Minister Babalanda defends 2.5 billion budget for Jacob Oulanyah’s funeral

Milly Babalanda, the Minister for Presidency and also chairperson of the National Organising Committee (NOC) in charge of burial arrangements for fallen Speaker Jacob Oulanyah has defended the Shs2.5 billion that has been allocated for the burial.

The Shs2.5 billion will be spent on over six items, which will include funeral services, A-Plus services, the Finance Committee, Acholi MPs, security, burial day, and fuel.

The minister was responding to the mixed reactions from the public with others saying the government has exaggerated the budget.

In an exclusive insight into the budget by DailyMonitor’s Tuesday, March 29, publication, the budget for the burial will cover expenses of mourners at both Muyenga and Omoro district-based residences of the deceased.

However, Minister Babalanda said the figure doesn’t matter but the work involved.

, “Regarding the budget for burying Rt. Hon. Oulanyah, what matters is not the figures but the activities involved and status of the deceased. Let us avoid traumatizing the family in this trying time.”

Oulanyah died in Seattle in the United States where he had been admitted batting a terminal illness since early last month.

The body of a former fallen speaker will arrive in Uganda this Friday, then a weeklong series of activities for his burial will follow.