The Uganda Peoples Defense Forces has asked for 27 billion Uganda Shillings for helping in pacifying Karamoja which is facing challenges of cattle rustling and insecurity.
The request is contained in the Budget framework paper for 2024/25 that was presented to Parliament and is being scrutinized by the Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs. The Budget proposals of the UPDF were presented by the Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs Hon Vicent Bamulangaki Sempijja who was accompanied by the Minister of State for Defense Hon Jacob Oboth Oboth. For years, there has been a persistent challenge of insecurity in Karamoja with Pokot and Turkana from Kenya attacking Karamojong and stealing their cows which makes the Karamojong also to attack other regions like Teso and Acholi to steal cows hence causing insecurity
Other money that the UPDF needs includes 62.8 billion for Deployment in DRC, 40 billion for utilities that is water and electricity among others. The Committee on Defense and Internal Affairs is scrutinizing the budget of UPDF and the report will be sent to the Budget Committee for further scrutiny and eventually will be sent to Parliament for debate. The 2024/25 budget is expected to be passed by May 2024 ahead of final reading by the President.
