Uganda Finance ministry blocks Shs7b for nodding disease
Children affected by nodding disease wait at a treatment centre in Kitgum recently.
Ministry of Finance has rejected a supplementary request of Shs7 billion to combat the outbreak of nodding disease that has claimed hundreds of children in northern Uganda.
This newspaper has secured a letter from the Health ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Asuman Lukwago, ‘begging’ officials in Finance to provide a supplementary of Shs3.85 billion to finance the first phase of an action plan to fight the disease and an additional Shs3.1 billion for the second phase.
However, in a supplementary request to Parliament, totaling Shs215.5 billion, the Ministry of Health docket is missing. This has since angered lawmakers across the political divide, especially those from the affected areas who have vowed not to approve this supplementary funding until Health is given money.
“As you may be aware, the nodding disease has afflicted the people of northern Uganda. This matter has been discussed in Parliament with a recommendation to find an immediate solution [to the crisis],” Dr Lukwago’s letter reads in part. “The Ministry has developed an action plan here attached to address the disease. The plan is costed at Shs3.85 billion for the first phase and Shs3.1 billion for the second phase.”
The letter to Finance added: “This is to request that supplementary funding of Shs4.387 billion and Shs3.85 billion be availed to cover the outstanding utility bills [for Naguru Referral Hospital) and [combating] nodding disease respectively.”
Increased pressure for action has spurred the government to announce a Shs7 billion plan to address the mysterious illness. However, unless something urgent is done, Ministry of Health will have to wait for Supplementary Schedule 11 before officials in the Ministry of Finance give them money to combat this strange disease ravaging northern Uganda.
The 2011 attempt
Last week, junior Health Minister Richard Nduhura told Parliament the initial supplementary budget request that was presented to Ministry of Finance last Financial Year was unsuccessful.
When contacted yesterday, Dr Lukwago was not aware that the Ministry of Finance had blocked the funding to nodding disease. As plan B, Dr Lukwago said Ministry of Health has frozen travel abroad and re-allocated about Shs100 million to combat the outbreak.
Ministry of Finance spokesperson Jim Mugunga said the letter from Ministry of Health was received on Monday and denied claims they had blocked money for nodding disease. “Whereas the letter was written on January 25, we received in on February 20. They wanted money for utility bills and nodding disease. But since we have got the letter, the supplementary request is going to go through the due process and money will be provided. Otherwise it’s not true that we have blocked money for nodding diastase.”
The United States Centres for Disease Control says the cause, mode of spread and cure for the disease still remains a mystery.
By Yasiin Mugerwa, Daily Monitor
Do you have a story or an article to publish? Please email us to submit@in2eastafrica.net.
