Photo: New Vision

A women carries her baby in a May 2012 protest during which more than 100 activists petitioned the government to declare maternal health a constitutional right and to increase the health budget.

The NRM Caucus is meeting at State House Entebbe today to agree on re-allocations in the budgetary estimates.

MPs had vowed to block the approval of the budget until the Government finds an additional sh260 for the health sector.

They were worried about the persistent child and maternal mortality rate in the country.

They are also concerned that several health facilities are not functional due to lack of health workers and drugs.

The budget committee identified non-core areas from which to reduce funding.

They were identified as workshops, advertising, public relations, welfare, entertainment, printing, photocopying, travel inland and abroad, fuel, lubricants, vehicle maintenance and hire of venues.

The health budget this year stands at sh859b including donor money. This according to health committee chairman Dr. Sam Lyomoki, is only 8% of the national budget. This does not meet the Abuja declaration which talks of 15%.