By Frank Kamuntu
Kampala: Uganda enters a terrible financial crisis as Ministry of Finance directs all accounting officers of government ministries and departments to suspend expenditure on Christmas and end of year festivities, TheSpy Uganda reports.
According to the memo dated December 9, 2020, signed by the Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary/ Secretary to the Treasury Patrick Ocailap, Uganda’s economy has faced expenditure pressures and as such government is undertaking efficiency means to entail the need to adjust spending during festive season in all Ministries, Agencies and Local Government.
Memo partially reads,“Consequently, this is to direct you not to organize Christmas and end of year parties, as well not engage in printing of Christmas cards, Diaries, Calendars, buying of Christmas gifts and bumpers and anything else related to such expenditure.”
The development comes few days after Gov’t decided that ONLY Ministry of Presidency (statehouse), Defense, Electoral Commission and public workers on Gov’t pay role while other sectors will stay on waiting until Gov’t gets adequate money-according to Minister Kasaija.
As a result, Ministry of Finance directed Internal affairs ministry workers in immigration and citizenship department to start packing lunch noting that the government was nolonger able to fill their big stomachs.
The disappointing memo to the ministry’s hungry employees read;
“SUSPENSION OF LUNCH IN OFFICES
Following the current economic hardship and the underfunding of Our budget and increased unpaid bills to service providers, this is to suspend serving of lunch within the departments.
This is a temporary measure to be adjusted as and when funds are made available. This does not however apply to the detention centre. (centralhotel.de) Your cooperation is requested.”
