Browsing: Uganda’s Ministry of Finance

Uganda’s loan borrowing sparks payback fears

Uganda’s public debt has risen to $12.2 billion from June this year from about $9.4 billion in 2017, data from the Ministry of Finance shows.

With the rapid accumulation of debts, payment concerns have risen even as government economists tread between defiance and caution.

The national debt which was equivalent to 37 per cent of GDP in 2017, has now risen to 42 per cent of annual economic output.

The huge loans are intended to finance big infrastructure projects in the transport and energy sectors.
Total interest payment on the debt has risen from $2.6 billion in 2016/17 to $3.3 billion by the end of 2018/19.
The increased payments have been made worse by the diminished tax revenue growth and limited economic benefits linked to some infrastructure projects.

Despite a revenue surplus of $69.3 million recorded in 2018/19, the taxman posted revenue collection deficits for three preceding years in a …