Members of Parliament on the Natural Resources Committee have criticised the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon Matia Kasaija for diverting the Environmental Fund from National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) to the Consolidated Fund, saying this has crippled NEMA’s operations.
MPs said the fund was lawfully established to assist NEMA restore the environment and manage climate change related matters. They expressed disappointed saying NEMA has no say on the utilisation of funds.
“The law is very clear that the levy is meant to address environmental concerns but the ministry has turned it into a source of revenue for the whole country in disregard of the law of the environment,” said the Committee chairperson, Hon Emmanuel Otaala.
Busiki County MP, Hon Paul Akamba said many environmental restoration activities are on hold due to budgetary constraints and proposed that government remits a percentage of the revenue to NEMA.
“The fund is supposed to facilitate activities of NEMA; at least, give them 20 per cent of the levy to spend on restoration of environment. Look at the national tree planting campaign, we said we shall be planting 40 million trees every year but it is now a song because there is no money,” said Akamba.
The committee summoned Kasaija to consider funding areas within the Environment and Energy sectors that the committee deemed critical.
NEMA in its presentation revealed that it collected Shs267 billion from the Environmental Levy in the 2021/2022 financial year.
Legislators wondered why government is ‘punishing’ NEMA by allocating it only Shs15 billion for the 2022/2023 financial year for salaries, wages and gratuity.
“If NEMA collects all that money, why don’t you allow them to use the money and they give the excess to government?” asked Bukimbiri County MP, Hon Eddie Kwizera.
Mukono South MP, Hon sred Kayondo criticized government for leaving the authority with skeleton staff and meagre facilities to monitor environment matters in the entire country.
“Image NEMA has 36 cars and 26 of them are down; it has 126 staff against 136 districts. We are going to construct a refinery and pipeline and we expect NEMA to be on ground 24 hours with 36 cars and y 126 staff?” asked Kayondo.
MPs want government to take back the fund to NEMA to be able to set up regional offices and facilitate district environment officers.
“It is the feeling of this committee that you allow NEMA have offices in the districts; you cannot monitor the environment from Jinja road at the headquarters,” Kwizera added.
Kasaija said he will have to consult other stake holders on the MPs’ proposal to take back the fund to NEMA. He explained that the reason the fund was managed centrally was to regulate the possibility of misuse of funds, citing experience with other funds.
“There are many agencies that have funds but some did not run them well; they would collect money and waste it. We agreed as government that all money collected should go to the Consolidated Fund,” he said.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.
© Press Release 2021
Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.
The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
