House recalled from recess over Gender certificate
On Monday, FOWODE raised a red flag challenging the manner in which Budget proposals for the next financial year were presented without this certificate. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- The Budget Framework Paper FY 2018/19 projects the sector budgets at Shs1.6 trillion, Shs832 billion and 1.1 trillion for Health, Agriculture and Justice Law and Sector respectively.
- The women raised concerns of increased poverty levels, which according to the Uganda Bureau of Standards have increased to 27 percent in 2017/18 up from 19.7 percent in 2016/17.
PARLIAMENT: Members of Parliament have been called from their three-week recess to receive the Certificate of Gender and Equity Compliance from Finance minister, Matia Kasaija.
The MPs were issued with a quick notice to return to Parliament on Wednesday to receive the certificate, in compliance with the law.
The call also comes barely a week after the recess was announced, and follows concerns from the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE.)
On Monday, FOWODE raised a red flag challenging the manner in which Budget proposals for the next financial year were presented without this certificate.
However, Ms Margaret Kakande, the Head of Depart for Gender and Equity Budgeting at the ministry of Finance had told the MPs during a consultative meeting at Parliament on Monday that the Certificate was only delayed by the Equal Opportunities Commission, but was later submitted to Parliament.
“I want to apologise that actually we did send the certificate late because we were waiting for feedback from the Equal Opportunities Commission,” she said.
According to the Public Finance Management Act of 2015, the Certificate is a legal requirement before Parliament starts processing the Budget Framework Paper.
Ms Safia Nalule (NRM PwD), who also chairs Parliament’s Forum on Gender and Equity Budgeting, also expressed concern over the anomaly.
Now, it is after this stage that respective committees will start scrutinizing the proposed 29 trillion shillings Budget for the Financial Year 2018/19.
Meanwhile FOWODE has challenged Parliament to demand answers from ministries on gender mainstreaming provisions.
Key among the demands presented at the first round Table Discussion on Gender and Equity Budgeting held at parliament on Monday, FOWODE highlighted Budget cuts in their priority sectors, mainly Health and Agriculture as well as the Justice Law and Sector.
The Budget Framework Paper FY 2018/19 projects the sector budgets at Shs1.6 trillion, Shs832 billion and 1.1 trillion for Health, Agriculture and Justice Law and Sector respectively.
The women raised concerns of increased poverty levels, which according to the Uganda Bureau of Standards have increased to 27 percent in 2017/18 up from 19.7 percent in 2016/17.
Among other areas of concern include climate change in the face of environmental degradation practices without alternative income sources, food insecurity as well as rising cases of domestic violence.
She said that government must show need to extend equitable education service to less advantage groups.
