Wednesday, July 8th, 2020

CSO statement on Uganda’s 2020-2021 budget

The CSO statement on Uganda’s 2020-2021 budget outline key gaps in the budget for government and parliament’s action. These gaps include:

Failure by government to identify sugarcane as a problem that is promoting food insecurity, forest loss and others. Government plans to further support commercialisation of this crop despite the food insecurity, land grabbing and other challenges it has caused. The crop is also currently a threat to Bugoma forest.

Failure by government to identify and address challenges such as land grabbing, displacement of communities without prompt payment of fair and adequate compensation in addition to other challenges that undermine food security. Restoration of communities’ food security is a key aim of the budget following the locust invasion and flooding challenges that Uganda has experienced.

Failure to prioritise investments in off-grid clean energy, environmental conservation and the agricultural sector. Under the budget, priority was given to expanding the electricity grid despite its shortfalls in increasing power access, promoting roads in addition to energy sector activities including oil and others that degrade the environment and others.

The operational space for politicians, CSOs and human rights defenders could also decrease due to the increased budget to the security docket amidst the 2021 general elections, critical oil activities and othersCSO statement on Uganda’s 2020-2021 budget