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East Africa: Uganda to Spend Sh3.6 Billion on Burundi EAC Membership Fees
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New Vision (Kampala)
6 August 2008
Posted to the web 7 August 2008
Paul Kiwuuwa
Kampala
MPS have queried sh3.6b, which Uganda plans to pay to the East African Community (EAC) as Burundi's membership fees to the bloc.
The Minister for General Duties, Adolf Mwesigye, yesterday told the parliamentary foreign affairs committee that Burundi could not afford to pay its subscription fees.
Mwesigye, who represented the EAC affairs minister, Eria Kategaya, said: "During a summit in Kigali (Rwanda), Burundi's president Pierre Nkurunziza informed the EAC heads of state that his country could only afford to pay $1m (about sh1.6b) this financial year.
"It was agreed that Kenya, Uganda, Tanzinia and Rwanda, who are all members, should contribute $8m (sh13b) towards Burundi's subscription fees."
Each member of EAC pays $8m (sh13b) as subscription fees annually.
Peter Mutuluza (NRM) asked: "What will the Government benefit from paying sh3.6b for Burundi yet our resource envelope is not enough for the ministries? Why do we bring in Burundi's problems?"
Reagan Okumu (FDC) said: "Uganda has to pay subscription fees this financial year. Where will the Government get extra money to pay for Burundi?"
Committee chairman Steven Kaliba (NRM) said the finance minister, Dr. Ezra Suruma, should be summoned to explain the matter.
On the printing of the ministerial policy statements, Norman Muwulize (NRM) queried sh8.7m, which was spent on the project. "We need payment vouchers and the number of policy statements printed. Sh8m is a lot of money to be spent on printing the statements," he said.
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MPs also questioned sh12m that was spent on repairing the ministries' vehicles during the financial year 2006/2007.
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