According to the minister, the measures being adopted in this respect are in line with regional policy, bearing in mind that capital outflows abroad must be justified, and when they are transferred for the purpose of importing products, their entry must be justified, which has not been the case for these companies. However, when it is established that the transfers made are indeed for the purchase of products, a possible scenario of capital outflow is ruled out, leading to the conclusion that it is tax fraud, and for the minister, this practice harms not only the country’s foreign reserves, but also the rest of the States in the sub-region.

During their interventions, chiefs from Guinaco, Dominique, Pegasos, Joseph Amahad and Kaba Market, Victor King shared the concern that there would be high inflation for products if it was decided that they had to pay for everything they had not declared. They also presented to the minister the situation regarding high product costs from their suppliers’ warehouses.

For all these reasons, the minister first informed them that the BEAC would proceed with the application of the new mechanism, i.e. the companies would be able to make their transfers, but from now on they would have to declare the real value of the transfers, while it was also made clear to them that any compensation paid to the State could not have an impact on future prices, because it was the result of fraudulent actions carried out by these companies in the past. 

At the end of the meeting, the minister stressed that, at the Government level, there was commitment to support companies, given that they help to provide solutions to certain needs within the population, but that this did not mean that they should act outside the law.

In that regard, Ofa Mbo Nchama commented that the Government was working to gather all the information on the transfers and declarations made by each company during 2021, 2022 and 2023, in order to then decide on the payment methods and deadlines regarding their debts to the Public Treasury. The member of the Government stated that the operation would be executed in a way that did not place an unbearable strain on businesses.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equatorial Guinea: Official Web Page of the Government.

The United States, through USAID and the Department of State, is providing more than $25 million in additional humanitarian funding to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Program (WFP) to assist refugees in Uganda facing ongoing food insecurity and the compounding impacts of conflict in the region. USAID is providing $11 million to WFP, while the Department of State is contributing more than $14 million to UNHCR. 

These additional contributions to WFP and UNHCR will support the provision of life-saving monthly food assistance, health care, education, and other emergency relief to the more than 1.6 million refugees that Uganda hosts. Uganda hosts the highest number of refugees of any African country and received more than 130,000 new refugees last year alone, primarily fleeing conflicts in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, and Sudan. This additional funding will be vital to meeting urgent needs in the country. We urge other donors to join us in stepping up to support WFP and UNHCR to assist the most vulnerable people affected by conflict and other crises throughout the region. 

The United States is committed to ensuring our assistance is provided without discrimination, including in Uganda, where we have significant concerns about the impact of the Uganda Constitutional Court’s recent decision to uphold most aspects of the Anti-Homosexuality Act. This ruling is dangerous and fails to protect LGBTQI+ people and allies. Uganda’s government must protect the dignity of all people in the country. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

sharing documentation with all members of the commission in order to avoid making uninformed decisions, and insisted that for the next meeting the members of the committee, particularly GEProyectos and Public Works, provide clear documentation on the status of each project.

The minister then recommended that all projects awarded to the 85 listed companies be integrated within the Ministry for Planning’s database. To that end, the President of GEProyectos undertook to provide all information concerning the Planning department, in order to consolidate its database.

During the meeting, the status of various projects was presented by the president of GEProyectos, including the total sums, certification, paid and remaining balances and retentions, where some of these projects, such as the construction of the National University Campus in Basupu, received the validation of the commission, while others, such as the construction of 32 bridges in the District of Micomeseng, will be reviewed and presented at the next meeting.

The meeting was also attended by the Minister for Planning, Gabriel Mbega Obiang Lima; the Deputy Minister for the Treasury, Milagrosa Obono Angüe; the Vice-Minister for Public Works, Pascual Ondo; the President and Vice-President of GEProyectos, Alejandro Micha Nsue and Bonifacio Esono, and Secretaries of State and some Director Generals from these ministerial departments.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Equatorial Guinea: Official Web Page of the Government.

The Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, has asked the Budget Committee to give special importance to the agriculture sector as it is the backbone of the country.

Among’s appeal for allocation of resources to the sector was made during the plenary session on Thursday, 11 April 2024, wherein the House received the Ministerial Policy Statement for the agriculture ministry for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.

The report, presented by Hon. Janet Okori-moe, the Chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, revealed that the ministry’s budget will be slashed to Shs644.39 billion from the Shs1 trillion that was approved in the Financial Year 2023/24.  

Although the House approved the committee report which stressed the need for more funding for the agriculture sector, the sector cut is attributed to a reduction of Shs347 billion in external financing and Government of Uganda development.

Other proposed budgetary allocations are to the Diary Development Authority (Shs18 billion); National Animal Generic Resource Centre and Data Bank (Shs79 billion); National Agricultural Research Organisation (Shs161 billion), National Agricultural Advisory Services Secretariat (Shs35 billion) and Uganda Cotton Development Organisation (Shs5.3 billion) and Uganda Coffee Development Authority (Shs46 billion).

In her presentation, Okori-moe highlighted several critical areas within the agriculture sector that are facing significant funding shortfalls including the much needed foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccines.

AUDIO: Hon. Janet Okori-moe

Although Shs769 billion was requested for to purcahse the vaccines, only Shs11 billion was allocated to vaccinate the 44 million at risk animals on an bi-annual basis, leaving a funding gap of Shs758 billion.

Additionally, the procurement of tractors is facing a shortfall of Shs259 billion for the acquisition of 2,000 units.

Water resources for agriculture production also emerged as a key concern, with a funding gap of Shs108 billion for the construction of water harvesting facilities.

According to Okori-moe, efforts to revitalise ranches and support community breeding services require Shs130 billion to advance the Parish Development Model.

“The funding gap of Shs758.12 billion required to address the issue of FMD should be provided, to restore the integrity of the animal sub-sector in the country,” she said.

The chairperson further noted other unfunded priority areas, including the need for additional funding for water harvesting facilities, capital development support, revamping of ranches, establishment of animal feed processing plants, and promotion of emerging high-value crops.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.