Finance Minister Henry Musasizi has appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Trade and Industry to explain the utilisation of Non-Tax Revenue (NTR) collections and budget performance of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS).

Musasizi told the committee that UNBS has received increased government budget support over the past five financial years, with its approved budget rising from Shs 65.04 billion in FY 2021/22 to Shs 133.83 billion in FY 2025/26.

He said budget releases during the period ranged between 94 per cent and 100 per cent of the approved allocations, demonstrating consistent government support for UNBS activities.

The Finance Minister explained that temporary budget reductions experienced between FY 2022/23 and FY 2024/25 were linked to global economic challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Musasizi, government later restored and increased UNBS funding from Shs 62.975 billion to Shs 133.834 billion, an amount he said was significantly higher than the bureau’s Non-Tax Revenue collections.

He said the increase in funding reflects government’s commitment to strengthening Uganda’s standards and quality infrastructure.

Musasizi, who was accompanied by Director Economic Affairs Moses Kaggwa and other senior officials, also highlighted government reforms introduced in FY 2017/18 requiring all Non-Tax Revenue collections to be processed through the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA).

He said the reform was intended to reduce revenue leakages, improve collection systems, and strengthen accountability and transparency in public finances.

Over the last five years, UNBS Non-Tax Revenue collections have grown from Shs 60.74 billion to Shs 87.68 billion.

However, the minister rejected a proposal for UNBS to retain and spend its collections directly at source. He said UNBS, as a government vote, is required to comply with the Public Finance Management Act, Cap. 171, which requires government revenue collections to be remitted to the Consolidated Fund.

Musasizi advised UNBS to develop comprehensive and properly costed strategic actions that align with its mandate and support effective implementation of its programmes.

The appearance before the parliamentary committee focused on UNBS financial performance, government funding support, and the management of revenue collected by the standards body.