NATIONAL NEWS , Friday, December 8, 2017 11 Finance ministry in agreement with ISO on wasteful expenditure

By Chris Kiwawulo how government institutions with create inefficiencies that erode the Joseph Aliganyira, government’s says. duplicate roles can be merged,” little resources available for service interventions in agriculture are It adds that ministries, parastatals The finance ministry has concurred Jim Mugunga, the finance ministry delivery,” he stated. “scattered across eight directorates, and agencies combined were with Internal Security Organisation’s spokesperson, said. Mugunga added that some of the 20 departments and 37 projects squandering sh1.3 trillion on (ISO) report, which found that Mugunga made the remarks while excesses have occurred under the across five ministries at a total annual consultancies, travel, welfare and government ministries and responding to the ISO report, which guise of bringing services closer cost of sh1.2 trillion.” For instance, entertainment, fuel and lubricants, agencies were involved in wasteful showed that billions of shillings to the people, citing the creation irrigation and water supply is under workshops and seminars, vehicle expenditure, saying mergers were of taxpayers’ money were being of new districts which come with three ministries. maintenance and advertising. the solution to the challenge. wastefully spent. construction of new administration “Government spent a total of The report named the top money- “We are not surprised by the ISO “The permanent secretary/secretary blocks, salaries for new staff and sh461b on skills development in consuming institutions as Makerere report because the finance ministry to the treasury (Keith Muhakanizi) other administrative costs. 2016/17. It was duplicated by the University, Revenue has in the past made similar calls. has also been an ardent advocate According to the report released ministries of education (sh216.3b), Authority, Capital City The Executive recently directed of fighting duplication of roles to on Wednesday, by the ISO gender (sh178.3b) and local Authority and Uganda National the public service ministry to see ensure that we avoid excesses that director of political affairs, Lt. Col. government (sh66.3b),” the report Roads Authority, among others. Uganda assures Japan over N. Korea By John Agaba Emperor Akihito’s 84th birthday. Foreign affairs minister Sam Late this year, Uganda Kutesa has said Uganda fully expelled 46 North Korea complied with the United military trainers, doctors and Nations (UN) Security Council teachers. resolution on North Korea, The UN Security Council in assuring the Japanese of the August passed a resolution country’s stand on the issue. imposing new sanctions on Kutesa’s words come in North Korea for its continued the wake of Japan’s implicit intercontinental ballistic missile displeasure with Uganda after testing and violations of UN President resolutions. asked the UN and the US to Ambassador Kazuaki Kameda “leave North Korea alone” commended Uganda for her when he addressed the UN exemplary approach to refugees General Assembly in New York and the host communities at in September this year. the frontline of the refugee Kutesa said Uganda response, “generously receiving was committed to the UN refugee arrivals, sharing land, Security Council resolution available pubic services despite as a member of the UN and their own scarce financial and promised the country would social resources”. adhere to treaties preventing During the reception, Kameda nuclear proliferation and also conferred on Sam Kutesa, testing, while at the same time on behalf of the Emperor promoting progress in nuclear of Japan, one of the highest disarmament. regularly awarded honours: “the Grand Cordon of the Sanctions bite hard Order of the Rising Sun” for his As a result, the country has “important role” as President accelerated termination of any of the 69th Session of the UN economic and security ties it General Assembly (September still had with Pyongyang. 2014 – September 2015), Kutesa was speaking at a as well as his contribution reception at the residence of the to improving relations with ambassador of Japan to Uganda Japan, through the Tokyo at in Kampala hosted International Conference on to commemorate Japanese African Development process.

Kutesa receives an award from Kameda at the ambassador’s residence in Nakasero, Kampala on Wednesday. Photo by Kennedy Oryema