The government will safeguard the independence of the judicial process, Dr Suruma said, adding that it would also promote efficient, transparent and timely enforcement of the judicial decisions in a professional manner with zero tolerance for corruption. "Let all of us stand warned," he said.
Prof. Bukenya said the President was unable to grace the budget reading because he had a "long-standing engagement in Berlin with the Christian community in Germany". Some in the audience who appeared unconvinced murmured in disapproval. Mr Museveni flew to Germany on the eve of the budget reading, for what State House described as a short working visit.
Prof. Bukenya himself had little to say save that the budget was a "good one especially for the poor". He then went on to deliver his boss' speech.
Mr Museveni noted the decline in donor support of the budget as a "harbinger of better things to come". Dr Suruma had revealed in his speech that donor support to Uganda would decline in 2007/08 to 38 percent from last year's 42 percent.
Dr Suruma's speech was delivered to a generally staid audience. There was hardly any noticeable uniform pattern of reaction as the minister laboured through his budget speech. The audience variously booed, went dead silent, or applauded depending on whether a policy or tax pronouncement favoured or disfavoured particular constituents.
The NRM will not allow money from exploitation of the newly discovered oil deposits in western Uganda to be "misused to import wines and cosmetics as happened in some countries in the world", Mr Museveni said drawing a mix of applause and derision. "The Ugandan oil will be for the present and future generations of Ugandans," he said.
The President described as "charlatans" those who have doubted his administration's will to fight graft. The government recently arrested three ex-ministers of health and charged them with theft of money meant for children's immunisation.
In underlining his anti-corruption efforts, Mr Museveni alluded to the NRM having been the first administration to stop petty corruption crimes such as "extortion on roadblocks and poaching of animals in national parks". He added: "How can we, then, fail to fight corrupt public officials pilfering state funds?"
Prof. Bukenya effected his customary composure, exuding an occasional steely smile, as he sat through the three-hour speech.
Source: This Day
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