Uganda's State House has attributed years of delays in fulfilling presidential pledges to inadequate budget allocations, with some commitments remaining outstanding for nearly three decades. State House Controller Jane Barekye told Parliament's Public Accounts Committee on Friday that the institution receives numerous pledges but does not have sufficient resources to fulfil all of them within a short period. She said State House prioritises commitments depending on available resources and operates within the financial limits set for the institution.
The PAC raised the issue while examining queries from the Auditor General's report for the financial year 2024/2025. Legislators expressed concern that extended delays were eroding public confidence in the presidency, with one MP telling the committee that leaving pledges unfulfilled for nearly three decades had demoralised beneficiaries and created frustration among the public. "When a pledge takes 29 years, people get demoralised and they lose hope in the presidency. We must find a lasting solution to this problem," the legislator said. The committee pressed State House to explain what measures were being taken to clear the outstanding commitments.
The committee also questioned the handling of a reported 300 million shilling presidential pledge to former Kampala Central parliamentary aspirant Abraham Luzi, who reportedly received 100 million shillings. Barekye said she had no authority to independently determine the amounts released to beneficiaries, insisting that her role was limited to implementing instructions. "I only release what has been directed to be offered. I do not determine the amounts," she said. The officials were further criticised for failing to honour five consecutive invitations to appear before the committee.
PAC Chairperson Patrick Nsamba criticised the repeated absences, saying they had wasted parliamentary time and delayed scrutiny of State House expenditure. During the same sitting, the State House Anti-Corruption Unit reported that 1,005 people had been apprehended in connection with corruption and related offences. According to the unit, those apprehended included 462 civil servants and 550 private individuals accused of aiding and abetting corruption and fraud.
For Ugandan taxpayers and beneficiaries of presidential pledges, these budget constraints mean assistance promised by the presidency may take decades to materialise, if it arrives at all. The committee is expected to continue examining the Auditor General's report before compiling findings and recommendations for submission to Parliament.