“As A Country, We Need To Reduce The Money Injected Into Security & Defence; We Are Not At War With Anyone” – Hon. Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira Tells Museveni’s Government

Shadow Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Hon. Lubowa Ssebina Gyaviira, has called for a review of government spending on security and defence, arguing that more resources should be directed towards other sectors of the economy.

Lubowa said Uganda needs to reduce the amount of money allocated to security and defence because, in his view, the country is not currently engaged in a war that requires such high levels of expenditure.

“As a country, we need to reduce the money injected into security and defence; we are not at war with anyone,” Lubowa said while discussing government priorities and resource allocation.

The opposition legislator argued that balancing national spending is important to ensure that key sectors such as health, education, infrastructure and economic development receive adequate funding.

He said government should consider directing more resources towards programmes that directly improve the lives of ordinary Ugandans and support national development.

Lubowa’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about Uganda’s national budget priorities, with different political actors presenting varying views on how public funds should be allocated.

The Shadow Minister for Finance said that while security remains an important responsibility of government, there is need to assess whether current allocations reflect the country’s immediate needs.

He stressed that Uganda should focus on strengthening areas that contribute to long-term economic growth and improving the welfare of citizens.

The remarks have sparked debate among political leaders and members of the public, with discussions continuing over the balance between maintaining national security and funding social and economic programmes.

Government officials have previously maintained that security and defence spending is necessary to protect the country’s stability and respond to regional security challenges.

Lubowa’s statement adds to the wider conversation on government expenditure, accountability and how national resources can be distributed to address Uganda’s development priorities.