UPPC’s UGX 30 Billion Printer Budget Raises MPs’ Eyebrows Amid Transition of Security Printing
Parliament, Uganda – A parliamentary committee has raised serious queries over a request for UGX 30 billion to purchase new printing machines for the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC), questioning the logic behind the expenditure just as the state-owned printer is set to take over critical security printing operations from a private firm.
The concerns were raised during a meeting of the Presidential Affairs Committee convened to consider the 2026/27 Ministerial Policy Statements. While officials from the Office of the President defended the need for modernization, legislators pushed back on the scale of the budget, with some suggesting the figures “exceed logic.”
Transition of Power After 15 Years
The debate comes against the backdrop of a significant transition in the country’s security printing sector. Yunus Kakande, Secretary in the Office of the President, informed the committee that UPPC is poised to take over operations currently handled by National Security Printing Limited.
According to Kakande, the current arrangement, which involves a private entity, is concluding after a 15-year period. He noted that construction of new offices in Entebbe is already 80% complete.
“The construction right now is going on at Entebbe for the big offices, which is going to handle all those aspects which are coming in,” Kakande explained. “Once they have done that and after 15 years, they are supposed to leave the country and go back. Now, they will hand over everything which they have been doing in business to UPPC.”
He added that UPPC, which is 100% government-owned, will soon reach the level of printing Uganda’s currency, taking over functions related to passports and land documents currently managed by the outgoing firm.
MPs Question High Costs and Revenue Use
Despite acknowledging the strategic importance of the infrastructure, legislators demanded clarity on the financial requests, specifically the UGX 30 billion budget line for new printers.
Robert Kasolo (Iki Iki County) pointed out the existence of a joint venture and questioned whether it had failed, given the need for fresh capital injection. He also demanded transparency regarding UPPC’s revenue streams, asking why the government needs to provide additional funding if the corporation is already generating money.
“I recognise the importance of this infrastructure, and the need for Parliament to fund it, but there are issues surrounding it that need to be clarified before funds are approved,” Kasolo stated. “If it generates, what happens to that money, and so forth, such that we can see how to appropriate more money.”
The most pointed critique came from Denis Oneka (Kitgum Municipality), who disclosed that he has been in the printing business for 15 years. He questioned whether the UGX 30 billion request included the construction of a building, arguing that the cost of the machinery alone appeared inflated.
“I have been in the printing department for 15 years. I have printery, good machines. When I look at this budget line, UGX 30 billion for printery, it exceeds logic,” Oneka remarked. “I have an equipment which is less than UGX 300 million, but I do everything.”
Oneka demanded a breakdown of the budget, insisting that the committee needs to see a line-item list specifying exactly which machines are to be purchased rather than a lump sum figure.
Government Defends Recapitalization Efforts
In response, officials from the Office of the President defended the need for the investment, citing the need for UPPC to become competitive and handle high-level security work.
Sadat Kisuyi, Assistant Commissioner for Finance and Planning, noted that the government is already in negotiations with the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) regarding taxes to facilitate capitalization. He revealed that while UGX 30 billion is needed, the Ministry of Finance has currently allocated UGX 16 billion in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the next financial year to recapitalize the corporation.
“Part of the resources that you have seen an increase in the Office of the President MTEF, there is UGX 16 billion that Ministry of Finance has been able to put for next financial year to be able to recapitalise, but still a drop in the ocean,” Kisuyi remarked, adding that additional sources of funding are being sought to ensure the organization becomes a growing concern and can offer services effectively.
The committee has deferred its approval pending further scrutiny of the budget breakdown and clarification on the UPPC’s revenue management.
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