By Andrew Irumba
Kampala: The Electoral Commission has started preparations ahead of the 2021 general election. This comes after Finance Minister revealing while reading the 2019/2020 budget that Government has allocated Shs223 billion for the implementation of the Electoral Roadmap for the 2021 General Elections.
Kasaija said that “The funds have been allocated through the responsible institutions to kick start the implementation of the electoral process.” The Electoral Commission last year requested for Shs900 billion for the 2021 elections but so far government has managed to allocate only Shs223 billion. The EC Secretary Sam Rwakoojo said the increase in the budget for elections is due to the creation of several new administrative districts. Kasaija also said that the judiciary has been allocated an additional Shs73 billion, which includes 20 billion for the construction of the Supreme Court, while Shs22 billion has been provided to enhance the pay for judicial officers, state attorneys and prosecutors.
The Works and Transport sector got the largest share of the 40.48 trillion budget with an allocation of 6.4 trillion Shillings up from 4.7 trillion Shillings. It is followed by the Security Sector with 3.6 trillion Shillings up from 2.06 trillion and the Education Sector allocated 3.2 trillion up from 2.7 trillion. The other sector allocations are Energy and Mineral Development Sector at 2.9 trillion, Health 2.5 trillion, Accountability Sector 1.9 trillion, Justice Law and Order Sector at 1.6 trillion, Local Government Sector 1.2 trillion, Water and Environment 1.04 trillion, Agriculture 1.01 trillion an others. Tourism got 157 billion, ICT 123 billion, Trade and Industry with 171 billion, Science and Technology 159 billion, Lands and Housing 193 billion, Social Development 218 billion and others.
