In response to recent budget cuts, Parliament is shifting its focus towards identifying areas where the government can reduce public administration costs, thereby easing the burden on taxpayers.
Legislators emphasize that alongside budget reductions, addressing wasteful expenditures is crucial to effectively increase discretionary funds.
The government’s announcement of plans to slash administration costs, beginning with rationalization, has now brought attention to Parliament’s own expenses.
The recent 50% budget cut for Parliament has sparked discussions on where further reductions can be made.
Many are targeting the presidential advisors, whose numbers nearly double that of the cabinet.
Soroti West MP, Jonathan Ebwaru, has highlighted the significant financial outlay for presidential advisors, with a monthly salary expenditure totaling shs644 million.
He stressed the need for scrutiny and potential downsizing of this segment of government.
Concerns were also raised about the expensive maintenance of the presidential fleet, comprising 60 vehicles, each requiring a driver’s salary and upkeep expenses.
The suggestion to streamline the cabinet, currently consisting of 81 ministers, gained traction due to the substantial resources allocated to ministerial perks and privileges.
Calls for revision extended to the resident district representatives (RDCs) and deputies, whose salaries and benefits contribute to a significant annual expenditure of shs7.9 billion.
Despite their constitutional roles, questions have been raised about the necessity and efficacy of these positions.
MP Ebwaru emphasized that merely cutting Parliament’s expenditure isn’t sufficient if the size of government remains unchanged.
He urged a comprehensive evaluation of retirement benefits to align with the country’s economic capacity.
While calls for expenditure cuts are gaining legitimacy, doubts persist regarding their feasibility and potential impact on discretionary spending.
