Buganda Kingdom has allocated 30.2 billion Shillings towards its development and investment projects during the financial year 2019-2020, a lion’s share of the annual budget estimates approved this morning. The total kingdom budget stands at 121 billion Shillings.
The Kingdom will focus more of its efforts this year on completion a shopping mall at Mirembe Villas, construction of low-cost houses at Sentema, increase the production of Olwendo mineral water, completing the registration process of Buganda Coffee Company, and starting an online newspaper ‘Gambuuze’, among others.
Other priorities will include education, with an allocation of 17.9 billion Shillings up from the 16.1 billion Shillings in the past financial year, communication with 13.8 billion Shillings up from 11.2 billion Shillings, Agriculture and Environment with 4.9 billion Shillings up from 4.2 billion Shillings and Health with an allocation of 3.5 billion Shillings.
Buganda Kingdom Finance Minister Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa told the Lukiiko at Bulange-Mengo this afternoon, that Under the Education docket, the Kingdom will use the allocation to kick start short courses focusing on Agriculture at Mutesa I Royal University, invest in vocational training schools, training of subjects in Art and Crafts and funding bursary schemes, among others and others.
He said that development and investment, quality education, creation of wealth and improving standards of subjects, agriculture and communications will remain the Kingdom’s priority areas.
Nsibirwa said that the Kingdom is focusing on starting a Medical Store to be used to store medicines used in the treatment of subjects at different health camps. Part of the funding to the health sector will also be used to sensitize people about Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDs.
“The Kingdom intends to further strengthen the ‘Emmwanyi Terimba’ program especially ensuring that the standard of harvested coffee is maintained and to make it compulsory that trees are planted at every cultural event,” said Nsibirwa.
The campaign was launched two years ago by the Kingdom’s Premier Charles Peter Mayiga to restore coffee farming in Buganda.
The budget will be financed by funds from Envujjo, Busuulu and Kanzu, debt payment from the Central government, student payments, development partners, sports activities, Buganda Certificates and Kingdom portraits, communication stations, tourism, and cooperatives, among others.
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