Ntungamo district councilors decline Covid-19 supplementary budget

Ntungamo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ntungamo district councillors have refused to pass the 554 Million Shillings Covid-19 supplementary budget.

The budget was presented by the Secretary of Finance Naboth Mpirirwe. Mpirirwe told the councillors that the budget seeks to facilitate inland travels, allowances to facilitate Covid-19 meetings, vehicle and motorcycle maintenance.

The other activities include communication programmes on radio stations, facilitation for surveillance teams, facilitation of village health teams and task forces among others.

However, the councillors protested the allowance of 30,000 Shillings for airtime for 3 months allocated to them for mobilization.

Bernard Ahabwe, the district councilor for Ruhaama sub-county questioned how the executive and the finance department reached that figure.

But Mpirirwe defended the allocation saying that it was a conditional grant and could not be altered.

The councilors noted that it was the mandate of the council to appropriate the expenditure of funds.

George Bakunda, the chairperson district Covid-19 taskforce said that part of the money is meant for village health teams and village taskforce. He said that the budget should be scrutinized again and councilors receive additional money for mobilization.

The district speaker Nicholas Twikirize appointed a five-member working committee to make amendments to the budget and report to the council in one week.

They include Elijah Atuhaire, Grace Twinomugisha, Jadress Nuwagaba, Alex Abenaitwe, Denis Muhumuza, Saidat Tushabe, and Bernard Ahabwe.

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