Parliament has approved the supplementary budget of Shs280bn to purchase two Bombardier jets for the revamped Uganda Airlines.
The decision was reached following the correction of errors made during the airlines’ registration. This week, it was revealed that two ministers; Monica Azuba of Ministry of Works and Transport as well as Matia Kasaija of Ministry of Finance allegedly registered the airline in their names, with each owning about 1,000,000 ordinary shares.
On Thursday, the two ministers appeared before the budget committee, and were ordered to go and correct the ‘errors’ made. After the committee sitting, the report was adopted by the house with amendments.
Budget committee chairperson Amos Lugoloobi presented the report before the house on Friday, and advised the Works ministry to appoint substantive board not later than April 30, 2019 before they receive the money.
“In case you miss the deadline, the House should not appropriate any funds to to you for the Financial Year 2019/2020,” said Lugoloobi.
Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah asked the members to approve the funding since the contract which was signed with the Manufacturer is about to expire and Uganda is bound to lose money.
“Members, contracts are contracts. If we don’t respect them we shall lose both, we are here sitting as a Parliament because there is an emergency situation now. Refusal to pass this money would mean that Parliament has thrown away the baby (Uganda Airlines) at the backwater,” said Oulanyah.
He again asked the members to agree that Ministry of Works and Transport work upon the appointing board members as Parliament approves them.
Finally, the House tasked minister Azuba to respect the recommendations of the Budget Committee.
“I now say that the sum total of Shs280.5bn under the ministry of Works and Transport for financing the cost of Uganda National Airline be provided for supplementary development expenditures for Financial Year 2018/2019,” said Oulanyah.
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