news 31 July 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Government Denies UNBS Authority to Spend Revenue Directly
The government has rejected a proposal from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to spend its collected revenue at the source. This decision requires UNBS to continue remitting all its collections to the Consolidated Fund. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/govt-rejects-unbs-proposal-to-spend-revenue-at-source-5542804
The Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development has turned down a request from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to retain and spend its internally generated revenue directly. This move, according to the Ministry, is to ensure adherence to the Public Finance Management Act.
The UNBS had sought permission to utilize its revenue at the source, a practice that would allow the standards body to directly fund its operations and programs. However, the Ministry has maintained that all revenue collected by government agencies must be deposited into the Consolidated Fund, the central pool of government finances.
This directive means that UNBS will have to continue the established procedure of remitting all its earnings to the government’s central treasury. Any expenditures by the bureau will then need to be approved through the normal budgetary allocation processes.
The rejection underscores the government’s commitment to centralized financial management and oversight. It aims to prevent potential misuse of funds and ensure that public resources are allocated strategically across all government sectors based on national priorities.
While the exact reasons for UNBS’s proposal were not detailed, it is often the case that agencies seek such autonomy to expedite service delivery and address immediate operational needs without the delays associated with the traditional budget cycle. Nevertheless, the Ministry’s stance prioritizes fiscal discipline and transparency within the broader public financial system.
The Ministry’s decision reinforces the principle that all government revenue is ultimately a public resource managed by the Treasury on behalf of the citizens.