Cultural institutions to start receiving UGX 60m monthly

Nakasongola , Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  The Minister of Gender, Culture and Social Development Betty Amongi has revealed that the government will start paying sh60 million per month to each cultural institution in the next financial year.

Recently Thomas Tayebwa revealed that President Museveni directed Parliament to allocate the money to each of all recognized cultural institutions to enable them to function better.

Amongi has explained that her Ministry has captured the President’s directive in its budget framework paper and it will be integrated into the national budget for the year 2024/25.

Amongi added that each cultural institution will starting next financial year be able to receive the money to enable them to carry out their work as well as mobilize subjects to get out of poverty.

She added that during the financial year, the Ministry will also support the construction of three palaces for the cultural institutions.

Amongi said this while officiating at the 19th coronation anniversary for Isabaruuli Constantine Mwogezi Butamanya the cultural leader of Buruli chiefdom held at Kibira village in Nakasongola town council.

Currently, each cultural leader gets five million shillings per month to enable them to execute their duties.  The government also donates cars and compensation schemes among other cash donations to the cultural institutions.

Noah Mutebi the Nakasongola County Member of Parliament says that he is ready to support the budget allocation but asked the cultural institutions to tag 70% on development projects and 30% on administrative costs.

Victorious Zawedde the Nakasongola District Woman Member of Parliament said the allocations are justifiable since the cultural institutions play a great role in the social, economic, and cultural development of their subjects.

“We as Baruuli are very happy about the proposal because we suffered historical injustices that left us poor. Our cultural institution has no land or sources of income. So the money will help to start economic generating projects” Zawedde said.

While celebrating the 19th coronation anniversary on Sunday, Isabaruuli Mwogezi Butamanya acknowledged the support that the government has given to his chiefdom and asked it to help complete the construction of his palace.

Butamanya also asked the government to extend land funds to his area to enable his subjects to acquire land titles on land that they currently occupy as squatters.

Buruuli Chiefdom seceded from the Buganda Kingdom on December 10, 2004, even though Mengo still considers it as its county and doesn’t recognize it as a chiefdom.

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