Nyendo-Mukungwe MP and Shadow Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira, has called on the Ugandan government to reconsider the hefty amount of money allocated to the security and defence sector, arguing that part of the funding could be redirected to critical development priorities.
Lubowa says Uganda’s current situation does not warrant such heavy spending on security and defence, especially at a time when several other sectors remain underfunded and in need of greater investment.
According to the opposition legislator, reducing the security budget would create fiscal space for government to channel more resources into sectors that directly impact economic growth and the welfare of ordinary Ugandans.
He argued that while security and defence remain important and cannot simply be eliminated from the national budget, their allocations should be reviewed in line with the prevailing circumstances in the country.
“The sectors that we believe spend recklessly, government, though they can’t be removed, but we believe that the money allocated to them should be reduced. For example, on the security and defence side, we’re not badly off or that we’re in a war with anyone. Why would one inject lots of money in the security budget yet even its budget is not looked at in depth?” Lubowa said.
He added that Uganda should prioritise developmental programmes that require urgent financing rather than continuing to allocate large sums to security and defence.
“According to the situation that we’re in, it doesn’t require injecting lots of money in security and defence, yet we have so many developmental projects that need financing,” he said.
Lubowa’s remarks come amid continued debate over Uganda’s national budget priorities, with opposition lawmakers pushing government to scrutinise expenditure and redirect resources towards development and public welfare.
“As a country, we need to reduce the money injected into security and defence; we are not at war with anyone.” – Hon. Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira, Shadow Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development#ZzinaUpdates pic.twitter.com/4Y0w4ykIqq
— 100.2 Galaxy FM Zzina! (@GalaxyFMUg) September 17, 2026
