The Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja has revealed that the government is seeking an additional Shs 480 billion to bridge the gap created by the suspension of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding.
While addressing MPs during the Prime Minister’s Time, Nabbanja said the government is also engaging international and local stakeholders, to mobilize resources to ensure the continuity of HIV/AIDS interventions.
“To address this crisis, an additional Shs 480 billion is required to bridge the funding gap and sustain essential services,” Nabbanja said.
She was responding to concerns raised by Workers MP, Abdulhu Byakatonda, who asked about the government’s plans to mitigate the impact of the US funding freeze and ensure uninterrupted HIV treatment.
Byakatonda observed that the aid freeze has put the jobs of 12,551 community health workers in Uganda at risk.
“Uganda currently allocates only 6.5 per cent of the national budget to health. When will government fulfil its Abuja Declaration commitment to increase health funding to 15 per cent?” he asked.
On 20 January 2025 immediately after Donald Trump assumed office, the US issued a memo pausing trillions of dollars in federal aid that was being offered by USAID.
In another development, Nabbanja revealed that over Shs 163 billion had been released to cater for capitation grants to government grant-aided schools for the first term of 2025.
This followed concerns by Kalungu West MP, Joseph Ssewungu on delays by the Ministry of Finance in releasing the funds needed to procure instructional materials.
She clarified that funds are only released during quarter one, quarter three and quarter four every financial year.
“The total approved budget for the capitation grant for financial year 2024/2025 is Shs 490.2 billion. During quarter one, the Ministry of Finance released Shs 163.4 to local governments to cater for term three in 2024,” said Nabbanja.
