis on pages 25, 26 to 27 and made observations with attendant recommendations as follows: (i) That the Uganda Investment Authority should seek renewal of the expired directive of the President; and (ii) The board and management of the Uganda Investment Authority should complete the establishment of the eight industrial parks as envisaged in their work plan. Payment of UIA administrative and additional assessment of Shs 460 million On this, we observe and recommend as follows: (i) The accounting officer should ensure adherence to the commitment control system to avoid accumulation of arrears in lieu of statutory deductions; and (ii) The accounting officer should ensure that there are budget provisions for the settlement of all domestic arrears. On unimplemented procurements, we observe and recommend that: i) The authorities should ensure effective procurement planning and robust management systems to mitigate the problem of non-implementation; and ii) The Authority should have programme timelines and work within those timelines. On the expiry of appropriations, Madam Speaker, we analyse and observe, on page 30, and recommend that the accounting officer should always comply with the law by seeking relevant authority if there is justification, otherwise, return the funds to the Consolidated Fund. With that, Madam Speaker, we conclude by stating that the Uganda Investment Authority plays a crucial role in enhancing investment in Uganda, which drives national economic growth and development in partnership with the private sector. It is, therefore, recommended that Parliament be pleased to adopt this report, as I now beg to move. I thank you.

I would like to thank the committee for the report. Uganda Investment Authority is an entity that is supposed to help us attract investors into the country. Usually, it does that by the incentives that the Government provides and also some assurances of some infrastructure which will help some of these investors’ products to reach the markets. Now, from the report, we have seen that Shs 86 billion was the approved budget but only Shs 46 billion was released. This caused some of the plans, like roads that were meant to lead to some of these industrial parks, not to be constructed. Now, if the investors are given assurances that roads and power are going to be there, they come and set up their factories, and produce their goods but they are not able to make profits in the end - Government is acting as an investor

14682 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT by bringing these investors. For 10 years, they do not pay taxes yet after the 10 years, the Government expects to reap from them. Yesterday, in the report of the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), we saw that our tax revenue to GDP is very low in the region. But I see a situation where, after most of these investors have started making profits, Uganda will be one of the countries with a good tax revenue in the region. However, if the Government does not invest in the facilities that are needed to promote these industrial parks and industries, we are going to have a very big issue. The second issue is that I would like to agree with the committee on the issue that the Uganda Investment Authority should be facilitated to invest and procure the eight industrial parks of which Madi-Okollo is one. Thank you.

Thank you. We really wanted the Minister of State for Investment in this debate. It is a very important report. Honourable members, we have had a lot of issues on investment. Is it possible for us to have the minister in the House? I do not want a debate on this thing; I want the minister here. We will stand over this report and go to the next. We want the minister here. (Applause) [Hon. Ssewungu rose_] Do not waste your energy. There are issues with investments, all of us want industrial parks and that can only be answered by the responsible minister.

Madam Speaker, it is important to note that we are debating queries by the Auditor-General on the Uganda Investment Authority. The Government will respond to the resolutions adopted by Parliament through a Treasury Memorandum. This particular one is on queries but it is also important that you direct us, the ministry responsible for investments, to come and update the House on the other issues of industrial parks, incentives and other matters.

Honourable members, if the board is fired and the roads to the industrial parks are not being worked on – if all these things that have been mentioned are not being done - can we have an assurance from the minister? This is because it is the minister who is responsible for the board. Hon. Bahati, kindly tell the Minister of Investment to come.

In this term, I was once the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Government Assurances and I can state that a lot of information from this committee about industrial parks poses a lot of questions - we did a lot of work for the industrial parks.

14683 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2024 With your indulgence, if at all we could also get that report of the Committee on Government Assurances, because we had a full visit to these industrial parks, so that this report with accountability, plus the implementation as per the promises of Government, would give us a very good debate. Otherwise, without the minister, we are going to make some amendments and recommendations. We are very okay with the reports we have heard, but I want the honourable minister to know that we are not only reading this report as it came today - we have heard it before and we are well informed. The Speaker, in her wisdom, has even seen it even before us. Therefore, bear the directives and please leave us so that we can get that man - this accounting officer should not be in office by now; I can assure you.

14623 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2024 In Lake Victoria, for example, it is possible to put navigational lights so that the captains of the ship can then navigate through; the same thing we were requesting as people from northern Uganda in that crossing at Rwenkunye so that the ferry can move throughout the night. If you put the navigation lights across the River Nile, that ferry can work 24 hours. That is the record that people know. Not that there is no law, if I heard him correctly.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank the committee for the report. Under the observation on utilisation of UWA receipts, the report indicates that UWA spent over Shs 4.7 billion in excess of their budget and the reason that is given is that it is because there was an outstanding amount on VAT that UWA wanted to pay. However, it also indicated that there was an under-declaration of payee that was discovered and also a Shs 720 million amount of under declaration of income tax. I do not know how this income tax is imposed on UWA but for those of us who use the northern route to West Nile, even when Karuma Bridge was opened - because the road was so bad a lot of us opted to use the route through the park under UWA.

14574 THE HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS FINANCING (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2024 MOTION FOR ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON THE FUNCTIONALITY OF DISTRICT SERVICE COMMISSIONS AND CITY SERVICE COMMISSIONS AND PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISTRICTS ACROSS NORTHERN, EASTERN AND WESTERN REGION

Thank you, honourable minister. I now put the question that the report of the Committee on Public Service and Local Government on the functionality of the District Service Commissions, City Service Commissions and personnel management in selected local government districts across the northern, eastern and western regions be adopted. (Question put and agreed to.) Report adopted.

14470 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT Briefly, let us look at the Directorate of Public Prosecution It also has challenges of arrears and understaffing. I am about to conclude. Lastly is the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. The ministry has a challenge of management of funds of estates of the deceased. There is failure to issue Certificates of No Objection but most importantly, the issue of delay of clearance of contracts. Mr Speaker, this is a very huge challenge, where it takes the Office of the Solicitor- General a maximum of 60 months to clear a contract. Therefore, this was a very big challenge. For example, when you look at that table, it clearly shows that most of the contracts take six months to be cleared. This leads to delay in execution of contracts. Compensation of war debt claimants For those who come from the northern region, you should take note of this because money was not allocated for clearance of payment of compensation to war claimants. I conclude with the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The ministry had challenges of supervision of community service orders. It also had challenges of management of trafficking of persons in the country and also lack of Government shelters for victims of trafficking in persons. Mr Speaker, with that submission, this is a report of the Auditor-General on the sector of justice, law and order. I beg to submit. (Applause)

Honourable member, today, we are going to be discussing - if you followed the House yesterday, we presented a report on the status of schools in northern Uganda, including your area. Okay? Madi-Okollo is one of those. Can we, kindly, handle it when we reach the debate on that matter? It is the third item on the Order Paper. I will give you an opportunity.

Thank you. Now, honourable colleagues, we are debating two reports, as I guided. Okay? As I mentioned earlier on, there is the one for education in northern Uganda – because it touches all universities in northern Uganda. The other report is this one. When we are debating a report of this nature, from the Auditor-General, we focus on accountability issues. We do not bring issues which are for a sectoral committee – general issues. Otherwise, the issues of Hon. Kivumbi and the team will be lost. The report on northern Uganda is where we can bring in the general issues. Yes, Hon. James?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to thank the committee for actually going to the regions of northern Uganda. I would also like to thank the Government for the efforts that they have put to follow the policy of a secondary school in every sub county. One of the secondary schools, which is mentioned here; Anyiribu Secondary School, is actually slated, under the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP), for a seed secondary school, which I did not see in the report. I think most of those recommendations will be covered when this Anyiribu Seed Secondary School is taken up by the Government. The Minister of Education and Sports can tell us when this will be underway – because three secondary schools in Madi-Okollo have been slated for this. The second point I would like to raise is about Pawor Seed Secondary School. I really want to thank the committee for shining a light on this school. Since 2018, when this school was constructed, we have complained, and written to the Ministry of Education and Sports, but nothing has come to fruition. This school has many cracks on the buildings and many people deem it unsafe to actually sit in the buildings of this school. There is a school nearby. One of the speakers today talked about how community schools are taken over by the Government and turned into seed secondary schools. We wonder when we were under Arua Local Government, why Arua Local Government decided to take a seed secondary school in a game reserve. Pawor Seed Secondary School is situated in the - (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the two committees for bringing these important reports to the Floor of Parliament. Mr Speaker, I would like to interest this House that it is not our failure as leaders that Lira University and probably other universities are not taking in many students. I have realised that some of our universities in Northern Uganda do not have some courses. For example, the Universities of Muni, Lira, Gulu and Soroti do not have engineering courses. Mr Speaker, I have written a motion to that effect and I have submitted it to the Clerk to Parliament and I wish to be granted leave to present it here on the Floor of Parliament in form of a motion so that we urge the Government to interest themselves and introduce some of these courses to the public universities in Northern Uganda. This is a fact that we have to take. On the issue of money, first of all, according to the report that has been presented by Hon. Kivumbi, money is a very slippery thing. I have seen many universities diverting money. We want further investigations done on this money. Probably, there is what is called virement. What did they do with the money, anyway? Was it spent or was it in some people’s pockets? This is a very serious matter. Our universities must develop. I beg to submit.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. The strength and quality of the nation depends on the educated people. I am happy that this time, Uganda graduates more than 65,000 students every year. This is the positive way to go – (Interjection) – What is your problem, again? (Laughter) Mr Speaker, protect me from the Government Chief Whip – ( Laughter ) – To our dismay, I recall the other day in Gulu when we were discussing education, students from Gulu University brought up a very serious concern about the deployment of the intern doctors. Regarding the few intern doctors who were deployed among those who completed last year, none was taken out of the 66 students who finished from Gulu University. All of them are still home. From Muni University, none was deployed. The students from northern Uganda tabled in their special consideration because many of them completed it. They are now two years at home. You remember, COVID-19 disturbed their education. This year, if they are not deployed again, it means our intern doctors shall have wasted two more years on top of the five years that they spent at the university. Mr Speaker, I pray that the Government should take serious and special consideration of the intern doctors from northern Uganda. About the pay – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the committees, the Chairperson, PAC, and your team, and the Chairperson, Committee on Education and Sports. My issues mostly concern the report on education in the northern region, though there are two other issues I have picked, and one is on staff accommodation. It is a general issue. It is actually across the board, even in our areas. We still have a challenge of staff accommodation. Nonetheless, this goes to the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. We have a unit of Public-Private partnerships(PPP). Why don’t we look at the option of cooperating with the private sector? This is because most of these schools have land and so, we can partner with the private sector to build staff houses and then we see how best we can resolve this issue. I call upon the Government, and specifically the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, to look into this issue. The other issue is our policy on one secondary school per subcounty and one primary school per parish. For us, who are in the cattle corridor, we are finding it very hard - you find families that are very far from the nearest secondary school. Somebody has to travel 10 kilometers to get to the nearest secondary school; a young child has to travel several kilometres to the nearest primary school. My call to the Government again and the minister is to see how they can review this policy, possibly to consider population distribution. Even areas, which are densely populated are equally finding a problem of so many kids to be accommodated by one school in a parish, compared to even us who are in the sparsely populated areas. Those are the issues I wanted to raise, Mr Speaker. I also wanted to emphasise the issue of - (Member timed out.)

I thank the committees for their work as well but also note that the quality assurance aspect of our education system lies largely with the inspectorate of schools. That is the mechanism, to the best of my understanding, that makes all of the infrastructural, systemic, and whatever issues that we are talking about quite meaningful for the beneficiaries and to the rest of us yet the report is completely silent on the issue of inspectorates; the report on education in Northern Uganda. In my district, and I know that this is probably the same as the rest of the country, which has about 109 Primary Schools, 184 private schools, 10 Secondary Schools, and three Tertiary schools. We have almost negligible infrastructure invested in this particular area that I am talking about- the inspectorate of schools. For example, we have only three inspectors of schools, Shs 14 million per term to round up all the 300 Schools, and zero motorcycles, they tell me they use boda boda sometimes, no vehicle.

During our oversight visit to the northern region, we paid a courtesy call at Sir Samuel Baker Senior Secondary School –

14406 STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT Listening to what the report says - and I want to thank Hon. Kivumbi for this – I will definitely agree with Hon. Kabanda. We must forward this report to the relevant authorities that have other action points. The CIID should sanction the Inspector General of Government (IGG). We cannot just talk and then leave at this point. We must take action like we have done with a few other reports. Number two, as a matter of policy, let the Minister of Education and Sports come out clearly that our young professors should not be retired at the age of 60 years. This is also in this report. Lastly, there is a constituent college of Gulu University in Karamoja. Ten years ago, the President established Mount Moroto University and wrote a detailed note on what kind of university he wanted in Karamoja. He said that: this university must specialise in water resources management and must look at the issue of minerals because Karamoja has over 50 commercial and industrial minerals. You should be asking us where the minerals are. We have also started on limestone. The limestone we have in Karamoja is said to be the quantity that can take Uganda 300 years. It is over 300 million metric tonnes and we have been relying on Hima with 23 million metric tonnes to handle this country. Why don’t we put that national university – (Member timed out.)

Thank you. I would like to make a clarification, for purposes of the record, that the minister for education has never summoned the Committee on Education and Sports. She wrote, requesting to meet – (Member rose_) - honourable member, please. I do not want us to put politics in this. If you interpret it as being summoned - she requested and I want the Hansard to capture it that way. I do not want us to have a misleading record. Now, honourable minister – I have two ministers who I want to give responses – accountability issues are not your issues. That is why you are required to give a Treasury Memorandum. Accountability is for accounting officers. They will appear before the committee and answer. Your role is to implement the recommendations, not to defend them here. I do not expect you to be responding to accountability issues, but you can comment on issues of northern Uganda. The minister for finance can also comment, generally. Minister for Education, you have three minutes.

Thank you, honourable minister. I now put the question that the Report of the Committee on the State of Public Universities, Tertiary Institutions, Seed Secondary Schools and Public Sports Facilities in Northern Uganda be adopted.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for that experience. In northern Uganda, we have a district called Lamwo- I am explaining the case. In Lamwo, they took advantage of front- loading and they overstated their budget for NTR. As a result, we gave them money, which they could not realise, among many other agencies. That one also led us to a shortfall. That is why we are now careful not to enter into the trap of these Accounting Officers, who normally want to use any means possible to beat our systems. That is why we stopped front-loading.

Mr Speaker, I wish to thank the committee for a great job. Even though the committee sampled three districts out of nine, we associate ourselves with the recommendations that cut across the region. As we said while in Gulu, there is a way our government has continued to prove that insecurity in Karamoja and the neighbourhood can be subdued. This is the evidence given out by the committee in their report. What has remained a challenge, which the recommendations of the committee seek to address, is how to sustain that peace. By the time the UPDF secured the region, the next issue of transformation and sustaining the attained peace has continued to be a challenge. So, the recommendations, as given by the committee, are very useful. I will only add a small thing on the issue of developing a skilling programme. We already have an industrial hub in Napak. The idea of industrial hubs in the country is good because it opens room for those Ugandans who have not had formal education to be skilled. However, the capacity of that industrial hub is so small it cannot manage the entire region. We only take about 20 per district in a season, and it is not enough. It is my appeal that another industrial hub is opened in the northern part of Karamoja.

Mr Speaker, I wish to thank the committee for a great job. Even though the committee sampled three districts out of nine, we associate ourselves with the recommendations that cut across the region. As we said while in Gulu, there is a way our government has continued to prove that insecurity in Karamoja and the neighbourhood can be subdued. This is the evidence given out by the committee in their report. What has remained a challenge, which the recommendations of the committee seek to address, is how to sustain that peace. By the time the UPDF secured the region, the next issue of transformation and sustaining the attained peace has continued to be a challenge. So, the recommendations, as given by the committee, are very useful. I will only add a small thing on the issue of developing a skilling programme. We already have an industrial hub in Napak. The idea of industrial hubs in the country is good because it opens room for those Ugandans who have not had formal education to be skilled. However, the capacity of that industrial hub is so small it cannot manage the entire region. We only take about 20 per district in a season, and it is not enough. It is my appeal that another industrial hub is opened in the northern part of Karamoja.

Yes, I know, but I wanted to have the actual language because the industrial hub and the skilling hub are different.

Okay. These are the Skilling Industrial Hubs, the ones managed by State House. It is my appeal that we have another one in northern part of Karamoja so that the numbers can increase. The committee has recommended desilting of some dams. Mr Speaker, we submitted

Okay. These are the Skilling Industrial Hubs, the ones managed by State House. It is my appeal that we have another one in northern part of Karamoja so that the numbers can increase. The committee has recommended desilting of some dams. Mr Speaker, we submitted

Thank you so much, Mr Speaker. Kwania borders Karamoja. It is not far because we are in the Lango Subregion. The insecurity in Karamoja has been long overdue and yet they have a whole brigade of UPDF stationed in Kaabong and in some other districts. We have to find out why it is that the insecurity in Karamoja cannot end. What could be the problem? Who is causing all these problems? These are some of the questions that we have to answer as Members of Parliament who come from Northern Uganda, because whenever there is a problem or whenever there is insecurity in Karamoja, the entire Northern Uganda is affected in terms of production, in terms of farming and all those other things. I would suggest, if possible, that we have the brigade that is stationed in Kaabong. Why don’t we put UPDF brigades in most of the districts in Karamoja so that we attain the peace that all other Ugandans are yearning for? Thank you so much, Mr Speaker.

Thank you. Youth Representative from the Northern region -

Thank you. Honourable colleagues, the debate is closed. I want us to also handle the status report for hospitals and health centres in northern Uganda. We will finish it today. I know the rules do not allow members of committees to debate but they allow them to clarify and inform the House. We represent constituents, sometimes, of a special nature, and we are lucky to have Gen. Elwelu here, who represents the UPDF. General, they have raised some issues and I know you can help us with some feedback. For some, you can take them back to your superiors. I want to give you the opportunity to help clarify some issues. Let us give him time and not disturb him with “clarifications”.

14335 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2024 MOTION FOR ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH ON THE OVERSIGHT VISIT TO ASSESS THE STATUS OF HEALTH SERVICES IN NORTHERN REGION

Thank you so much, Mr Speaker. I want to thank the committee for a very comprehensive, well-outlined report, which has covered the northern region on the status of the health services there. Mr Speaker, as you have said, I have read through the report and I have seen that much of the recommendations from the committee and the observations are well spelled out. As a ministry, we note that much of the recommendations dwell on the financing - sufficient funds. Most of the issues that have been raised are recommendations that as Government and as a ministry, there is urgency in ensuring improvement and enhancement of health facilities in the northern region. Mr Speaker, in some areas where the recommendations are administrative, I pledge that as a ministry, we shall address them administratively. I thank you.

Thank you. Honourable colleagues, why we did not conclude it is because the minister was not there and we wanted that component. Honourable colleagues, I now put the question that the report of the Committee on Health on the oversight visit to assess the status of health services in the northern region be adopted. (Question put and agreed to.)

We shall extract the recommendations and we expect an action- taken report in three months. Colleagues, I am thinking, let us receive the report on education in northern Uganda and then discuss it the next day. It should be presented now so that you have enough time to read through and prepare for a debate on it tomorrow. Procedure, Hon. Gilbert Olanya?

Mr Speaker, I beg to proceed. We have the minutes and I think I will tender them in. The report of the Sectoral Committee on Education and Sports on the State of Selected Public Universities, Tertiary Institutions, Seed Schools, and Public Sports Facilities in Northern Uganda. Introduction The Committee on Education and Sports was among the committees selected by the Rt Hon. Speaker to undertake an oversight visit to the Northern Region to assess projects under their jurisdiction. The Northern Region is composed of sub regions of Acholi, Karamoja, Lango and West Nile. The Government of Uganda attaches great importance to education and sports, as it plays a vital role in ensuring attainment of both social and economic transformation as envisaged in the Uganda Vision 2040, NDP III, and the NRM Manifesto. There are notable changes in the sector with the Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education in addition to higher learning institutions under BTVET and universities all considerably supported by Government and supplemented by other non- state actors countrywide. The committee therefore visited some selected primary schools, secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and public universities in the districts of Arua, Pakwach, Nebbi, and Madi- Okollo in West Nile sub region. Gulu District in Acholi sub region, Abim District in Karamoja sub region, and finally Lira, Dokolo, Otuke Districts in Lango sub region. 2.0 Objectives of the Field visit. The main objective of the visit was to ascertain the existence and status of development projects in selected Traditional and Seed schools, Tertiary Institutions, and Public Universities in the Northern region. 2.1 The specific objectives include: i. To ascertain the status of implementation and progress of the UgIFT projects in selected schools.

14337 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2024 ii. To ascertain the status and progress of the development of infrastructure facilities in selected traditional and seed schools, tertiary institutions, and public universities. iii. To ascertain the existence and state of Akii-Bua Stadium in preparation for AFCON 2027 in Lira City. 3.0 Methodology To achieve the above objectives, the committee: i. Visited and held meetings with the district officials, tertiary and university top management teams, head teachers, and some members of staff of primary and secondary schools. ii. Inspected the projects including ongoing construction works at the universities, tertiary institutions, and schools. iii. Reviewed progress reports on the status of infrastructure, construction works, policy reports, and academic performance reports, among other documents prepared and presented to the committee. iv. Reviewed previous reports by Parliament regarding matters of education in the northern region of Uganda. v. Visited Akii-Bua Stadium to ascertain the existence and status of the stadium in the preparation of AFCON 2027.

Background - I think that one is highlighted. We can skip that. Okay, we can go to: 1.0 Findings, Observations, and Recommendations 1.1 West Nile Subregion. In the West Nile Subregion of Northern Uganda, the committee visited districts of Pakwach, Nebbi, Madi-Okollo, and Arua districts, and inspected the following institutions and schools. 1.1.1 Muni University in the Arua district Muni University is one of the public universities in Uganda, which was established by the Uganda Government by Statutory Instrument No. 31, 2013, in accordance with the University’s and other Tertiary Institutions Act. The university has an established governance structure comprising a fully-fledged council, Senate, and Committees to run its affairs. Mr Speaker, let us go to the findings because most people are eagerly waiting for the findings. But before findings, I think we should also look at the observations. In Arua or Muni University, there are two buildings that have stalled for so many years. One of them is the delayed completion of the Health Science Laboratory building and administration block. The committee observed that the contract for the completion of the construction of the Health Science Lab Building was signed between Muni University and Kisinga Construction Company Limited on the l3th March 2019. The ground-breaking ceremony and site handover were done on 25 March 2019, and the actual work started on 3 May 2019 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of the project was delayed and thus construction elapsed on 25 March 2022. However, the completion date was later revised by two years up to 24 March 2024 but this was not attained, and yet the work executed is only at 67 per cent. The Administration Block Annex: the committee observed that this construction project commenced on 11 April 2022 and is expected to be completed on 11 October 2024 and yet the work executed is just at 55.5 per cent. The committee observed that the capacity building centre facility has some structural problems requiring immediate attention like

Let us go to Karamoja where we only look at Abim as a sample - ( Interjection ) - Teso is not part of the northern region. Let us begin with where we started from. We started from Lango and we are going to Dokolo where the “Private Sector” comes from. However, before Dokolo – I have already reached Karamoja. In the Karamoja subregion –

What we discovered was that, generally, there is lack of enough human resource in these regions and you get districts returning money. Pakwach returned Shs 1.5 billion, Arua returned Shs 800 million and Nebbi returned Shs 900 million – for recruitment. The committee, in its wisdom, proposes that this money has no right to come back to the source. Let the Ministry of Education and Sports and even the Education Service Commission be facilitated to go and do recruitment on site because there is money and so that the people there are recruited. On the issue of banning recruitment - I think that was done. So conclusively, Mr Speaker, the field visits revealed critical challenges in educational infrastructure and resource management in the Northern region. There is a general problem of contractors under Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) projects taking on more than three seed schools, which are more than they can handle. This constrains them in performing effectively under the project. The committee noted that across the districts, money allocated for the wage bill was returned to the Consolidated Fund because of the ban on recruitment.

Madam Speaker, I thank you for the protection. Then a by-election, primaries, and general elections, which is very dangerous. Someone called me, and I started thinking about the confusion that is about to be in Kisoro now. I picked up my phone and called my colleague’s leaders, and I said, “Can Kisoro now be peaceful?” A person speaking here is the Chairman of Members of Parliament in Kisoro District, the Chairman of Kisoro District Leaders Forum, the Patron of the Uganda National Teachers Union (NATU), the Patron of Kisoro District Council, the Patron of Urban Leaders, the Patron of the Boda Boda Association, the Patron of the Taxi Operators Association, and the Patron of the Local Leaders – chairpersons of LC III. (Laughter) I consulted all of them and we said Kisoro is for Banyakisoro and Banyakisoro with Kisoro at heart. We must go, sit down, and find a person who must replace Hon. Sarah without causing confusion again in Kisoro District. (Applause) I am not the only leader in Kisoro. Tomorrow, the district council with all leaders - elders like people from Northern Uganda do, must sit, and we look for a person without causing tension in the development of Kisoro District. Honourable members, I am saying this, having consulted; we shall at least find a way of how we should continue with the projects. Madam Speaker, I would like to request the Prime Minister - the bridge that is being mentioned is in my constituency. Busonge

Thank you. Yes, Hon. Esther. Honourable members, kindly bear with me. THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR GEN - DER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOP - MENT (LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) (Ms Esther Anyakun): Thank you, Madam Speaker, for

Mr Speaker, I stand here to present a motion for a resolution of Parliament urging the Government to formulate a policy on free compulsory boarding school education for the Karamoja Subregion. I am moving this motion under Rule 56 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. “WHEREAS the Karamoja Subregion is located in the North Eastern part of Northern Uganda, covering about 27,000 square kilometres and characterised by a semi-arid climate, with erratic rainfall and a population of about 1,400,000 people out of the national population of about 46,000,000 people as per the 2024 National Census; AND WHEREAS the Karamoja Subregion has traditionally experienced low literacy levels with 66 per cent of the population not having any form of formal education largely attributable to the high school dropout rate caused by the inability to afford scholastic materials, lack of school feeding programme, long walking distances, cultural chores like livestock farming, digging, and historical injustices against the Karamoja Subregion; NOTING that the high school dropout rates at primary level has resulted into a minimal secondary school gross enrolment rate which stands at only 19 per cent and the lowest adult literacy rates of 25 per cent as per the 2019/2020 compared to the 73 per cent national enrolment rate. For instance, if you compare Karamoja to the rest of Uganda, the general enrolment rate for Kampala is 92 per cent, 83 per cent for Buganda South and 79 per cent for Ankole, but Karamoja Subregion stands at the bottom of the table; FURTHER NOTING that many of the male school dropouts end up being recruited into “warriorhood”, cattle rustling and armed violence while the female school dropouts end up in early marriages and/or as child mothers which has contributed to Karamoja having high indicators of maternal mortality, child mortality and under five mortality rates; CONCERNED that Karamoja’s struggle with cyclic insecurity is attributed to its low rates of education and household poverty. Many children of school going age (3-18 years) are integrated into the livestock herding economy, taking care of livestock and experiencing the vagaries of conflict, and ultimately taking roles in either defending their livestock or participating in revenge expeditions and most often becoming the victims and perpetrators of conflict; FURTHER CONCERNED that the human and economic costs of dealing with insecurity in Karamoja far outstrip the costs to the national economy of implementing high quality education. In the decade until 2010, Karamoja lost about 80 per cent of its herd to insecurity. When insecurity returned in 2019, as mentioned by Hon. Nakut yesterday, a district like Kaabong lost nearly all its herd. Therefore, investment into education is a direct investment in national economic growth, in stabilising the region and security and also cuts off the young generations from participating in criminal activities; AWARE that with Government interventions, through the UPE and USE as well as the free compulsory boarding school programme in some schools in Karamoja Subregion, the literacy rate for the boy-child has risen by seven per cent between 2016 and 2020 but that of the girl-child has only risen by 1.3 per cent and out of this total primary school enrolment of both boys and girls, only 12 per cent of the girls make it to secondary schools;

Let us first hear the submission. You see, honourable colleagues from Northern Uganda, on this, you are requesting colleagues from other areas to support you. That is why I am trying to pick colleagues from other regions to support you. [Rev. Fr. Onen] MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

14188 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT Mr Speaker, in that meeting, my colleague, the minister for Karamoja affairs, was there. My colleague, Hon. Anyakun, ably articulated the issues of Karamoja and the challenges of disaster-prone places and island communities. It was discussed, with the proposal of granting affirmative action - special consideration – for Karamoja, islands and the disaster-prone places. The special affirmative action is to be, specifically, on the boarding section. That comes on board together with the compulsory free universal education for all. I recall very vividly that this was discussed and the President himself saw the challenges in Karamoja. Indeed, he recommended that the ministry should further discuss these challenges and see to it that the best solution is provided for those specific areas, as we move to implement the universal compulsory education. Mr Speaker, I welcome the motion but wish it is not only limited to Karamoja. As Cabinet looked at it, Karamoja is not alone. We have disaster-prone places – like the islands. That is what the Cabinet is looking at. Mr Speaker, for this Parliament to appreciate the overall enrolment in our country, together with the national statistics, when we speak, we need to speak on evidence-based, scientific information. On primary enrolment, as Uganda, we have got a total of 10,976,773. The total number of primary schools in Uganda was at 43,534. The number of teachers who have been captured under the Education Management Information System (EMIS) is 196,364. The distribution for Northern Region Acholi: The total enrolment in primary school in Acholi is 544,434, which represents 4.86 per cent of the total enrolment. If you permit me, Mr Speaker, I just want to give the percentage of the national enrolment. 1. Lango represents 7.17 per cent; 2. West Nile represents 10.2 per cent ; 3. Karamoja represents 2.02 per cent. In total, the Northern Region represents 24.35 per cent of the total enrolled children in the country. In terms of primary schools, the total number of primary schools in Northern Uganda stands at 11.49 per cent.

14189 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2024 Mr Speaker, I was talking about the enrolment of our children; the national enrolment vis-a- vis Northern Uganda Region, the total number of teachers we have in this region vis-a-vis the national position and the number of primary schools. To make the matter short, in total, Northern Region has 21.49 per cent of the total teachers in the country. In terms of primary schools, Northern Region has a percentage of 11.49. Those are the statistics that we have for primary enrolment for Acholi, Lango, West Nile and Karamoja. For secondary education, as of June 2024 from our EMIS data, Uganda has enrolled a total of 1,710,403 students in secondary school. Out of that, the teachers in secondary schools are 71,918 while the secondary education schools are 7,466.

14190 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT 6. Mr Bosco Ochen, District Speaker, Kitgum 7. Hon. John Nangiro, Nakapiripirit District Chairperson 8. Col (Rtd) Obwoya Oyat, Pader District Chairperson 9. Mr Emmanuel Orach, LCV Chairperson, Nwoya District Local Government, and 10. Mr Stephen Obitre, LCV Chairperson, Maracha District. They have come to observe the proceedings of this House. Please join me once again in welcoming them. Thank you. Next item. PRESENTATION OF PETITION ON THE LOW NET ENROLLMENT AND COMPLETION RATES IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND CHALLENGES IN ACCESSING TERTIARY AND UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN NORTHERN UGANDA

Thank you, Mr Speaker. As we noted in the previous discussion, the issue of education is not just a challenge in Karamoja, but a problem in West Nile, Acholi, and Lango as well. I hereby move under Rule 30 of the Rules of Procedure, on a petition on the low enrolment and completion rates in primary and secondary schools and challenges in accessing tertiary and university education in Northern Uganda. This is the humble petition of stakeholders of Chase Foundation, represented by Hon. Samuel Acuti Opio, Member of Parliament for Kole North County, and it states that: 1. “Your humble petitioners are members of Chase Foundation, a community-based organisation established to undertake interventions to drive socio-economic development, including the provision of educational services and support within the communities that it operates within Northern Uganda. 2. Article 30 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda guarantees the right to education, and Objective XVIII of the National objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy enjoins the State to promote free and compulsory basic education and take appropriate measures to afford every citizen equal opportunity to attain the highest educational standards possible. 3. The Education Pre-Primary, Primary and Post-Primary Act, 2008 emphasises that basic education shall be provided and enjoyed as a right by all persons and provides for the objective of the Act to give full effect to the Universal Primary Education Policy and full effect to the Universal Post-Primary Education and Training Policy of Uganda. 4. The fundamental right to education is also affirmed by a number of international and regional instruments that Uganda has ratified, including the International Covenant on Economic and Social and Cultural Rights. 5. The Government of Uganda has made commitments in the National Development Plan III and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), 2030 under the theme ‘Leaving No One Behind’, where specifically SDG4 seeks to ensure the provision of free, quality, equitable, and inclusive education for all. 6. The Government has taken measures to ensure access to education for all through both Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education programmes that have increased access to education by millions of children. 7. However, despite these interventions, the Northern Uganda region, which comprises the subregions of West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja (WALK), continue to face significant challenges in accessing education. The Uganda National Household Survey, 2020 by the Uganda [Mr Achia] MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

14191 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2024 Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) showed that primary school and secondary school net enrolment in the Northern region as the lowest in the country and below the national average. 8. Net average enrolment in primary school in the region was at 68.65 per cent against the national average of 80 per cent. Karamoja stands at the lowest at 42.1 per cent, implying that out of every 100 children of primary school going age in Karamoja, only 42 are enrolled. 58 are out of school and have been left behind. 9. Net enrolment in secondary school was at 7.2 per cent in Acholi, 12.1 per cent in Karamoja, 14.3 per cent in West Nile, and 14.5 per cent in Lango Subregion, less than half the national average of 27.3 per cent, with some sub-regions having enrolment rates as high as 46.2 per cent and 52.3 per cent, more than three times the WALK region statistics. 10. These statistics in effect show that in the Northern region, on average, out of every 100 persons of official secondary school going age between 13 to 18 years, only 12 are enrolled in secondary education with 88 persons not able to have access and have been left behind. 11. Furthermore, in regard to primary education, anecdotal evidence suggests that the P7 completion rates are also way below the national average of 61.6 per cent, with some districts reporting completion rates as low as 30 per cent. This implies again that in such districts, for every 100 children who commence P1, only 30 will reach P7, while 70 will drop out and be left behind. 12. Whereas access to tertiary and university education is not yet well documented, reports indicate that it is equally low due to the low enrolment at the primary and secondary levels. 13. As a result of the limited access to primary, secondary and tertiary education, the communities in Northern Uganda have not fully utilised employment and career opportunities available within the various public and private sectors, even for jobs that require minimum qualifications, such as O-Level and A-Level, among others. This has hindered the socio-economic transformation of the region and partly contributed to the high poverty levels due to limited income diversification. 14. Lastly, the Uganda National Household Survey noted that education was the key determinant in exposing one to employment opportunities, with the results showing that the majority of those without education or who had attained only some primary education were engaged in subsistence agriculture while those who completed primary and other higher education levels were mostly in employment. Lango Subregion, for example, had the least population in employment at 20 per cent across the country against a national average of 52.1 per cent. NOW, THEREFORE, your humble petitioners pray that: 1. An inquiry is made on the causes of the below average and low net enrolment in primary education and low completion rates in the Subregions of Lango, Acholi, West Nile and Karamoja. 2. An inquiry is done on the causes of the below average and low net enrolment rates in secondary education in the Subregions of West Nile, Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja. 3. An inquiry is done on the status of access to tertiary and university education in the Subregions of West Nile, Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja. 4. Lastly, interventions and affirmative action be developed and funded for each of the subregions to address the low net enrolment in primary and secondary education and low completion rates of primary education alongside challenges in accessing tertiary and university education.

Thank you, honourable. Just looking at the prayers, most of these will require direct Government intervention. Therefore, I invoke my powers under Rule 30(6) and refer the petition to the Minister for Education and Sports for handling and report back within six months. Thank you. Honourable colleagues, this is a reminder that as you come in, ensure that you clock into our system to register your attendance today. Next item. MOTION FOR ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE SECTORAL COMMITTEE ON TOURISM, TRADE, AND INDUSTRY ON THE STATE AND PROSPECTS OF TOURISM SITES IN NORTHERN UGANDA

Mr Speaker, warm regards from the youth of Uganda and congratulations upon holding the regional sitting. I beg to lay a Report of the sectoral Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry on the state and prospects of tourism sites in Northern Uganda and the attendant minutes. I beg to lay, Mr Speaker.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I want to appreciate your good vision for seeing me today. Mr Speaker, what I want to let this House know is that when you look at history, you notice that the tribes that live in Northern Uganda all originated or departed from Otuke in the early 70s to 90s. Therefore, I would like to ask

14202 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT the chairperson of the committee to consider Otuke as one of the greatest tourist places. In 2002, I remember a Whiteman from California flew to Otuke just to take a photograph of a red lizard; look at what Otuke can bring to this country. (Laughter) Mr Speaker, we have the coronation of our Won Nyaci in Lango on 2 November 2024, which will take place in Otuke. So, I want to urge the chairperson and committee to make sure Otuke is included. Mr Speaker, the road from Lira–Alebtong- Otuke-Abim should be tarmacked. I would also like to say this: if you climb Got Otuke, you will find footprints of all the tribes in Northern Uganda who were gathered in this place. You will find footprints of the Iteso, Acholi, Jabwor, Lango, and Kumam. These are the things I wanted to raise in this House; they were burning me and I could not hold them. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Honourable colleagues, I made a special consideration under the general authority of the Speaker under Rule 7 of our Rules of Procedure. The issue, which the honourable colleague has raised on charcoal crossing Karuma and charcoal remaining in Northern Uganda has the same impact on the environment. You cannot say a tree cut to make charcoal to serve the people in Northern Uganda will not affect the environment compared to a tree cut to make charcoal to be taken to Kampala. I am among the people who raised this issue on the Floor after watching a documentary on how Zoka Forest is being destroyed despite the presidential directive to stop charcoal burning around those areas. Therefore, honourable colleagues, it cannot be Parliament to sit here and say let us be lenient to the people who are destroying the environment. We would be sending a very wrong message; it cannot be Parliament. On that one, if the minister was here - he would answer the one of charcoal but when it comes to destroying the environment, let us all be strong. Otherwise, it will come back to destroy you. Nature pays back more even roughly. Honourable Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities? A small correction on record - yes, Hon. Lucy Akello - if it is a correction that is on record. Honourable colleagues, the Speaker is on the Floor, therefore, we are proceeding well.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Also thanks to the committee vice chairperson, Hon. Okot, and the committee members, for a very good report and for raising most of the issues that we have raised as a ministry. Mr Speaker, of the 19 sites in the Northern Region, we are only in charge of nine and the reason is mainly resources. Our request still goes out there that some more investment is put into tourism, just like the other Members were requesting, because tourism indeed brings in a lot of revenues if invested into. The honourable chairperson quoted figures for 2022 on the performance of the sector when he said that the number of visitors that we received at the sites was around 67,000. But for the last three years, the Museums and Monuments Department has been receiving around Shs 2 billion as a recurrent budget and Shs 2 billion for development. You can see that even with that little money, once we invest in promotions, we get the results. In 2023, our figures improved from 67,000 to 131,000; twice the number in just one year. So, if we invest in this sector, definitely we will have better results. For the Members who have raised issues on a number of sites that have not been captured, I want to assure you that under the Museums and Monuments Act, the minister has powers to gazette any other sites that you feel would form

14204 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT part of the Museums Department. Please write to us and we will make this consideration. Mr Speaker, the statutory instrument was signed; it should be making its way to Parliament any time soon. I agree with the committee that we have identified so many sites, around 614. Our issue is resources to have a presence in each of the sites to develop and promote them. There has been an issue of human-wildlife relations. I do not want to call it conflict, because we are going to stay with these animals and we have stayed with them since creation; we shall continue to stay with them. Just for Northern Uganda, I speak to Karamoja and the Murchison Falls National Park. Last week, in Parliament, based on the directive of His Excellency, the President, we assessed what we need to do to resolve the issues of human-wildlife conflict around the Kidepo Community Wildlife Management Area, which is Kidepo and Karenga, which is around 317 kilometres. We need Shs 20 billion to have that area fenced and have the issue of elephants getting out and destroying crops, resolved once and for all. The most interesting bit or the difficult bit is that even when we deploy more rangers with the UPDF, these elephants are very intelligent animals because they know when they come out during the day, you will easily intercept them. So, they choose to come out in the night. It is very dangerous for rangers to run after elephants in the night. Usually, they have already entered, and then in the morning, we have to go and get them out of the community. Once we fence, we will have the problem resolved. For the Murchison Falls, which is 394 kilometres, we are doing the entire boundary; we have so far faced 44 kilometres in Nwoya and Oyam. We are currently doing 10 kilometres in Nwoya and 10 kilometres in Buliisa. We have an uncovered boundary of around 330 kilometres and it would cost us around Shs 21 billion to also fence Murchison Falls and have the issue resolved once and for all. The issue is with Parliament, and the Prime Minister has been holding meetings with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to see how we resolve it. I have been to the communities, Mr Speaker, and I want to assure you, if you see how people suffer, especially when a group of elephants, let us say five, or six, goes into the gardens. I understand the pain, and this is the only solution and way out. With those few remarks, again, I want to thank the committee. But, chairperson, indeed, let us support tourism. It is a low-hanging fruit, and the revenues can come in at any time. Thank you.

Thank you. The rest seem not to be ready for their areas. Honourable colleagues, I now put – (Member rose) - let me run the House the way I know how to. This is going to cause confusion. From what I am seeing, Members are giving their submissions. Honourable colleagues, I now put the question that the Report of the Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry on the State and Prospects of Tourism Sites in Northern Uganda be adopted with proposed amendments. (Question put and agreed to.) Report adopted.

14213 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2024 action by November but some of these matters are very urgent, very specific, and they are in the hands of the ministry and the project team. So, the minister should bring an action-taken report within one month on this matter. Thank you. Next item. MOTION FOR ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE DISTRICT SERVICE COMMISSIONS AND CITY SERVICE COMMISSIONS AND PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN SELECTED LOCAL GOVERNMENT DISTRICTS ACROSS NORTHERN, EASTERN AND WESTERN REGION

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Permit me to present the report of the Committee on Public Service and Local Government on the functionality of the District Service Commissions and City Service Commissions and on the personnel management in selected Local Governments across Northern Uganda, Eastern and Western Region. As I embark on that, permit me to lay the minutes of the meetings, together with the report of the committee for that effect.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I had requested permission to lay on the Table a copy of the minutes of the committee and a copy of the report. I beg to lay, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, this report is rather bulky, and in the interest of time, I request that you permit me to take the House through an executive summary that I have prepared. As I said, this report looks at the functionality of the district service commission and city service commission and also on personnel management in selected local governments across northern, eastern, and western regions. Mr Speaker, we already know the mandates of our committee, and in line with these mandates, the committee conducted an oversight visit to selected cities and districts of northern Uganda such as Arua, Maracha, Terego, Yumbe, Zombo, and Moyo in West Nile; Gulu District, Gulu City, Nwoya, Kitgum, and Pader in Acholi; Moroto Municipality, Moroto District, Amudat, Nabilatuk, Karenga, Kaabong, Kotido Municipality, and Kotido District in Karamoja; Lira City, Lira District, Amolatar District Local Government, Kole, and Otuke in Lango, to assess the functionality of the District and City Service Commission and to analyse the personnel management issues within local governments. Mr Speaker, the committee has made a comprehensive report with a detailed version of its findings, observations and recommendations, giving examples and scenarios from local government to bring out the issues affecting the functionality of these commissions and the staff. Without prejudice to the comprehensive report, this Executive Summary highlights the key issues as follows: Committee findings, observations, and recommendations. On the functionality of District Service Commission, Mr Speaker, 1. We looked at gaps in the commissions. The committee found out that 98.6 per cent of the District and City Service Commissions were functional by end of the Financial Year 2022/2023, and most commissions were fully constituted. However, there are some districts that are non-functional with insufficient number of commissions. For example, Amudat District had only one District Service Commission member, which severely affected the recruitment processes, leading to delays and increasing the risk of corruption. The committee recommends that the Ministry of Local Government, together with the Public Service Commission, should ensure that all commissions are fully constituted for efficient service delivery in local governments. 2. Delays in Public Service Commission approval processes The report highlights delays by the Public Service Commission in approving Service Commission nominees, often without providing reasons for rejection. This lack of transparency and delayed approvals impede the recruitment process and affect service delivery. In Moyo, delays in submitting approved names to the Service Commission were noted, attributed to negligence. The committee also noted poor grievance handling by the Public Service Commission, which has been slow in responding to appeals, leading to prolonged disputes and inefficiencies. The committee therefore recommends the following;

Honourable Chairperson, I have a suggestion. This is a critical report that is cross-cutting to the whole country. I would like to propose that since you have captured this part, we take it from there, and then we discuss it when we resume Parliament. I wouldn’t want to rush this - and then we will give Members a chance to read the report in full. Once we resume, - the issue of Public Service Commissions across the country is a very big issue. Now, let us save time, and we go to issues of Northern Uganda only. Okay, two minutes, then we conclude.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for your guidance. In just two minutes, when you look at the issue of the impact of discriminatory payment, we have provided details, but allow me to mention this, and in the interest of time, because the rest are with the Members and you can look through. Mr Speaker, I would like to note that the committee also interacted with pensioners in Northern Uganda, and if you will permit, we have the representatives of the pensioners who have been here from day one, because they have been following up on a number of the issues they raised.

Chairper - son, Committee on Defence and Internal Af - fairs? Let us go to the next one. MOTION FOR THE ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH ON THE OVERSIGHT VISIT TO ASSESS THE STATUS OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE NORTHERN REGION

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for giving me the opportunity. I join my colleagues to thank the committee for having carried out the field activity and coming up with a report that has identified challenges and given recommendations on how to solve the problems regarding the sector of health in Northern Karamoja. I disagree with the report on the aspect that states that Karamoja does not face drug shortages. Karamoja equally faces drug stocks- out. There are cases whereby you go to the referral hospital and you are told to buy gloves, bandages, and all the drugs to treat a patient. That states that Karamoja also faces drug shortages. These drug shortages are mostly caused by the noncompliance of the National Medical Stores to deliver drugs to the health facilities as required by the policy. Secondly, in the Financial Year 2022/2023, the Ministry of Health gave Moroto Regional Referral Hospital an Oxygen Plant and contracted the UPDF Engineering Brigade to do the construction of the plant. The plant was meant to produce 100 cylinders of oxygen in 24 hours to facilitate all the health centres in the region. The construction was supposed to take one year. After the UPDF Engineering Brigade finished the construction, the oxygen plant equipment was brought. However, it was realised later that some of the oxygen plant equipment would not fit the structure that was already in place, leaving some of the equipment outside, exposed to harsh weather conditions. To date, that has not been rectified. Yet, the referral hospital reported that to the ministry. I request that the ministry quickly intervenes to make sure that the design of the structure is rectified such that the equipment that was meant to get in, gets in, in order for the plant to start functioning to serve the Karimojongs. Thank you.

No, I do understand. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to join my colleagues in appreciating the Committee on Health for the elaborate report on the status of our health facilities in Northern Uganda. I would like to be specific to my district of Lira. Lira District, since this political term started has never officially received any infrastructural development fund for health in Lira District. Mr Speaker, we have written several letters requesting the district leadership, but nothing was given to us. It was unfortunate that in the last financial year, a fund worth Shs 4 billion came abruptly to the district account and a letter was written immediately to transfer it to another district. That is when the LC V Chairperson, the CAO and I battled it out and managed to get one health facility that is under construction. However, pushing for that caused us more problems. Right now, we have a health facility called Onywako Health Centre II at the border of the Government Chief Whip’s constituency and my constituency. It is too crowded for the capacity of the health facility to handle the patients. We have tried to lobby under UgIFT which was under the ministry to no avail. Mr Speaker, in Erute North at Aromo Health Centre IV, the maternity ward is in a very bad state. The ceiling board collapsed on a mother during delivery. I even pleaded for renovation but nothing was granted. Luckily enough, we had to try to use some Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to try to renovate. This Sunday, I will go to a health facility called Abala. Women are going with a small torch for delivery but we have tried our best. My humble prayers are: 1. The Ministry of Health should try to balance their services. 2. The Ministry of Health should liaise with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development to provide electricity in these health facilities because now the burden is on us. I have to take solar panels with its installation to a health facility to protect my women. 3. Mr Speaker, the President came to Lango and we requested him because of our population and he agreed to upgrade five health centres IVs to a district hospital where Ogur Health Centre IV was among. A follow-up letter by the district leadership together with us have resulted to nothing. So, my humble request is that these health facilities should be put as an amendment in the report so that it is adopted as a whole. I beg to submit.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Good job to the chairperson and his team - the committee - for that report. I would like to draw my attention to the issue of the ICU. Mr Speaker, you have seen how far Northern Uganda is from the Central, where most of the functional Intensive Care Units are. If you look at Moroto, Lira, Gulu and Arua regional referral hospitals, these are very far places and we all know what an ICU does. What we have in place are not ICUs. The equipment is there, but we have high- dependency units. A few months ago, we lost a patient in Karamoja, and in my opinion, as a doctor, we should not have lost that lady. We had to transport her all the way from Moroto, Soroti, Mbale, and Jinja, regional hospitals, without functional ICUs until Mulago. She was still alive by God’s grace, but she eventually passed on. Therefore, these are the things we need to be addressing ourselves to. The other one is dialysis. The health committee two years ago set up dialysis in Mbarara, Mbale and Lira, and the plan was to eventually roll out, but I think because of funding this financial year, it was captured as an unfunded priority. As a matter of urgency, we need to have dialysis at regional level hospitals. Adjumani General Hospital, like the woman MP said, is operating in a very dilapidated structure, and it needs urgent attention, at least the maternity unit. Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I am happy that the Committee on Public Service will address the issues of recruitment, but some of these health centres IV, like Pajule, have medical officers who have not been formalised into service, and they want to leave. When you ask the district local government, there is local government politics involved. Honourable members, we need to also discern the fact that part of the health system, the biggest bulk, is in the local government. Therefore, recruitment is a function of the District Service Commission. The contractor of the seven-story building in Gulu is being taken to court because of Shs 3 billion that has not been paid out by the Government. As a matter of urgency, can we please find this money for both Arua Regional Hospital and Gulu Regional Referral Hospitals, for their staff complexes. Thank you.

No, honourable, that is not how we use the microphone here. You do not pass it on. Dr Eunice Apio. Honourable colleagues, I will just pick three more people from the northern region. I have received many chits. I am on the side of the Opposition now. I have already finished. I am picking from each party. I have already picked UPC. Yes, honourable.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. My name is Okello Geofrey Charles. I am the Member of Parliament for Nwoya East County. Let me join my colleagues to thank the presenters and the committee for bringing us up to speed with health issues in Northern Uganda. Issue number one that I thought they could have recommended would have been feedback from the ministry on policy matters that are under implementation. This includes the phasing out of all health centre IIs to upgrade them to health centre IIIs. Two, there are specific health centre IIIs that were supposed to have been upgraded by now to health centre IVs, and we need feedback from the ministry, so that we do not debate the same thing again, without mentioning the one in my constituency. The other general issue is also an ambulance for every constituency. This is a policy matter that should just be implemented and we only need feedback so that it spares us. There is one general problem across Uganda, not just Northern Uganda; the mismatch between equipment and personnel. Just next to us here, the Government of Uganda has invested a lot of money in establishing a cancer treatment centre for Northern Uganda here in Gulu. The information we have is that the equipment that is here is adequate to serve Northern Uganda, but the personnel are missing. The ministry needs to assure us that they are focusing on trying to harmonise between equipment and personnel. There are several health centres that are lacking electricity in order to do so much. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development should work with the Ministry of Health and we have it on record of Parliament and the Government, so that we do not spend a lot of time. Finally, in my constituency, there is a problem of coded health centres that should be receiving drugs but they do not receive them. Why are they coded? Can we have a policy paper on that from the minister responsible? Thank you very much. Welcome to Northern Uganda.

Thank you. Honourable colleagues, I can see this is a very critical item, which I think would be unfair to conclude without giving real adequate time. My thinking is that we could adopt the report for now, then I require the minister to bring a comprehensive response in two weeks. Then, we reopen the debate based on the comprehensive responses. I think it could be – no, honourable, I know the tricks of shortcuts. There is a specific issue for Northern Uganda that I want to give space now.

Thank you. Honourable colleagues, I am trying to avoid a situation as if discussing issues of northern Uganda is ending today. No, we have just started. So, on the 17 th , we shall start with this one. We have an option of either suspending the debate and resume on the 17 th of September 2024, or we adopt the report and the minister gives a comprehensive response, then we discuss from an informed point of view. Hon. Mushemeza –

Thank you, Hon. Mushemeza. This is exactly in line with the issue, which the President alluded to yesterday. Honourable colleagues present their issues and when the Government comes with a budget, we shall see how best we shall handle. The debate is suspended on this matter, we shall resume on 17 th September, 2024. Honourable colleagues, there is an urgent matter, which I felt that since we are in Northern Uganda, we could at least come out after handling it. Hon. Anthony Akol brought the issue to do with the National Customary Land Registry. I think it is an issue we can handle here. So, let us allow that motion. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH A NATIONAL CUSTOMARY LAND REGISTRY

Thank you, Mr Speaker. We and the people of Northern Uganda were worried about this particular motion. The motion for a resolution of Parliament urging Government to establish a national customary land registry. We move under Rule 56 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. “WHEREAS Article 237 (3) of the Constitution provides that land ownership in Uganda shall be under the customary, freehold, mailo and leasehold tenure systems; AND WHEREAS the Land Act, CAP. 236, describes customary land tenure as a system of land tenure regulated by the customary rules which are limited in their operation to the particular description or class of persons whose incidence includes applicability to a specific area of land and a specific description or class of persons and recognises communal ownership and use of land, among others; AWARE that Section 4 of the Land Act, CAP. 236 provides for the certificate of customary ownership of land, which according to Section 7 of the same Act, is issued by a recorder upon approval by the District Land Board; FURTHER AWARE that under Section 69 (2) of the Land Act, CAP. 236, the recorder MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

14240 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT So, we rather carry the items forward so that we give them adequate time, instead of appearing as if northern Uganda is going somewhere and we will not be able to see it in future. Hon. Omona, the minister for northern Uganda? (Member rose_) Hon. Okot, what is your procedural matter, as Hon. Omona comes?

Mr Speaker, I take this great opportunity to thank you. I also thank you, Members, for your patience and deliberations during this very historic and auspicious occasion, when Parliament sits in the region of northern Uganda, particularly on Kaunda Grounds in Gulu City. Mr Speaker, I thank you, again, for giving a lot of attention to the matters pertaining to this region. I know very well that time has not been enough and, also, that we do not have to ignore the rest of the country as we debate matters of northern Uganda. However, I am very confident and happy that much as not everything about northern Uganda has been exhaustively discussed here, at least, a substantial number of issues have been raised here and they have brought to light an emphasis on matters of northern Uganda. I was told that for these last three days, everywhere in northern Uganda here, people were either glued to the TV channels or listening to radio, paying great attention to the debates of the matters of Uganda and, particularly, northern Uganda. I thank, very much, the people of northern Uganda, for also giving attention and listening to the matters concerning their region. A lot has been said here, but like you have heard, many issues in northern Uganda here are historical. Therefore, I implore and call upon the leaders of northern Uganda – elected, appointed, opinion and religious leaders to take it very seriously to guide the people, especially on matters of wealth creation. Wealth creation is a personal effort. Here in northern Uganda, particularly here in Gulu, we have started calling the campaign for wealth creation as “ giri giri” . Giri giri is an Acholi expression, meaning “it is yours” – what is yours is personal. It is a personal effort. I call upon all the leaders in northern Uganda to take it very seriously. Secondly, Mr Speaker, I also call upon the leaders of northern Uganda that since many of your issues here are historical, please, tell your children about your past; tell your children about your history. Pleasant or bitter, good or bad, your society and your children must know your past. This is very important; it will guide your future. Mr Speaker, I cannot thank you enough, but I call upon all the people of northern Uganda, especially those who have been watching and those who have been following on radios and other channels, to take it seriously that this has been an opportunity to highlight the issues of northern Uganda. I hope it will also help you to follow up on matters of your country in all your areas; communities and workplaces so that you help the Government and your leaders [The Deputy Speaker] MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

14241 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2024 in monitoring and debating matters of your society. Mr Speaker, all said and done, all that has been debated or said here must fall on the positive and fertile energies to produce good outcomes. I would like to emphasise the issue of history and our stories because it is from that, that we must find forgiveness so that we focus our energy towards socio-economic transformation. Borrowing from one American poet, Walt Whitman, I want to say to the people of northern Uganda that: get up to your feet, dust off your knees and bottoms, and keep your faces towards the sunshine and the shadows will fall behind you. I thank you very much for your kind attention. God bless you.

Thank you so much, Hon. Omona. Thank you to the people of northern Uganda for the warm reception. It has been an awesome experience. The hospitality – the people on the streets and all that; they all welcomed us. I am going to call someone, who is not from northern Uganda, to give a vote of thanks on behalf of the rest of the Members. Hon. Aeku? In the meantime, as he comes in front here, for the issues which were not covered in the reports, I could not bring them on now, when we have not completed receiving the reports. So, we shall complete that process from Kampala. We will do a memorandum, which we shall hand over to the Government.

Mr Speaker, I take this opportunity to thank the people of northern Uganda. We have been here, but some of us do not want to leave because this area has fresh air. I have not polished my shoes ever since I came from Kampala. (Laughter) So, I would like to thank the people of northern Uganda for the hospitality. The food has been very good. The hotels have been very exceptional. You sleep and rest well. Mr Speaker, even the garbage collection is very good; there are no landfills to collapse here. The experience we have had in northern Uganda, for these few days, shows that these people are good people, and we should appreciate them. (Applause) If only one could think like me, I would even move a motion and we leave Kampala to be a commercial city and we make Gulu a business city. ( Applause) Mr Speaker, as I conclude on thanking the people of northern Uganda, even at night, we have been peaceful. We have been walking and moving around. These people are friendly. None of us is injured. There is no case registered. They are hospitable. Indeed, if we are looking for tourist attraction areas, also, let us enhance northern Uganda. Tourists like good roads. Tourists like good hotels. Tourists like good food. We have put on weight, you can see, Mr Speaker. This is not my original size, but I am sure because of being in Gulu City, I am now a better person. Finally, I congratulate all Members of Parliament from Northern Uganda for being hospitable. Some of us did not have cars and they were able to provide and we could move around because we could not move with our coasters. I thank my colleagues also for the hospitable reception they have given us. I wish everybody a safe journey. Those who are still around, the holiday is still on; we are still in Gulu and then we shall return officially on Monday. I beg to submit. (Applause)

14090 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT Thursday, 29 August 2024 regions check and get back to us because we need action taken on what we have resolved. Similarly, I hope the Sectoral Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries embraces the guidance that the House extended to it and the scope of its oversight undertaking so that we have a comprehensive report. We picked some ideas from what we talked about here – from the guidance that we gave – and we will transform those ideas into our communication to the President. As northern Uganda, we have a lot of land. We will not go into a four-acre model. All we need is mechanisation, irrigation, agricultural enterprise selection and seeds. Much as we are saying that we want people to plant coffee in Gulu here, we need seedlings and dairy. I was shown a milk coolant, which has been here for a long time without being used. We need value addition in agriculture. We have market for the products, but how does what we produce reach Sudan? We need the roads to be worked on for our goods to reach their destination. Honourable members, yesterday, we spent a significant amount of time debating the report on physical infrastructure. This was expected to last a short time, but it became a catalyst to all that is going to be presented. On today’s Order Paper, we still have a fairly significant volume of pending business, which we should handle as fast as possible. IN THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA Official Report of the Proceedings of Parliament FOURTH SESSION - 14TH SITTING - FIRST MEETING Parliament met at 9.02 a.m. at Kaunda Grounds, Gulu City. PRAYERS (The Speaker, Ms Anita Annet Among, in the Chair.) The House was called to order. COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

I would like to thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity. However, before I move my motion, I bring special greetings from the people of Mityana to the people of the greater north. Madam Speaker, the constituency I am representing today was once represented by a person from northern Uganda called Ochieng. That is why there is Ochieng Zone in Nansana. Therefore, we have very great attachment to the people of northern Uganda in Mityana District. My motion is seeking leave of the House to introduce a Private Member’s Bill entitled, “The Administration of Parliament (Amendment) Bill,” moved under rules 56, 121, and 122 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. “WHEREAS Article 79 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda 1995 empowers Parliament to make laws on any matter of the peace, order, development and good governance of Uganda; AND WHEREAS Article 94(4)(b) of the Constitution and Rules 121 and 122 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament permits a Member of Parliament to move a Private Member’s Bill; AWARE that Article 82A of the Constitution and Section 7 of the Administration of Parliament Act Cap. 272 provide for a Leader of the Opposition in Parliament under multi-party organisations; NOTING that Section 8 of the Administration of Parliament Act Cap. 272 provides for the election of the Leader of the Opposition by the party in Opposition to the Government having the greatest numerical strength in Parliament; FURTHER NOTING that Section 15 of the Administration of Parliament Act Cap. 272 provides for the appointment of the Chief

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. This is a special regional sitting, and the first of its kind in the history of Uganda. The regional sitting began from the Northern region. As such, I request that it remains a special sitting for the Northern region. Madam Speaker, I vividly see personal fights being embedded in the spirit which is well- deserving, a well-arranged sitting, and very peaceful. I would love us to proceed in that same spirit of a special sitting. This motion can be raised when we are back at Parliament, not at a regional level. Is it procedurally right for us to proceed in this

Fr Onen, the National Transitional Justice Bill- This is one of the Bills that came as a petition from the people of northern region. I am aware that the Government also has the same Bill. Therefore, Fr Onen can be granted permission and he works with the Government to process the Bill.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for granting me this opportunity to move a private Member’s Bill entitled, “The National Transitional Justice Bill, 2024”, moved under Articles 76 and 94 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, and Rule 120 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. The motion reads: “WHEREAS Article 76 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda empowers Parliament to make laws on any matter for the peace, order, development, and good governance of Uganda; AND WHEREAS Article 94(4)(b) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and Rule 121(1) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament permit a Member of Parliament to introduce a private Member’s Bill; AND WHEREAS objective 3 of the National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, enjoins all organs of state and people of Uganda to work towards the promotion of national unity, peace and stability, and the state to establish and nurture institutions and procedures for the resolution of conflicts fairly and peacefully; AWARE that since gaining Independence in 1962, Uganda has experienced cycles of violence, political instability, and gross human rights violations, especially during the brutal regimes of Idi Amin and Milton Obote, and during the protracted LRA insurgency in northern Uganda, among other conflicts; FURTHER AWARE that the different episodes of political instability have left deep scars on the nation’s fabric; arising from the severe violence that has claimed countless lives in the form of extrajudicial killings, forced disappearances, loss of property and torture, perpetuating a legacy of fear, mistrust, and impunity; RECOGNISING Uganda’s history of political instability, conflict, and human rights violations, including episodes of violence, ethnic strife, and authoritarian governance. Recognising that the National Resistance Movement government has made a tremendous effort towards resolution of conflict and maintenance of peace and security within the country through attempts such as the Juba Peace Talks, the establishment of the International Crimes Division of the High Court, and the development of the transitional justice policy of 2019; FURTHER RECOGNISING that the efforts of the Government to foster peaceful reconciliation in the country have been immense. However, there is still a need to address the historical wrongs through measures that will embrace accountability, truth, reconciliation, reparation, institutional and legal reforms; ACKNOWLEDGING the need to heal the wounds of the past and establish accountability for past injustices, and build a foundation for lasting peace, justice and reconciliation. Affirming Uganda’s commitment to international human rights standards and the rule of law as enshrined in the Constitution

Thank you. Who is the seconder? It is seconded by the Minister of Northern Region, Hon. Acan, Prime Minister, Ibanda, Hon. Nakut, Hon. Gabriel, Hon. Lagen, Hon. Etubo, Member for Bunyoro affairs, member for labour, Hon. Anyakun, Dr Kaduchu, Hon. Ecweru, Hon. Ogwang, the problem is that you are all far away, I have seen Hon. Jane there, Hon. Muwuma, Hon. Achia, that is why it is good to sit in our House because where you sit is not far. I have seen Hon. Baka, Hon. Okot, Hon. P.P Ojara, Hon. Emmanuel and member for Nwoya. I have seen Hon. Alyek, Hon. Tom Bright, Hon. Okiror, Hon. Basil and Dr Bhoka. Can you justify your Bill?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Enactment of a National Transitional Justice Law represents a significant opportunity for Uganda to have a holistic approach to confront its past and build a future grounded in justice, peace and reconciliation. I, therefore, ask you and all the Members of Parliament and ministers, that we use our esteemed offices to advance this critical legislation. This law was badly needed yesterday, but better late than never. Since Independence, as I stated in the motion, since 1962, our country has experienced cycles of violence, political instability and gross human rights violations, especially as mentioned during the regimes of Idi Amin and Milton Obote, and worst of it all, during the protracted LRA insurgency in northern Uganda, among other conflicts. The different episodes of political instability have left deep scars and trauma on the nation. Most of those who lost their lives have never been heard and justice has never been given to them. Madam Speaker, a couple of weeks ago, the ICC convicted an LRA rebel commander, Dominic Ongwen. The victims of Dominic Ongwen are going to be compensated by the ICC. A few days ago in Gulu, another LRA commander, Kwoyelo, was convicted by a Ugandan court. However, these victims are not going to be compensated, this is a big contradiction. We need this law so that victims of violence in the future may have an opportunity to be compensated, listened to, and this cycle of violence ends in this country. Thank you.

14099 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 MOTION FOR ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE SECTORAL COMMITTEE ON PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE STATE OF TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE (ROADS, BRIDGES, RAILWAYS AND AIRFIELDS) IN NORTHERN UGANDA

Madam Speaker, misinformation is disinformation. Yesterday, as the Committee on Physical Infrastructure presented on the Floor of this august House, it alluded to the fact that work was being undertaken on the Rwekunye-Apac–Lira- Acholibur-Puranga road. However, this is not true. The fact is that work is only taking place from Lira-Rwekunye and ending in Puranga. As the days go by, there is no work being done from Puranga to Acholibur. The matter has it that the contract for works on Puranga to Acholibur was given to Roko Construction Limited, but up to this day, Roko has never set foot in Puranga. The people are mad. Just as we came to the northern region, Madam Speaker, you alluded to the fact that Members who come to this sitting should be re-elected by their people. If this road is not worked on, I am scared that the simple me, Christopher Komakech - my people will have to vomit me. Isn’t it procedurally right that the same committee or the minister comes and articulates to the people of Pader why the Puranga- Acholibur Road is not being worked on, and why the contractor has never stepped on the site of duty?

Thank you. Honourable minister, we need an action taken on the roads; we need to improve on the water transport for us to be able to have an alternative route. We need all the roads that we have given you to be handled. Honourable members, I now put the question that the motion for adoption of the report of the sectoral Committee on Physical Infrastructure on the state of transport infrastructure (roads, bridges, railways and airfields) in northern Uganda with all the amendments and addendum from Karamoja Region be adopted by this august House. (Question put and agreed to.) Report adopted.

Please take your seats. Your Excellency, as Parliament of Uganda, we are immensely privileged to benefit from your presence in today’s special sitting in the northern region and specifically in Gulu. This sitting is covering the issues, challenges and opportunities that are from West Nile, Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja. Your Excellency, the sitting of Parliament in Gulu, northern region, in Uganda is a historic milestone in the legislative history of Uganda. As it is the first of its kind, it is the first sitting we are having at regional levels. Your Excellency, the 11 th Parliament appreciates your immense support for decisions to take Parliament to the people in regional settings. I remember we came and discussed this with you. I came with the Deputy Speaker and you okayed it. You welcomed the idea and it is really a very good idea. We thank you so much for that. Embracing of regional sitting is in pursuit of the legislative vision of, “A transformed, independent, and people-centred Parliament.” Contrary to what the critics are raising, that the regional sittings of Parliament are costing us a lot, that is not true. The Parliament sitting is legally and procedurally grounded in Article 95(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 and Rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament which empowers the Speaker to convene Parliament at such a place and time through a proclamation. The regional sitting will exhaustively deliberate upon the most urgent matters that are intricate to the growth and development of a particular host area. For this case, it is the northern area. Indeed, during yesterday’s sitting, the House applauded your leadership in pacification, unification and development in northern region. Twenty years back, this region was not what it is today. You brought security to this region. A round of applause for His Excellency. (Applause) Your Excellency, the northern region has witnessed remarkable transformation as witnessed in the urban infrastructural growth, especially under the Uganda Support to Municipalities Infrastructural Development (USMID), the establishment of the public universities in Gulu, Lira and Arua, the health sector infrastructural growth and the progressive growth of the private sector.

14107 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 We also recognise and appreciate the decision to elevate three municipalities into cities. These are notably; Gulu, Lira, and Arua cities plus Moroto which is not yet operationalised, but it was passed. This elevation status has created immense opportunities for the region, which, if properly harnessed, will bolster the development of this area. Your Excellency, we also recognise that northern Uganda is not a homogeneous society. The different subregions within northern Uganda have peculiar realities which impact on their growth and development. However, there are cross cutting realities notably; the post war recovery, the high level of poverty and ever growing youth population a fair number of which are unemployed, a large track of arable land, averse national resources, the high influx of refugees, environmental degradation, limited transport infrastructure, heavy reliance on subsistence agriculture, limited value addition to agricultural output, retrogressive cultural practices such as cattle rustling, and the subjection of women and girl child, the enormous water resources, lack of health facilities and lack of enough schools. For instance, if you look at Gulu, Gulu City does not have a Senior five, A-level school. While we have a number of issues that affect each and every area that is; West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja. Then delayed compensation of war victims and lack of compensation for the land that was taken over during the insurgency. Your Excellency, the sitting specifically took cognisance of the need for mindset change as a major catalyst for increased production and social-economic transformation in the northern region. In addition, the House recognised the need to embrace viable cash crops, livestock agriculture, agricultural mechanisation and value addition, and sustainable organic farming, among others. The Sitting recognised the importance of reliable transport and communication infrastructure as an enabler of growth and development. To this end, Members raised the need for the rehabilitation and development of strategic national roads infrastructure in the different regions notably; Moroto-Kotido- Kaabong-Karenga Road, Koboko-Yumbe- Moyo Road, Kitgum-Kidepo Road, Nebbi- Goli-Paidha-Zombo-Warr-Vurra Road. They are very many of them plus bridges and we shall hand it over to you. Including our famous Karuma Bridge that is about to give way. Your Excellency, at the end of this Sitting, I will submit to you a memorandum detailing the specifics of the areas of concern that this House has passed, that the committees found on ground and need to be worked on in the northern region. Members noted the need to work to ensure the success of the prevailing government development initiatives such as Emyooga . The 4-acre model may not be vital in this area because we have all the land. What we need is to do mechanisation, provide some funds in societies, create market for these products, identify the cash crops to be grown in this area to have a participatory approach to what is being done in this area and have a micro- credit scheme by adapting such programmes to local realities in order to achieve meaningful outcomes in the region. Your Excellency, at the end of the Sitting, we will transmit these resolutions for your relevant action as the Chief Finance Minister of this country. All these relate to finances. Our work is to find out what is lacking but at the end of the day, it all comes back to the Chief Finance Minister who is none other than your good self. As the leadership of the Legislature, we intend to have the regional sittings as a salient aspect of our legislative culture and vision of taking Parliament to the people. We, being a people- centred Parliament, we believe in evidence- based legislation and this can ably be done by our committees who go to the ground and find out what is happening there and report back to Parliament. Your Excellency, I now take the singular honour to invite you to address the House and

14108 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT by extension, Northern Region and Uganda on issues that are affecting this region. Just like you have told us that you have only one hour here, we had a small motion that will take about 20 minutes, if you can allow us. Then you will address the House. If you find it fitting, Your Excellency, you could allow it. Thank you very much. Hon. Kimosho –

Madam Speaker, Your Excellency the President, honourable colleagues – I am now disorganising the protocol but allow me to continue. This is a motion for a resolution of Parliament to pay tribute to H.E. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni Tibuhaburwa, the Commander-In- Chief of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces for the Visionary Leadership of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces in Safeguarding the Peace and Security of Northern Region (Acholi, Lango, West Nile and Karamoja): “WHEREAS Article 209(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides for the function of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces as the preservation and defence of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Uganda; AWARE that the Lord’s Resistance Army caused conflict in the Northern Region between the period of 1986 to 2007 onwards making it one of Africa’s longest conflicts occasioning humanitarian crisis and wide spread of human rights violations such as death of more than thousands of civilians, abductions of children, rape, mutilations, displacement of civilians, torture, slavery, use of child soldiers and mass destruction to property; FURTHER AWARE that the West Nile Subregion further experienced insurgence from the Uganda National Rescue Front (UNRF) II, the Lord’s Resistance Army and Holy Spirit Movement led by Alice Lakwena who waged war against the National Resistance Movement Government in 1986 onwards leading to the loss of thousands of lives and property and gross abuse of human rights; RECOGNISING that through H.E. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s visionary leadership, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces has over the years successfully combated the activities of the rebel groups in northern Uganda, including disarmament in Karamoja which has resulted into liberation, pacification and guaranteeing peace and security in the region and the entire country; FURTHER RECOGNISING that under the leadership and guidance of H.E Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Uganda and the Lord’s Resistance Army/Movement (LRA/M) was entered into in 2006 with the purpose of assembling LRA forces in safety and security, calling on the parties to end propaganda between them and through it, there was a significant reduction of violence in northern Uganda, allowing many displaced people to return to their homes and begin rebuilding their lives; APPRECIATING that H.E. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni facilitated and supported initiatives aimed at the reintegration of former Lord’s Resistance Army and other rebels, combatants and abductees into society through programmes for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration; FURTHER APPRECIATING the tireless efforts of the leadership of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces working under the guidance of H.E. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni towards the continued peace and security in northern Uganda and Uganda generally; COGNISANT of the fact that, H.E. the President has strongly championed peace and security within Uganda and neighbouring countries like South Sudan, Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo, among others, by continuing to pursue the Lord’s Resistance Army remnants and ensure regional security. NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that Parliament appreciates: 1. His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Uganda, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta

14109 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 Museveni Tibuhaburwa, for his visionary, insightful, and decisive leadership in spearheading the deliberate efforts to restore peace and security in northern Uganda and Uganda at large. 2. The Uganda People’s Defence Forces for eliminating the rebel groups, fostering the security of lives and property, and providing a conducive environment in northern Uganda and Uganda generally, for economic and social transformation. 3. The religious leaders, cultural leaders, political leaders, and local community for their tireless contribution towards the peace-building efforts in dialogue, promotion of reconciliation and reintegration of former combatants and abductees into society.” I beg to move, Madam Speaker.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Yesterday, when we started the first ever regional parliamentary meeting, while I was seated in the tent, I had a reflection on what was happening here. In my mind and heart, this is extraordinary, not because we are in Gulu and that Parliament has come here, but because of what used to be here, and what it has taken to put in place what is in northern Uganda and in Gulu in particular. Madam Speaker, it has taken extraordinary effort of the visionary leadership of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, guiding the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), a force that has sacrificed over 20 years, trying to stabilise the northern region. I reflected on a situation where they used to tell us that guns would sing in different tones; alto, bass, and soprano, from morning to evening; that there would never be a convergence of family in this place, because people were on the run; and on the pictures we used to see of people with padlocks on their lips. Madam Speaker, it dawned on me that this cannot be taken for granted, and that this effort ought to be recognised and appreciated by Parliament and Uganda at large. Yesterday, we had forces of less than a hundred UPDF and police combined, and everyone was secure. In the evening, we walked up to 10 kilometres on the streets of Gulu, for jogging and health fitness purposes. Everyone was enjoying themselves. The road is tarmacked and more exemplary than most of the towns in this country. You cannot imagine that, that happened naturally. This happened because there is purposeful and visionary leadership of both the nation, and UPDF as an institution of Government. Finally, Madam Speaker, we need to appreciate the extraordinary, patriotic and the visionary spirit of the President. When some of us, Members of Parliament, and the other big rich men in town get money, we think of transferring their homes to those other countries. For the President to have fought for peace since the 1960s, integrated his son, who is a general, into the army, and who made the last assault on Kony in Garamba and delivered the tranquility that we see, it is worth thanking the President for. Our appreciation goes to all the UPDF commanders, and Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, for the last assault and effort he made in Garamba. I beg to move, Madam Speaker.

14110 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT Let us start with the Hon. Lamwaka. You will bear with me; the President has only 30 minutes remaining, with us. He has other things to do, but because he loves northern Uganda, he has been able to come here. Your Excellency, Gulu City is the cleanest city that you can talk of. These people moved the whole night. The place is so peaceful. Hon. Lamwaka, just two minutes.

Madam Speaker, I rise on a procedural issue. I was very excited and happy when Hon. Dan came up with this motion and I stood up and seconded it. However, at the point when he was talking about how peaceful this area is, I thought the seconder would raise some of the issues that we have had in northern Uganda after the war which need to be addressed. The fact that she is concluding without talking about the issue of compensation of the war affected people in northern Uganda; livestock compensation, the lives that were lost - We also have to talk about the conflict which is still ongoing in Apaa. I think we will be missing this particular session that I was happy about. Are we proceeding right?

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I would like to thank the mover of the motion and pay great tribute to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda. I am seconding this motion and would like to thank His Excellency the President for safeguarding peace in northern Uganda. We are now enjoying peace in Lango subregion, Acholi subregion, West Nile, and Karamoja. Madam Speaker, without peace, there is no development that can be brought in any region of this country or the world. We, first of all, want peace and that is the priority that we are talking about. The Lango subregion was so affected by insurgency for more than 20 years that our people were in internally displaced people’s camps. Madam Speaker, we now see this peace. We only need to fight poverty, increase household income, promote mechanised agriculture and do what it takes to bring money into the families and pockets of our people. Madam Speaker, I would like to continue to say that His Excellency the President - he is here with us – made several developmental plans in this country. He put several developmental plans in his manifesto for Lango, Acholi and for northern Uganda as a whole. Madam Speaker, I would like to interest His Excellency the President to consider fulfilling most of his pledges because there are others that have been overdue, including cattle compensation that is going on very slowly. We want him to, really, go back and say, this time around – before the elections of 2026. We are taking him back as the President of the Republic of Uganda, and we are saying, Your Excellency the President, we beg you to fulfill most of these pledges. You know them. Your Excellency the President, we are really happy that you consider this Parliament as a very important Arm of Government and we are here to interact with you, although we shall listen to you in silence, according to the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Uganda. Your Excellency, you have done a great deal for this country. We wish you a long life as you continue to lead this country in the way you are doing because the steady progress that we are seeing is something that we have to appreciate –

Long live, Madam Speaker, long live the Parliament of Uganda and long live all the Members of Parliament who are here deliberating on the issues of northern Uganda. Long live the Government of Uganda and long live everybody in this country. I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Honourable members, in the interest of time - First of all, we need to thank His Excellency for coming because he has a lot but because of the love he has for the northern region and the love he has for Parliament, he had to squeeze 30 minutes to be with us and the minutes have even elapsed. We really want to thank you for that. Your Excellency, this team we have here is really very grateful for what you have done in the northern region. They really appreciate but there is still a little more to be done. When you talk about cente , we need cente in the pockets of our people. We can only have the cente in the pockets once you bring what they have just mentioned. Even when you have the money - For those who do not know our language, cente is money. Even if we have the goods and we mechanise, we need the roads to be worked on for us to take the goods to the market. We need these roads to be worked on. The honourable Minister of Works and Transport has information. We have given him all the roads that are supposed to be worked on so he will come and share them with you. I now put the question that the motion for resolution of Parliament to pay tribute to His Excellency the President, Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the Commander-in-Chief of Uganda People’s Defence Forces for the visionary leadership of Uganda People’s Defence Forces in safeguarding the peace, security of the Northern Region (Acholi, Lango, West Nile, and Karamoja) be adopted by this honourable House. (Question put and agreed to.) Motion adopted.

Your Excellency, we want to congratulate you so much and to thank the team that was able to come here. We want to thank Gen. Salim Saleh who is here; a resident of Gulu. Where is he? Gen. Salim Saleh, you are most welcome. We want to thank you so much for coming. In our VIP gallery, we have: 1. Hon. Richard Todwong – When you are addressing, know the people who are here; 2. His Grace, the Archbishop Emeritus of Gulu, Rt Rev. John Baptist Odama; he has been very influential in this region; 3. Mr Obitre Stephen, LCV Chairperson, Maracha District; 4. Mr Atul Sam, Mayor, Lira City; 5. Mr Orach Emmanuel, LCV Chairperson, Nwoya District; 6. Mr Okwonga Alfred, Mayor, Gulu City; 7. Mr Opio Moses, Chief Administrative Officer, Abim District; 8. Mr Tolit James, Town Clerk, Laroo-Pece, Gulu City; 9. Mr Martin Okumu, Deputy Prime Minister, Ker Kwano Acholi; 10. Rev Fr Matthew Okun Lagoro, Project Manager of the Cassava Programme in northern Uganda, for value addition; 11. Mr Ojok Samuel Kitang, District Speaker, Agago District; 12. Mr Arwai Christopher Obor, LCV Chairperson, Kitgum District; 13. Mr Okwir Patrick, City Speaker, Lira City; 14. Mr Wadri Sam Nyakau, Mayor, Arua City; 15. Mr Lotee Paul, LCV Chairperson, Kotido District; 16. Ms Akello Alice Opio, RDC, Gulu District; 17. Mr Okello Francis, RDC, Amolotar; 18. Mr Okwir Semei, Gulu District, Retired RDC; and 19. Mr Otim Otto Denis, the Chief Administrative Officer, Lira. We will continue announcing as they come. We have the RDC of Gulu, Ms Amongin, a ‘yellow’ girl.

14116 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT Honourable members, following the extensive deliberations that we have had on the state of transport infrastructure in the northern region, the minister will hand over our issues to the President for onward action to be taken, especially on issues of the critical roads; national roads, bridges, waterways and the air drones in this region. It is our plea, Your Excellency, that we work on this. As the Fountain of Honour, we know there is nothing impossible; you will handle it. We want to put the northern region at the level of other regions. We should be able to put - As the Parliament of Uganda, our focus is on the northern region. We want the northern region - Much as the peace has come, we want peace to be in the pockets there as well. We want to thank you. I now take this singular honour to invite Your Excellency to speak to the Members of Parliament, to the people of northern region and by extension, to the country. THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA (Gen. (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni): The Rt Hon. Speaker of Parliament, all the distinguished persons who are here, I thank Parliament for passing a motion recognising the work of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) and the National Resistance Movement (NRM), in pacifying northern Uganda and the whole country. What you need to know - it is important for you if you are going to make a useful contribution - is that the ability of the UPDF to do what has defied other Governments - because the security of Karamoja was not new at all. It had been there even in colonial times and only got worse after 1979 when the Matheniko, one of the tribes of Karamoja, looted arms in the Moroto barracks after the Amin soldiers ran away. They were able to get automatic weapons, which they did not have before. Otherwise, the security was there all the time, even in colonial times. The reason we are able to do these tasks is because of three things, which, if you are interested, you could listen to: Number one is ideology. Hon. Jesca Ababiku is telling you, which I do not hear many people talking about, that by 1986, 500,000 people from West Nile were in exile in South Sudan and Congo. Uganda was number four in the whole world in the export of refugees. It was competing with Ethiopia, Afghanistan, and I think Sudan. What had the West Nilers run away from? From ideological bankruptcy. You remember I was part of the group fighting Idi Amin. Nobody can say he fought Idi Amin more than I did. As we were fighting Idi Amin, we always told our people and everybody, “Look here, do not blame the mistakes of Idi Amin on all the West Nilers” because of all these things Amin was doing, he did not consult the people in West Nile, the villagers. He was doing them with a small clique of idiots. So, do not blame the people of West Nile for this. Even when we were fighting the Uganda People’s Congress (UPC), it was the same. We told our cadres not to blame the people of northern Uganda: Acholi, and Lango, for the mistakes of Obote. Distinguish between the misleaders and the misled. This is the line of the NRM. Always make a distinction between the misleaders who are few, and the misled who are many, even if they are misled. In many cases, most of the masses are not even involved at all. It is small groups of people. When we defeated Amin in 1979, we had formed the Uganda National Liberation Front (UNLF), which was like NRM. We were telling these people, “Please wait, you are UPC and you are Democratic Party (DP)” - Catholics for DP, Protestants for UPC. Please give us a holiday, let us have a united group; UNLF.” but they would not listen. They took advantage of the fact that we had our Tanzanian brothers here who did not know our situation. They moved and they brought back the bankruptcy of the old politics of sectarianism. [The Speaker] ADDRESS BY H.E. THE PRESIDENT OF UGANDA

Therefore, please, I beg you - I do not want Gulu confusion; that Parliament met in Gulu and confused our people and said, “Forget the four acres. In northern Uganda, we have a lot of land.” No, you do not. 10 acres is not a lot of land because if you are going to get Shs 1 million per acre for maize or cotton, even if you have got 10 acres, how much is that? You will not get out of poverty, but with the fruits, the return is very high. In some areas, it is much higher. You can get the figures. There is a group at Kakooge - is it Kakooge? They have got a factory there for fruits and we are supporting them. You check with them how much they are earning from fruits per acre. Cotton - because some of the areas in the North here can grow coffee. In the West Nile, they can grow coffee. Even some areas here can grow coffee so please, my document is here. God got a copy long ago. Please study it very carefully if you want the people to get out of poverty. This is my first point. The roads – yes, but the roads which are there are not being used fully. Yes, I know the areas which do not have good roads because I always go there but even where the roads are good, they are not being used fully. So, please, seek ye first the Kingdom of Heaven, seek ye first homestead incomes, and the rest will be added unto you. Now, secondly, this is for the political class. Yesterday, I was having a meeting with the religious faith, with Mama Janet, about the schools. One of the issues we were discussing with the foundation bodies is the school charges. The NRM, since 1996, has been pushing for ADDRESS BY H.E. THE PRESIDENT OF UGANDA

Thank you very much. Your Excellency, what you are talking about is the alleviation of poverty at the household level. (Madi) Elonyi kiru ga ga kotu oru . Your Excellency, this is a reminder. When we were in Kyankwanzi, about two years ago – we thank you very much – you promised all the MPs in northern Uganda tractors. We were taken to Namalere where we were given the tractors. However, the tractors were given to us without hoes. That is our request to you.

That one is from Teso. Teso is not part of the northern region.

Teso is not part of the northern region?

Yes, we are dealing with the northern region.

Here in northern Uganda, I thank – (Interjection) (Hon. Koluo rose_) No, we are finished.

Here in northern Uganda, I have been working with Mzee Archbishop Odama on the issue of cassava. Cassava is very important. I had asked Mzee Archbishop Odama’s team, when we met in Chobe, about the cura per acre, because I would like to start with that. I do not know whether Mzee Archbishop Odama’s team, the other reverend - I do not want to make Mzee Odama stand here. The reverend who was handling the cassava, what was the cura , per acre? Come here to the centre where they can see you. Bin kan .

Apwoyo Matek . For cassava, it is important for – the Presidential Principal Private Secretary, I want you to organise for me to meet Mzee Odama in the coming days. My Presidential Private Secretary (PPS), be in touch with His Grace. Now, in our cassava project, we promoted a lot of cassava in northern Uganda, but also in Teso and the production is now very big. We are now beginning to get problems with processing but there was also a mistake which we did not know about, done by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, where apparently they put a tax on starch made in Uganda. They put a Value-Added Tax (VAT) of 18 per cent then they did not put a tax on imported starch. Recently, when I was in the Bukedi area in Teso, I had gone to Teso initially for our daughter, Ms Among’s function, then I went to Bukedi and I got this information. There is a factory there operated by an Indian, a very good factory, producing good starch for making pharmaceuticals and other things. They told me this. In the Cabinet on Monday, I ordered the removal of the 18 per cent tax on locally produced starch and I ordered the imposition of a high import duty tax on imported starch. [Ms Chelain] ADDRESS BY H.E. THE PRESIDENT OF UGANDA

I am the one who removed that one. (Laughter) But it does not answer why it has been delayed all this time. You get somebody from - the one who is answering for UDC to answer in the coming days when you are still here. Now, I would like to appeal to my people in northern Uganda to get out of the hangover of the war because many parts of Uganda have gone through war. Masaka town was destroyed completely. There was not a single building left standing in Masaka during the war with Idi Amin and so was Mbarara; every building was knocked down. In Luweero, we had a very bad and vicious war which lasted five years. Some of these members of the Cabinet were with me when we went to Ngoma, which was part of Luweero. It is now quite recovered.

Government Chief Whip, can we start the House? Government Chief Whip – Honourable members, can we get back to the House? Honourable members, can we start our session? I welcome you from the lunch break. I appreciate your level of concentration that was exhibited while listening to His Excellency’s address while he was here. I will invoke Rule 25 of our Rules of Procedure and vary the Order Paper to accommodate a petition from the Local Government’s Association from the northern region. This will be presented by Hon. Ojara Mapenduzi. After the sitting, we will host you for a dinner where you will enjoy all the cultural dances from the northern region. The dinner will be behind there; and you are most welcome. PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS (I) PETITION ON THE STATUS OF SERVICE DELIVERY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Please, lay. Pursuant to Rule 30(6) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, the petition stands referred to the Minister of Local Government. Honourable minister, receive the petition, process it and give a response. Next item. (II) PRESENTATION OF PETITION ON THE NEED FOR REFORM AND ENHANCEMENT OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES IN NORTHERN UGANDA

Madam Speaker, pursuant to Rule 30 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda, this humble petition, which is signed by the youth of northern Uganda, is presented on their behalf, by I, Hon. Okot Boniface Henry, the Youth Representative, northern Uganda. Showeth and states as follows: “1. Your petitioners are youth from northern Uganda and they decry the ineffectiveness of current youth empowerment programmes in the northern region to drive a meaningful socioeconomic transformation; 2. Your humble petitioners state thus: i) Northern Uganda has faced significant socioeconomic challenges, including the aftermath of prolonged conflict, poverty and underdevelopment. In response, various youth empowerment programmes have been launched with the intent to address these issues, provide skills and create opportunities for the youth; ii) However, despite investments and initiatives aimed at uplifting the youth, many of these programmes have largely fallen short of delivering impactful, meaningful and sustainable results; iii) Examples of these projects with amounts invested in the northern region are shown in Table 1 - you will see the programmes like the Youth Livelihood Programme (Shs 41.2 billion), Youth Venture Capital Fund (Shs 1.325 billion, which is only 5.3 per cent of the outreach by value to northern Uganda); the Parish Development Model

14132 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT (Shs 147.36 billion, 30 per cent); and Emyooga (Shs 33.3 billion). The figure for the Uganda Development Bank (UDB) Special Programme for Youth was unknown. Also, the figure for the Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Programme (UWEP) for the northern Uganda female youth was unknown. Table 2 shows the monetary and multi-dimensional poverty still persistent in northern Uganda; iv) From the table, you will notice that based on poverty statistics, which are detailed, all the subregions of Northern Uganda still have higher multidimensional poverty rates than the national average; v) The youth empowerment programmes: a) Are mostly designed without adequate consideration of the local context, needs and aspirations of the youth, which has led to low youth participation rates and poor outcomes; b) Are also not fully effected because of limited or even sometimes lack of necessary infrastructure; and c) Also, frequently fail to cover remote and underserved areas, leaving a significant portion of the youth population without access to opportunities. vi) There is noticeable absence of rigorous monitoring and evolution mechanisms to assess the effectiveness and the impact of these programmes, hence leading to the continuation of ineffective strategies; vii) The design and implementation of these programmes frequently overlook the input and involvement of local communities, youth groups and other key stakeholders; and viii) These programmes also ought to be audited and reviewed in order to enhance full effectiveness and implementation; NOW, THEREFORE, your humble petitioners pray that Parliament urges the Government to review existing youth empowerment programmes by: i) Tailoring the programmes to meet the specific needs and realities of the local context and incorporating the input from local communities and the youth themselves; ii) Allocating adequate resources for the development of infrastructure for effective programme delivery; iii) Developing strategies to extend the programmes to remote and underserved areas so as to ensure equitable access for all the youth; iv) Implementing robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks to regularly assess the impact of the programmes and make necessary adjustments; v) Equipping the youth with practical skills and opportunities and support that they need to thrive, including increasing equipment, after practical studies in the presidential skilling centres; vi) Increasing stakeholder engagement through fostering greater involvement of local communities, youth organisations; and stakeholders in the design, implementation and oversight of youth empowerment initiatives; and vii) Comprehensively tackling multi- dimensional poverty among the youth of northern Uganda by ensuring that all social services of education and health are youth-responsive. In very specific terms: a) the issue that they have raised on education is that they also request the Government to equitably distribute educational scholarships and student loan schemes given the high poverty rate in the region and prioritise offering seed funding to the universities in the northern region. Consider also deployment of our medical interns produced within our universities and also increase the capacity of the Law Development Centre for many students doing law that also appended their signatures here; [Mr Okot] PETITON

14133 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 b) On health, they want the Government to deal with mental health because drug abuse is common among the youth and the nodding syndrome comprehensively; and c) That the government should urgently grant northern Uganda NUSAF IV and other affirmative empowerment programmes with terms that ensure impact and sustainability to meaningfully bridge the regional development gaps. Your humble petitioners are duly bound and will ever pray. Hereto, your humble petitioners have appended their signatures with all the relevant attachments.” I beg to lay the petition and the signatures of the youth attached.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. The motion covers all the four subregions. This is a motion for a Resolution of Parliament urging the Government to prioritise and increase resource allocation to West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja subregions for livestock farming to accelerate socio-economic transformation. It is moved under Rule 56 of our Rules of Procedure of Parliament. The motion reads: “WHEREAS Article 32 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, provides that the State shall take affirmative action in favour of groups marginalised on the basis of reason created by history for the purpose of redressing imbalances which exist against them; AND WHEREAS the northern region, particularly Karamoja, is the country’s most marginalised subregion, with a predominantly pastoralist population; AWARE that livestock is a critical asset for the people of Uganda and in Karamoja it provides not only a primary source of income but also food security, cultural identity and social stability; FURTHER AWARE that the Government has committed itself to supporting the socio- economic transformation of all Ugandans,

14134 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT regardless of economic sectors and geographical location; FURTHER AWARE that despite the interventions by the Government and other actors in promoting the livestock sector through the creation of animal breeding and fattening facilities, the establishment of the Dairy Development Authority and the opening of ranches, the performance of the livestock sector in northern Uganda remains dismal, despite being a region with adequate land suitable to sustain agricultural productivity; CONCERNED that the larger part of northern Uganda faces significant challenges, including recurring droughts, limited access to veterinary services, inadequate infrastructure and insecurity, all of which have severely impacted livestock productivity and the livelihoods of the community; FURTHER CONCERNED that the livestock and crop sector largely depend on nature and the increasing climate change cannot guarantee the required amounts of rainfall; NOTING THAT increased funding to the livestock sector in the northern region and the Karamoja subregion, in particular, will boost food security, expand veterinary services, improve livestock infrastructure, strengthen livestock breeding programmes, address climate resilience, improve security and solve the conflict question; RECOGNISING that the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries envisions a competitive, profitable and sustainable agricultural sector that intends to achieve sustainable animal disease and vector control, market-oriented animal production for improved food security and household incomes; NOW, THEREFORE, Parliament urges the Government: 1. To increase resource allocation to northern region for livestock farming to accelerate socio-economic transformation…”

“… to urge the Government to increase resource allocation to northern region for livestock farming to accelerate socio- economic transformation; 2. To urge the Government to strengthen market access by linking livestock farmers in the Karamoja subregion to international meat markets, including the opportunities offered by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and other international partnerships with the Middle East; 3. To strengthen the scope and functionality of the Nwoya animal breeding and fattening facility and open at least one more such facility in the Karamoja subregion; 4. To introduce a livestock breeding, fattening and management skilling course in the existing industrial hubs in the four subregions of West Nile, Lango, Acholi and Karamoja to enhance the skill of youth in the livestock sector; and 5. To support the growth of beef production in northern Uganda by functionalising Aswa Ranch in Kitgum and Iriiri Ranch in Napak district, plus opening similar ranches in West Nile and Lango subregions to complement the strides attained in dairy production in Western Uganda.” I submit, Madam Speaker.

“… to urge the Government to increase resource allocation to northern region for livestock farming to accelerate socio- economic transformation; 2. To urge the Government to strengthen market access by linking livestock farmers in the Karamoja subregion to international meat markets, including the opportunities offered by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and other international partnerships with the Middle East; 3. To strengthen the scope and functionality of the Nwoya animal breeding and fattening facility and open at least one more such facility in the Karamoja subregion; 4. To introduce a livestock breeding, fattening and management skilling course in the existing industrial hubs in the four subregions of West Nile, Lango, Acholi and Karamoja to enhance the skill of youth in the livestock sector; and 5. To support the growth of beef production in northern Uganda by functionalising Aswa Ranch in Kitgum and Iriiri Ranch in Napak district, plus opening similar ranches in West Nile and Lango subregions to complement the strides attained in dairy production in Western Uganda.” I submit, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Hon. Nakut Faith. Is the motion seconded? (Members rose_) Okay, it is seconded by Hon. Isaac, the Member for Zombo – by the whole House, including the Minister for Northern Uganda. Thank you. Yes, Hon. Akol.

14135 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 the increased resource allocation to West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja subregions for livestock farming to accelerate socio-economic transformation. Madam Speaker, when you listen carefully to the State-of-Nation Address last financial year – not this particular financial year – the President of the Republic of Uganda told the country about areas that have really accelerated growth in the country. I still remember that number one was coffee, number two was dairy cattle or dairy farming and number three was about beef. That shows you that this sector of livestock is very key for the development of these areas. Madam Speaker, these areas – West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja – have been doing very well in livestock. In particular, some of these areas lost the cows or livestock because of the war. However, you realise that in the planning and budgeting for the country, more resources, in terms of livestock, have not been given to these particular subregions of West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja. As a result, even the existing ranches like Aswa Ranch, which is located in Pader – not in Kitgum – has not been receiving the resources needed to make sure that they do their work to prioritise so that the farmers in these areas go back to their original way of farming. Madam Speaker, when we talk about poverty in the country, you will notice that the contributors to poverty in this country have been in these four subregions, and it is very dangerous for our local community to contribute to poverty in the country other than contributing to its development. You all realise that when we talk about the poverty levels in the country, the levels in the Acholi Subregion went up, from 68 per cent in the recent Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) figures, to 70 per cent. While Karamoja is stagnating at around 65 per cent, West Nile at around 35, Lango - so basically, if the Government wants to achieve development in this country - this particular part of the country is not doing well because they have not been prioritising the issue of livestock farming and perennial crops, yet these are key to the development of this country. Therefore, I second this motion and think that the Government must take serious actions to make sure these particular subregions receive the necessary budget, which is the only way through which we can take our people out of poverty. When you look at the problems in the country now - the prices of the crops that the people produce - soybeans and maize - keep fluctuating daily. While the prices of milk and meat keep increasing. As I talk, a kilogramme of goat’s meat, for example, is about Shs 18,000 in Gulu yet a person who cultivated maize will sell a kilogramme at about Shs 400 or Sh500. How many kilogrammes of maize does one need to sell for them to buy a kilogramme of meat to eat with their family? These are some of the challenges that our local people have been facing because they have been engaged in crops that one has to work for three or four months and they have to go back. I was surprised yesterday when a Member of Parliament, my colleague, Hon. Dr Abed Bwanika, told us that the leaders of this subregion have not been guiding the community well. This is not the case. The Government has not prioritised livestock farming in northern Uganda while at the same time, the people who come with animals from other regions are grazing the animals here, getting a lot of milk, and also getting a lot of meat from this subregion. I beg to move and thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I support this motion because livestock farming has a lot of benefits. As of now, according to the statistics and the 2021 Census, livestock farming provides 4 per cent of our GDP. Madam Speaker, culturally, northern Uganda has a very strong attachment to animals, especially cows, goats, and so forth. Therefore, northern Uganda, Karamoja –

Honourable members, we are also trying to help non-northerners. They have also asked to support you in discussing this so long as we are discussing greater northern Uganda. I do not expect Hon. Tinkasiimire to start saying he wants cows in his constituency. We are talking about the Greater North.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank you - because I had not submitted on the Floor of the House - and your team, for having thought about these regional settings. I had an interaction with people from northern Uganda in the evening, particularly from Gulu. A number of them were very appreciative of this initiative. I am looking forward to when this will be in my sub-region, Bunyoro. Certainly, our demands are very clear, and we expect that the people from northern Uganda will also support us. May God bless you.

14138 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT been efforts to restock the livestock. We want to cause an evaluation of the restocking of the livestock in northern Uganda. There are certain pictures, which I see usually, of the President looking after his cattle; thousands of them and they are usually local breeds. So, somebody would wonder, why would the President look after local breeds? We need to interrogate that and the President would be the right person to advise. In many areas of this country, including the region I come from, livestock has always been given to people. These are exotic breeds, Madam Speaker, yet it is very difficult to trace how many people have expanded their herds after being given those exotic breeds. Somehow it becomes very difficult for them to sustain such projects even if it is one cow because of the expenses involved in looking after them. Therefore, the mover of the motion needed to also be specific on what kind of livestock would suit this region so that people can sustainably look after them. It will necessitate the ministry to carry out an elaborate kind of research together with the people of northern Uganda because generations have changed. The previous generations had time for their herds. In today’s generation, people may not have a lot of time for herds of cattle, in case you want to restock the way it was. Therefore, Madam Speaker, while I support this motion, I would like the mover to do the needful; social engagements within the region to ensure that if an investment is going to be directly made to improve livestock in this area with vast land and grasslands, the types of breeds and the ability to sustain the project, even if it is one cow, can be sustained. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I stand to support the motion that the Government should prioritise resource allocation for livestock farming to the Northern Region. The “ cura” that His Excellency was talking about in the seven enterprises, which the Government has already done for us, livestock is one of them. Livestock farming is one of the biggest producers of revenue especially when it is done at zero grazing level. His Excellency has always said that he does the local animals because he has vast land. In northern Uganda, I can give the example of Madi-Okollo District, each household has access to about four acres and above but some households have access to over 100 acres. A lot of this land has lots of tall grass and bushes. This has attracted what people are calling the Balalo to our region. The Balalo have seen that their animals have thrived in this area. Therefore, we would really support it if the Government could help even the local people because the people have been saying, “Let the Balalo go” but that does not solve the issue. How about if the local people were empowered and taught to do what the cattle grazers are also doing? Madi-Okollo District is very good for goat rearing. A small pilot project has been done in the parish to which I belong, and I can tell you people have prospered. The goats multiply at a very fast rate. This is something that can be looked at because someone receives three indigenous goats and then maybe a male hybrid goat. Then the population can expand. If this could be rolled out into all the other areas, I believe we would see the social economic transformation that we are looking for.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I also support the motion on increasing resource allocation to northern Uganda. I would like to bring your attention to the National Special Grant that is being given to people with disabilities every year. This grant has helped people with disabilities to purchase animals. When we visited the groups in Palaro, Atiak, and Namukora in Kitgum, we realised that they were doing very well. However, as their hopes were increasing to add on more livestock, the money for the National Special Grant in the budget was reduced, and the money given to them now, is so meagre. We pray that this money is increased. Madam Speaker, they also aim at getting Parish Development Model (PDM) funds to get more livestock. However, when they fill the forms to access PDM money, they are chased away because they have funds from the National Special Grant. I, therefore, request that when this money is disbursed to northern Uganda, people with disabilities should also be considered. I submit.

Thank you so much, Madam Speaker. I support the motion urging the Government to increase resources and funding to northern Uganda, simply because; number one, historically, northern Uganda, as a region, has been left behind in terms of development. There are certain agencies like the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB), which is doing reproduction for animals, should have a branch here so that they do more production. Madam Speaker, in addition to that, the infrastructure in northern Uganda needs to be improved, because with all this, you cannot do much. As it was said earlier, there is a need to increase the education facilities to skill the youth. The President earlier said, if you do not have household income, and that household income must come from education, and agriculture, then the people may not have good health, and money in their pockets. Madam Speaker, I stand here to support the notion that northern Uganda gets more resources for it to move in tandem with other regions. I thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me this opportunity to join my colleagues in supporting the motion urging the Government to increase funding to boost livestock farming in the various parts of northern Uganda. Madam Speaker, this motion is premised on the fact that the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries carried out agricultural zoning of this country and identified the potential of each region in the country to see what they can produce best and can also export it. Madam Speaker, livestock is one way of empowering the rural masses economically, if only we have political will, and can enhance the budget to support the livestock subsector. Madam Speaker, you realise that in our budgetary allocations, year in, year out, the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries’ livestock subsector gets peanuts in allocations. How do you expect a subsector, which is given little money to produce much? It is only when the Government allocates money to this subsector that the cattle-keeping communities will be able to produce what to export and contribute to the GDP. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

14141 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 Madam Speaker, the Government had programmes for restocking various parts of northern Uganda, but without giving farmers basic knowledge in livestock disease control. These animals are given to the farmers. The farmers are clueless in terms of diseases that are common there, and how they can prevent those diseases, and so, the animals end up dying without giving farmers what they should have got. This is worsened by livestock disease control decentralisation. There are some diseases, which the Ministry for Agriculture has decentralised to the farmers. When you decentralise a disease like Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), which is a lung disease, caused by ticks, to livestock farmers, they have no capacity. Farmers do not have the capacity to control diseases. Why is the Government running away from the technical responsibility of controlling diseases in the countryside, especially among the people who are keeping animals? Madam Speaker, I passionately support this motion, which urges the Government to increase money. I take the information. (Hon. Ochero rose_)

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for giving me a chance to give information. I equally support this motion. Madam Speaker, I do not need to repeat the fact that adding funding to northern Uganda, for this sector, is important. Many have talked about it. I want to digress the debate a bit. Madam Speaker, the Government has already been putting some effort into restocking this country, in many sectors. For example, let us talk about the animals in northern Uganda. There has been a restocking programme in northern Uganda, but on many occasions, the resources do not go to the right people. I want us to discuss this very carefully. Parliament has appropriated money to buy things for people, but these things have not reached the people who deserve them. When are we going to discuss that? Let us be very careful because the Government has been giving back. Those who implement them down there - when you want to benefit, you have to bribe the parish chief to be on the list. When will the poor bribe to benefit from these things that we are discussing? This is a very healthy debate. People actually becoming more –

Madam Speaker, thank you very much. I support the motion urging the Government to increase the allocation of resources to the Northern. Madam Speaker, before Arua became a city, there were Friesian cows, which were brought and dumped there. Knowing how expensive it is to manage Friesian cows are - they just call, “to whom it may concern” to pick them. Once you pick them - first of all, our people do not have any knowledge of raising Friesian cows. We do have extension workers, but these people do not do anything on the ground when

14142 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT it comes to that. That means all those Friesian cows that were taken to Arua died. We can now imagine how much it has cost the Government. As we request the Government to increase funding to the northern region, they should also think about those that are down there; the extension workers. Going forward before they venture into bringing any cow, in whatever form, let them first train and change our people’s mindset because they are still attached to the traditional ways of doing things. For instance, if you go to Arua City today and see the way we keep our animals; goats and cows, it is just for marriage purposes, which is not good. So, Madam Speaker, some of those things should be taken into consideration as we request for more funding be sent or given to the northern region. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for the opportunity. I support the motion urging the Government to prioritise and increase resource allocation for livestock farming in northern Uganda. Recently, the Government secured a market in Nigeria for milk and milk products worth $500 million annually. Therefore, it would be a good thing for northern Uganda to also take the opportunity and benefit from that market, which the country has secured. One thing that has to be done is to improve the breeds of animals in northern Uganda. For example, Karamoja has the largest number of cattle, but it does not produce milk. When you check the records of the Dairy Development Authority, you will notice that no milk comes from Karamoja, just because of the poor breed of animals. I know when money is invested in this sector, the breeds will improve and therefore we can also benefit from the market that the Government has secured. Recently, the Woman Member of Parliament for Terego informed Parliament about the type of cows that are in West Nile. She said the cows in Terego look like goats. It means they are so poor that they cannot even give any economic benefits. Take a look at the ranches in this country. For instance, in northern Uganda, we have Aswa Ranch, which is intended to benefit the communities and improve the breeds; it is in Pader. When you come to Lango, there is Maruzi Ranch, which also has challenges, but has not been attracting any money. In Karamoja, it is empty. There is no ranch. In West Nile, we have Got-Apwoyo, but it has also been having challenges. So, it would really be good for this Parliament and for the Government to make a deliberate effort to ensure that more money is put into these ranches and also in other areas that are deserving, like Karamoja, so that the animal population is improved. Otherwise, I thank the movers and I know we are on the right path. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am here to strongly support the motion for the Government to send more resources to the region because we are really doing bad. It is so painful that those who come to graze their animals hire land and then take it back. The cow that they could have bought at only Shs 500,000, after grazing it in the land of Nwoya, they will sell it at Shs 2 million. So, this is one of my justification and the confirmation that we must all, as northern Uganda, stand up for livestock farming. Pader District has Aswa Ranch. We have the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC and DB) in Aswa Ranch. I am so happy you said that there is money, which is going to be sent to Aswa Ranch, to the tune of around USD 355 million. I pray that the Government doesn’t make this money to only benefit the investors who are in Aswa ranch. This money should be prioritised to the community. NARGC-DB, which is in Aswa Ranch is a Government entity but they are not doing anything to support the community to stand on their own. If we could identify out-growers and NAGRC-DB directly supports them, we would fight poverty in Acholi Sub-region and no longer remain the same. So, I hereby strongly support the motion.

I support the motion urging the Government to increase funding for livestock production in the northern region. Colleagues have spoken about a number of factors but I would like to focus on Karamoja. Karamoja’s livestock population can support the growth and increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Karamoja in terms of processing and export of organic beef in that MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

14145 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 case. This is because Karamoja’s livestock is bred on natural grass. Therefore, the beef from Karamoja is actually in high demand across the globe; we just need to improve on the quality. However, there are a few factors that make it very difficult. A number of colleagues have already alluded to them. One, is diseases, pasture and water. Given that the droughts are long in Karamoja; it leads to less grass during the dry periods in which the rains are not able to support the growth of pasture. Water bulking and transfer would be a very good solution. Yesterday, when the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries made their presentation. They did not talk about issue of water for production in Karamoja; targeting water bulking and transfer. A colleague had talked about getting water from the Nile or Lake Kyoga to take to Karamoja, but that may not be a solution given the international issues. However, Karamoja has rains that are flush and have a lot of water. There are three sub catchments in Karamoja that can support water bulking, storage and transfer. One of them is Lokere, which supports the northern districts of Karamoja. It is called the Pager sub catchment. The middle is the Loko and then the southern one is the Awoja. So, if we invested money in this areas -

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to support the motion to increase resources to northern Uganda. History has it that the Soroti Beef Factory at one point was proposed to be in Karamoja in the 1960s, and because of the number of livestock. At that time, the word poverty did not exist in Karamoja as it is today, but after a lot of conflicts, livestock diseases and counterfeit drugs for livestock in the market, the livestock population has come down. That, therefore, warrants additional resources to be given to the North. There is a Member who talked about the Aswa Ranch, and it tickled my mind a bit. It is important, as Ugandans, that this Parliament rises to the occasion to question the role of investors. I am not saying that investors have no role but if all money is going to be pumped into investors, how shall we fight poverty? It is assumed that investors already have their own money. If they come to Aswa Ranch to invest but the Government has to give them more money, as the population is watching them in poverty, then what exactly shall we be doing? So, I would like to appeal that the resources that will be added to the north to support livestock production should focus on the local people. I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise to support this motion because of the following reasons. Madam Speaker, lately, I have been taking a lot of time to study how livestock can change the life of a rural person. I got very interested in this study and carried out a lot of research on the Kenyan market, and I realised that these things are doable. This motion comes at the right time. However, I want to urge the Members of Parliament – the leaders of northern Uganda – that while we process this motion, let us take time and lead by example, the way Madam Speaker is saying. Let us act or become mini-demonstration farms for our people. I have realised that you do not need to have a lot of land to benefit from livestock. I have also realised that animals, especially dairy animals, feed on daily things that every northern Ugandan home has - sweet potato leaves, banana leaves – everything that we have. That means that what we need is knowledge only, to make sure that we turn this knowledge into a profitable venture for the women that we are leading. Madam Speaker, I can promise you that I am not going to lead just for the sake, but that I am going to lead from the front. I am going to get my people to understand that these things are actually possible. I want to say that there is an aspect to this as well: we have the biogas that comes out of cows –

Yes, cow dung. Northern Uganda is currently affected by deforestation. All a family needs is one cow, to have biogas and clean cooking in their homes. This would be very good, and I would love us to inspire our people in that direction. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I stand to support the motion. Madam Speaker, we must believe that cattle rearing is not a political activity; it is an economic activity. Every other month, the Bank of Uganda publishes export volumes, and you see coffee, meat, beef and milk. If we are to reduce poverty in the different parts of the country, we should be measuring different regions as per their contributions to those different export volumes. Many years ago, the President launched one of the biggest beef-processing facilities in the country, owned by the Egyptians. It is in Bombo, on Kampala-Gulu Road. It requires 400 heads of cattle per day. But it is producing far below capacity. It is only important - and the duty of the Government to facilitate northern Uganda to join livestock farming, because it is one way of helping this factory, which is not far from northern Uganda, to produce at half capacity or full capacity. Madam Speaker, it is disturbing to see animals being moved from different parts of the country, coming to Bombo on Kampala-Gulu Road, when there are no animals, which can come from Gulu to Bombo as well. At the same time, Madam Speaker, cows can thrive anywhere. I cannot mention that they can also thrive in the islands because I am in northern Uganda; that will be for another day. However, we must accept that there may be reasons why certain areas are where they are [Mr Lokii] MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

Thank you, Madam Speaker. This House has already taken note that before the conflict, farmers here had a lot of animals. And so, before we delve into how the Government can support, we need to look at what happened and what is happening now. Madam Speaker, many things have happened but, currently, there are many things that impede the growth of livestock in northern Uganda, especially cows in Acholi. One of them is that the quality of veterinary drugs that are available here cannot be trusted by the farmers. You buy drugs to control ticks, but when you apply them, they do not control them. So, we urge the Government to try and control the quality and make the environment for livestock better than it is. Madam Speaker, also, for a farmer to improve the breed, they should avoid inbreeding. To avoid inbreeding, you need to buy cows of other breeds from elsewhere. As we speak now, Madam Speaker, it is very difficult for a farmer in Acholi or even West Nile to buy cows from across Karuma. You need eight different approvals, which makes it entirely difficult, especially for the local farmers. Madam Speaker, also, when we talk about livestock farming, we are not just talking about cows. So, in this motion, the Government should look into the whole livestock industry, including birds. About two weeks ago, Madam Speaker, in this city of Gulu, there was very little supply of eggs. Traders had to rush to Kampala and other towns to bring eggs to serve the needs of Gulu City. That means there is also a wide market for other forms of livestock. Madam Speaker, while we have institutions being strengthened now, it is important that we strengthen continuous research into farming because all that farmers need is a good environment, quality drugs and seed money to begin with. I thank you and I support this motion.

Honourable Minister of Health, before you go, there is a question you need to answer. Members, I am coming back to you. The Minister of Health has something to do but there is an issue that Members are raising in northern Uganda regarding drugs; when they go to the hospitals, they tell them to go and buy drugs from out. The issue of support to the children suffering from nodding syndrome.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I prepared an entire booklet on everything in northern Uganda, starting with the Acholi Subregion, Lango, West Nile, and Karamoja. Fast forward, I want to thank the people of this region, the Acholi Subregion because in my report, they contribute the least of non- communicable diseases. (Applause) In the entire region, the Acholi Subregion has the least morbidity for the commonly known non- communicable diseases. Madam Speaker, as a sector, 75 per cent of our disease burden is preventable. If we increase health promotion and information, we will have very few people to treat in this country. Madam Speaker, they asked why there are no medicines in hospitals. I have been to this subregion three times since I joined the health sector and sometimes - I have been informed that the day before yesterday, they received drugs.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Honourable Minister of Health should note that in Gulu Regional Referral Hospital – and this has been going on for quite long - when patients go to the hospital, doctors only prescribe and the patients are supposed to buy medicine from out. It has been there for so long and so, you cannot say it has just started recently; that is out. We come from here and we know what is going on in this region. The minister should also note that the CT scan that was given to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital has never worked. The medical superintendents told us that there are no technical people to operate the CT scan. The problem here is quite enormous. Finally, I would like to thank the President. He committed the other day that he was going to support the students from northern Uganda majorly in sciences. Right now, all the intern doctors from northern Uganda were not deployed and more so, COVID-19 interfered with that deployment. If they fail to be deployed this time to the medical health centres, they shall have taken more than two years without completing their studies. Madam Speaker, I pray that the President and Parliament take very special consideration of the people of northern Uganda. Let the intern doctors be deployed. I beg to move.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to inform the House that the health committee of which I was part crisscrossed northern Uganda, and will have a report. I think we shall be on Order Paper tomorrow. I was seeing the minister pre-empting the report that we must give to Parliament. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, following our earlier consultation with you, two ministers from the Ministry of Health are currently out of the country on state assignments. We have only one who should equally proceed to Kampala to sign a document to allow one of us to move out of the country for urgent medical attention. So, we have also consulted and in the absence of the ministers of health, we have duly agreed that Hon. Dr Kenneth Omona, the Minister of State for northern Uganda, will hold fort - what the lawyers call “holding brief”, for the Ministry of Health, alongside Hon. Dr Kaducu from the Ministry of Education and Sports. Both are doctors who are part of the doctors in the House and I believe they will do a good job, in consultation with the technical team from the Ministry of Health.

Madam Speaker, I have already handed over the document prepared by the Ministry of Health on the entire northern Uganda. I beg to lay it on the Table and leave.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I just want to say a few things, still on the motion to urge the Government to increase funding for livestock. As the minister for this region, I am very happy that the matter of livestock has now generated debate in this region. Some time ago, I remember when I was still a student, the first time I met Dr Abed Bwanika, I think I had gone to do something in Namulonge, but by some coincidence, I met him, he was already in politics. I heard he was doing fish farming so I asked him, “Sir, can you help me also learn how to do fish farming?” He told me in Luganda, “Omona, mulina ettaka, mulime ku mwanyi, muluunde ku nte, mufune ssente.” These were very many years. I am very happy that I have heard Hon. Abed Bwanika saying the same thing. In English, he told me, “Omona, you people have land. Please, plant coffee, rear cattle and get money.” I am very happy that the debate about livestock is catching up in this region. Madam Speaker, I just want to inform Parliament that one, livestock farming is one of those investments that we who are working in this region are trying to promote. Luckily, in this region, livestock farming is not a new thing. In fact, if you look at the data, you will notice that between 1980 and 1985, the biggest population of livestock was in the eastern and northern parts of Uganda. We got disorganised because of insurgencies and the wars that occurred here. I am very happy that now we are talking about livestock restocking. Very briefly, Madam Speaker, I want to inform and urge the Members here why this is very important. First of all, I am very happy that the people in northern Uganda here - I do not know why Dr Abed Bwanika was shy to accept his rebuke for the leaders in northern Uganda here – but it wasn’t until recently when the Baraaro (migrating cattle keepers) began competing with the people in the North here that they realised, I think, that it is important to keep cattle. Again, as you have said, Madam Speaker, on the matters of poverty and mindset change, we will have to speak the truth. The leaders in northern Uganda here must lead by example. Many of you have land and at least some resources. It is easier for you to tell the people to rear or keep livestock when you are also doing it. People love to do what they see their leaders doing. Also, I would like to say that livestock farming is actually complementary in agriculture. It gives so many other things. The Member [Dr Moriku] MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

14151 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 of Parliament who talked about leading by example, Hon. Afoyochan, talked about only biogas but there are so many other benefits from livestock. For instance, the manure. If you talk about growing coffee or bananas, you need manure. In this region, getting manure is very difficult and so, it is very difficult for people in this region to grow bananas, coffee and other forms of vegetables because they cannot easily get manure, which is now more expensive. Some people now get more money from manure than their livestock. Secondly, the biggest challenge we have had with the livestock in this region is the issue of the breeds that have been given to the people in northern Uganda. We have held so many discussions with the honourable minister - and I am happy that he is also here - to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries to guide the people of northern Uganda on what kind of breeds of animals are good for economic benefits and for the survival of this region. Many years ago, through Government interventions, a number of animals were supplied to this region. But I can also say that very many of them died, especially the foreign or the Friesian dairy animals. So, we are urging the people and colleagues who work with Ministries, Departments and Agencies that are partners in restocking this region to bring to the people breeds that can survive. For dairy, we are meaning –(Interjection)- let me finish. I will give you the opportunity, honourable. Therefore, we are saying that when we talk about breeds of cattle, we mean dairy and beef, but all these need to be breeds that are useful to the people. The Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries needs to teach the people here that we can still have dairy animals, which are not necessarily Friesian. There are other breeds, like the Brown Jerseys and others, which can survive in this region. This is what I talked about yesterday, that we as the Government, we must guide the people correctly. The same as beef. These small animals that honourable members talked about, that look like big goats, are no longer useful and they are very many in some of our communities. Therefore, the fact that we have a lot of land and grass for free, it is a very good decision to tell the people to keep animals. However, most importantly, I would like to tell the people that there is no mistake in doing livestock because the President keeps talking about doing business with “ cura ”. If you look at the global beef market, you will realise that it is about worth $645 billion. There is a lot of market for beef that can come from Uganda. Within the country itself - the national market, the volume of beef market in Uganda is about $2.9 billion. China, which imports a lot of beef from elsewhere also, is about has a market worth $273 billion as of this year. Therefore, there is a huge market for beef and so, I encourage farmers and people in northern Uganda who have land, to rear animals.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Before I respond to some of the issues that have been raised by the members, allow me to thank the movers of the motion and also agree that northern Uganda has a lot of resources, which would be useful in having livestock farming as a key commercial activity in this area. I agree that where livestock farming is being practiced currently, and a lot of lives have been transformed. Therefore, we are not exploring as a country, we know that livestock farming is

14152 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT a very profitable enterprise. I thank the movers and I support the motion as well. Regarding the issues raised, key among them is the requirement by my ministry to involve the communities and the leaders in northern Uganda in determining what kind of livestock would be most suitable to the various categories of people or farmers in northern Uganda. Of course, severally, we have received guidance from His Excellency, the President. He has also repeated it here and we have also seen what is happening on the other side of the cattle corridor. The guiding principles, we know them - but we shall come back and in a participatory way to determine which animals are most suitable for a particular area. I would like to request the leaders that when the time comes, we work together on this, but we also work together on the mindset change because that is the starting point. It is not a matter of giving out animals; we have to educate and inform the masses and then with us as a ministry - we shall, after that, continue to offer extension services to the population. With that, allow me to say that once we get the resolution of Parliament, my ministry will go to Cabinet with a paper for considering the proposal and then accordingly work out how to prioritise livestock farming in northern Uganda. I beg to move.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity. I would like to say that I support the motion on livestock farming for the people of northern Uganda. I would like to give information to this House, especially to the Minister in Charge of northern region - we have been talking about Aswa Ranch, which is in my constituency in a sub- county called Angagura. This Aswa Ranch land was given to the Government way back in 1964 by the former Acholi District but the land in the area belongs to the clan of the paramount chief to which I belong. This Aswa Ranch you have talked about - I am happy that you have budgeted that big sum of money to revamp it. However, the information I want to give you is that the Aswa Ranch we are talking about has been completely depleted. The land has been given to different people. I do not think you will get any space to revamp the way you would like to. Land has been given to a group called, Banoti, National Animal Genetic Resources Centre & Data Bank (NAGRC&DB), some former Members of Parliament who have put themselves together under some group called Gravity, some group called NEC, Panacea Agribusiness Group Ltd and pro-organic. I would like to ask these hard questions: whose land is this? Does it belong to the Uganda Livestock Industry? Does it belong to the National Animal Genetic Resources Centre and Data Bank (NAGRC&DB) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)? Or does it belong to the community of the Payira Clan? These are questions that I want the minister to answer because if you are saying that you are going to put livestock there that will help in the improvement of the livestock industry of the people of northern Uganda, I am sure it is not going to work. My Woman Member of Parliament, Hon. Paska had already told you that NAGRC&DB has been there with the livestock industry from the time animals were put back after the ranch was destroyed. That was in 2014. Now, if they say this land belongs to them, we need the Government to open the boundaries to separate the land for the Government ranch from the people’s land. The other issue I want to inform you about is that during that time, in this ranch, we had a veterinary institute, which was vandalised. This veterinary institute should be put back [Mr Bwino] MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

14153 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 29 AUGUST 2024 so that the people can be trained on veterinary issues that will help the whole of the northern region. This is the information I wanted to give you. Even with the time that NAGRC&DB has been there, no work or help has been given to the community. The ranch is guarded by the military. My chairman is in the gallery. Even the chairman LC5, entered that NAGRC&DB farm when the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries went there. The manager of the ranch has never come out to educate the people on how they should change the livestock because – (Member timed out.)

I have been informed of the current update. There are four confirmed cases of mpox in the country. Out of the four cases, two are from Congo and they were admitted in Bwera General Hospital; they improved and were discharged. The two other cases came from Kampala. They were detected, confirmed, and right now, they are admitted in Entebbe Hospital at the isolation unit. Madam Speaker, as I sat down, I immediately got a message from the Director General confirming that the case in Amuru District that was raised by Hon. Lucy Akello has been confirmed positive. So, we have got a total of three active cases of mpox and all of them are admitted. For the one in Amuru District - of course, each district has an isolation facility - they will be isolated, given supportive care, given conservative care, until they improve then they will be discharged, like those in Bwera General Hospital. Like I said, the ministry has developed a case definition already. There are probable suspected cases and confirmed cases. Therefore, let us continue to be vigilant so that we detect these cases early, refer them to the appropriate surveillance system within the district in order for them to do the needful, and take care of them. Madam Speaker, permit me, lastly, before I sit down to say this. There was an issue raised by the Member of Parliament for Amuru, Hon. Olanya, on the interns. I thought I should say something since he said that no interns from northern Uganda were deployed. I wish to inform this House, like the Minister of Health has already informed us, that indeed it is true, in the country this year round, there were a total of 2,860 interns. They included: the medical doctor interns; the nurses and the pharmacists. The medical doctors have both the dentists and the other line. The ministry so far deployed 1,590 medical interns. The remaining, from the stock that were not deployed, is a total of 1,270. The criteria that has been set is very clear. All medical schools, which are quite many, have trained doctors, nurses and pharmacists. The priority for those that were deployed was given to those that completed in 2022, including medical doctors from Gulu Medical School, interns from Arua and nurses from Lira University. I want to allay the anxiety that all those interns from northern Uganda, especially from Arua, Muni, Gulu and Lira University, who completed before last year, were equally deployed. It is true, Madam Speaker, when these doctors, nurses, pharmacists complete their training, they need to translate the theory into practical. The longer they stay, the more they are de-

14156 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT skilled. They need to put the skill into practice, but the challenge the Ministry of Health has got on the table is that they need Shs 18 billion to deploy the remaining stocks of interns. Therefore, I thought I could give that information so that this House goes, knowing that interns from northern Uganda; universities from northern Uganda, were equally treated like any other university across this country. The criteria were clear. It is my prayer, as a former teacher in the medical school - and I say this because I have confirmed with Dr Kaducu, who is the dean at the medical school where these doctors were deployed - apart from those who completed recently. It is my prayer that the sooner these doctors get deployed to practise what they have learned, the better so that they manage better and their skills are sustained for the good of the country. I thank you and submit.

Madam Speaker, I beg to lay the minutes of the meetings of the Committee on Government Assurances and Implementation. From 1987 to 2005, the northern and eastern regions of the country were ravaged by several wars and insurgencies, which led to loss of lives, livestock and properties. In 2003, Cabinet placed a moratorium on ex- gratia payment for compensation claims by persons affected by wars and insurgencies. Consequently, claimants and beneficiaries from Acholi, Lango and Teso Sub-Regions filed numerous lawsuits against the Government in the high courts of Gulu, Lira, Soroti, Arua and Mbale. In 2008, His Excellency the President directed the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to amicably settle court cases and verify all claimants irrespective of whether they took Government to court or not. In 2016, the inter-ministerial committee conducted a verification exercise of war debit claimants/ beneficiaries in Acholi, Lango and Teso sub-regions. In 2020 the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs initiated a validation exercise in the three sub-regions of Acholi, Lango and Teso. In 2021, the verification exercise was devolved to the district structures. On 29 July 2021, the Rt Hon. Prime Minister confirmed to the Parliament that Government was in the process of verifying livestock compensation claims for the areas of Acholi, Lango and Teso sub-regions including Karamoja, West Nile, Sebei, Bukedi and Busoga sub-regions that were affected by the insurgency. On 3 August 2021, the Attorney-General also assured Parliament that he would give a report, in a fortnight, on where the Government was going and in what direction it was taking so that Parliament could know what Government was thinking. On 18 August 2021, the Deputy Attorney- General reaffirmed before the Parliament that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs was conducting verification of livestock compensation claims in the areas, which were affected by the insurgency. He also informed the Parliament that other sub-regions affected by the insurgencies were to be incorporated in the next phase. These included Karamoja, West Nile, Sebei, Bukedi and Busoga sub-regions. He also informed the Parliament that all livestock claims and compensations would be settled within the Financial Year 2021/2022. He informed the Parliament that livestock compensation rates would be harmonised across respective sub-regions. He informed the Parliament that a report with the final assessment was to be submitted to the Cabinet and Parliament for consideration. Madam Speaker, allow me to go to the committee findings, observations and recommendations. We looked at the registration and verification of the claimants/beneficiaries. In 2020, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs initiated a validation exercise in the three sub-regions of Acholi, Lango and Teso and displayed the lists of the claimants at the district headquarters and subcounties. The verification exercise intended to confirm the genuine claimants/ beneficiaries. The following were the numbers of claimants/ beneficiaries recorded: Acholi Subregion – 16,946 verified claimants Lango Region – 42,024 Teso Subregion – 33,664 Giving a total of 92,634 claimants. The committee found out that the registration and verification exercise was marred by

Madam Speaker, first, permit me to apologise for being absent when you opened the House yesterday. I was obligated to welcome delegates from 22 countries attending the first ever Africa Women’s Conference on Intellectual Property, and I had to be there to welcome Her Excellency the Vice President. This morning, though I arrived late, I was in time to listen to the speech of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda. Please, kindly accept my apology, and I welcome everybody else to the warm heart of northern Uganda. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Hon. Dr Abed Bwanika for being the most eloquent spokesperson of those who are victims of broken promises. I hope some elders will be identified to give him a name from northern Uganda because of the eloquence with which he spoke. This shows that even though, geographically we are in Gulu in northern Uganda, we are articulating national issues and our aim is to integrate the whole of Uganda. In relation to what has been presented, let me stress that these payments are ex-gratia. Ex- gratia is a Latin word which means that the payments are made out of a sense of moral obligation rather than because of any legal requirement or arising from an admission of liability. It is a gesture of goodwill. It is part of the national reconciliation process. Therefore, on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, I wish to inform the House, Madam Speaker, that the Cabinet has discussed this matter, and I do believe that since, with your permission, we may be given up to six months to come back with a comprehensive response, I believe that by that time, we will have held the consultation that His Excellency the President talked about. We are supposed to bring together all stakeholders, and we tackle this problem together. I want to assure you that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs is not hiding any information, and we will abide by the resolution contained in the report. Like the Deputy Attorney-General said, I wish to request, Madam Speaker, that the real debate should take place when we come with our response. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, the issue we are dealing with is in the middle and at the heart of the issues that people want to listen to in northern Uganda. This issue started with some of the things that happened in 1986. Madam Speaker, if there is anything that people have been telling us, the leaders of northern Uganda, that must come out clearly in this regional sitting of Parliament in Gulu City, is the issue of compensation. The Deputy Attorney-General has been at the centre of this issue for a long time, and is a source of confusion as per our knowledge as leaders from northern Uganda. If there is anything that he wants - I thought he was going to ask you for only this night to consult his technical team so that the debate takes place tomorrow when he is here presenting the facts he has found from his technical team. Madam Speaker, if we leave this place in Gulu without discussing this particular report which is at the heart of –

14166 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT big and that is the meaning of that law, accompanied by the National Legal Aid Bill, which the committee on legal is still holding in their cabinet up to now. Madam Speaker, I think this is the time for us to talk about these things. People have to be helped. We must compensate for lives, livestock, and property. There are institutions for example, schools that lost trucks; they were taken by the soldiers. Up to now, no compensation has been done. Poverty has put its pedestal in eastern and northern Uganda because we have not compensated the people. Therefore, as the Chairperson of the Greater North Parliamentary Forum, I want to beg that Rt Hon Speaker, you continue with that heart of granting us that space to debate on compensation and supporting the people so that we see the boat balanced. Without that, other parts of the country will be okay but the Greater North will be the one begging. We are economically kneeling. We need the support. I submit this for God and my country. Thank you.

First of all, before you say it has affected or not affected, I want to go back to what we agreed on; no personal feelings. Let us debate with all the sanity. We are only limiting it to northern Uganda. If I start talking about Teso, you would actually cry. Go ahead.

Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the presenter, Hon. Abed Bwanika, for his excellent, brilliant and eloquent presentation. Thank you very much, honourable committee chairperson. Madam Speaker, this matter is not new to this Parliament. It has been on the Floor of Parliament so many times. The President is willing to pay the people of Northern Uganda. He promised that he is going to pay the claimants their claims. However, our problem has been the process of how this matter has been handled. Madam Speaker, as Hon. Linda said, there are members who went to court and the Government decided to do an out of court settlement. It was agreed and the lists were presented. We have those lists from two advocates companies. The President agreed, therefore, that to clear this matter – STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT

Madam Speaker, we are discussing a very critical matter. One of the purposes of regional sittings was to completely exhaust debate that pertains to that particular region. And compensation, like they said, is at the heart of the matters that affect the people of northern Uganda. So, we must thank you for bringing Parliament here. Madam Speaker, I look scared and worried, when my senior learned brother, the Minister for Justice, walked over there and declared-

Madam Speaker, when we moved across the subregions, this was a very important matter. There are teams that travelled from Karamoja; they are here. There are teams that travelled from Sebei; they are here. There are teams that travelled from all the subregions to come and hear the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda debate this very important issue. Madam Speaker, I implore you that the Attorney-General, tomorrow, comes up with some answers and allows Parliament to debate this very important issue for the northern region. We cannot defer this issue to the next two weeks. We must leave northern Uganda when we have fully debated and taken resolutions on this very important issue. I implore you, Madam Speaker, that tomorrow – the Attorney-General can call over these discrepancies. He can call his office and allow Members to debate and come up with resolutions and settle this issue. I implore you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, yesterday, I raised a point of procedure that stopped the minister for northern Uganda from continuing with the issue of compensation. Today, we are discussing the issue of compensation again yet, yesterday, I stated clearly that if we do not have the West Nile and Karamoja regions, there was no reason to continue. That was why in your wise ruling, you stopped the minister from continuing. Today, we are having this discussion and still, we are not hearing about West Nile and Karamoja. (Applause) Madam Speaker, to me, whether people like it or not, I would not mind even the two weeks the minister is talking about, as long as in that period, we at least have something comprehensive for West Nile and Karamoja. (Applause) What is the use of continuing to discuss this tomorrow when we still do not have Karamoja and West Nile in all this debate? Madam Speaker, I wish to submit.

Rt Hon. Deputy Speaker, who is about to join us and honourable members of Parliament, the Leader of Government Business and the entire Front Bench, the Leader of the Opposition and the Shadow Cabinet ministers, all local leaders present, notably: the Resident District/City Commissioners (RDCs/ RCCs), Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs), district chairpersons, District Internal Security Officers (DISOs), local council leaders, religious leaders, representatives of the civil society, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I welcome you all to this historic sitting of the Parliament of Uganda at Kaunda Grounds, Gulu City. IN THE PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA Official Report of the Proceedings of Parliament FOURTH SESSION - 13TH SITTING - FIRST MEETING Parliament met at 10.00 a.m. at Kaunda Grounds, Gulu City, Northern Uganda. PRAYERS (The Speaker, Ms Anita Annet Among, in the Chair.) The House was called to order. PROCLAMATION

14005 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2024 It is the first time, in post-colonial times, that the Parliament of Uganda is sitting outside the Capital City of Uganda - Kampala. In a special way, please join me in thanking the lovely people of Gulu City, for the warm welcome and the extraordinary hospitality they have accorded to us while we are here. Thank you so much, people of Gulu. I would also like, in a special way, to thank the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, for endorsing and equally supporting our sitting in Gulu. We will be forever grateful to him. Further, let me also commend the Clerk to Parliament and his staff for ensuring the success of our sitting. Thank you, my wonderful staff of Parliament. In a very special way, I would like to thank the Members of Parliament; you are very gracious people. Travelling from Kampala to Gulu means you are leaders who love your country, Uganda. You travelled all the way from the West, East and Central to sit in Gulu; thank you, for coming. Honourable members, the decision to hold Parliamentary sittings in Uganda’s traditional four regions is a strategy to bridge the gap between Parliament and the people. This decision was based on an elaborate cost-benefit analysis and attention to the specific and varying nature of the distinct realities affecting the different regions of Uganda. We have always sat in Parliament and made decisions for the country forgetting the difference from one to other. They have distinct issues that need to be handled, region by region. Contrary to misinformation by some members and sections of the public, the regional sittings of Parliament are budget neutral; we are not incurring additional costs. A strategic decision was taken to upgrade the always budgeted-for parliamentary outreaches into fully-fledged House sittings, which will deliberate upon matters that are distinct and pertinent to specific regions hosting the sittings. Unlike outreaches, the deliberations during these sittings will culminate into parliamentary resolutions that will require Government action. We have money that is always available for outreaches. In these outreaches, we could only go and invite the leaders of the area and discuss with them. However, in this case, we said that instead of calling the leaders in these areas only, let us go and have a sitting in those specific regions, get the issues affecting them, have the resolutions and forward them to the Executive for action to be taken in those particular areas. When you look at the budget of Parliament, you will notice that no money was added for this sitting. So, the people moving with the misinformation just do not like the northern region. Parliament is not a stationery building; the building in Kampala is not Parliament. It is an Arm of Government that can convene in any part of the country, and this is not unique to the Legislature; it is also being done by the Judiciary. It is prescribed under Article 95(2) of the Constitution that the Speaker shall proclaim, at any one time, where Parliament should sit. Where Parliament is, is where the Speaker is and is where the Speaker proclaims that “this will be Parliament”. So, this perception of saying that Parliament must always sit in Kampala is selfish. Next time we can sit anywhere - we can even proclaim the middle of Kampala Road to be Parliament and we shall sit there . A people-centred Parliament must be responsive to the needs of its citizens or else society will be without effective parliamentary representation. Remember our roles, as Parliament, are: representation, legislation, appropriation and oversight. The 11 th Parliament, right from inception in 2021, vowed to put the people at the centre of the legislative process and its decisions. That is why we are bringing Parliament to the people;

14006 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT we have brought Parliament to the people. We do not want people to come to Parliament; we have brought it to them. Legally and procedurally, the regional sittings of Parliament are anchored in Article 95(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995. Some of us were not even there, but the framers understood that at one time we could decide to sit in Gulu, Mbarara or Masaka. Rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Uganda also empowers the Speaker to convene Parliament at such a place and time through a proclamation – which we have already done. You may recall that at the start of today’s sitting, a proclamation was made – and it has always been done. That is why we always sit in Kololo. It is the same legal basis upon which Parliament sits in Kololo Ceremonial Grounds and Kampala Serena Hotel. In any case, Gulu City, where we are holding this historic sitting, is part of Uganda. Therefore, no one, in their right state of mind, can attempt to deprive the beloved people of Northern Uganda of the opportunity of hosting this landmark sitting. How I pray that those who are boycotting, do not come to Gulu or the greater north only when it is campaign time. Honourable members, this is the first of the planned four regional sittings that Parliament will host this financial year. In the second quarter, we shall go to another region. The next sitting will be communicated – where we shall be sitting. It may be in the east, west or central. At all these regional sittings, Parliament will prioritise matters of urgent and utmost importance to the specific region hosting the sitting. Honourable members and the local communities of Northern Uganda will confirm that over the last few weeks, various parliamentary committees have been conducting oversight roles on various areas of service delivery in the region. The relevant committees will present their reports in the course of the next three days. We will discuss them and appropriate action will be taken by the Executive – and, to confirm all this, that is why the President will be here tomorrow to hear the issues that are arising out of the northern region. Remember, we have been budgeting for most of these activities. We now need to understand whether there is value for money in whatever we have been appropriating money for. These reports, alongside the various motions, will be exhaustively deliberated upon by the House and resolutions will be passed and transmitted to the relevant Government agencies or departments for action. Pursuant to Rule 220 of the Rules of Procedure, the House will require actions taken on the reports from the relevant agencies of Government on the status of implementation of the findings from the committees that have been on the ground – and from what we have discussed in this session. I, therefore, urge Members of Parliament from across the political divide to actively debate and deliberate on the issues affecting this region. We can find solutions for the benefit and well- being of the people of the greater north. In the spirit of constructive engagement, we encourage all stakeholders to desist from opposing progressive initiatives aimed at fostering cohesion and growth, and embrace unity and cooperation in the furtherance of inclusive decision-making and progress. Unity is strength. Let us build a Uganda that will work for everybody. You cannot be seen fighting the decision of holding a sitting in an area or Gulu - Gulu – Kaunda Grounds – where the Pope was in 1993 and Gulu, which is on the map of the political history of Uganda, and you say, “We are boycotting”! Well, while it has been boycotted, I see all the Members of Parliament here. I salute you, Members of Parliament. (Applause) [The Speaker] COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

Honourable members, on 29 August 2024, which is tomorrow, His Excellency, the President will grace this sitting and address the House, and by extension the region and the nation at large, in line with Article 101(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda. We should all be here to welcome the President and hear what he has to say to the people of Northern Uganda. We will furnish him with all our findings. As I said, we should debate with sanity. We should not play to the gallery. Let us go straight to the issues. I know we want some of our voters outside there to see us express the issues, but let us do it honourably; the issues will still be captured. Honourable members, we have a number of members in the public gallery who have always seen you only on television. We even have some church leaders here. We have cultural leaders who also always only see you on television. I would not mind losing 30 minutes for my Members to just mention their names and their constituencies. Members, kindly mention your name and constituency. I can see that we are starting with the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. (Laughter)

Madam Speaker, Anthony Akol is my name. I am the Member of Parliament for Kilak North in Amuru District. I am from the FDC Party. Thank you and you are welcome to Gulu and Northern Uganda.

Let us have introductions. We are discussing issues regarding the Northern Region. That will be discussed later.

Honourable members, this session is devoted to the people of Northern Uganda, and for us to discuss issues regarding the Greater North. Let us have respect for the people of the Greater North. Issues that do not concern this region should not be discussed. We have the Kampala House where you can do all the manyanga .

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Patrick Ocan, Member of Parliament for Apac Municipality, Apac District in Northern Uganda. I belong to the Uganda People’s Congress.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Sarah Aguti, the Woman Member of Parliament for Dokolo District, and I belong to Uganda People’s Congress Party. I welcome you all to Gulu City and Northern Uganda at large. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am Auma Linda Agnes, Woman Member of Parliament for Lira District, and the Publicity Secretary for the Lango Parliamentary Group. In Parliament, I am the Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries. Welcome to Northern Uganda. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Santa Okot, Member of Parliament for Aruu North Constituency. And, you know that I am the greatest Member of Parliament because I represent the whole country. I am the colleague of President Museveni because I am the Acting President of the People’s Progressive Party, the Whip of the People’s Progressive Party and a shadow minister for special regions. One of these special regions is Northern Uganda. The other areas are Karamoja, Teso Affairs, Luwero triangle, Bunyoro, and recently Busoga was added. Thank you so much and welcome to Gulu.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am Atukwasa Rita. I represent Mbarara City and I am the Secretary General, Ankole Parliamentary Caucus. Thank you, the people of Northern Uganda, for hosting us.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am called Charles Bakkabulindi, Workers Member of Parliament, Uganda and NRM. Northern Uganda, we are at home; we are together. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, together with the Deputy Speaker and all your team who came up with this best idea of starting to hold regional sittings and for holding the first in my region. Akumu Catherine Mavenjina is my name. I represent the Northern Region and I am the happiest. My constituency comprises West Nile, Acholi, Lango, and Karamoja, so I am the happiest. And thank you very much. I welcome all of you to “Wii Polo”. That is heaven. Here we call it heaven. So, you are all welcome and you are nearer to God. Thank you very much.

Madam Speaker and honourable colleagues, I am Arinaitwe Rwakajara Katambuka in Northern Uganda. I am also called Obama. I am the only MP who gets 100 per cent votes from Northern Uganda. I represent workers. Thank you so much.

Madam Speaker, my name is Moses Kabuusu. I am a Member of the Parliament for Kyamuswa. Madam Speaker, Kyamuswa is in Kalangala District in Lake Victoria, in the Northern Region here. Thank you.

Good morning, Madam Speaker and honourable colleagues. I am Judith Alyek, Member of Parliament for Kole District. I am the Chairperson of the Lango Parliamentary Group. I am also the Chairperson of the Committee on Equal Opportunities in the Parliament of Uganda. Greetings from Kole District and the people of Lango Subregion. You are most welcome to the northern region, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Nathan Byanyima, Bukanga North County in Isingiro District. I am happy to be in Northern Uganda. I thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, for making this wonderful decision. Gulu has always been the headquarters of the northern region. Today, we are able to realise this wonderful opportunity of COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

14017 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2024 holding a parliamentary sitting in the northern region; we are grateful to you. My name is Lematia Ruth Molly Ondoru. I represent the people of Maracha East in Maracha District in the West Nile Subregion. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Minister for Northern Uganda Affairs, I hope you are hearing.

Madam Speaker, I am Nakut Faith, the Woman Member of Parliament for Napak District and the Treasurer of the NRM Parliamentary Caucus. Thank you for bringing Parliament to the people of Northern Uganda.

Thank you. Take note of that. Honourable members, now you see the beauty of this sitting. In the northern region, we are going to discuss issues pertaining to the North. When we go to sit in Masaka, we will discuss issues pertaining to that particular region and they must be resolved before we leave. Please go ahead.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I am Taban Sharifah Aate, Woman Member of Parliament, Koboko District. Welcome to Northern Uganda. Thank you.

Salutations, Madam Speaker and honourable colleagues. I am Boniface Okot, the Member of Parliament representing the youth of Northern Uganda. I am also the Vice Chairperson of the Committee on Trade, Tourism and Industries. Warm regards from the youth of Northern Uganda.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Komol Joseph Miidi. I represent the people of Dodoth North, Kaabong District, as their Member of Parliament. I am a member of the mighty NRM party. Welcome to Northern Uganda. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I am Dan Kimosho, the Member of Parliament for Kazo County and the Chairperson of the Committee on Physical Infrastructure in Parliament. Madam Speaker, this being our first sitting in regions and Northern Uganda, I request that we consider a motion to thank Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) for galvanising and returning peace to this region. With the able leadership of President Museveni and aware that the final assault was done in Garamba by Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, that should also be rightly captured in the motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Nancy Odonga Acora. I represent the wise people of Lamwo District, bordering South Sudan, one of the refugee-hosting districts in Northern Uganda. I take this singular honour to welcome you to Acholi, the land of mwo yaa and odii . However, on a special note, Madam Speaker, the people of Lamwo, particularly my civil servants – I got a call this morning that from the onset of this quarter, our district has not got money disbursed to the subcounty. Secondly, the issue of –

Hon. Acora, you will have that time to compliment what the Minister of Northern Uganda is going to present.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for this initiative of regional parliamentary sittings. My name is Stella Atyang. I represent the people of Moroto District. I pray that the next regional parliamentary sitting for Northern Uganda is taken to Moroto District, Karamoja Subregion, so that the Karamojong can have the feel of the regional sittings. Thank you.

Hon. Chemaswet, that is not in the Order Paper of today. Let us discuss issues pertaining Northern Uganda.

Madam Speaker, I am Businge Joab, Member of Parliament representing Masindi Municipality. I am grateful for having joined my historical relatives of Northern Uganda.

Madam Speaker, Atkins Katusabe. By the grace of God, I represent the people of Bukonzo County West, and with the support of the people of Bukonzo County West, Kasese District. Greetings everybody from the Rwenzururu Kingdom. I urge our honourable sisters and brothers that today is a day for Northern Uganda. So, I will focus on Northern Uganda. Madam Speaker, I really appreciate it.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Ocen Peter. I represent the people of Kole South County, gold medallist in the just concluded Taekwondo Championship in Zanzibar. (Applause) Madam Speaker, I sincerely thank you for the support that made it possible for me to compete favourably and come back with a gold medal. (Applause) This is to declare that gold medals are not only in Kapchorwa, but they can also be found in Northern Uganda. Taekwondo is a game of fitness, a game of discipline and it promotes health. Therefore, I encourage my colleague Members of Parliament, to join Taekwondo Club so that we can favourably compete and also make it part of the East African Parliamentary Games. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. You are most welcome to Northern Region. My name is Mourine Osoru. I represent the women of United States of Arua. You are most welcome, Members. Madam Speaker, I thank you in a special way for thinking about the people of Northern Uganda and bringing Parliament closer to us. Thank you.

Madam Speaker, my name is Dr Kenneth Omona. I am the Minister of State for Northern Uganda Rehabilitation in the Office of the Prime Minister.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My name is Beatrice Akello Akori. I am the Woman Member of Parliament for Agago District. I am the Minister of State in the Office of the President in Charge of Economic Monitoring. Madam Speaker, I thank you so much for prioritising the issues of the people of Northern Uganda. These issues are isolated and different Arms of Government will decisively handle them, including the issues in Agago District. We thank His Excellency, the President, for restoring peace in Northern Uganda, and also accepting to come tomorrow to this sitting to help deal with issues affecting Northern Uganda. Thank you, Madam Speaker. We love you.

Madam Speaker, my name is Esther Anyakun Davinia, Woman Member of Parliament for Nakapiripirit District. I am also the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations. In a special way, I would like to thank you for making an initiative to ensure that we come to this part of the country because most people leave Government positions without even coming to see what happens here. I come from Karamoja and it is more affiliated to Northern Uganda. Thank you for making Northern Uganda the first to host the regional Parliament.

Madam Speaker, my name is Esther Anyakun Davinia, Woman Member of Parliament for Nakapiripirit District. I am also the Minister of State for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations. In a special way, I would like to thank you for making an initiative to ensure that we come to this part of the country because most people leave Government positions without even coming to see what happens here. I come from Karamoja and it is more affiliated to Northern Uganda. Thank you for making Northern Uganda the first to host the regional Parliament.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to communication from the Chairperson and subject to the provision of Rule 25(2)(e) of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament, I rise such that the record of Parliament sitting at Gulu City captures three fundamental facts, which are aimed at paying glowing tribute to you as the leader of the institution of Parliament and the entire parliamentary leadership upon bringing this parliamentary sitting here, in Gulu City, Northern Uganda. Madam Speaker, I pay tribute to you and the entire leadership of Parliament because, first and foremost, historically, in the post- and pre- independence history of Uganda, this is the first time that the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda – from the First Parliament to the 11 th Parliament that you preside over – is sitting outside Uganda’s capital city, Kampala. We need to commend you, on record, for this. (Applause) Historically, again, after the promulgation of the 1995 Constitution, there is no single moment that the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda is recorded to have sat outside our capital, Kampala. Again, this is another glowing tribute to you. Secondly, we have been hearing people talking about the regional Parliament. I would wish to state that, legally, in the minds of the framers of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, as amended, they envisaged a situation where the Presiding Officer would take Parliament to any part, as long as it is within the Republic of Uganda. So, legally, our sitting in Gulu is anchored on the provision of Article 95(2) of the Constitution, implying that for any Member of this House who refuses to be in Gulu, that act should be termed as unconstitutional and against the spirit of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament. So, we want to thank you and the leadership of Parliament for, for the first time in our history, operationalising Article 95(2) of the COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

14035 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2024 Constitution of Uganda, by bringing this Parliament to Gulu – which is within Uganda. Finally, Madam Speaker, you should be commended, together with the leadership of Parliament because, economically, this sitting in Gulu is a big boost to the Gulu economy and to the northern Uganda economy. Over 10 committees of parliament, in the last two weeks, were deployed to West Nile, Acholi, Lango and Karamoja. All these Members were sleeping in hotels within this region, and, for these days, we are sleeping in hotels in Gulu, eating from restaurants in Gulu and fueling cars from fuel stations in Gulu. This implies that a farmer growing cassava within a village called Tegwanda, in Gulu City here, benefits because we are eating food that is locally grown. So, the sitting, termed as “regional”, has three fundamental importance that must go on record: legally; economically; and historically. The multiplier effect is huge. Very finally, I wish, again, to thank His Excellency the President who accepted, under Article 101 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, to come to Gulu tomorrow and address this Parliament and, by extension, address the country through this sitting in Gulu. Madam Speaker, it is imperative that this tribute be attributed to you because you will live in the history of our Parliament to have set a record of taking Parliament to the people because legislative power is derived from the people. Madam Speaker, I beg to submit. Thank you.

Thank you so much, the Government Chief Whip. Honourable members, we will move this way. Let us get a report from the minister of northern region. We will also get reports from the committees that were here and, then, Members will supplement and we debate those reports at once. Where you find that what the minister has captured is not what you have, then, you supplement it. BILLS FIRST READING THE ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS BILL, 2024

14036 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER ON MATTERS ARISING FROM PUBLIC DISCUSSIONS AND CONSULTATIONS (BARAZAS) ON MAJOR ISSUES AFFECTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF NORTHERN UGANDA

Honourable members, before we hear from the Minister of Northern Region, who had barazas with the different stakeholders, in the VIP Gallery this afternoon, we have the Most Reverend John Baptist Odama, the archbishop emeritus. He is right there. Join me in welcoming him. (Applause) He has done a lot for Northern Uganda. He did what he could at his time. We also have Mr James Tolit, the Town Clerk of Laroo-Pece, Gulu City. Thank you for coming and they are: 1. Mr Emmanuel Oroch, the LC V Chairperson, Nwoya District; 2. Mr Christopher Opio, the LC V Chairperson, Gulu District; 3. Mr Martin Okumu, the Deputy Prime Minister, Ker Kwaro Acholi – that is the cultural institution; 4. Ms Jane Frances Amongin, the Resident City Commissioner (RCC) of Gulu City; 5. Mr Samuel Ojok, the Agago District Speaker; 6. Mr Innocent Ahimbisibwe, Gulu City Town Clerk; 7. Mr Kamba Amir, Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Gulu City; 8. Mr Lotee Paul, LC V Chairman, Kotido District; 9. Mr Cosmas Okidi, Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Gulu District; 10. Ms Stella Abeto, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Kitgum District; 11. Mr Joseph Nangole, LC V Chairperson, Amudat District; 12. Mr Geoffrey Otim, Division Mayor, Laroo-Pece, Gulu City; 13. Mr Richard Bukone, the CAO, Gulu City; 14. Mr Sam Atuil, Lira City Mayor; 15. Mr Semei Okwir, the former RDC; Prof. George Ladaah, the Vice Chancellor, Gulu University; 16. Ms Grace Atim, RDC, Zombo District; 17. Col (Rtd) Ogwoya Oyat, LC V Chairperson, Pader District; 18. Mr Orik Okello, LC V Chairperson, Lira District; 19. Ms Akello Alice Opio, RDC, Gulu District; 20. Mr Muwonge Mbaagwa, CAO, Agago District; 21. Mr Christopher Arwai, LC V Chairperson, Kitgum; and 22. Mr Geoffrey Osborn Oceng, RDC, Nwoya District. They have come to witness today’s proceedings. (Applause) Yes, honourable minister. THE MINISTER OF STATE, OFFICE OF

Madam Speaker, I take this auspicious and historic occasion to welcome you to Northern Uganda, particularly Gulu City. Madam Speaker, sitting to conduct business of Parliament in this beautiful, lively and peaceful city, especially on Kaunda Grounds here two decades after the war in this region, gives me hope that as long as communities live, anything is possible in their journeys. I now have great hope in the transformation and development of the region and I thank the people, their leaders, the Government of Uganda for their resilience and resolve for peace. This peace and tranquillity came at a huge cost and we should guard it jealously. When I talk about Northern Uganda, which falls under my docket, I mean the six subregions of Uganda; West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Elgon and its slopes which is Bugisu, Sebei and Bukedi, touching the international borders of the DRC, South Sudan and Kenya in the east. However, for this sitting, Madam Speaker, and my statement, I will confine myself to the subregions of West Nile, Acholi and Lango. I will wait for you - MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise on a procedural matter mainly on the heading of item five, as the minister put it on the Order Paper. It reads, “ Statement by the minister on matters arising from public discussion and consultations (barazas) on major issues affecting development of Northern Uganda.” I am wondering whether the minister did these consultations ( barazas) alone, because as MPs from Northern Uganda, we have never been invited to any form of barazas . If the minister is giving a statement on matters that Members of Parliament have raised on the Floor of Parliament, then that is what it should read. But on barazas , we have never. I do not know when he held these barazas . Thank you.

Hon. Isaac, you are actually reacting in anticipation. Having a baraza does not mean you have to meet with the Members of Parliament because you have a privilege to get a report from a committee. I had a baraza yesterday with the religious institutions and they were able to tell us all the issues that are happening in Northern Uganda. We went to the cultural institution and they were also able to tell us all - Those are the barazas . It does not mean that you have to announce. Let us not act in anticipation. Let us hear what the minister has to say and then we shall complement.

Honourable members and honourable Minister of State for Northern Uganda, our expectation goes back to what Hon. Isaac Otimgiw was saying. The expectation is and would be that you had a meeting - just a quick one, when we visited the Archbishop yesterday, he talked about the poverty in this region, war victims and land grabbing; those are the issues that this House wants to hear from you. The issues affecting northern region, not you answering the issues raised by Members. You need to give us the issues affecting West Nile; the road from this and that area is impassable. Then we throw it back to the Minister of Works and Transport. You will have identified the issues in your region. That said and done, let us hear from the minister, then we shall bring our issues. We will also hear all the reports before we go into a debate.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for your guidance. I may not be privy to every report in Parliament and also what all the sectoral committees are discussing in Parliament, and like it was said in the beginning, mine is trying to respond to the key issues in Northern Uganda. I am very sure that in my report, there are issues that may not be in those reports, as I proceed. If there is any repetition, unless it is an omission, it costs us nothing for emphasis on the issues in this region. Madam Speaker, permit me to say, again, that in this Financial Year 2023/2024, the Government released Shs 721.28 billion, which was divided equally among 29 districts of Acholi, Lango, and Teso subregions. The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional affairs paid out a total of Shs 21,035,383,642 to claimants and beneficiaries in Acholi Subregion. A total of Shs 20,015,625,569 – [Dr Omona] MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

Thank you, Madam Speaker for your guidance. I may also seek further guidance that as Minister of State in charge of Northern Uganda, my work is particularly to coordinate the entire activities of Government in this region, irrespective of which sector. I look at infrastructure, security, household income - I look at all these activities of Government in this region.

14040 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT MOTION FOR ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE SECTORAL COMMITTEE ON PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE STATE OF TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE (ROADS, BRIDGES, RAILWAYS, AND AIRFIELDS) IN NORTHERN UGANDA

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As you guided us, we moved around and toured the areas in Northern Uganda and analysed areas of roads, bridges, airfields and railways. We agreed by consensus that my deputy comes from Nwoya and he is a son of the soil, so he led this process. I request that you allow me to invite Hon. Tony Awany to give us this summary and then Members will contribute later. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity to pres - ent a report of the Committee on Physical In - frastructure on the state of transport infrastruc - ture (roads, bridges, airfields and railways) in Northern Uganda. Allow me to lay on the Table the detailed report of the Committee on Physi - cal Infrastructure together with the minutes of the meetings of the committee.

Madam Speaker, in accordance with Article 90 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda and rules 159(c), (d), (e), (f) and 189 of the Rules of Procedure of Parliament of Uganda, the Parliamentary Committee on Physical Infrastructure is mandated to exercise oversight and ensure effective utilisation of resources and implementation of policies related to physical infrastructure development. In fulfilment of this mandate, the committee embarked on a field visit to Northern Uganda from the 4 th to 10 th August 2024, to assess the status of roads, bridges, aerodromes and railways in the region. The visit aimed to evaluate the condition, usage and maintenance of transport infrastructure, with a focus on roads, bridges, aerodromes and the railway. The committee sought to gather fast-hand information on the progress of the ongoing projects, identify challenges and determine necessary interventions to improve the region’s infrastructure. This report presents the findings and recommendations of the committee aligning with its oversight role and contributing to informed decision making for the development of Northern Uganda transport infrastructure. The committee visited the following sites: a) Karuma Bridge; b) Pakwach Bridge; c) Masindi Port Bridge; d) Karuma-Olwiyo-Pakwach Road; e) Rwenkunye-Apac-Lira-Puranga-Acholi Bur Road; f) Tororo-Mbale-Soroti-Lira-Kamdini Road; g) Tororo-Gulu Railway Line; h) The Regional Mechanical Workshop and Logistics; and i) Moroto Road. Madam Speaker, this report presents a critical opportunity for lawmakers to address the transportation challenges in Northern Uganda. The committee’s field visit focused on evaluating the current state of integrated transport infrastructure and services, identifying key bottlenecks, and engaging with local stakeholders to understand their experiences and perspectives.

14041 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2024 The committee interfaced with several stakeholders from the subregion of Acholi, West Nile, Karamoja, and Lango subregions. The findings from this field visit will provide Parliament with evidence-based information for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and contractors to draw or review their strategic plans for the sector in Northern Uganda. This report presents the findings and recommendations of the field visit in the section on observations and recommendations. Under observations, because of time constraints, I invite Members to check as highlighted above in the main report; objectives of the oversight and terms of references. The same applies to methodology. Repair works on Karuma Bridge Karuma Bridge was completed and commissioned in 1962 as a major link and gateway between the Mid-Western and Northern Uganda and West Nile subregions. In April 2024, the Minister of Works and Transport announced an immediate temporary closure of the bridge for three months to enable repair works. Therefore, the bridge was closed to heavy traffic with only lighter goods vehicles, SUVs, and 32-seater vans permitted to use the facility. The committee was informed that the closure followed a proactive assessment in 2023 by the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) of the bridge structure to determine its integrity and soundness. The assessment involved physical examination of the elements on the bridge, including the bearings, clearing of reinforced concrete structures and checking of the deck abutments, expansion joints and approach roads. Following the assessment, a decision was made to completely close the bridge to all traffic while restoring what is being undertaken. Madam Speaker, during the visit, the committee observed that the bridge bearings were faulty, expansion joints had worn out, structural cracks had developed underneath the deck, thereby requiring interventions to enable traffic to continue to use the bridge. Further, the committee was informed that emergency works were expected to be completed by June 2024, after which the bridge would be accessible to all traffic. However, works were delayed and was expected to commence on the 19 August 2024. Now that the contractor has been identified to undertake the repair works and the contract has been signed whose details are in Table 1. I invite Members to go to Table 1 of the main report. The committee was informed that during the remedial works, the bridge would be closed to all traffic for a period of three to four months to enable demolition of the bridge deck, replacement of the bearings, restoration of the expansion joints, and restoration of the deck. Remedial works are expected to extend the lifespan of the bridge by a further two to five years, during which time normal traffic use will be possible. The progress of the emergency works is provided in Table 2. I invite honourable colleagues to check Table 2. The committee therefore recommends as follows: Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) should ensure strict adherence to the work program for the remedial works on Karuma Bridge so that normal traffic is restored within three to four months. In any case, not later than 19 December 2024. The committee recommends that UNRA should ensure that that funding is available for the pro- active assessment of the major bridge structures across the country in order to determine their structural integrity and soundness, as this would prevent a likely sudden failure and closure that are inconveniencing road users. The committee also recommended that the Uganda Wildlife Authority should consider providing a waiver for public transport

14042 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT through the National Park during the period when emergency restoration works are being undertaken on Karuma Bridge. Construction of the new bridge at Karuma The committee was informed by URRA of plans to construct a new bridge over the River Nile at Karuma. The commencement date for a new bridge is expected to be September 2026, after feasibility studies are completed among others. The current Karuma Bridge was constructed in 1962 with a design lifespan of 50 years. The ongoing repair works are expected to increase the service life of the bridge by a further two to five years. Therefore, it is imperative that the Government of Uganda considers a long-term solution to the movement of traffic at Karuma and construction of the new bridge - It is an ideal proposal by the committee. The committee recommends that UNRA should expedite the completion of the necessary processes, including feasibility studies, designs, acquisition of land and sourcing of funding in order to ensure that construction of a new bridge at Karuma can commence as planned in September 2026. Impact of temporary closure of the bridge The committee observed that due to temporary closure of the bridge, travellers are experiencing delays in reaching their destinations, and movement of goods and services has been significantly affected. Despite Karuma Bridge being a crucial artery for commerce in West Nile and Northern Uganda areas, it facilitates the movement of goods and services between regions and supporting numerous businesses. Currently, heavy goods vehicles have been diverted to alternative routes, including through Murchison Falls National Park and through Eastern Uganda - through Masindi port, and via Eastern Uganda, therefore increasing the travel time, cost of transportation, and inconveniences to road users. The committee observed that alternative route through Masindi port is overwhelmed by increased traffic and negatively affected by floods. In addition, the public facilities at Karuma and Kamdini such as toilets have been strained due to increased numbers of passengers on either sides of the bridge as they await transportation using smaller vehicles across the bridge. The committee received a memorandum written by the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce, Lira Branch (UNCCI), to execute a directive of the UNRA on the 3 August 2024, expressing concern about the significant bottlenecks to the transportation of the goods. The committee further recommends that UNRA should expeditiously undertake emergency repairs on Nakasongola-Zengebe Road to enable interim transportation of people, goods, services, while repair works at Karuma Bridge are ongoing. UNRA should immediately deploy another bigger ferry at Masindi port and increase the working hours of the ferries due to the significant increase in diverted traffic that the committee witnessed at Kungu Landing Site. UNRA should expedite the repair works so that normal traffic flow is restored over Karuma Bridge. Madam Speaker, another elephant in the room is Pakwach Bridge Assessment of Pakwach Bridge The committee noted that the bridge was commissioned in 1969 and has been in existence for over 55 years with minimal maintenance. The committee observed that there were structural cracks on the abutments, expansion joints had failed, and embankments on the western bank of the river had weakened with visible erosion. In addition, there was floating vegetation underneath the bridge surrounding the structure

14048 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT This implies that under Force Account, the money can maintain 18 kilometres, while under framework contract, all the money would maintain only 1.8 kilometres of the entire road. The committee recommends that the Government prioritises the maintenance of national roads to reduce on rehabilitation costs of early reconstruction of non-maintained roads. Encroachment on road reserves Madam Speaker, on encroachment on road reserves, like the honourable colleague mentioned, the committee was informed by UNRA that one of the challenges faced by the station is encroachment on road reserves and other property, especially those under the Kitgum station. The committee was concerned that, currently, the mitigation measures by UNRA are encouraging staff to be more vigilant in identifying encroachers during the inspection. The committee was further informed that the UNRA enforcement unit did not have staff at every station and, therefore, there was need for them at all stations for faster response to encroachment. The committee recommends that UNRA provides enforcement staff at each station and, where necessary, evacuates some encroachers from its property as a deterrent example to prospective encroachers. Madam Speaker, allow me to briefly get to the recommendations of the committee in that respect. 1. UNRA should consider engaging public- private partnership – this is in respect to the request which was placed by the Karuma business community about the health facilities – the restroom facilities – at the town council. They said that UNRA should consider engaging public-private partnership to establish restrooms along national roads to ensure that Ugandans and tourists along the roads do not get embarrassed. 2. UNRA should consider establishing bus stop sheds along the roads. Oil roads and other strategic roads in northern Uganda The committee observed that the oil roads in Nwoya District have not yet received the requisite attention and maintenance. The poor condition of these roads is not only hindering the smooth transportation of oil equipment and personnel but also affecting the livelihoods of local communities who rely on these roads for their daily activities. Through sharing with stakeholders, the committee was informed that there are a number of strategic roads that need to be attended to, so as to enhance interconnectivity of the road network in the northern region. These roads offer substantial economic and social benefits to the region. Awer-Amuru-Otwee-Kololo Road – the gateway to West Nile at Rhino Camp This road serves as a vital link connecting Nwoya and Amuru districts to the West Nile region. By connecting communities to the ferry at Kololo and providing access to Rhino Camp, this route is essential for boosting regional trade, enhancing market access, and catalysing cross-district commerce. Moroto Road (through Omoro to Pader, Agago, and Abim in Karamoja) This road is key to unlocking the economic potential of the subregion, connecting Omoro, Pader, Agago, and Abim districts up to Moroto. Upgrading it to a high-grade tarmac road will facilitate the efficient movement of agricultural produce, lower transport costs, and stimulate regional trade. This road is essential for attracting investments in agriculture, education, and other key sectors, driving inclusive growth, and enhancing socio-economic outcomes for communities in these districts.

14049 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2024 Atiak-Apyeta-Lamwo-Kitgum Road This road links Lamwo and Kitgum to the regional economic hub at Atiak and provides a key route for cross-border trade with South Sudan. Developing this road to high-grade standards will not only improve regional connectivity, but also boost economic activities, enhance service delivery and reduce travel times between key districts. Madam Speaker, Members earlier on alluded to Nebbi-Goli and other networks of the roads in West Nile that should also be given due attention. The committee recommends that: 1. The Government and relevant authorities should prioritise the rehabilitation and maintenance of oil roads in Nwoya District to align with their policy commitments. This is because in Acholi subregion, the oil roads have not been optimally worked on, as you would see in other regions. 2. The Ministry of Works and Transport conducts feasibility studies on the above- mentioned strategic roads and have them tarmacked. 3. The Government should allocate sufficient funds and resources to ensure timely and quality construction and maintenance of these roads so as to enhance economic and social growth to the region. The District Urban and Community Access Roads (DUCAR) The committee observed that the network in most local governments was in fair to poor condition. The committee observed that in Financial Year 2023/2024, the Government allocated Shs 1 billion to local governments for rehabilitation of roads and, this year, the same amount has been allocated for road maintenance following a parliamentary recommendation to rename the grant. During oversight, the committee established that the Shs 1 billion had enabled Gulu City to rehabilitate some roads and construct two bridges (box culverts), improving the condition of the network in the city. In Apac, the funds enabled them to rehabilitate roads which had not happened in over 10 years, and similar reports were received from other local governments across northern Uganda. The committee noted that only districts have road equipment, while cities and municipalities rely on bureaucratic processes of requesting for equipment from the Executive Director of UNRA, since the district equipment is always utilised with the provision of Shs 1 billion and money is released at the same time. Further, the committee observed that while the Government shifted to the policy on Force on Account and districts are now using Force on Account for maintenance of roads, the works departments have no supervision vehicles. This makes it challenging for the staff in the works department to supervise equipment and ongoing works in the field. The committee recommends that; 1. The Government provides additional funding towards maintenance and rehabilitation of roads. 2. The Government provides supervision vehicles to the works departments to facilitate supervision of road works and equipment. Madam Speaker, allow me to make this footnote: northern Uganda has only one regional mechanical workshop – which is stationed here in Gulu – that supervises the entire northern Uganda. The committee recommended that at least each subregion be funded to have its own mechanical workshop. USMID roads The committee noted that the USMID roads completed under phase I were being maintained by the respective local governments. However, the life span of most of the solar lights expired.

Thank you so much, Honourable Deputy Chairperson. We will proceed this way: the area of contention is the northern region. We want any addition to what the findings are. If something is left out - we are talking about the national roads, not the community access roads. We will start with Hon. Tom Aza, and we need to move faster because of one reason; we need to get all this and put it in the report that we will present to the President. Yes, Hon Ekanya?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I want to thank the committee for the good work. Madam Speaker, we have historical sites in northern Uganda one is Fort Patiko, where Sir Samuel Baker came to end the slave trade. We have the Paimol shrines, where two martyrs were killed and yearly, people go there. These

Thank you, Madam Speaker. In a special way, on behalf of the FDC, I would like to welcome this sitting in Gulu and Northern Uganda, and I am proud that we are the first in the region. I would like to thank you, Madam Speaker. On the Karuma Bridge, I would like to appreciate the committee but the closure of the bridge has brought down the development and the businesses in northern Uganda. I am happy you are here. Most of the bus owners have parked their buses, big trucks that transport heavy goods from Kampala; are no longer bringing commodities like tiles in northern Uganda. Madam Speaker, there is a new bridge which was reconstructed and it is operational near the electricity plant in Karuma. I pray that the minister directs that the bridge be used temporarily. The bridge is very strong and is working very well. Madam Speaker, when we do that, it will ease the transport to Northern Uganda. Number two, Madam Speaker, is about the maintenance of roads in the district. Government provided equipment - graders, the lorry - but most of that equipment is down. Many of the districts are crying about roads. The feeder roads across the district in Northern Uganda are down because the districts do not have power and road equipment. I pray that the Ministry of Works provides new equipment to all the districts, or get a special mechanic to repair the road equipment that was provided to our districts. I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Honourable members, the whole Northern team will speak.

Thank you, Madam Speaker for giving me this opportunity. I would like to concur with all my brothers and sisters who have brought out our plight of the roads and bridges of northern Uganda. There is another problem that was caused by the Karuma Bridge that has now affected us because many of the vehicles are diverted to go through Masindi. Most of the buses leave Kampala a bit late and spend the night around the area where you enter through the national park –

14064 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT have started. This would have provided us an opportunity to have the shortest route to Arua. Secondly, this is a strategic road in terms of agricultural input that comes from that side. If you see the magnitude of the goods that come from there, it is really a lot. In addition, I would also like to highlight a strategic road - part of the great north road, which starts right here from Lacor up to Elegu. Madam Speaker, much as this road is tarmacked, it is now a death trap for so many people. The road is quickly getting destroyed and causing accidents on a daily basis. I have not heard this in the report of the committee and I do not know what plan is in place by the Ministry of Works and Transport in regard to this road. I want to get this – Finally, I would like to re-echo about the aerodromes that have been highlighted both in Arua and Gulu. These are all very strategic areas. When I was the vice-chairperson of the Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) committee, we visited Arua and I must say we were very impressed by the traffic that comes – actually, it is a very busy aerodrome and needs a lot of support. So, I still emphasise that money should be put in these two areas to really help the people of northern Uganda. Thank you, Madam Speaker. You have set history in northern Uganda.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to begin by thanking the Committee on Physical Infrastructure for the good report that they have given us. I have admired the form and content. I would like to touch on the matter of the aerodromes – the airfields. Six months ago, we held a meeting with the Civil Aviation commissioner-general on Kitgum Municipality airfield. Kitgum Municipality airfield was scheduled to be among the top seven, including the Kidepo Airfield. We had agreed that the commissioner-general would send staff to Kitgum to survey the status of Kitgum Airfield so that it could be revived to the standard needed. Madam Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister for Works and Transport how far they have gone with the issues of Kitgum Airfield. It was supposed to be surveyed and the report given so that the work begins. Secondly, there is the issue of Karuma. I also admired the report given on the issues of Karuma Bridge. The business community in the northern region are incurring many losses due to the long routes and a lot of time the buses take crossing from the park. The committee laid a very vivid idea of creating a waiver but it did not specify the kind of waiver. I would like that to be clarified; whether the waiver will be in terms of giving some fuel or compensation to the bus companies so that they can cut the costs of the bus fares. At the moment, the cost is double than what it was before. In that way, our business community that crosses that bridge will be supported very well. Madam Speaker, the Karuma Bridge was constructed in 1963, one year after Independence. It is saddening for us, the people of the North, to find ourselves having the only bridge closed. All these years, the Government would have taken a step to construct an alternative bridge. We cannot wait to do a post mortem. Therefore, Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Works and Transport needs to be clear –

Thank you so much, Madam Speaker. I want to thank the committee for their report. However, Madam Speaker, as you have sent us to go to all these areas in Northern Uganda, I want to re-echo again on the issue of Kitgum- Karenga-Kidepo-Kaboong-Kotido Road, which is actually one of the busiest roads that gives us a lot of money from the tourism sector. I want to inform you that when we went on the Committee on Defence and Internal Affairs, there were other members of Parliament who could not cross from Moroto to Kotido because of Lopei Bridge which was flooded. At the same time, we could not even cross to Abim passing via Kotido to Aleret. Secondly, Karenga is going to host –

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. I am going to be very brief by asking questions. Number one, I would like to ask the Ministry of Works and Transport; you went to Pader and made a bridge called Watlac, which is from Atar to Kigwer Corner. After two months, the bridge collapsed, stopping children from going to school at Wipolo. We informed you several times, but you have not gone back to correct that bridge. When are you going to correct the bridge? The second question is, there is a programme called Rural Development and Food Security in Northern Uganda (RUDSEC). It has taken two years. I heard about this programme. It is supposed to make a road from Puranga-Awere- Bolo Agweng to come and put a bridge on Aruu Falls. It will help the people to access the main road. When are you going to take on this project? One of the roads is supposed to leave Lapul through Oweka to Okia. To date, we have not seen you doing this programme. Two years have ended. Can you explain to the people in Pader when you will do that, now that you are seated in Gulu Parliament? The last one, Madam Speaker, is that you have said we should not speak about community access roads. However, they are very important because the community access roads are the ones that help our people undertaking economic activities to come to the main road.

Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, Otuke is the only district in Northern Uganda where the five Nilotic tribes departed, when God created the universe. One was Teso. Second, Acholi. Third, Acholi- Jabwor. Then comes the Karimojong. Madam Speaker, I request – each time I shall represent this side of Otuke which covers all these tribes. There is a bridge on the road from Kapelebyong; that is Alito and Ogor Subcounty. Secondly, there is a bridge on the road from Omoro to Orumo, which is in Ajuri County; Alebtong District. The third bridge, Nam Agago, is on the road from Agago District, Ogor. Madam Speaker, one of these bridges should be considered. Lastly, the Shs 1 billion which, was given to the districts has been misused in Otuke District. The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and the district chairperson connived to grade only nine roads, out of the 24 roads which were meant to be graded. Madam Speaker, I would like this to be put into consideration. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I came here this morning so happy to listen to the issues of Northern Uganda. You clearly guided that we should discuss these matters without emotion, with clarity and confidence. Madam Speaker, what happens when a region like Karamoja is not included in a report like this report on works? The committee did not visit Karamoja. Why are we going to discuss our manyanga ? You told us that we are going to discuss the rest of our manyanga in Kampala. What about Karamoja manyanga ? Where is it going to be discussed? We are in Northern Uganda. How can we have a committee which is supposed to go to West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Teso and Karamoja, not go to Karamoja? You told us that we were going to speak during the debate on the next report, when we are not in it. We have to speak -

Information, Madam Speaker. I thank you so much for giving me the opportunity. Madam Speaker, this regional meeting is very important and key. I thank God for the wisdom that he has given you, to allow the regional Parliament to come to Northern Uganda, which is quite important. Madam Speaker, I request you, kindly, to allow the Members of Parliament from Karamoja, part of Acholi, and other people to speak. This is because the issues we are addressing are very key.

Anything that is not protected by security becomes a problem. The security roads in Northern Uganda, from Odom to Kitgum, and from the Karamoja part of the region - The UPDF is doing a lot of good work in the area. However, there are challenges that need to be mitigated. The minister for works should be able to work on the issue of security roads to allow the UPDF to do deployment, execute their duty effectively and efficiently, for the protection of the local people in the community. That means that the Government’s implementation of the projects in the area will not be jeopardised by the cattle raiders. I expected the community to work on that very seriously.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity. I have been sitting for a long time. Madam Speaker, I remember history very well. When this Government came into power, the first thing they did was to secure the country. In other words, without security, there cannot be any business, touring, or economic development. I come from Lamwo County, which borders South Sudan. Recently, I made a submission in Parliament in respect to border insecurity whereby South Sudanese have been robbing and terrorising the people of Lamwo. It resulted into one big thing, which was the positioning of a whole brigade of 5,000 UPDF soldiers in Lamwo, my constituency. Now the problem arises that, in case of supplies and other things, the road from Kitgum-Padipe to Ngomoromo-Lokung needs to be tarmacked to fasten communication quickly for the army personnel to supply the border posts. This is because there are now 5,000 UPDF men and women guarding the people of Lamwo, for which we thank the commander-in-chief of this country. Secondly, there is another road from Aweno Olwi to Lamwo, which also needs to be addressed, preferably by tarmacking. I do not have a lot of words. We need to secure this country. We need the borders to be calm. We are in the North right now and we want the northern parts of the country to be secured. Right now, South Sudan is a hotspot for insecurity. I would like this Parliament to address this.

Thank you, Madam Speaker, for this opportunity. We are winding up the debate on infrastructure in northern Uganda, but I do not know whether it would be procedurally right for me not to mention the issue of emergency in the great North road apart from Corner Molem to Bobi. As we sit here legislating, one week ago, that road got completely damaged and blocked and now, all the people coming all the way from the eastern side of East Africa heading to the North, Juba or Cairo for that matter cannot access it because it has been blocked from a big swamp called Oryamapat. Another emergency issue is about the landing site where a ferry can be used in Aturamutunda. I do not know why Hon. Musa Ecweru, the State Minister of Works and Transport, cannot get this alternative route and give us a ferry on that landing site. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, I would like to inform the Members that the NDPIII ends in June 2025 and we will begin NDPIV. This is supposed to be ready in the next month of September. While we are making the priority lists, we need to visit those two documents. There is already a draft for the NDPIV, to see whether what we are proposing has been captured. That is when our discussion will add value to the people of Northern Uganda. I submit.

14076 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT MOTION FOR ADOPTION OF THE REPORT OF THE SECTORAL COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL INDUSTRY AND FISHERIES ON THE STATE OF WATER FOR PRODUCTION FACILITIES IN NORTHERN UGANDA

Thank you, Madam Speaker. On behalf of the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, I hereby present a report of the committee on a field visit to selected districts in northern Uganda to assess the water for agricultural production facilities. Before I proceed, I beg to lay on the Table the copy of the report and the minutes of the committee when going through this report.

Madam Speaker, in accordance with our Rules of Procedure, Rule 189(c), as a committee, we visited Pakwach, Kole and Oyam districts in northern Uganda to assess water for agricultural production facilities. All these projects were under the NDPIII and under Water for Production Interventions. It was a facility that was on demand and the key big schemes that we visited were the Itek Okile Rice Scheme in Lira District, Tochi Rice Scheme in Oyam and Wadelai in Pakwach. These were the mega projects. The committee had other small scale irrigation projects that were also visited through the district leadership of the various districts under Uganda Green Investment Facility (UGIF). This was a project that was supposed to be co-funded by individual farmers to scale up water for production and enhance agriculture commercialization and on time production. I know this report was uploaded and I believe my colleagues are well versed with agriculture. I would like to move straight to our observations and recommendations. Madam Speaker, Wadelai irrigation scheme is located in Pakwach District in the subcounties of Ragem and Wadelai with River Ora as its water source. This irrigation scheme was constructed under FIEFOC-2, which is implemented by the Ministry of Water and Environment. The original contract sum was Shs 54,784,397,918 but it was revised to Shs 61 billion after a change of scope in the design of the project. This project was funded by the World Bank under Nordic Development fund and Government of Uganda (GOU). The contractor was M/S Coil and Nasr General Contracting Company Joint Venture. The consultant was BEC Engineers Ltd, in association with HP Devoc International Civil Engineering Ltd. During the full visit, the committee was only able to interact with the district officials because the attempts to reach the site were frustrated by the bad roads as a result of flooding in Kagolo. Madam Speaker, according to the officials, physical progress of the work is at 93 percent; (a) The completion of upstream and downstream embankment protection works. (b) Construction of the spillway tail race protection works. (c) Repair of the right-side head regulator. (d) Completion of bottom outlet/environmental flow structure. (e) Completion of Secondary canal 4, associated tertiary canal and control structures. (f) Completion of Secondary Canal 5, associated tertiary canal and control. (g) Assess and scheme roads. (h) Scheme buildings and facilities (i) Farm clearing. There were a lot of findings that I do not intend to go through because I know Members have observed this but I would like to note that Wadelai Project had a lot of encumbrances, especially on land acquisition and compensation

14079 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2024 Madam Speaker, despite all these, the farms were not levelled. There are other blocks in the scheme that even the irrigation cannot reach because it is not levelled. We were happy with the farmers because they used it for horticulture, especially areas where irrigation could not reach. As I am winding up, the cooperative groups are very organised. They have looked for funding from other sources. They have their plans to be the best rice scheme in the country and that is a very positive thing. It means they are owning their project. On the small-scale irrigation, especially the one in Kole - Leye Valley Dam; this dam was constructed to help in aquaculture and the Government did everything and put this project in place which started in 2006 and ended in 2008. The Ministry of Water and Environment implemented this and it was by then in Apac before Kole. Right now, the observation under this valley dam is not functional yet the Government has put everything in place. The dam is also silted and covered up by weeds, meaning that if we assess the value for money, it is not being utilised as per the investment of the Government. Recommendation The Ministry of Water and Environment should rehabilitate this dam so that it is restored to its original purpose. 2.4 UgIFT Micro-Scale Irrigation Scheme We visited Lira District, some farmers in Oyam and Kole and Pakwach. The general complaint is on the issue of co-funding and the same issue on hybrid. Most of these contracts were given by the ministry but you find one contractor having a lot of contracts that sometimes, they fail to install this equipment to the farmers in time. Madam Speaker, the farmers are very interested and most of the local governments are taking back these funds, especially during the financial year because the farmers in Northern Uganda are poor. This is because a farmer was supposed to co-fund 25 per cent of the project yet the majority could not afford. Even those who have endeavoured to afford, there is a lot of delay in the installation by the contractors and the district has limited effort.

Before you come to the general recommendations, one, there was a point of procedure. This is a report of the Committee of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries on the state of water production facilities in Northern Uganda. I do not know how you set your question on the state of water. My perception is that when you are talking about agriculture, it is the backbone of this country. Honourable member, please take a seat.

On the same, when I have already made a ruling that I want a report that is comprehensive? I need a comprehensive report. I do not see why you need to bring up a point of procedure. There is no procedure that will add anything to the report. We want a comprehensive report that will help the northern region. I want to thank you very much. Hon. Obua, the honourable minister for Northern Region, the Prime Minister and all the other relevant ministers, you need to sit down with the chairpersons of West Nile, Acholi, Karamoja and Lira, for us to come up with just a draft – All of you are going to work on all this but we want something on our communication on the issues concerning Northern Region. I also request that after here, I want you to go and meet Archbishop Odama (Emeritus). He has a lot of information on the Northern Region. That does not mean that I have stopped the other meetings. Continue with the meetings. I know why I am telling them to meet. Tomorrow, since the President will be here at midday, can we start the House at 9.00 a.m.? Rt Hon. Prime Minister, do you have anything? THE MINISTER OF STATE, OFFICE OF

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for the deliberations. I also want to thank you for your patience, sitting all this time since morning. Madam Speaker, I seek guidance from you. I also want us to guide ourselves to make our sitting, especially in this region, productive. I take your guidance, especially about the meeting we should have. If you could allow me only 10 minutes to share with you an overview of what I think could be captured in those meetings in our interaction with the leaders of this area and also the times I have met the people of Northern Uganda, maybe, it could inform that meeting –

I take your guidance. I have looked at these issues under these subdivisions to help guide us. Like I had said, in the beginning, my biggest discussion with the Members in this region was about the poverty and low-income levels in the region. We have had very many discussions with the people in these areas. Madam Speaker, it is easy to talk about roads, bridges, schools and health facilities because Government will budget for this but when it comes to income, it is personal efforts assisted and guided by Government. I have been able to pick some ideas from the public and this is what I think. One, on the issue of household income, we have just talked about poverty levels here. We have looked at areas in this country that have been able to pull up and found out that this particular area has been gambling for years, especially on what to invest in. Acholi, Lango and West Nile do not have an agreed high-value cash crop that people can grow to earn them income. They gamble from oil seeds, go to other grains and vegetables like we are hearing they are talking about and other things. Madam Speaker, our discussion at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) with other relevant agencies in Government, especially Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), Agriculture ministry, National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) and others, has been to guide the people of Northern Uganda on what kind of cash crop they can grow that can earn them income. We are beginning on zero on those cash crops. This is why I would require the ministers who are here, especially for Agriculture, to say to the people of Northern Uganda here that to get out of poverty, grow A,B,C,D. We now have extension workers in nearly all the subcounties in Northern Uganda but they are not guiding the people. They are not telling anybody what to do, so people gamble. For the last few years, Madam Speaker, imagine Northern Uganda was said to have been given

So we need to customi s e; what is for Northern Uganda should be for Northern Uganda. If oranges do well in Teso, it should not be imposed on the people of Northern Uganda.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I have been following the Minister’s presentation on the issue of poverty, the issue of agriculture production and what should be done in Northern Uganda to ensure perhaps we have a common cash crop.

Thank you for your guidance, Madam Speaker. I was just quoting him when he said that we need to have an agreed upon cash crop in which the people of Northern Uganda are going to be able to engage in, in order to produce - then let them get away from poverty. The procedural issue I am raising is that we are in what we call a free market economy, in which the forces of supply and demand determine what is supposed to be produced, what is supposed to be marketed, and the prices of those commodities. In this circumstance, it will be a big disaster to, for example, restrict the production of a particular food crop or cash crop to a particular region. Why? Because I went to -

I am on a procedural issue. When you look at the marketability of even these items that we used to say were not cash crops, you notice that they have now become cash crops. So, I am raising a procedural issue to seek your guidance on whether the advice of the minister is going to be helpful for the people of Northern Uganda to agree on a specific cash crop to be produced in order to get them away from poverty. So, is the minister proceeding well?

Not Kida Kyonka . When we look at Northern Uganda - you travel all the way, you see a lot of grass, why wouldn’t we encourage our people to go into dairy? For example, why wouldn’t we encourage our people to plant coffee?

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Since the courts of law give justice to everybody, I hope that matter will be disposed of. But the point is: Aswa Ranch, as we speak, has the potential of revamping the cattle economy in this entire region. Secondly, Madam Speaker, what we have also gathered from this committee is that people here want the facilities for the mechanisation of agriculture. The vast lands here, Madam Speaker - open land with the primitive tools - hand holes, and at best the ox-ploughs cannot meet the economic demand of production that we are talking about. Therefore, these are the areas that we want to discuss with the population so that the Government can invest in mechanisation by providing tractors. All the regions I have met, including those in the hills of Mount Elgon, want tractors to mechanise and produce massively. And these are the things that I want us to begin talking about. The other thing, Madam Speaker, is about facilities for value addition. Many areas are beginning to produce dairy, beef and other crop products that need value addition. We see maize and wheat in some places. There is also milk. Milk production is also increasing in this region. However, there are still very few facilities for value addition. This is what we want the Government to be doing. We want, as the Government, to begin thinking about giving facilities to the population to add value to what they are doing. Madam Speaker, it is true there are still areas in Northern Uganda here that have got poor access. These roads you hear being talked about,

14086 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT Chief Administrative Officers (CAOs). The CAOs have to aggregate these reports and give the Government to see how best they can serve the population. I think this is what may help us see clearly, the challenges of the people here. Madam Speaker, in this community again we have a lot of water bodies and the fish industry in this region - there has been mixed information about fishing and what type of fish to trade in, what size, and where. As a result of this, there has been a big conflict between the fishermen, fishmongers, and the Fisheries Protection Unit. This cuts across Lake Kyoga, River Nile, and other water bodies where people fish freely. We have agreed, as you may remember, in Cabinet, that we are going to have a meeting with the native fishermen in all these areas so that we have a conversation with them to see how best all of us can become custodians of these water bodies and the fish to ensure that fishing is safe, economical and beneficial to all of us. This is what we are doing very soon. Since the Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries is here, she can give the details. Madam Speaker, you could have heard that in addition to what we think can be done to improve the welfare of the people in Northern Uganda, is the continuation in investment in some of these projects and programmes to the people of Northern Uganda. I have heard people say, “We have invested a lot in Northern Uganda, why haven’t they changed?” I really wonder whether these people read history or if they are alive to our history, as Northern Uganda. Just for the information of honourable colleagues to appreciate this, for 62 years, till independence, Northern Uganda was the most unfunded region in this country. Right from the colonial time, Northern Uganda used to receive only 10 per cent of the national budget. Much of the investment was in the central because many of the services were there. The schools were there; affluence was also in the central. Many people would move away from here and so, there was a lot of labour migration to the central. Therefore, the Government invested a lot there. The people there learned - other than simply producing to consume - to use resources to build more wealth, which was not the case here until after independence. Also, our own circumstances here never made it better. After 1962, all the insurgencies and insecurities of Uganda were experienced in Northern Uganda. This makes Northern Uganda unique and different from other parts of the country. (Applause) Many of these investments that are so lucrative and have that high value were not introduced here. For those who know, coffee in Buganda is also called “Kiboko.” Kiboko is Swahili for Fimbo, meaning a whip. Since they knew the value of coffee; coffee was introduced there with kiboko. If even in the central where people knew money, coffee was forced onto the people with a whip, how about here in Northern Uganda where people have not known about wealth? So, it is important to realise that we have a long way to go. That is why, Madam Speaker, I appreciate that you emphasised the matter of mindset change, which is very important. We think that the investment of the Government in terms of programmes and projects should continue in Northern Uganda. I have just said that guns have gone silent here, but the poverty here is still very high. We are thinking that a programme like the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF IV), that will substitute the NUSAF III, should still continue in Northern Uganda. We have had this debate over and over with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, the National Planning Authority, but I can now report that I think colleagues in the Cabinet and Finance have appreciated, and also the colleagues – [Mr Olanya: “Information”] – I will give you time, honourable -

Madam Speaker, I would like to inform Northern Uganda that our discussion and conversation about NUSAF IV have progressed very well. I am very hopeful that within a few weeks, we will have approval from the National Planning Authority. We will now engage the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development to proceed with the debates, conversation, and discussions about NUSAF IV, so that this is approved to help the people of Northern Uganda. Madam Speaker, I also want to inform you that this time, unlike the other previous NUSAFs, we are going to devote much of the monies into production; supporting production in the micro-projects, supporting youth projects to ensure they have money to put into their skills to have money. This is among other projects that we think we should be able to engage in. Finally, Madam Speaker, allow me to say, just for emphasis, that all this infrastructure we are talking about and what we have been debating since morning, bring about development. However, I do not think development without improving people’s households is sustainable. That is why I really emphasise that we must look at ways by which we can help the people in Northern Uganda to put money in their pockets so that; their livelihoods can change, so that they can have proper nutrition, better housing, can afford education for their children, proper health care and live like any other person in Uganda that has not experienced what they have experienced. Honourable, let me allow you to give information.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would like to appreciate the honourable minister. It is true that in Northern Uganda, we had so many programmes. We had the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU), Project for Restoration of Northern Uganda (PRENO), NUSAF, National Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP), National Agricultural Advisory Services Programme (NAADS), among others. However, all these programmes are normally imposed on the people of Northern Uganda; people tell them what they are supposed to do. For example, NAADS normally dictates to our people that please, you have to grow oranges. You have to grow trees; lemons. There are other projects that our people cannot afford to keep. The Government injected billions of shillings into NAADS. In the end, we normally see mango seedlings being taken to subcounties. People are forced to collect those mangoes and plant, yet they have no value to our people. Let the programme come from the ground. Let people tell what they want to do, but not to impose the programme on the people of Northern Uganda. Finally, Madam Speaker, the Government normally advises our people, for example, to grow soya beans. They tell them that there is a very high market for soya beans. The moment soya beans perform well in Northern Uganda, the prices drop drastically. People are making losses. So, please, honourable minister, let people tell the Government what they want to do. The Government should stop imposing programmes on the people. The value of all this money is not seen by the people of Northern Uganda because they are being imposed onto our people. I thank you.

Thank you. Honourable minister, I want to agree with you on the point that Northern Uganda should get cash

14088 SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT crops and projects that will help to alleviate poverty. Capital for Northern Uganda, is the land and the people. In agriculture, you begin with the market. Northern Uganda must select enterprises and products that have demand. Recently, people here were involved in cultivating cassava and they had not ascertained the market for that cassava. People spent a lot on that project. I would like to ask the leaders here that is important we ascertain the market. Who wants that product? How much? What is the pricing so that we can lead our people into projects that can alleviate poverty? I want to close with this. There is no single project of agriculture that cannot be done in Northern Uganda; it is not there. Coffee can be grown here and I am surprised - why doesn’t Northern Uganda demand coffee seedlings? We need coffee seedlings everywhere here. We need animals here, and not only just dairy. We also need beef. The countryside is full of grass but no single animal. Let Members of Parliament from Northern Uganda demand for animals for this area because that can be productive so that our people alleviate poverty. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker, and the minister, for the statement to appraise the country about Mpox. Mr Speaker, in the northern part of the country, there is a border point that crosses from the side of Orom. It is barely regulated. A few weeks ago, during recess, we were not appraised on how to differentiate chicken from Mpox. Those few cases, which – (Interjections) - I call it Mpox.

It is not the pork people are referring to, but the monkeypox, according to the minister. Anyhow, my point here is that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the vaccination took place, Agago District and most of the districts in Northern Uganda received massive vaccinations, which was good. You did proper sensitisation. However, these days, whenever symptoms of that nature occur, people’s kidneys fail. Each time they are referred to St Mary’s Hospital, Lacor, there are cases of kidney failure; whether children or adults. Most of the deaths, these days, are related to that. Two days ago, kidney failures related to diseases like M-pork – (Interjections) - it is a point that – monkeypox -

13974 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME months ago. According to him, to date, the tractor implements such as ploughs have not been purchased, hence making the tractors idle despite the farmers being ready to use them. His prayer is: when does the Government intend to purchase the tractor implements to allow the farmers in Obongi to use the tractors effectively. My response is that the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries supported the northern subregion with both high and low- capacity tractors, that is, the 2WD and 4WD implements to all the districts including the skilling and capacity development of the selected personnel as operators and technicians to support in the operation and maintenance of the mechanisation equipment and machinery. For the case of Obongi, Mr Speaker, and other districts where the 4WD and 2WD tractors were delivered, other implements will be delivered. The assorted units of the tractors and implements are now under shipment and are expected to be delivered by the first week of September this year. 6. Hon. Kiiza Kenneth Nyendwoha, Member of Parliament, Bujenje County, Masindi District His concern is about the continued falling of sugarcane prices across the country yet there is scarcity of the raw materials of sugarcane. Most millers are harvesting sugarcane at 12 months. His prayer is, what is Government’s intervention to mitigate this? Mr Speaker, my response is that the sugar industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the economy of Uganda under the manufacturing sector contributing over Shs 300 billion in taxes annually and employing over 100,000 Ugandans directly. The annual production of brown sugar is 600,000 metric tonnes and the industrial refined sugar is at 75,000 metric tonnes. The industry also produces over 150 megawatts of electricity from bagasse (sugar cane pulp), of which about 70 megawatts is supplied to the national grid. In a liberal economy like Uganda, the prices of commodities are determined by market forces of demand and supply. We have recently experienced a decline in sugarcane prices and this is attributed to the following reasons; i) Decline in sugar prices globally. The price of sugar has declined from Shs 250,000 per 50-kilogram bag in January 2024 to currently between Shs 140,000 to Shs 154,000 per 50-kilogramme bag. This decline directly impacts on the price of sugarcane which contributes 60 per cent of raw materials. One tonne, that is 1,000 kilograms of sugarcane, produces 100 kilograms of brown sugar; at least two bags of sugar. The practice is that the farmer and the miller share the output by 50 per cent. Therefore, the farmer is paid half of the cost of the two bags of sugar produced, leaving the miller with another half. ii) The second one is importation of brown and white sugar by neighboring countries, especially Kenya and Tanzania, from outside the East African community duty- free. The imported sugar from global leading producers such as Brazil and India is much cheaper, and renders Uganda’s sugar uncompetitive in the East African market. When there are external forces that distort the market, cane prices definitely drop. iii) The third one is farmers growing cane without off-take contracts with millers. Some farmers with cane fields that are not registered suffer miserably because millers prioritise crushing cane from their registered farmers and nucleus estates only. The Government has put in place the following measures to mitigate the fall in sugarcane prices:

13974 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME months ago. According to him, to date, the tractor implements such as ploughs have not been purchased, hence making the tractors idle despite the farmers being ready to use them. His prayer is: when does the Government intend to purchase the tractor implements to allow the farmers in Obongi to use the tractors effectively. My response is that the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries supported the northern subregion with both high and low- capacity tractors, that is, the 2WD and 4WD implements to all the districts including the skilling and capacity development of the selected personnel as operators and technicians to support in the operation and maintenance of the mechanisation equipment and machinery. For the case of Obongi, Mr Speaker, and other districts where the 4WD and 2WD tractors were delivered, other implements will be delivered. The assorted units of the tractors and implements are now under shipment and are expected to be delivered by the first week of September this year. 6. Hon. Kiiza Kenneth Nyendwoha, Member of Parliament, Bujenje County, Masindi District His concern is about the continued falling of sugarcane prices across the country yet there is scarcity of the raw materials of sugarcane. Most millers are harvesting sugarcane at 12 months. His prayer is, what is Government’s intervention to mitigate this? Mr Speaker, my response is that the sugar industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the economy of Uganda under the manufacturing sector contributing over Shs 300 billion in taxes annually and employing over 100,000 Ugandans directly. The annual production of brown sugar is 600,000 metric tonnes and the industrial refined sugar is at 75,000 metric tonnes. The industry also produces over 150 megawatts of electricity from bagasse (sugar cane pulp), of which about 70 megawatts is supplied to the national grid. In a liberal economy like Uganda, the prices of commodities are determined by market forces of demand and supply. We have recently experienced a decline in sugarcane prices and this is attributed to the following reasons; i) Decline in sugar prices globally. The price of sugar has declined from Shs 250,000 per 50-kilogram bag in January 2024 to currently between Shs 140,000 to Shs 154,000 per 50-kilogramme bag. This decline directly impacts on the price of sugarcane which contributes 60 per cent of raw materials. One tonne, that is 1,000 kilograms of sugarcane, produces 100 kilograms of brown sugar; at least two bags of sugar. The practice is that the farmer and the miller share the output by 50 per cent. Therefore, the farmer is paid half of the cost of the two bags of sugar produced, leaving the miller with another half. ii) The second one is importation of brown and white sugar by neighboring countries, especially Kenya and Tanzania, from outside the East African community duty- free. The imported sugar from global leading producers such as Brazil and India is much cheaper, and renders Uganda’s sugar uncompetitive in the East African market. When there are external forces that distort the market, cane prices definitely drop. iii) The third one is farmers growing cane without off-take contracts with millers. Some farmers with cane fields that are not registered suffer miserably because millers prioritise crushing cane from their registered farmers and nucleus estates only. The Government has put in place the following measures to mitigate the fall in sugarcane prices:

Thank you, Mr Speaker, I am one of the few Ugandans who have been privileged to move the entire country. However, now that the Parliament of Uganda is coming to the Acholi subregion, we are peaceful but the roadblocks we have from Kampala to Gulu - I have lost count. On these roads, we have policemen and military officers and they are not trailing private cars; they are trailing vehicles that are meant to harbour businesses in the region. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, what is happening in the northern region to have those many barricades that hamper business? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, the Government secured land for industrial parks in West Nile. When is the Government putting up these factories and industries so people can get employment?

Mr Speaker, the Government set up industrial parks using several methods. We have those that are under the State House, those operated by private people and those established directly by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives. Therefore, the Member will be given information when I get to know whether it is State House, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, or private, to know how to deal with the matter. Thank you so much.

13915 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 14 AUGUST 2024 enterprises, industrial parks, mining centres and public institutions. This will significantly increase the level of access to grid electricity in Uganda as well as increase the share of clean energy usage for cooking. The interventions are, therefore, well aligned with the Government’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan (NDP) III, the Parish Development Model (PDM) and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7, which targets energy access, among others. Parliament cleared the loan in November 2022 and the project achieved effectiveness on 20 July 2023. The project is financed by the World Bank to a tune of $628 million, of which $276.5 million is a grant, $20 million is to be leveraged from the private sector and the Government of Uganda will provide $10 million. Mr Speaker, the Electricity Access Scale-up Project (EASP) is a five-year project whose interventions will be delivered through five components namely: (i) Component 1: Grid expansion and connectivity; consumer connections, and investments in new grid infrastructures to accommodate additional connections; (ii) Component 2: Financial intermediation for energy access scale-up. Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company (UECCC) will use innovative financing mechanisms, including lines of soft credit, through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) and grants, through energy service companies to promote the supply and uptake of clean energy technologies; (iii) Component 3: Energy access in refugee host communities. This will provide interventions detailed under components 1 and 2, but specifically in the refugee hosting districts; (iv) Component 4: Project implementation support, affordable modern energy solutions and implementation of Performance Based Conditions (PBCs); and (iv) Component 5: Contingence Emergency Response (Rapid support for eligible emergencies). A transformer has collapsed; you will have to be disaster-prepared. The project implementation is being undertaken by Project Implementation Units (PIUs) at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development and the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company (UECCC). A Project Steering Committee (PSC) is in place to provide oversight and strategic guidance during project implementation. The PSC committee comprises representation from the Office of the Prime Minister, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Ministry of Water and Environment, Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Health, and Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, as well as Ministry of Local Government, UECCC and my ministry. Progress on the implementation of the connection to the grid expansion components Progress of grid connection under EASP The EASP targets to add 1,073,000 new grid connections. Implementation of grid connections under the Umeme Concession commenced in March 2024. Customer applications for both no poll or one poll service are being received and processed. Between 11 th March and 30 th July 2024, a total of 221,412 applications were received by Umeme, marking a 72 per cent progress in the application status of the 309,841 targeted connections for the period ending March 31 st , 2025. The cumulative number of connections made by Umeme, as of 30 th June 2024, stood at 64,037 and Umeme has indicated that they will be able to deliver as per the work plan since other development partner-funded projects are closing out at the end of July 2024 and their main focus will be on the EASP.

13918 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT shall soon execute grant agreements with the selected companies to convey the price discount to the public and procurement of the independent verification agent is ongoing. On the progress of the credit support facility under the UECCC, this company will provide a line of credit to PFIs to on-lend to households and commercial enterprises for the acquisition of clean energy technologies, off-grid solar, productive use of energy, clean cooking solutions, internal wiring and three-phase connections; and to provide working capital loans to energy service companies. On appraisal on disbursement of loans, Mr Speaker, to date, Shs 43.5 billion has been approved for on-lending to beneficiaries by Centenary Bank, Housing Finance Bank, Finca Uganda Limited, Post Bank Uganda Limited, Stanbic Bank Uganda Limited and Development Microfinance Limited. Ten additional applications from PFIs are under appraisal, totalling Shs 41 billion. Progress of Public Institutions Programme For the Public Institutions Programme, UECCC is the grant purse holder to disburse contract payments to the energy service companies competitively procured by the ministries for Water and Environment, Health and Education and Sports to electrify rural water pumping schemes, public health centres and public schools. On the Ministry of Water and Environment, UECCC has signed grant agreements with four successful energy service companies that shall electrify the 40 identified water stations covering Northern Uganda (10), Western Uganda (10), Eastern Uganda (10) and Central Uganda (10). The grant amount committed so far is approximately Shs 22 billion. The water pumping stations will be identified by the Ministry of Water and Environment. While the Ministry of Health is currently finalising the bidding documents for onward submission to the World Bank with no objection, the release of the request for proposal is planned for September 2024 and about 350 health centres identified by the Ministry of Health will be electrified through this component of the EASP. The Ministry of Education and Sports is currently finalising the bidding documents for onward submission to the World Bank for a no-objection. The release of the request for the proposal is planned for September 2024, and about 350 Schools identified by the Ministry of Education and Sports will be electrified through this component of EASP. Implementation challenges Mr Speaker, the Electricity Access Scale-up Project is largely a project that will support the implementation of free connections as stipulated in the Electricity Connection Policy. However, my ministry had a liability of about Shs 72,522,836,357.84 being the outstanding arrears owed by the Government of Uganda to the utility companies and contractors in respect of the services and works implemented under the Rural Electrification Programme we experienced. Umeme delayed the commencement of free connections under EASP as a result of unpaid arrears. However, with the approval of the Cabinet, my ministry has since paid outstanding arrears to electricity service providers amounting to Shs 36,228,585,366, which had been audited by the independent auditors KPMG and the balance was to wait for the independent audit and verification by the Office of the Auditor- General. All outstanding arrears have since been audited by the Auditor- General and the balance will be completed to avail cash flow to the service providers. Mr Speaker, on the status of connectivity in the country, the electricity access in the country stands at 60 per cent - (Interjections) - yes. Twenty-two per cent on-grid out and 38 per cent off-grid. We count the solars that you use; that is off-grid. (Laughter)

13925 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA WEDNESDAY, 14 AUGUST 2024 Related to that, the materials for making solar batteries are still taxed. It makes solar very expensive. It is the same with cylinders. That should be addressed. On the Uganda Energy Credit Capitalisation Company and the Uganda Development Bank (UDB), the issue will be more to do with the interest rate. How much is the interest rate? Is it affordable? That should be addressed. The agreement was signed but you say it does not cover transformers. Why did we sign an agreement which does not cover transformers? What is the alternative? Where are we going to get transformers? We need transformers to have electricity that is reliable, strong, and for industrial power generation. On the issue of coverage, when I look at the district of Zombo and greater Nebbi, the coverage of this project is very scanty. Health centres and irrigation sites should be included so that they are also connected. There is an issue of the Project Affected Persons (PAPs). During the recess, I had people who had challenges with that but we explained, and we shall continue to explain that the money is going to be processed so that they are paid. World Bank issues focus too much on refugee host areas. How about refugee-impacted areas? This should also be addressed. Otherwise, on the challenges, we are ready to support you so that this can be addressed – (Member timed out.)

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity. I come from the islands and these are unique areas including; Sigulu, the islands of Mayuge, and Vuma, the only area, apart from Northern Uganda, that does not have access to electricity. Honourable minister, when are these Ugandans going to get the opportunity to have electricity in their areas? Secondly, is the question of the solar energy that was established on Dolwe Islands. The people prefer that they go back to diesel power instead of solar power because a bulb is charged Shs 5,000, and it has become so expensive for the people. Like the shadow minister clearly indicated, people do not consume power. Honourable minister, when can this be reduced to make sure that people enjoy the power? Mr Speaker, there is the question of compensation. This House and the Government should think twice. How do we access electricity and then consider compensation? Many projects have failed because of compensation. This House should address the question of compensation such that people access power and services. I thank you.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. All Northern Uganda does not have reliable electricity. Before I give an example, I am happy for Moyo because it was connected to electricity. On 3 rd I was in Moyo for my aunt’s burial and they were celebrating for having been connected to electricity. However, an example of districts in northern Uganda that do not have reliable electricity is Amolatar in the south and Kaberamaido. Sometimes they get electricity during the day and at night there is darkness. I also know that their subcounties are not connected up to now. In Dokolo, where I come from, some homes and subcounties are connected to electricity, but the whole of Dokolo North not even a subcounty is connected to electricity. Honourable minister, I would like you to note that in Dokolo District, some places have electricity while Dokolo North is not connected to electricity, including my home, Dokolo South, where I come from. Other places have electric poles and this started way back in 2016 when they began throwing poles around Dokolo District. In 2021, the poles were erected. Now, in 2026, I pray that they are connected to electricity, especially - (Member timed out.)

Mr Speaker, in accordance with our Rules of Procedure, I rise to present the report of the delegation of the Pan-African Parliament to the Extraordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan- African Parliament held on the 20 th – 27 th March 2024 in Midrand, South Africa. The main focus of the extraordinary meeting was to carry out elections for the positions that had fallen vacant. The positions were that of the President of the Pan-African Parliament, the vice president, and the fourth vice president. Three positions in the Bureau were vacant. So, an extraordinary meeting was convened and elections were held in accordance with our Rules of Procedure of the Pan-African Parliament. We adopted the principle of rotation and in that case, the position of the President of the Pan- African Parliament went to Southern Africa, the position of the first vice president went to the Northern Caucus and the position of the fourth vice president went to the Central Caucus. Right now, our bureau is fully filled up and they are functioning well. To emphasise, the position of the President was taken by Hon. Chief Charumbira from Zimbabwe, that is for the Southern region. The position of first vice president was taken by Hon. Prof. Massouda Mohamed Laghdaf of Mauritania. The position of the second vice was taken by Hon. Dr Ashebir Gayo for Eastern Africa. The position of the third vice president was taken by Hon. Lucia Dos Passos from Cabo Verde. That is Western region and the final position for the fourth vice president was taken by Hon. Djidda Mamar Mahamat from Central Africa. This is just for information purposes. Other details are in the report and I am going to lay the report in accordance to Rule 33 of our Rules of Procedure. I beg to lay the report of the extraordinary meeting. We have another report. II) REPORT OF THE DELEGATION TO THE THIRD ORDINARY SESSION OF THE SIXTH PARLIAMENT OF THE PAN- AFRICAN PARLIAMENT 24 TH JUNE - 5 TH JULY 2024

The procedural issue I am raising is that this Bill on Alcohol Drinks and Control was referred to a joint Committee of Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives and that of Health. Incidentally, the reports are out; the minority and majority. The Committee on Health was assigned duties by your office. They are in northern Uganda, establishing the status of the health care facilities and conducting investigations on Nodding Disease Syndrome misappropriations. The three sponsors of the minority report, Hon. Dr Batuwa, Member for Jinja (Shadow minister of health), Hon. Dr Kamara, and the Member for Kabale -(Interjection)- a moment - I am on a point of procedure - I raised the procedure issue. Attorney-General, you are in slumber.

13889 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 13 AUGUST 2024 “ An Act to Regulate the Manufacture, Importation, Sale, Consumption and Advertising of Alcoholic drinks ; i. To prohibit accessibility of alcoholic drinks to persons below 18 years of age. ii. To amend the Industrial Licensing Act, Cap 91. iii. To Repeal the Portable Spirits Act, Cap 97 and for related matters.” 3.22 Need for an impact assessment of alcohol on the economy and health of the country before processing the Bill. Mr Speaker, the majority report indicates that in November 2019, Uganda developed the National Alcohol Control Policy following broad consultations with key government sectors, regulatory and other agencies and civil society organisations. The policy provides a framework within which the Government of Uganda, in association with other key stakeholders, is to develop and implement targeted alcohol control interventions in the best interest of all Ugandans. As is observed by the majority report, the development of the National Alcohol Control Policy arose out of wide consultations with various stakeholders. This consultation could, in other words, be termed as an “Impact assessment of alcohol on the citizenry”. Indeed out of the consultations, it was discovered by the Government that “The unregulated alcohol consumption causes heavy burden of infectious disease and an upsurge in the occurrence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - (Applause) - such as hypertension, cancer, diabetes, mental illness and chronic heart diseases which damage nearly every organ in the body as well as induce alterations in most of the brain structures due to its psychosis active nature, in addition to affecting productivity and social relations if consumed excessively.” We further note that the development of the National Alcohol Control Policy was a positive step by the Government towards regulating the alcohol sector, and since the Constitution empowers Parliament, under Article 79, to make laws on any matter for; peace, order, development and good governance of Uganda and under Article 94 to exercise this power through Bills, it is right and just that Parliament considers the substance and intention of the Bill, and where possible, propose amendments rather than relegate its constitutionally granted power. Honourable members, if we do not consider this Bill for Second Reading, not only shall we be doing a disservice to a policy that has no binding force in case of non-compliance due to the absence of sanctions, but we shall also not carry out our legislative function expected –

Thank you, Mr Speaker. This Bill also creates another challenge because it offends a number of laws that have been passed by this House. (Applause) The regulation of standards is under the Uganda National Bureau of Standards Act. As I have guided here before, if we continue having subject matter laws, it will help us in guiding the nation. Therefore, the provisions here that offend the Uganda National Bureau of Standards law should be removed. Again, this Bill will contradict the Employment Act because it is looking to guide on the issue of employment of persons and minors. This is both governed by the Employment Act and the Children’s Act. We have a law that provides for industrial licensing which is done by the Industrial Licensing Act when you are setting up a factory and this is what governs all manufactories, that is, big and small but if we now create another section that is dealing with a section of manufactories, we are likely to cause a contradiction in implementation. Again, in the National Building Review Board, under that Act, we have provided for the management of building in this country. So, when we start breaking down these issues into a different law, that means when we are reading the law with respect to homes, shops, alcohol, and food we go to different laws; it becomes very difficult and expensive to implement. (Applause) There is nothing in this Bill that is not regulated by an existing law, except the time which also can be managed through licensing. We have laws that license the use of premises in different places. I strongly advise and pray that to avoid causing regulatory confusion, we wholly reject this Bill, and then for the good ideas that we have picked up here, we can find the necessary laws where they are supposed to be input to regulate. I beg to submit. Thank you. (Applause)

Thank you, Mr Speaker. There is a matter that concerns this House, in the press, and the public, and it is about this Parliament meeting in the regions. Yesterday, when the Leader of the Opposition raised it, you guided that you were going to have a meeting and communicate. I saw it in the news when our colleagues from Northern Uganda had taken it up from a different angle, completely from that of Parliament, to make it a bit tribal. Mr Speaker, we are Members of Parliament here. Whatever decision is taken under your leadership; we need to be involved. Should we expect a proper motion before this House proposing the shifting or the hosting of Parliamentary sittings elsewhere beyond this House so that we can have our contribution, a session that Members agreed here to? The earlier the better. Mr Speaker, when we leave this matter not brought here, I am hearing about meetings being held over the same and so many things going on, over the same. Proper communication needs to come to this House so that the country knows the reasons, why, and the advantages thereof. Everything needs to be communicated. Thank you.

Mr Speaker, Hon. Okot is a much respected Member of this House. He has just said here that all the Members of Parliament from Northern Uganda, including West Nile where I belong, were invited. I am not privy to any such invitation. I have checked my pigeonhole; I do not have such an invitation. Is it in order, therefore, for a Member to impute that I, as a Member of Parliament, received an invitation when I have not?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the minister for being elaborate. I also thank the Government for organising celebrations to commemorate the International Youth Day on 12 August 2024 in Soroti. I would like to sincerely thank the President of the Republic of Uganda for initiating the skilling of the youth in all the subregions of this country. And in light of that, I implore the minister that it should not only be the skilling that is being done. This should be enhanced with a few things, for example, after the training for the six months when the youth are going home, those who have done tailoring should be given sewing machines. I am saying this because we have realised that most of these youth, after finishing, go home empty-handed. The minister might tell us that there are sewing machines at their ministry, but the procedure of getting them is not very easy and it is not enough for all those that have already acquired the skills at the industrial hub. So, honourable minister, please take note of that. Finally, Mr Speaker, we have seen youth livelihood programmes in this country, but in some districts, including Lamwo where I come from, the money that is allocated to the youth is always swindled by the technical staff at the district. Most of these technical officers who are the youth focal persons, do not even want to let the youth know how much the district has received for the youth livelihood programmes. I implore the Minister of State for Youth to start fast-tracking how much the youth are getting because severally some of these monies that go to the district are embezzled.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I thank the minister for that statement. I thank the Government for the initiative to attract more foreign direct investment into the country because this is employing most of the youth. However, I believe we need to go beyond just providing employment. We need to look at the quality of employment that this foreign direct investment brings to the country. I represent a constituency that has one of the biggest industrial parks outside Kampala, that is, Mbale City. When you reach this industrial park and look at the conditions that the youths go through, it is quite alarming. It looks like another form of slave trade because many of the youths are being exploited. They are paid about Shs 5,000 to Shs 6,000 a day. They work 12 hours. They are not provided with any personal protective equipment or any health and safety equipment - (Interjections) - yes, that is the bitter reality. I have looked at the National Employment Policy and noticed that not many of these things are catered for. I believe that we need to cater for the youth. We need to protect them. When someone is earning less than Shs 200,000 a day, what do you expect that person to retire to after 10 or 15 years? These factories are not saving for the children. I have not seen any of them register with the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) for savings. They are given handouts and cash on a daily basis. On this International Youth Day, it is one of the key things that we need to look at – (Hon. Pacuto rose_)

Thank you very much, Hon. Karim Masaba. It is with a heavy heart that I rise to move a point of order. I raise a point of order against you because you referred to the youth who work in the industrial park in your constituency as slaves. That is too much, Mr Speaker, to go on record - (Interjections) - yes, all of us have visited that industrial park. They may be earning little but a slave does not earn anything. A slave does not choose to do the work he or she undertakes. That is why, my honourable colleague - I think this is too much for a leader to refer to somebody who has willingly opted to work and is earning maybe less, as a slave. Are you therefore, in order, honourable colleague, to refer to these young Ugandans who willingly work, offer their labour and earn something, though little, as slaves in this era?

Thank you, Mr Speaker. “ kibalo ” means calculation. You calculate the income you are going to receive out of the investment you have made using PDM funds and “ Akasiimo” means to appreciate, whereby you are appreciated for the previous contribution you made. Similarly, under Emyooga, the Government is targeting micro and small-scale entrepreneurs who already have a business in the services sector of boda boda , restaurant, welding, mechanics, etc. The entrepreneurs have been mobilised at the constituency level, and their small businesses are supported to access affordable capital to expand their businesses. Like PDM, Emyooga members manage their funds and have a strong saving component, which has seen the beneficiaries save up to Shs 85.5 billion. The ministry is also focusing on scaling up these interventions concerning the certification of products, value chain development, and the provision of additional capital to Emyooga SACCOs. Issue 3: Youth Unemployment and Uncoordinated Labour Externalisation Programme Mr Speaker, our response is that the Poverty Status Report confirms that the negative effects of COVID-19 and a large share of households in subsistence and informal economy are among the main drivers of unemployment in the country. As a result, the unemployment rate of the working-age population increased from 10 to 12 per cent between the Financial Year 2016/2017 and Financial Year 2021; and that of the youth from 13 to 16 per cent over the same period. To address this challenge, Government is implementing a number of programmes for wealth creation and job creation initiatives, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), the Presidential Initiative on Wealth and Job Creation, Emyooga , the agricultural credit facility, capitalisation of Uganda Development Bank; As well as the two new development finance flagship projects for micro, small and medium enterprises; the Investment of Industrial Transformation and Employment (INVITE) and Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW). The above interventions target to benefit enterprises and households in both the formal and informal economies. During the last three financial years of 2021/2022 to 2022/2023 and 2023/2024, more than two million households across the 10,585 parishes have already benefited from the capital injection of Shs 1 million under PDM. In fact, this figure is now upgraded. Each parish has now received Shs 200 million. From 2019 to date, over 314,548 employment opportunities have been created under Emyooga programme.

13824 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME [Ms Nabbanja] PRIME MINISTER’S TIME The total amount for 488 health centre IIIs is Shs 4.029 trillion. Mr Speaker, the Government is strategically shifting from facility-based health services to strengthening the community health programme for health promotion, education and disease prevention. As you know, 75 per cent of the diseases in Uganda are preventable. This will reduce on the demand for curative services at health centres and hospitals. The Ministry of Health Draft National Health Policy 2024 has introduced a reform of upgrading the status of health centres IVs - a 24-bed capacity, to community hospitals – 60-bed capacity. This will be undertaken in a phased manner prioritising existing health centres IVs with high catchment population and the 135 constituencies without health centres IVs based on geographical access, population coverage and resource availability. The estimated cost for the construction of a community hospital is Shs 12 billion and equipping is Shs 4 billion, a total of Shs 16 billion is required. To fully operationalise a community hospital, we require recurrent costs including wage, non-wage recurrent, medicines and health supplies estimated at Shs 4 billion per annum, as I already told you. The third question is from Hon. OJok Andrew Oulanyah, Member of Parliament, Omoro County. He said, Malaria is one of the top killers in Northern Uganda and Uganda in general. What are Government plans for curbing and eventually eradicating this preventable disease? My response is that Uganda is indeed highly endemic for malaria. Globally, Uganda ranks 3 rd in the global malaria burden and 8 th in reported malaria-related and reported deaths. Uganda is a very fertile ground for malaria. We lie along the equator. This provides the most favourable ambient temperature and humidity that support mosquito breeding and malaria transmission. Additionally, the abundant breeding sites due to high rainfall lead to a high density of vectors. The presence of efficient vectors, mixed parasite species, and large parasite reservoirs all work against us. The regions with traditionally high transmission are West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Teso, Busoga and Bukedi. It is these places where we see the most malaria cases and deaths. However, it is important to note that in these high transmission settings, because of the immunity, due to persistent malaria exposure, severe malaria cases should be lower than in other parts of the country with lower transmission. Severe malaria that can potentially lead to death results from delays in care seeking. We also have challenges with the use of preventive tools by the population. Our main preventative tool is the treated mosquito net. We distributed 28 million nets in 2023. However, the demographic health survey report of 2024, indicates that though net coverage is more than 95 per cent, net use by the population is only approximately 60 per cent. However, I would like to reassure everyone that there is progress being made. As of this year, the malaria cases seen are lower than for the last three years; that is 2021, 2022, and 2023. The Ministry of Health and the National Malaria Elimination Division have prioritised the following to address the malaria problem: 1. Zero deaths. 2. Reduction of malaria cases, through the provision of preventative measures (for example, long-lasting treated mosquito nets through mass campaigns and routine distribution at ANC clinics and schools), sensitising the communities about net use, repair, and repurposing. 3. Commodity surveillance and accountability to ensure all malaria testing and treatment commodities are available across the country, and at all times. This involves proper commodity quantification,

Mr Speaker, I will ask Hon. Fred to come after me but I thought I should give some information to the House about the Standard Gauge Railway. We reduced the number of stations for the Standard Gauge Railway from Tororo to Kampala to three from the original 30. Why? It is because we think 85 per cent of the Standard Gauge Railway will be carrying cargo. Of course, we shall have a few stations where we shall offload cargo; the industrial areas; in Jinja, towards Mukono and Kampala. As for the metre gauge railway, the minister for transport is here. Hon. Fred Byamukama come and assist.

Mr Speaker, protect me from the angered Prime Minister. I take seriously the management of time as you guided. As my sister was talking about biogas, I wanted to give information about our travel to northern Uganda and what we witnessed; the destruction of the environment. We are gifted that in the West, we have cows that give –

Thank you. Honourable colleagues, I encouraged you some time back to go to YouTube and watch Britain’s Prime Minister’s time. I remember in the one we had in the Tenth Parliament and the previous Parliaments, you would stand up, ask questions, and Members complained about it. Then rules were amended to bring these structured answers. That time you complained about the quality of answers you were getting. Someone comes up with a question and however brilliant you are, you need to go back and consult with the technical people, but you expected the Prime Minister to respond in one minute. That is why we have a mix of these structured and oral questions. We usually push harder to take more and more questions. We shall keep improving every day. Next item. MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT TO APPROVE THE ADDENDUM TO THE PROPOSAL FOR CHINA CHINGQING INTERNATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION (CICO) UGANDA LTD TO PRE- FINANCE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF MASAKA-MUTUKULA ROAD AND REHABILITATION OF NYENDO-VILLA MARIA (11 KM), UPGRADING OF 3.5KM ACCESS ROAD TO UGANDA PEOPLE’S DEFENCE FORCES BARRACKS IN MASAKA, 3.5KM ACCESS ROAD TO MASAKA INDUSTRIAL PARK AND THE UPGRADE OF 28.5KM FOR KIKAGATI- KAFUNZO ROAD

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Pursuant to Article 159 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995, and Sections 36 and 23 of the Public Finance Management Act, 2015 as amended, and Rule 155 of the Rules of Procedure, I beg to move a motion for a resolution of Parliament to approve the addendum to the proposal for China Chingqing International Construction Corporation Uganda Ltd to pre-finance the reconstruction of Masaka-Mutukula road and rehabilitation of Nyendo-Villa Maria, upgrading of the 3.5km access road to Uganda People’s Defence Forces barracks in Masaka, and access road to Masaka Industrial Park and the additional scope of 28.5 km for the upgrading of the Kikagati-Kafunzo road. I beg to move.

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Before I read the report, allow me to lay the report of the Committee on National Economy on the addendum to the proposal for CICO Limited to pre-finance the reconstruction of Masaka-Mutukula Road, 89.5 kilometres, and rehabilitation of Nyendo-Villa Maria, 11 kilometres, upgrade of 3.5 kilometres access road to the UPDF Barracks in Masaka, 3.5 kilometres access road to Masaka Industrial Park, and the upgrade of 28.5 kilometres for Kikagati-Kafunzo Road. I beg to lay the report and the minutes of the Committee on National Economy while processing the addendum. The Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has already given a background to this addendum. This loan was passed by this House in December 2023 and what we are handling as a committee is the addendum on the addition of the Sinosure insurance. You have guided that I should begin with number four. Number four is talking about the pre-financing terms and conditions. 4.1. talks about pre-financing terms and the table is

13842 PRIME MINISTER’S TIME given its strategic economic importance to the country, a commitment was made to include the insurance at 100 per cent of the project cost. The committee had discussed with the honourable Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and got assurance that Government would prioritise payment of the contractor after the two years’ grace period. With this assurance, the committee is confident Government will finance the 40 per cent of the project cost in time to avoid delays in project implementation. Since debt is a service given a priority in the available resource envelope, this means that insurance will only be on 60 per cent of the project cost, which the contractor will borrow. The committee, therefore, recommends that UNRA renegotiates the contract with Chongqing International Construction Corporation (CICO) with a view of reducing the insurance cost by 40 per cent, thus reducing the total cost of insurance inclusive of VAT from Shs 64,779,400,239 to Shs 38,867,640,143. In conclusion, subject to the observations and recommendations herein, the committee recommended approval of an additional Shs 38,867,640,143 to cater for the Sinosure insurance component which was initially not included in the cost estimates for pre-financing the reconstruction of Masaka-Mutukula Road(89.5km), rehabilitation of Nyendo-Villa Maria (11km), upgrading of 3.5km of access road to Uganda People’s Defence Forces Barracks in Masaka, upgrading of 3.5km access road to Masaka Industrial Park and the upgrade of 28.5km for Kikagati-Kafunzo Road. I beg to submit. (Applause)

Honourable colleagues, I request you take your seats. You have listened to both sides. This is your decision. We cannot sleep here. I now put the question that the motion for a resolution of Parliament to approve the addendum to the proposal for China Chingqing International Construction Corporation (CICO) Uganda Limited to refinance the reconstruction of Masaka-Mutukula Road and rehabilitation of Nyendo-Villa Maria Road, upgrading of 3.5km access road to Uganda Peoples Defence Forces barracks in Masaka, 3.5km access road to Industrial Park and the upgrade of 28.5 km for Kikagati-Kafunzo road be adopted. (Question put and agreed to.) Motion adopted.

1. INTRODUCTION On the 28th March 2024, an addendllm to the proposal to prefinance the reconstruction of Masaka - Mutukula Road (89.5km) and Rehabilitation of Nyendo Villa Maria (11km), Upgrading of 3.5km Access Road to Uganda People's Defence Forces Barracks in Masaka, 3.5km Access Road to Masaka Industrial Park and an Additional Scope of 28.5 Kilometers for Kikagati Kafunzo Road was presented to Parliament and referred to the Committee on National Economy. Article 159 of the Constitution provides that Government may borrow from any source, and the terms and conditions of the loan shall be laid before Parliament and shall not come into operation unless they have been approved by a resolution of Parliament. Section 23 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 2015 (amended) provides for approval of multi-year financial commitments by Parliament. In addition, section 36 and 39 of the sarne Act authorizes the Minister of Finance to raise money by loan and to issue gltarantees for and on behalf of Government. Therefore, the pre-financing request was submitted in accordance to the above legal provisions, 2.O Background In December, 2023 Parliament resolved to approve the proposal by Government to prefinance the reconstruction of Masaka - Mutukula Road (89.5km) and I Rehabilitation of Nyendo - Villa Maria (11km), Upgrading of 3.Skm Access Road to Uganda People's Defence Forces Barracks in Masaka, 3.Skm Access Road to Masaka Industrial Park and an Additional Scope of 28.5 Kilometers for - Kafunzo Road at a total cost of UGX 691.68 billion. frM Following approval by Cabinet and Parliament, UNRA initiated a process to negotiate with the single-sourced Chongqing International Construction Corporation (CICO). Considering the poor state of the Masaka-Mutukula Road, the company was initially requested to submit a bid for this road together with \ 1of11 Gffir)@\ t-\ s F-" t 4^ \ I

Rt Hon. Speaker and Honourable colleagues, the Ministry of Health Draft National Health Policy 2024, has introduced a reform of upgrading the status of Health Center IVs (24 bed capacity) to Community Hospitals (60 bed capacity). This will be undertaken in a phased manner prioritizing existing Health Centre IVs with high catchment population and the 135 constituencies without Health Centre IVs based on geographical access, population coverege and resource availability. The estimated cost for construction of a Community Hospital is UGX 12 billion and equipping is UGX 4 billion, total is UGX 16 billion. To fully operationaTize a Community Hospital, we require recurrent costs including wage, non-wage recurrent, medicines and health supplies estimated at UGX 4.109 billion per annum. (Annex 2c) 3 Hon. OJok Andrew Oulanyah- Member of Parliament, Omoro Country alaria is one of the top killers in Northern Uganda and Uganda in general. What are government plans for curbing and eventually eradicating this preventable disease? RESPONSE: Rt. Hon Speaker and Honorable colleagues, Uganda is indeed highly endemic for malaria. Globally, Uganda ranks 3'd in global malaria burden and Sth in reported malaria-related and reported deaths. 5

Thank you. Hon. Ssekikubo, I knew you had another mission. You were very busy; I did not want to distract you from your mission. (Laughter) Since you are now available - I heard that you were in West Nile, northern Uganda. I did not want to disrupt your mission. However, since you are available, I will see you tomorrow at 11.00 a.m. Thank you. (Members rose_) Honourable colleagues, let us go to these matters of national importance. You should only react to what I have communicated. It was very straightforward. Maybe, let me allow Hon. Zaake.

Mr Speaker, I join my colleagues to appreciate the committee for the report presented on the Floor of Parliament. I would like the minister to respond and give us a report. I have been trying to follow up on many of the projects implemented by the Government in the community, but many of them have failed. Some of the reasons why they failed is because the ministry has failed to do a comprehensive assessment, especially on the types of soil, which crop does well where and what does not do well where. This is the same reason this particular project is failing. Honourable minister, do you have a comprehensive report that gives details of the types of soil in this country? When you want to implement a project in a particular area, you know that this crop does well in Karamoja, this one does well in West Nile, this one does well in Acholi, and this one does well in Central Uganda. If you have that report, I think it would be prudent enough for us to know, because that is part of the reason the projects are failing. There has been misplacement of seeds given to areas where the crops do not do well, and that is why the project is failing. Number two, some of these projects are politically motivated. Some of the projects are taken to certain areas because of political reasons. For example, Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF IV), which is now having a big challenge. It is meant for northern Uganda, but if you see the allocation of resources, it covers the entire east, not only northern Uganda.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for giving me this opportunity. I want to thank the committee for giving us this elaborate report on the Floor of Parliament. I want to raise a concern on the issue of accountability. This issue of giving money to the farmers’ groups and accountability is not done has really damaged our country. The follow-up of these funds has also not been done well. A lot of projects have been done, like under Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) – there was that element of farming activity – Operation Wealth Creation and National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS). All these monies have been put to waste. There are policies that are made to do follow-up, but when the money is given to the farmers, it is not followed up. You find that in other aspects, it is said that the money should be rotational: when you have benefited from it, someone different should also benefit – (Member timed out.) [Mr Lagen] SECTORAL COMMITTEE REPORT

Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that we are having this conversation when the project has already ended; when reports have been filed and when the project has already failed. In other words, we are having this conversation to comfort ourselves. Maybe this is for learning for the future projects. If it is so, then my comment will focus on that learning. The learning is this: when we want to implement a project to develop a sector like agriculture, it does not make sense that we spread it to the whole country, widen the scope, make it ambiguous and impossible to implement. That is why we are here now lamenting. We got PDM, 39 per cent, then we said let us give the whole country. We got Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF) 3 per cent and said let us give it to the whole country. Now, when you roll it to the whole country, that is what you get; this is the result. I do not know if it is us, the politicians, making it look like the whole country should be served at all times for everything, then this is a learning. Next time, we see a project going to any part of the country, we should support it even if it does not come to Napak District. Let that part of Uganda develop, let that part of Uganda produce more food to feed us, who are not producing. That is my submission.

Thank you, honourable minister. These are for information purposes. Let the Clerk put them in the library for easy access by Members. II) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION BENCHMARK VISIT REGARDING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AT THE COUNCIL FOR SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH IN PRETORIA – SOUTH AFRICA

I am looking at report number one; the Report of the Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation on the benchmarking visit regarding science and technology for sustainable development at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria, South Africa. I wish to lay.

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Through multidisciplinary research, technological innovation, and industrial scientific development, this centre has been able – (Interruption)

These are the findings. Industrial parks are established and fall under the mandate of Uganda’s investment. The delegation also learnt that Turkey has a clear development plan and as a result, the parks are organised, in terms of sectors – (Interjections) - Mr Speaker, honestly, these are the findings.

13712 MINISTERIAL STATEMENT the Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) committee derived the following recommendations: i. The Government of Uganda should strengthen the legal framework for the industrial value chain; ii. The Government of Uganda should put up measures and guidelines on how tertiary institutions and industries can work together to have research and innovation implementation; iii. The STI Secretariat in Uganda should have guidelines on how the innovation funds can be accessed by the scientists, compared to what Turkey is doing; iv. The Government of Uganda should invest in building and upgrading infrastructure, to support STI activities and innovation hubs; v. The Government should also learn from Turkey how to designate land for innovation hubs in industrial parks; and vi. The Government of Uganda can also organise industrial parks into sectors to ease the allocation of finances. It is our prayer that this report is allocated time for a full debate and the matters that arise from the observation of the committee are put under effective consideration by the STI Secretariat. I beg to move.

Mr Speaker, I just wanted to buttress the point that is uploaded there. However, let me proceed. I was talking about Atiak Sugar Factory before I was interrupted by my learned friend. Shs 553.71 billion has been injected into the Atiak Sugar Factory project but to date, no sugar has come from Atiak. The citizens are asking, “Where is the value for our tax money?” Mr Speaker, the Government borrowed money in 2021 for the Karamoja-Jinja Expressway to improve the connection between Kampala and Jinja cities and neighbouring countries along the Northern Corridor -

13642 THE OPPOSITION RESPONSE TO THE ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION His Excellency the President highlighted the three historical missions for Africa to survive and thrive; and these were prosperity for the African people including the people of Uganda, strategic security for the African people and taking advantage of the brotherhood of the African people. These historical missions are anchored in the four principles of the National Resistance Movement and these are patriotism, Pan- Africanism, socio-economic transformation and democracy. These three historical missions will stimulate the four sectors of the economy, namely commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and information and communication technology. His Excellency the President informed the country that since 1996, the Ugandan economy has recovered as portrayed in the high production of homegrown and processed agro products, industrial products whose total output has surpassed the internal demand, as I can explain. For instance, for the case of sugar, we are producing annually 600,000 metric tonnes, and our local demand is only 380,000, and thus generating a surplus of 220 metric tonnes. For milk, we are producing 5.3 billion litres consuming only 800 million litres thus a surplus of 4.5 billion litres. For cement, we are producing 6.4 million metric tonnes, only consuming 2.4 million metric tonnes and thus generating a surplus of 4 million metric tonnes. The total annual surplus is being traded within the African market and beyond. The President further informed the nation that through patriotism and Pan-Africanism, the East African community was revived and the common market for Eastern and Southern Africa(COMESA) consolidated. This has expanded the narrow market for Uganda`s products. East, Central Africa and the COMESA are buying the surplus goods and services to a tune, for example, from COMESA of $2,157 billion. The East African countries are importing from Uganda goods valued at $2.140 billion. With a more united African market, through the implementation of the existing common market protocols and the customs Union Protocol, Africa can then be able to negotiate with other countries for market access and these potential markets are the European Union, the United States of America, China, Russia, the Gulf and India. The President reminded Ugandans about the socio-economic transformation as a key ideology of the National Resistance Movement. The NRM Government has continuously guided that the socio-economic transformation can be realised through education for all and prosperity for all and joining the four money- making sectors of commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT. The Government has set up funds and initiatives for low-income individuals to enable them to attain socio-economic transformation. And these are the Operation Wealth Creation, NAADs, plan for modernisation of agriculture, Entandikwa in the past, Parish Development Model as of now, the Emyooga, the Youth Livelihood Fund, the Women Fund and funds from the Growth Opportunities and productivity for Women Enterprises (GROW). The more empowered individuals should borrow from the Uganda Development Bank for agriculture, manufacturing, and some of the services such as tourism. The President highlighted that Uganda has entered the lower middle-income status with $1,182 per capita. This has been achieved after embracing the NRM’s philosophy, ideology, and strategy of economic recovery through restoring and expanding the production of the traditional cash crops and minerals, diversifying the cash crop with food crop, water, flora and fauna, animal products, palm oil, and fruits; adding value to some of the raw materials and [Mr Okot] DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS ON THE STATE OF THE NATION

Thank you, Mr Speaker. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, Karuma Bridge was closed on the 3 rd of May for three months, meaning by the 3 rd of August - this coming Saturday - it should be operational. The bridge was closed majorly for buses and heavy trucks. However, right now the bus owners in Northern Uganda have parked their buses. Some of them have loans and the business in Northern Uganda has gone down completely. Rt Hon. Prime Minister, when the Minister went to launch, he promised and stated that the money that would be used is about Shs 7.2 billion. Right now, there is no serious work going on at Karuma Bridge. I would like to ask: on the 3 rd of August, which is tomorrow, shall you open Karuma Bridge for buses and heavy trucks going to Northern Uganda? Two, will you consider compensating those people who lost, especially those whose buses are on loan? Finally, will you investigate the Ministry of Works and Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), because what is going on is not corresponding to the Shs 7.2 billion that they are talking about? I beg to move.

Mr Speaker, I will start with the last question. I promise that we shall investigate and that will be next week. I will take the trouble to go to Karuma myself to see what is happening and I will invite you that we go there together so that we do our oversight role. Honourable colleagues, you are aware that the efficacy of Karuma Bridge was quite difficult and delicate. There were eminent issues that could lead to the collapse of that bridge. And once it collapses, our people in the northern corridor will not have access to this side.

Mr Speaker, the Office of the Prime Minister has got other ministries. It is the Minister of Northern Uganda that distributes iron sheets. So, those that are going to Koboko and these other districts like Pakwach will get iron sheets. However, permit me to say that we also have iron sheets under Luwero-Rwenzori, Busoga, Karamoja, Bunyoro, and Teso. All these ministries have got an item or an activity to support our vulnerable communities with iron sheets. I will make sure that the iron sheets that are going to those areas are from those ministries; that is Northern Uganda and Teso - because she talked about a district in Teso. You will get the iron sheets. Thank you.

13669 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 1 AUGUST 2024 have supported other farmers under National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS)? I do not think – because the money we are going to inject in the factories is quite huge and, to me, this is a big support by the Government. Therefore, the Government is supporting the sugarcane growers. Recently, when the prices of sugar went down, the Government provided money to support you people to take the sugarcane to northern Uganda. So, I feel that the NRM Government has done a lot for that region.

13581 THE E L E V E N TH P A R L I A MENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY , 25 J ULY 2024 3. Attended Cornerstone Leadership Academy from 1994 to 1996, and got an Advanced Level Certificate of Education. 4. Studied at Makerere University 1996 to 1999 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Science and Philosophy. 5. Studied at Kampala International University from 2017 to 2022 and completed a Bachelor of Legal Laws. 6. Was still a student at the Law Development Centre for the Bar course. Mr Speaker, the late Hon. Aleper was a competent professional in handling social and technical work. He was able to work in the field under emergency conditions and in a multi- cultural environment. This is ably portrayed in his career below: 1. 2001-2002: District Peace Building Monitor and Secretary to the Small Arms Disarmament Programme in Karamoja 2. 2003-2004: Community Dialogue Officer for Karamoja 3. 2004-2006: Zonal Project Officer for Northern Uganda Youth Rehabilitation Project 4. 2008-2009: National United Nations Volunteer – District Coordinator for United Nations Development Programme The late Hon. Simon Peter Aleper underwent various on-job trainings as shown below: 1. In 1999: Training of Trainers in Conflict Resolution and Conflict Management at the Centre for Conflict Resolution in Mbale; 2. In 2000: Training in Skills and Strategies for Conflict Transformation by the Centre for Conflict Resolution in Kampala; 3. In 2001: Training in Management and Planning improvement programme on Social Sector in Mbale; 4. In 2002: Training in capacity building of Community-Based Organisations on Finance and Reporting in Mbale; 5. In 2002: Training in Participatory Rural Approaches in Kampala; 6. In 2003: Training in HIV/AIDS awareness raising and counselling in Mbale; and 7. In 2003: Training in Famine and Early Warning Systems. The Late Hon. Aleper carried out various short- term assignments as mentioned below; 1. Support personnel for Northern Uganda Reconciliation Programme. Carried out needs assessment and consultative stakeholder workshops in the entire northern region, under the Office of the Prime Minister. 2. Conducted research on pastoral network in the Great Horn of Africa. 3. Carried out a drought assessment in Karamoja under the supervision of the World Food Programme. 4. Coordinator Karamoja Education Support Trust (KEST), a Community-Based Organisation. The late Hon. Aleper was a hard-working member of the NRM, who rose through the ranks: 1. 2016-2021 – NRM National Vice- Chairman for Karamoja; 2. 2011-2016 – Member of Parliament for Moroto Municipality; 3. 20ll-2016 – District NRM Secretary for Publicity; 4. 2006 – Subcounty NRM General Secretary; 5. 2001 – NRM Coordinator for Youth in Teso, Karamoja and Kapchorwa. Mr Speaker, I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathies and condolences to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda and the NRM Chairman, the family, friends and the entire Karamoja region upon this great loss of a first-rate politician. May the soul of Hon. Simon Peter A1eper rest in eternal peace. Thank you. (Applause)

Thank you. Hon. Anyakun and then the honourable minister for Karamoja - THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR GENDER, LABOUR AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT (LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS) (Ms Esther Anyakun): Mr Speaker, I want to thank you for taking us through this day today. In a special way, I want to thank the Rt Hon. Speaker because when I got a call about the death of my brother, I called her and she immediately put Mike Mukula on a conference call together with A-plus and we all coordinated how to bring the body back home. Mr Speaker, Hon. Aleper was a real dad. Hon. Aleper was a husband. When he got his wife, she had not yet completed her schooling but he did not get another one who was educated. He decided to take the one he had gotten back to school. (Applause) Hon. Aleper remained with the children he had; six children. With his height and handsomeness, he did not have “stray bullets”. All the children are

Thank you, Mr Speaker, for this opportunity. I rise to pay tribute to my colleague, the late Hon. Simon Peter Aleper. I am privileged to have joined the Ninth Parliament together with him. One thing I know about the person lying before us here is that he was very smart, eloquent and consistent in everything he said. Hon. Aleper was a nationalist. Today, I see the way things are moving in this country, even in this House and at the time when he passed on in that accident. Maybe things would be different in this House. The other day I listened to the list of the leaders of committees being presented in this House, maybe there would have been a change if he had made it to reach the Central Executive Committee (CEC) and attended that meeting. The national cake is not equal and the way the appointments are being done is not balanced. In this whole House, when you look at the regions; northern, eastern and central, we have fewer MPs than the western region. However, even then, when it comes to leadership in this House, we have very few seats because some regions have been ignored. If Hon. Aleper had made it to that CEC meeting, maybe one or two more would have also been named from our regions. I rose on the Floor over the issue of roads in this country. I talked about the markings; it is very difficult to drive at night when the roads are not clearly marked. I do not know how much it takes to buy the reflector paint that is supposed to be put on these roads. Maybe it could have been a problem because you cannot know where you are supposed to end when you are driving when there are no demarcations on the road. We need to stand up to this. The paint is not very expensive. I said that here and the minister said, “We do not have money.” Why should we think about money even for smaller things? What are our priorities for this country? Mr Speaker, cases have come up on issues like accidents and we have put a lot of money from this House to buy cameras but they cannot give you good pictures to recognise what is happening. What is happening in this country? The type of pictures that come out of these cameras are below standard. Some cameras have been planted where there is no power. I do not know whether they are working or they are dummies. This House needs to do an audit on the cameras that are on our roads. I sympathise with the family for losing a breadwinner but we cannot plan death; we cannot even know when it happens. I want to pray that the good Lord keeps you, protects you and guides you. This is not the end. I personally became an orphan at the age of 10 years. You can make it. Stand strong, be firm and just be good as your father was. Nobody will ignore you. We shall look up to you. Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.

I rise on a matter of national importance concerning Katonga Bridge. Katonga Bridge is on an international route, which serves western Uganda, northern Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Two years ago, this bridge was swept away and closed for more than six months. Temporary measures were taken to repair this bridge and traffic was channelled through the long Ssembabule Road, which was inconveniencing to the traders for those six months in terms of money and time –

13515 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA TUESDAY, 2 JULY 2024 and these are funds required to commence establishment of mineral regulations, revenue collection infrastructure and implementation of the minerals law. These include weighbridges and Government regulated markets for precious stones et cetera. Under the same vote - Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development, there was a reduction of Shs 15 billion from rural electrification and connectivity projects. These funds are required to kick-start works on the seven major construction roads, which include the following: 1. Under Batch 1; the Eastern Service Territory, including West Budama South, Tororo South and Tororo Municipality in Tororo District, Pallisa County, and Gogonyo in Pallisa District; 2. Under Batch 2; still in the Eastern Service Territory, it covers areas of Busiki in Namutumba, Bukooli South in Bugiri, Kamuli District, Kachumbala in Bukedea District, Mbale Northern Division, Bungokho in Mbale and Serere District; 3. Lot 3; Northwest Service Territory for Buyanja East in Kibaale District, Bugangaizi South in Kakumiro District, Buhaguzi in Hoima, Hoima City, Kikuube and Buyaga East in Kagadi District; 4. Under lot 4 of West Nile, Central North and North Service Territory for Ora area in Zombo, Gulu; Aringa South in Yumbe, Dokolo District and Lira East in Lira District. 5. West, South and South Western Service Territory for Sheema, Ruhinda in Mitooma, Isingiro, Rubanda, Ibanda, and Kisoro Districts; 6. Western, Central, and Rwenzori Service Territory for Busongora North in Kasese, Fort Portal Central in Kabarole, Kyankwanzi and Bunyangabo Districts; 7. Central Service Territory for Bbale in Kayunga, Mukono South in Mukono, Butambala, Bukoto East in Masaka and Kiboga Districts. Madam Chairperson, in addition, these funds are required to commence works of enhancing the Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) framework priority interventions for small factories and cottage industries across the country. (Interjections ) The SMEs framework intervention is aimed at reducing the turnaround time for electricity connection to SMEs.

13450 PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET SPEECH FY 2024/2025 sector has been impressive, mainly driven by strong recovery in retail and wholesale trade, tourism as well as communication and real estate activities. Growth in the industry was mainly driven by manufacturing, construction and mining, while there was increased production of food and cash crops, as well as livestock, which supported growth in the agricultural sector. Agriculture’s performance, estimated to have expanded at 5.1 percent this year, compared to 4.5 per cent registered in the financial year 2022/2023, is attributed to the streamlined implementation of the Parish Development Model(PDM) and fairly good weather conditions. Other factors, which supported strong economic growth include; i) Low inflation and relatively stable exchange rate, which have allowed good investment planning and supported export competitiveness; ii) Increased investment in the oil and gas sector related projects supported by foreign direct investment; iii) Higher external demand for Uganda’s products, including both agricultural and industrial; iv) Recovery of tourism supported by increased investment in tourism infrastructure and marketing; and v) Peace and security for persons and their property. I repeat this. Peace and security for persons and their property. In March 2024, Uganda met the requirements to graduate from the category of least developed countries. Uganda also moved from the category of low human development to medium human development. This is the result of a consistent improvement in health, education, economy and a decent standard of living. This is a big milestone achieved well before the country starts earning from oil exports. When oil and gas start to flow in the year 2025/2026, with the deliberate value addition to our raw materials, productive utilisation of PDM and other wealth creation initiatives, attaining of prosperity for all and the social economic impact will be faster. Inflation Uganda has contained inflation at an average rate of 3.2 per cent in the 12 months to May 2024. Uganda’s inflation is one of the lowest in the region. Annual headline inflation has reduced from the peak of 10.7 per cent in October 2022 to 3.6 per cent last month. The reduction has been a result of good coordination of monetary and fiscal policies, leading to low inflation for most food crops, manufactured foods and essential commodities like laundry, bar soap, sugar and cooking oil. Interest Rates Madam Speaker, the commercial bank lending interest rates for shilling-dominated credit reduced to 17.7 per cent in April 2024, compared to 19.3 per cent in April 2023. Interest rates in the domestic debt market have remained broadly stable, averaging 11.2 per cent on the one-year Government Treasury Bills. To further reduce lending rates, the Government will continue to provide long-term affordable capital through various interventions. In particular, the Government will continue to capitalise Ugandan Development Bank, Parish Development Model, the Agricultural Credit Facility and the Small Business Recovery Fund to provide the capital for wealth creation. Government is also continuing with the capitalisation of the Emyooga Fund to support micro-enterprises, as well as Presidential Skilling and Industrial Hubs for the youth. Grants will also be extended to women in business through the Generating Growth Opportunity and Productivity for Women Enterprise – which we abbreviate as “GROW” – project. For exporters of manufactured products who face working capital challenges,

13451 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 13 JUNE 2024 the investment for Industrial Transformation and Employment (INVITE) Fund, worth $210 million (Shs 800 billion), is going to kick-off next financial year. Private Sector Credit Madam Speaker, private sector credit increased to Shs 21.54 trillion in April 2024, from Shs 20.47 trillion in April 2023, an increase of 5.2 per cent. There has also been a slight increase in the share of credit going to productive areas of the economy. For example, the share of credit going to agriculture increased slightly to 11.3 per cent by April 2024 compared to 11.1 per cent by April 2023, while the share of credit to manufacturing remains the same at 13.4 per cent. Exchange Rate Madam Speaker, despite the depreciation pressure on the shilling since the beginning of this year, the value of our currency has remained largely stable against key global currencies. Between May 2023 and May 2024, the official exchange rate against US Dollar has averaged Shs 3,771. The depreciation pressure on the account of exit of some of the offshore investors searching for more attractive interest rates offered on government papers in competing markets has been contained thanks to our good export performance and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows. External Trade Madam Speaker, the Government’s Export Promotion Strategy has continued to produce positive results. During the year ending April 2024, Uganda’s exports increased by $2.534 billion to $7.471 billion, compared to $4.938 billion in April 2023, representing a 34 per cent growth. This increase was largely driven by increased exports of gold (75.7 per cent), coffee (21.9 per cent), oil re-exports (21.8 per cent), simsim` (20.2 per cent), tobacco (10.3 per cent), cotton (6.9 per cent) and light manufactured products (4.9 per cent). The major destination of our exports are the East African Community countries, which account for 29 per cent, COMESA, 29 per cent Middle East, 24 per cent and to Asia 20 per cent. Madam Speaker, efforts to increase the value addition to exports have continued to yield positive results. Exports of manufactured products have continued to be significant contributors of export earnings. In particular, in 2023, cement exports reached $91.1 million, sugar ($75.8 million), plastic products ($62.6 million), soap ($33.9 million) and beer ($25.8 million). This Financial Year 2023/2024, efforts to increase export performance have been strengthened through investing in targeted value-addition initiatives and implementing several enabling trade policies. Madam Speaker, in the financial year ending, Uganda imported goods worth $12.9 billion compared to $10.3 billion in the year ending April 2023. This increase in imports was largely driven by an increase in private sector imports of 23 per cent, mainly to develop our nascent oil and gas sector. Foreign Direct Investment, Remittances and Tourism Madam Speaker, the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to Uganda amounted to $2.46 billion in Financial Year 2022/2023, and by December 2023/2024, additional FDI amounting to $1.27 billion had been attracted. Remittances by Ugandans living and working abroad increased to $1.43 billion in the calendar year 2023 from $1.3 billion in 2022. Tourism revenues increased to $1.28 in calendar year 2023, from $1.07 billion in calendar year 2022. Employment Madam Speaker, job creation ranks top on the Government’s socio-economic agenda. The number of workers subscribing to the various pension schemes in the country increased to more than 3.14 million members in Financial Year 2023/2024, an increase of 4.2 per cent compared to 3.01 million members in the Financial Year 2022/2023.

13453 THE ELEVENTH PARLIAMENT OF UGANDA THURSDAY, 13 JUNE 2024 Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE)programme; iv. Agro-industrialisation and light manufacturing, supported by access to affordable credit through Uganda Development Bank, investments supported through Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), the Parish Development Model, Small Business Recovery Fund, Emyooga, the Presidential Industrial Hubs for Youth Entrepreneurs and programmes to support exporters, as well as growth and productivity of women enterprises; v. Private investment growth, supported by Foreign Direct Investment remittances and a stable macroeconomic investment; vi. Continued investment in industrial parks, construction and maintenance of roads and bridges; and finally vii. Rehabilitation of the Metre Gauge Railway and commencement of the Standard Gauge Railway, expansion of ICT infrastructure and provision of reliable and affordable electricity. Madam Speaker, Uganda’s growth strategy for the next financial year and in the medium term is anchored on four key growth drivers: i. Agro-industrialisation; ii. Tourism development; iii. Mineral development, including oil and gas; and iv. Science, Technology and Innovation. These are the anchor sectors that are going to propel Uganda to a $500 billion economy in the next one and a half decades. Madam Speaker, our growth prospects face some risks that will need to be mitigated. Let me repeat this. Our growth prospects face some risks that will need to be mitigated. These include: i. Climate change affecting agricultural production and infrastructure. We have just been seeing this a couple of months back; ii. Regional and global geopolitical tensions. I will not comment on that one; you all know; iii. High interest rates, which constrain access to affordable debt; and iv. Fluctuations in global commodity prices. To minimise the effects of these risks, the Government is implementing climate change adaptation measures, exploring cheaper sources of financing including climate finance and ensuring frugality in Government expenditure. I repeat this - and ensuring frugality in Government expenditure. I now want to account for Financial Year 2023/2024 and priorities for the year that we are talking about. Madam Speaker, in the National Budget for the Financial Year 2023/2024, which I presented here on June 15th last year, the Government made a number of commitments intended to deliver on NDP III priorities, as well as the promises we made to the people of Uganda under the NRM Manifesto for 2021-2026. In this section, I provide accountability for what the Government has achieved so far and what it intends to do to ensure that commitments to the citizens are, to a large extent fulfilled. Madam Speaker, I will start with what we have achieved by investing in the people of Uganda through prioritisation of healthcare, education, water, sanitation and hygiene. I have provided Shs 10.216 trillion for these priorities, which is 27 per cent of the national budget as detailed below; Health During this Financial Year 2023/2024, the following milestones have been achieved in the health sector: i) The Government commenced the construction of the East African Centre