Subscription to international organizations burdening Uganda
Tororo South County MP, Fredrick Angura, noted that the issue of subscription to international organisations is a recurring accountability problem that brings contempt upon the country.
Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consider withdrawing Uganda from some international organizations because of the continued defaulting on payment of subscription fees after arrears rose to Shs37bn in June 2022.
Vincent Bagiire, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of foreign affairs, blamed the Ministry of Finance for failing to pay the membership fees to international organisations despite being aware of these subscription fees, adding that annually, the Ministry is allocated only Shs6bn.
“The Shs49.8bn was the actual bill that we needed to pay off, and please note, we are paying arrears implying, not resources of that very Financial Year. We only have one way out, to suspend subscriptions to African Union, and United Nations such that we don’t incur arrears, but if we continue subscriptions to these organisations, at all times that will be an issue, so it is an issue we need to collectively address,” Bagiire said.
The ministry currently has outstanding arrears totalling Shs37 billion owed to various global organisations. The revelations were made by the public accounts committee on Monday while at parliament.
Bagiire explained that the annual appropriation for subscriptions to international organisations is Shs6 billion. Currently, they are focusing on paying off arrears, without taking into account the current year.
Eddie Kwizera, the MP for Bukimbiri County, proposed that the central government, through the Secretary to the Treasury, assumes responsibility for paying the subscriptions, as it is a national mandate.
He expressed concerns that Uganda’s failure to subscribe could lead to embarrassment at international events, affecting the President’s diplomatic representation.
“As diplomat number one, the President can be embarrassed – they are carrying a national representation. They should find out how they can harmonise that,” he said.
The current practice involves the government releasing funds directly to the concerned entities for the subscription.
Tororo South County MP, Fredrick Angura, noted that the issue of a subscription to international organisations is a recurring accountability problem that brings contempt upon the country.
“I believe the President is the Chief Diplomat and owner of the purse. Why don’t you put this challenge to him as this is bound to indict us as a country?” Angura asked.
Asuman Basalirwa, the deputy chairperson of the committee and MP for Bugiri Municipality, urged the Foreign Affairs team to consider the proposals and find resolutions to address the matter.
