Anthony Bugembe
10 May 2008
Kampala — THE next financial year comes with good news for the health sector, as the Government plans to increase its funding by sh98b.
Finance state minister Jachan Omach said sh60b of the increment would cater for more anti-retroviral drugs and the fight against malaria. Presiding over the launch of the sh29b 10-year Population Secretariat strategic plan at Hotel Africana last week, Omach reiterated the Government's commitment to addressing population and development challenges.
"Uganda's population continues to grow at a rate of over 3.3%. This is a challenge which we must translate into a bonus and utilise as a resource to increase production," said Omach, adding that the finance ministry would ensure that the Population Secretariat achieves the objectives outlined in the strategic plan.
Among the objectives is the development of capacity for efficient and effective implementation of population policies and programmes. The Government will be the main contributor in the strategic plan, contributing 40% of the budget in the initial stages of implementation, which is expected to increase to 50%.
The United Nations Population Fund and other development partners will finance the remaining part of the strategic plan budget.
Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, the chairperson of the parliamentary forum on food security, appealed to the finance ministry to make health a priority.
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