Africa-Press – Uganda. The Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC) has requested Shs 30 billion to procure new, state-of-the-art printing machinery, sparking sharp scrutiny from Members of Parliament over the scale and justification of the proposed expenditure.
The matter arose during a session between Parliament’s Presidential Affairs Committee and officials from the Office of the President, convened to review the 2026/2027 Ministerial Policy Statements. Legislators were informed that although UPPC requires Shs 30 billion for the upgrade, only Shs 16 billion has been allocated in the upcoming national budget.
Speaking before the committee, Assistant Commissioner for Finance and Planning in the Office of the President, Sadat Kisuyi, explained that the funding is part of a broader effort to recapitalise UPPC and enhance its competitiveness in the printing sector.
He noted that discussions are ongoing with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) regarding tax considerations, alongside efforts to mobilise additional resources.
“Within the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, the Ministry of Finance has provided Shs 16 billion for the next financial year to support recapitalisation. However, this remains a drop in the ocean. We are exploring additional funding sources to ensure the organisation becomes sustainable, competitive, and capable of delivering services efficiently across Uganda,” Kisuyi said.
Despite the government’s assurances, lawmakers expressed scepticism about the scale of the request.
Denis Oneka, MP for Kitgum Municipality, who has over 15 years of experience in the printing industry, strongly questioned the proposed budget, describing it as excessive.
‘I am wondering whether this amount includes constructing a house for the printers. The figure is too big. We have durable machines like Heidelberg that can last long. $30 billion for a printery is quite huge. I own equipment worth less than Shs 300 million that handles a wide range of tasks,” he said.
Oneka also called for a detailed breakdown of the machinery to be procured, suggesting that the absence of itemised costing raises concerns about accountability.
Robert Kasolo, MP for Iki-Iki County, acknowledged the importance of strengthening UPPC’s infrastructure but insisted that Parliament must first resolve several outstanding issues before approving additional funding.
He questioned the financial sustainability of the corporation, noting that government policy already directs public institutions to print their documents through UPPC.
“This infrastructure generates revenue, yet we are being asked for Shs 30 billion. We need clarity—if funds have already been provided under the MTEF, and there was talk of a joint venture, did that arrangement collapse?”
Responding to the concerns, Yunus Kakande, Secretary in the Office of the President, clarified that UPPC remains a fully government-owned entity and that no private merger has yet taken place.
He explained that any such arrangement is projected for the long term, noting the existence of National Security Printing Limited, a government-established entity currently handling sensitive printing tasks such as passports and land documents.
Kakande added that the agency is expected to expand its capacity to include the printing of Uganda’s currency in the future.
