UGANDA GOVT; STATE HOUSE PAYS FEES FOR 6400 STUDENTS.
Posted on
Aug 8, 2012
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Minister of Presidency Mukasa Muluri at Parliament yesterday before the committee on Presidential Affairs. He promised to bring the categorisation lists of beneficiaries next week.
State House pays school fees for at least 6,480 students in different institutions around the country under the Presidential Initiative Scholarship scheme, government revealed yesterday.
Details of the number of beneficiary students produced before the House committee on Presidential Affairs indicate that 4,516 students are studying in different universities across the country while 175 are in primary schools.
Others at secondary level total 1,876 and at least 278 students are in various higher institutions.
Others at secondary level total 1,876 and at least 278 students are in various higher institutions.
MPs have over the years and recently threatened to withhold approval of the presidency budget until the lists are made public amid persisting suspicion that the initiative has been turned into a tool for patronage.
Drawing on public outcry and suspected favouritism in the scheme which was supposed to help needy families, the legislators also demand that a clear break down showing which districts the beneficiaries come from, courses they are pursuing and how much money the State pays for each be made public.
“If you do not categorise these names under their districts and institutions, we may not get the clear picture of their exact existence. I am sure most of the names there are ghosts,” Mr Haruna Kasolo (Kyotera) said amid fresh questions about what MPs believe is a disproportionately large State House budget .
Security Minister Muruli Mukasa, also the Minister for the Presidency, yesterday promised to provide a detailed categorisation to the committee by Tuesday next week after he presented voluminous files containing names of beneficiaries.
Each financial year, government allocates at least Shs3 billion to cater for the scheme which MPs and opposition have frequently suggested has been abused with mainly children of the rich and regime cronies unfairly benefitting.
Each financial year, government allocates at least Shs3 billion to cater for the scheme which MPs and opposition have frequently suggested has been abused with mainly children of the rich and regime cronies unfairly benefitting.
The scheme has for more than 10 years been shrouded by controversy. In July, President Museveni, while in Iganga District, said he launched the scheme to assist orphans of freedom fighters and other needy children, adding that many children have benefited from it.
Currently, the sponsorship is said to benefit children of fallen comrades, vulnerable children and vulnerable children who are bright in science subjects.
Meanwhile, Mr Mukasa said the Presidency with its five vote functions has a budget shortfall of Shs427.7 billion.
Meanwhile, Mr Mukasa said the Presidency with its five vote functions has a budget shortfall of Shs427.7 billion.
One of unfunded programmes under State House is Shs5 billion required to construct a State lodge in Kapchorwa district, houses for support staff in Entebbe and renovation of upcountry State lodges.
Other State House unfunded areas are monitoring service delivery which needs Shs40.6 billion, Shs17billion for prosperity for all mobilisation, Shs7.1 billion for promotion of regional integration and Shs34.3b to welfare, security and renovation of State House.
