By Sabir Musa

Arua City

Councillors in Arua City on Tuesday approved 48,049,000,000/= budget for the next Financial Year, 2023/2024 with priority given to education, engineering and health sector.

The Secretary of Finance, Planning and Administration, Moses Adriko explained that, the sectors given priority were identified with focus to improving quality of life of people in Arua City. “Key priorities for Financial Year 2023/2024 budget are the following; enhancement of security, the rule of law and fighting corruption, sustaining economic recovery, implementation of the Parish Development Model to create wealth and jobs” he highlighted.

Of the approved budget, 5.46 billion is allocated to health, 14.62 billion to education and 9.37 billion to Engineering (transport). This budget was approved with amendments after a lengthy debate by councillors who raised concerns over irregularities identified.

Councillor representing Ayivu North, Godfrey Anguyo advised council to consider half year budget performance review as a measure of preventing irregularities in implementation of the budget. “Here we are having lump sum approval and after this, the heads of department are supposed to enter this budget into system” Anguyo noted, making reference to failed implementation of exchange visit budget despite approval.

According to the Female Youth Councillor, Doreen Onyiru, some of the votes agreed in committees including for youth skilling program in Zombo District were not included in the budget. “A special budget for this government program of skilling the youth, I think it’s just an oversight that they didn’t put in budget because we discussed it in the committee” she revealed.

In his state of the city address, Arua City Mayor, Sam Nyakua called for unity and team work among staff to register success in implementing the budget.
Only Shs. 6,000,000,000 will be locally raised by Arua City Council to finance this approved budget, while Central Government Transfers will contribute to 42,049,000,000, making a total of 48 billion 49 million shillings for the next financial year.

This is a slight increase from the city’s 2022/2023 Financial Year of 42,494,089,000.

COVER PHOTO: Secretary for Finance, Planning and Administration at Arua City Council, Moses Adriko reading budget speech during the session to approve 2023-2024 FY budget. By Sabir Musa