New details emerging on the shillings 1.7 trillion jet fighter purchase show that government started making a down payment there years ago. Sources within the budget committee of parliament show that government made a deposit of $ 204.3 million on the jet purchase in the 2009/2010 financial year.
According to the sources, government made another deposit in the following financial year, without any approval from parliament. The 3rd payment amounting to shillings 114.7 million is what is included in this year’s budget.
Geoffrey Ekanya, Tororo County still maintains that the security threat Uganda has is that of unemployment, high food and fuel prices. He was not convinced that there was value for money in what he termed as luxury expenditure by government.
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Elijah Okupa, Kasilo County MP says that government needs to come out clearly and explain issues surrounding the purchase of the fighter jets.
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But Defence, Crispus Kiyonga says that the purchase was necessary because of both externally and internal threats. He however refused to divulge information on the exact equipment bought.
Kiyonga noted that if parliament was unsatisfied, the Auditor general would carry out an audit of every item bought.
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In the closed door meeting, the minister tabled a repayment schedule of reserves withdrawn from the bank of Uganda.
