By Mercy Nalugo
April 20, 2004
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KAMPALA � The proposed referendum on the country�s political system is an unnecessary luxury, a member of the East African Legislative Assembly has said. Speaking during a Reform Agenda district councils� meeting on April 16, Mr Yona Kanyomozi said there are better ways of spending that money. �It is estimated that a referendum will cost Shs 30 billion,� he said, �that is equivalent to twice the annual budget for the financial year ending 2003 for Mulago Complex. We can ill-afford this luxury.� He added: �Why carry out a referendum to decide whether to open or not, whose results people already know.� Government announced last week that the Ministry of Finance has put aside Shs 30 billion for the referendum in the 2004/5 budget. Kanyomozi attacked government for not prioritising its spending and for ignoring the health sector. �The money given to one man [the President] is five times that given to the health sector for all Ugandans,� he said. Speaking at the same function, city lawyer Joseph Balikuddembe also described the referendum as a waste of time and money. The two-day workshop, held at Christ the King Church Community Hall in Kampala, discussed the political, economic and social progress in Uganda since 2001. |
� 2004 The Monitor Publications
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