The
minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Developed Hon. Maria Kiwanuka
delivered her second budget speech to a fully packed house on 14th June, 2012. The events that unfolded immediately after
Hon. Maria Kiwanuka left many questions un answered. While giving his speech
during the budget day, H.E Yoweri MK, the president of the republic of Uganda,
was left puzzled by why Uganda was still importing ‘dressed chicken’ while
Uganda had all the resources to supply chicken to the market, the other
question was why should Ugandans export ‘maize grains’ instead of exporting
maize flour or other products. It seems the Minister of Trade, Hon. Amalia
Kyampade took note of the presidents concerns. I was in Mwanza, Tanzania during
the budget speech, but quickly followed the events on internet and later
downloaded the budget speech from the Ministry of Finance website, something
that has embraced me to follow events in my country even when miles away.
Immediately
after the budget speech, Uganda joined the rest of the African countries to
commemorate the International day of the African Child on 16th June,
2012 under the theme “THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES: THE RIGHT TO PROTECT,
PROMOTE AND FULFILL” I had participated in the preparatory meetings
in Kasese district, Western Uganda but
because I had another international assignment, I left but had a mind of
following all the events since an IT team had been informed of uploading the events on the blog and youtube. Kasese was chosen to host the regional
celebrations for the Rwenzori Region covering seven district of Kasese,
Kabarole, Kamwenge, Kyejonjo, Ntoroko, Kyegegwa and Bundibugyo. I also followed
the events on a blog story provided by Rwenzori peoples’ voice: http://rwecovoice.blogspot.com/2012/06/plight-of-vulnerable-children.html
and you tube. Indeed, 16th June, 2012 will remain a memorable day in
the lives of the pupils who participated in commemorating the international day
of the African Child in Kasese district.
Figuur 1. Andrew Bwambale of Rukoki Model
P Sch. Kasese district
Being a concerned and patriotic citizen, I
watched the video and followed up the activities and made phone calls to some
participants to find out the conditions of the pupils that show cased their
skills at the celebrations. One of the pupils that I followed was Andrew
Bwambale (12) a P.4 pupils at Rukoki Model school. I made a phone call to the
head teacher to find out how she manages to train the pupils, the government
contribution and other requirements for such pupils. The head teacher, Rukoki Model Primary
School, was frank to say that, Andrew was a determined pupil ready to confront
any challenges in his education career but was challenged to get the necessary
support to see him through his dreams of education. I hanged up and reflected
back on the budget which Hon. Maria Kiwanuka presented few days back before celebrating
the Day of the African Child. I browsed through the budget: Section C, 63:
“Madam Speaker, the
education sector has the largest share of our national budget with a total
provision increasing from Shs 1,418 billion
in the current financial year to Shs 1,669 billion in the next
financial year. This amounts to 17% of
the total budget. The sector provision will
also cater for salary increases for Primary School Teachers and
Science Teachers in Post O-Level
institutions. I have allocated Shs. 290 billion
for teachers, scientists and other civil servants”.
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| Primary school pupils in kids athletics competitions in Kasese |
But what did the head teacher share with me “ Andrew lacks support, he has
no wheel chair, he has lost his limbs, but determined to study, I call upon
members of the civil society to support this boy” I wondered whether the
government proposal of inclusive education will
deliver to the expectations of such pupils like Andrew who are
struggling amidst all odds to keep in school. Surprisingly, when I observed
Andrew in the photo above, it shows how such pupils are capable of joining the
job market and compete with the rest of the skilled labour force that we
currently have. As a pro-poor analyst, I checked the Kasese district budget
that was approved by council on 24th July of which Ugx 5bn out of Ugx 41bn was
allocated to the education sector, but surprisingly only Ugx 1.500,000/ had
been allocated to sports and music. I am still left puzzled like my senior
citizen Mze. HE Yoweri KM who could not believe that Ugandans still import
chicken despite the God given environment that is good for agriculture and
poultry rearing. Can Ugx. 1.5m deliver the district sports team to national
standards, what about the likes of Andrew who needed special consideration
which was not reflected in both the district and national budgets?
Its time now for Ugandans to see where we put our priorities, the education
sector was ranked to take the biggest part of the national budget, who will
benefit from this budget? While, Uganda was proud to present success stories in
the Universal Primary Education program with enrolment now at 8,098,177 (
Education Statistical Abstract, 2011), the challenge is still what are our
priorities if we must attain the education goal of providing relevant quality
education to all Ugandans. Will Andrew and his friends benefit from this if
inclusive education is top on the agenda? I believe, affirmative action was the best to children with disabilities.
Take the case of sanitary facilities at most of the schools, whereas,
government policy is clear on these elements of disability but how much has
been achieved to cater for individual disabilities even within the cluster of
children with disability. Let us not shy away from the truth, if we keep making
blanket statements, our children who are disadvantaged will not see the
benefits of Education for all.
I have keenly followed the trends in the reports of the presidential
special committee investing the abuse of Universal Primary Education and
Secondary Education, colossal sums of money has been put to waste! Who is to
blame? Mr. Moses Byaruhanga, Senior
Presidential Advisor, has questioned why our MPs are taking all their time to
debate the succession question ( see newvison August 2, 2012). I want to share with Mr. Moses Byaruhanga that debating is good
for our young generation and politicians. If the public had not been
questioning the delivery of services, President Yoweri MK could not have known
about the gaps in the Naads , Education and Health sectors. Let us give room
for debate and question government to look beyond figures, if these figures can be translated into facts. I will ask also
another question to the minister of Finance. Hon. Maria Kiwanuka, will the
Andrews of this Uganda benefit from the 17% budget allocation to the education
sector if you don’t allocate special
needs education specific budget that can be tracked?
The resource envelope for the Ugandan budget 2012/13 is enough if
government ensures that leakages within the delivery systems are blocked.
According to the world bank report, Uganda loses close to Ugx. 500bn per annum
in contracts gone bad. Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba, while presenting at the launch
of the activities to mark 50 years of
Uganda’s independence was quick to say “
let us make corruption a risk venture instead of glorifying the corrupt” how many children with disability would
benefit from Ugx. 162bn that was awarded to one individual, or even the recent
scam in the Office of the Prime Minister. Ugandans what has gone wrong, the
world is not about to end. Play your part, tomorrow is there for us. While its
clear that those in position of leadership are not in touch with the realities
in the country side, Uganda is there for us all to enjoy despite our status. My message is, after 50 years of
independence can we give a chance to the likes of “Andrew to live” and take
part in the development agenda of our country Uganda.
Jimmy Baluku Odyek
Poverty and Policy Analyst and works with Rwenzori Consortium for Civic
Competence
Kasese, Western Uganda.
Email:jimodyek@gmail.com
