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The Civil Society Budget
Advocacy Group (CSBAG)
C
S B A G
Budgeting for equit
y
ANNUAL REPORT 2012

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CONTENTS
2
ACRONYMS 4
FOREWORD 5
WHO WE ARE 6
OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS 7
CSBAG 2012 MILESTONES 10
Alternative Budget Proposals 10
CSBAG/Parliamentary committee meetings 11
Budget Speech Analysis 11
Budget Dialogues 12
Media Budget Analysis 13
Capacity Development 17
Partnerships and Alliances 19
Generating Evidence for Advocacy 21
MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATION 23
MONITORING AND EVALUATION 25
FINANCIAL INFORMATION 27

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ACODE Advocates Coalition for Development
CSBAG Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group
CSO Civil Society Organization
DRT Development Research and Training
FOWODE Forum for Women in Democracy
FY Financial Year
HUMC Health Unit Management Committee
LC Local Council
PELUM Participatory and Ecological Land Use Management
PWDs Persons with Disabilities
SMC School Management Committee
TOT Training of Trainers
UDN Uganda Debt Network
UNNGOF Uganda National NGO Forum
URSSI Uganda Roads Sector support Initiative
UWONET Uganda Women’s Net work
VBC Village Budget Club
WEGCDA Women and Girl Child Development Association
ACRONYMS
FOREWORD
The year 2012 was very active for CSBAG, not only did we register growth
in membership but also our governance structure was streamlined. To
date 33 individuals and 21 organizations are fully registered as CSBAG
members and being a growing coalition, this process will continue
in the coming years. Furthermore, CSBAG has a Constitution,
Membership Guidelines and an Interim Planning Committee which
plays an oversight function.
We registered key milestones including amplifying our voices for
improved financing of the key sectors that directly impact on the
lives of poor women and men. CSBAG developed and presented
the civil society alternative budget proposals to policy makers which
influenced budget decisions of the FY 2012/13 National Budget,
engaged on the Public Finance Bill, 2012 to ensure that it promotes
budgetary efficiency, accountability and value for money in public
expenditure management, provided training to civil society organizations who
are now more able to engage, interrogate and scrutinize budgets at local and
national levels. I am also happy to report that CSBAG now has a fully-fledged website. The website can be
accessed on www.csbag.org, it is equipped with up-to-date budget related information, research and analysis.
As we move into 2013, CSBAG has outlined key strategic areas of intervention that will help us realise our
vision. We shall focus more on connecting grassroots to national level budget advocacy, continue capacity
development in areas of budget analysis and macro economics, finalize the strategic plan provide alternative
budget proposals as well as knowledge generation on budget matters.
I would like to thank our partners for all the financial and technical support which has enabled us to continue
our budget advocacy work. Specifically, I thank Trocaire, Action Aid Uganda and Water Aid. I would also take
this opportunity to thank all CSBAG members for their vigilance and pro-activeness which has enable us scale
up. I urge all members to continue working towards consolidating these achievements in order to make CSBAG
more effective and impactful.
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Julius Mukunda CSBAG Coordinator
I am delighted to share with you the Civil Society Budget
Advocacy Group (CSBAG) annual report for 2012. CSBAG
in 2012 maintained its cutting edge budget advocacy
through its coalition building approach to ensure that
the budget making process is participatory and citizen’s
concerns are prioritized in the national budget.

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The goal of the CSBAG is to equip citizens with the tools
to demand for accountability from stakeholders through
advocacy, effective campaigns and training at both local and
national levels. This in turn would achieve our desired goal of
government generating budgets that respond to the needs of
poor people while taking into consideration the acute needs of
other marginalized groups at national and local platforms.
Our mission is to strengthen civil society to demand for improved
accountability in democratic governance. 1n 2012 Forum for
Women in Democracy (FOWODE) as the current chair for
the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group focused its resources
on the principal remit of managing the ‘Budget Advocacy’
to achieve budgets that respond to the needs of poor people
and focus on other marginalized groups such as People with
Disability (PWDs) at a national and local level in Uganda.
CSBAG core values derive from a single central premise;
ensuring the budgetary process is participatory and
citizen concerns are prioritized to eliminate extreme
poverty. The quality of our overall endeavor must ultimately be
measured by its contribution to this process through advocacy,
training and raising awareness through civil action.
The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) since its launch in 2004 has made major
leaps towards ensuring that the Ugandan budget making process is more participatory, transparent
and citizen concerns are prioritized in government budget allocations and implementation. The
partnership comprises both individuals and organisations including; FOWODE, UDN, ACODE,
DRT, Action Aid, Jenga Africa, WEGCDA, AGHA, ACTADE, Water Aid, UNNGOF, CEDOVIP, PELUM,
Environment Alert, VEDCO, DENIVA, ACTV, CEEWA U, DSW, UWONET and ACCU.
WHO WE ARE
OUR VISION
OUR MISSION
OUR VALUES
6
150stakeholders attended the
CSBAG pre-budget dialogue under the theme
‘Makingthe National budget Pro-poor, gender
sensitve and equitable’ This culminated into
a position paper which was presented to the
Ministrty of finance –represented by Mr Keneth
Mugamber (Commissioner of budgets). It was
a unique opportunity to share Civil Society
opinions on the key government budget
priorites for FY 2012/13.
OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS
80grassroots community
monitors in Buliisa and
Bundibugyo equipped with
knowledge and skills to
analyse local government and
advocate for pro-poor budgets
20CSBAG
Members were
trained to form a
cadre of Trainers of
Trainers in budget
analysis

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Capacity of 103CSO members’ from
TAC, PACONET, TIP,
NGO Forum and CSBAG
members enhanced in
gender budgeting and
resource tracking in the
agriculture sector.
CSBAG presented its concerns on the
government commitment towards financing
gender equality in Uganda at a session
entitled ‘financing gender equality: from
rhetoric to Action’. Presented to 500civil society members in Kampala as an
important platform to showcase the key the
role played within the broader network of
civil society
200 participants from civil society,
government, attended a post budget
dialogue in June 2012 under the theme
‘Government renewed commitment to a
people centred budget’. The interchange
provided a forum for CSOs to engage directly
with policy makers to impart alternative
budget proposals for effective deployment of
national resources.
1. Public financing for Agriculture project. Supported by Action Aid Uganda
2. Budget Advocacy Project Supported by Trocaire
3. Strengthening the capacity of CSO’s to effectively demand for accountability Supported by
Action Aid Uganda
4. Advocacy on public Finance Bill, 2012 supported by Action Aid Uganda
2012 ACTION AREAS
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CSBAG generated alternative budget proposals to the national budget FY 2012/13. The analysis was
collated from Budget Indicative Figures FY 2011/12, the Budget Speech FY 2012/13 and the Ministerial Policy
Statements for respective sectors FY 2012/13. 6 position papers were developed and five parliamentary
committees met. Development Research and Training (DRT) and Forum for education NGO’s in Uganda
(FENU) developed positional papers for Health and Education. Participatory Ecological Land Use Management
(PELUM) developed for Agriculture; The Uganda Roads Sector Support Initiative (URSSI) developed a position
paper on physical infrastructure; SEATINI developed a position paper on Trade; Water Aid and Environmental
Alert developed position paper for Water & Environment, Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE)
developed for Public Service and Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, gender budget issues were incorporated
in each of these position papers. The proposals were consolidated into a booklet and 1000 copies have
been disseminated.
Some of the FY 2012/13 Sector recommendations by CSBAG include;
1. Agriculture; CSBAG proposed increased financial and technical support to farmers, a separate credit
line for small scale farmers and also government to establish an Agricultural Bank that will explicitly focus
on farmers’ credit needs. A 10% allocation of the agriculture budget to women farmers for increased food
production
3. Education: CSBAG recommended a 20% budgetary increase to boost the quality of the Universal
Primary Education(UPE) in Uganda. A review of both the UPE and Universal Secondary Education (USE)
policies and increased involvement of parents in the management, monitoring of schools for improved
quality education. Finalisation of Special Needs Education policyand financing its implementation.
4. Health: CSBAG proposed a significant increase to the health budget as a proportion to meet the
Abuja target of 15%. Establishment of a maternal health fund to improve maternal health and increase
renumeration for health workers
5. Gender: to enforcement of the Budget call Circular directive on Gender budgeting, Gender budgeting
Talking Points were developed and circulated to the different parliamentary committees.
6. Public Service: The pension’s funds was also one of the key issues for CSBAG Budget advocacy
CSBAG 2012 MILESTONES
1. ALTERNATIVE BUDGET PROPOSALS CSBAG held strategic meetings with the parliamentary committees of Trade, Health, Education, Gender, Trade,
Public Service and Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to effectively engage the budget process. This is a space that
CSBAG continues to use to engage policy makers to adopt key recommendation of the Civil society Alternative
Budget proposals for incorporation in the issue paper of parliament that entails pertinent issues that Parliament
raises to government ministries before they debate the sector budgets.
The reading of the FY 2012/13 National Budget Speech by the Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic
Development prompted a press conference which provided a platform for CSBAG to analyse and publicise
critical gaps in the budget speech to the different media houses including UBC, NBS, Daily Monitor, TOP TV,
TOP radio, Radio Simba, KFM etc. Lead agencies and organizations under CSBAG scrutinized the budget
and made recommendation to ensure that the national budget is pro poor and gender sensitive.
Main issues in 2012/13 National Budget Speech
The additional Ug. Shs 3.25 billion that was earmarked on top of 25 billion for the Capital Venture Fund.
Introduction of the Graduate Capital Venture Fund –Ug.Shs16.6 billion.
PAYE threshold increased Ug.Shs 130,000 to Ug. Shs. 235,000 which is a plus to the poor men and women
of Uganda.
Ug. Ushs 1.6 Trillion earmarked for Education with great emphasis on Business, Technical and Vocational
skills
Ug. Shs 585.3 billion earmarked for the agricultural sector– where 80% of poor women and men are
an active force- with great focus on nuclear (small scale) farmers by zoning areas in terms of crops and
assistance.
The Minister also highlighted that close to 3000 youths had received Ug. Shs 18 billion out of Ug. Shs 25
billion earmarked in the last budget and promised to give a progress report when parliament resumed the
session.
2. CSBAG /PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE
MEETINGS ON KEY BUDGET ISSUES
3. BUDGET SPEECH ANALYSIS
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4. CSBAG PRE/POST BUDGET PUBLIC DIALOGUES
The pre and post budget dialogues increased visibility and publicized the key budget issues and CSO proposals
for the FY 2012/2013 National Budget. The dialogues attracted CSO representatives, government officials,
academia, students, parliamentarians and the general public. Through the dialogues, the public got feedback
from the Ministry of finance on government positions and justifications for its priority areas in the Budget
Speech and the Ministerial Policy Statements FY 2012/2013. The CSBAG’s position papers presented during
these dialogues highlighted issues and recommendations of Macroeconomic Management, Service Delivery
sectors, Infrastructure, Environmental issues as well as budget governance issues to be incorporated into the
national budget priorities for the financial year 2012/13. Key issues in these dialogues included the following:
The high inflation rates, the loss of Uganda shilling value and abnormal interest rates while the government
continues to deny that there is an economic crisis.
The importance of addressing the issue of wages across the public sector with special attention to teachers
and doctors
The credibility of the budget continuing to be eroded by increasing supplementary budget appropriations
which reached a record high of 38% in FY 2010/11
The high costs of running government
The fact that although improving service delivery has featured in the previous five budget themes, majority
of funds are concentrated at the central government ministries and agencies rather than at the front line
service delivery points.
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5. MEDIA BUDGET ADVOCACY
A media advocacy campaign for the pre and post budget analysis was organized to publicise and increase
discussion on the critical areas in the budget that needed redress by government. CSBAG members including
Action Aid, FOWODE, Environmental Alert, and policy makers participated in this campaign. 8 Radio Talk shows
(4 radio one) (2 KFM) (1 Simba FM) (1 Impact FM) held for the pre and post budget analysis, 5 TV Talk shows
(1 NTV) (I UBC) (1 NBS) held for the pre budget analysis. This campaign amplified CSBAG voice and raised the
issues of concern by the civil society.
Civil society wants more investment budget funds
Government has heard this message for a long time, although it
has turned out difficult to execute because of an old, simple eco-
nomic belief – public consumption drives growth. The Civil Society
Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), in a report, says the current 65%
allocation of budget funds towards consumption is untenable. The
group argues that more money towards investment-related pro-
jects has a wider trickledown effect, and therefore spurs growth.
http://www.observer.ug/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&
id=18396:civil-society-wants-more-investment-budget-funds&catid=38:
business&Itemid=68
CSOs ask govt to refocus budget priorities
Posted Saturday, April 21, 2012 | By Ismail Musa Ladu & Nicho-
las Kalungi
The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group has asked the govern-
ment to reconsider its priorities in order to come up with a
pro-poor, gender responsive and equitable budget that will assist
Uganda achieve faster, sustainable and all-inclusive growth. ...
Government urged to focus on a pro-poor and gender sensitive
budget
By Rukiya Mukama, The Independent April 19th 2012
During the public dialogue at Hotel African in Kampala, Julius
Mukunda the Senior Programme Director for Forum for Women
in Democracy (FOWODE) says government should carry out a cost
analysis study on its organisations and see which are viable and
which are not.
Civil society demands more funding for health, education
Posted Sunday, May 6, 2012 | By Mercy Nalugo
A consortium of civil society organisations are pushing for govern-
ment reforms in the health and education sectors to among
others have the percentage of government allocation to the health
sector increased to meet the Abuja Declaration target of 15 per
cent....
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Civil+society+demands+m
ore+funding+for+health++education/-/688334/1399958/-/l0ddssz/-/
index.html
Civil society tells govt to set up farmers’ bank
Posted Monday, April 23, 2012 | By Mike Ssegawa
Civil society organisations have asked government to open an
agricultural bank to facilitate farmers, who are in need of financial
services but cannot get them easily and at affordable terms. The
CSOs made the demand at the pre-budget meeting in Kampala
last week...
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/1391916/-/avjye-
oz/-/index.html
Uganda: NGOs Push for Bigger Agriculture Budget
By Eriosi Nantaba, 22 April 2012, African Business Week
In a position paper themed Making the national budget pro-poor,
gender sensitive and equitable presented by Mr Julius Mukunda,
Senior Program Director FOWODE, emphasized that agriculture
is the engine of Uganda’s growth and poverty eradication which
employs the majority of Ugandans with the greatest percentage
being small scale farmers.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201204240009.html
MPs support Kadaga in bid to reject Bill
By Mercy Nalugo| Posted Wednesday, December 5 2012
She was supported by members and the Civil Society Budget Ad-
vocacy Group chairperson, Mr Julius Mukunda, who all noted that
some clauses would weaken the oversight role of Parliament on
public finance by scrapping the Budget Office…“The Budget Office
and the Budget Committee not only enhance the MPs’ participa-
tion in the budget process but also their oversight function has
been strengthened. With the two institutions, civil society’s partici-
pation in the budget has been strengthened,” Mr Mukunda said.
http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/MPs-support-Kadaga-in-bid-
to-reject-Bill/-/688334/1636610/-/abs0ifz/-/index.html
Some of the news generated on CSBAG work
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CSBAG members in a meeting with
Parliament to present CSO position on
the Public Finance Bill, 2012
IEC materials to support CSBAG advocacy for increased
resource allocation to the agriculture sector was
implemented. i.e stickers,posters,banners which have been
used successfully to disseminate CSBAG key messages such
as ‘70% of small holder farmers in Uganda are women’, “Ask
your leader to lobby for 10% allocation of the agriculture
budget to women farmers for increased food production’,
CSBAG advocacy at parliament contributed to prioritisation
of the CSBAG budget proposals in different sectors as some
of the proposals presented were responded to.
With CSBAG continuous engagement with Ministry of
Finance over an increase in the Agriculture budget, we
appreciate that Government came up with new approach
to agriculture to ensure food security, provide raw materials
and enhance export revenue. Therefore, the sector holds
the key to Uganda’s economic transformation, job and
wealth creation. To complement Government Agricultural
Zoning Strategy, Government will adopt a commodity based
approach which will focus on 11 selected commodities for
increased exports to regional and international markets.
Apart from traditional commodities of coffee and tea,
other crops were selected for both their versatility as food
security and export earning potential.
CSBAG advocacy contributed to:
A 6% increase in the health sector
budget.
PAYE threshold increased from Ug.
Shs 130,000 to Ug. Shs 235,000.
Increase from Ug.Shs 447.6bn to
Ug.Shs 585 bn allocation to the
agricultural sector.
An increment in the salaries of
teachers with Ug. Shs 166 bn
allocation.
a higher demand for accountability
by the government and public to
pensioners’ money. The pension’s
fund another key issue for advocacy
during the parliamentary committee
meetings.
a boost in the Agricultural budget
from the Ministry of Finance to ensure
food security, provide raw materials
and enhance export revenue.
5.1 KEY OUTCOMES
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6. CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
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CSBAG member during a training on
a gender responsive budgeting and
resource tracking in Agriculture
CSBAG recognises the need for sustainable budget advocacy and to the effect a range of customized trainings
and technical assistance drawn from experienced practitioners in the field were organised.
CAPACITY BUILDING IN BUDGET ANALYSIS AND ADVOCACY
In partnership with Rwenzori Anti-corruption Coalition (RAC), two workshops were held in Bundibugyo and
Buliisa districts. The 80 participants acquired key skills in budgeting and resource tracking. Their capacity
to monitor government programs was enhanced and this deepened their understanding of public finance
practices and processes used in delivering transparent local government budgets.
A TOT (Trainer of Trainer) on Budget analysis for 20 CSBAG members was conducted to enhance diagnostic
skills, knowledge and ability of members to independently train other groups in budget analysis. This in turn
provided them with a set of skills and knowledge to replicate in their organisations. The ensuing effect was key
for the Uganda Roads Sector Support Initiative (URSSI) who used this know-how to generate a position paper on
physical infrastructure with particular focus on roads. It was presented to the Physical Infrastructure committee
in parliament.
Other key attributes to the training was empowering the CSOs to effectively engage in the budget process. For
instance
• The National NGO forum was able to produce a position paper and participated in the National Budget
Conference
• Environmental Alert produced a position paper for Water and Environment
• DENIVA and ACTION AID developed position paper on the creation of new districts in Uganda and its
effects.
• CSBAG was able to directly analyse the upcoming new Finance Bill and developed a position paper that
was used to campaign on its merits.
PELUM Uganda a CSBAG member organisation produced a position paper using skills acquired at
TOT workshop. They analysed the budget speech and the Agricultural ministerial Policy statement
FY 2012/13. This provided a very useful tool in lobbying government bodies on key issues related
to the Agricultural sector.
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CSBAG members during a session
on budget analysis
CAPACITY BUILDING IN GENDER RESPONSIVE BUDGETING AND RESOURCE TRACKING IN AGRICULTURE
CSBAG conducted 3 two-day capacity building trainings for CSBAG members to build their capacity in gender
responsive budgeting and budget tracking in the agriculture sector. The participants were selected from national
level CSBAG members at national level, PACONET in Pallisa and Teso Anti Corruption Coalition (TAC) in Soroti.
In Pallisa the training targeted ‘reflect group’ members and in Soroti it was representatives from CBOs that
collaborate with TAC. The trainings focused on gender budgeting and agriculture service delivery tracking; the
Local Government budget cycle, analyzing gender issues in agriculture sector, rights based approach to public
service delivery in relation to agriculture sector, budget concepts as well as the public expenditure tracking
[PETS] tools for agriculture. In all trainings the gender budgeting aspect was appreciated since to most, it was
a new area of study.
CSBAG also supported two of her partners to attend the Gender Budget training in Rwanda, which enhanced
the skills of the staff and also provided an opportunity for sharing the lessons learned from the training for
incorporation in the implementation of CSBAG budget advocacy activities.
The capacity building activities contributed to the enhanced ability of CSBAG members to participate effectively
in budgeting processes. This formed a cadre of budget advocates in budget analysis that provided technical
assistance in their respect organizations and to CSBAG when analyzing government budget information during
the national budget review process. We now have a team of experts that independently do budget analysis and
generate Position papers to the national budget.
7. PARTNERSHIPS AND ALLIANCES
CSBAG has built strong and effective relationships this year that have positively impacted on the collaborations
the Ministry of Finance, Parliament, the private sector and the wider civil society.
CSBAG’s expertise is held in high esteem as the voice of Budget Advocacy in Uganda. We are also striving
towards strengthening these alliances at the local level. The Development Partners are keen to enhance the
CSBAG because of its prominent support programs on the budget.
CSBAG had the opportunity to meet with the Joint Budget Support Unit. The meet up with the Ministry of
Finance led to an agreement to appraise with them on a quarterly basis. This is an important platform to offer
direct input and achieve improved budget processes and outcomes.
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CSBAG members addressing Policy makers
during the Women’s Conference at the Annual
farmers’ Forum
Women Farmers set their manifesto:
Under the Food Rights Alliance, CSBAG participated in the farmers’ forum to amplify the voice of smallholder
farmers. CSBAG supported women farmers from Luwero, Mityana and Wakiso districts to attend the women’s
forum; members were picked from community groups that track resource allocation in their communities.
The forum offered a platform to women farmers to share and learn with the policy makers on what the
opportunities and challenges the agricultural sector presents to them. As a key outcome from this engagement,
a women farmers’ statement of action was produced and presented to policy makers. There was renewed
commitment from the participants to: Sensitize other women farmers on their rights, advocate for transparency
in use of government and own resources, attend village level meetings and mobilise other women to attend
meetings, ensure a fair selection criterion of NAADS beneficiaries at village level.
8. GENERATING EVIDENCE FOR ADVOCACY
Increased availability and usage of knowledge and
information for policy makers on service delivery and
utilization of resources .
AGRICULTURE PERFORMANCE STUDY
CSBAG commissioned a study on the performance of agriculture
services in Uganda to be used for advocacy when engaging
with the policy makers. The study focuses on the performance
of 4 government loans including Vegetable Oil Development
Project, Creation of tsetse and trypareas, Agricultural Improved
rice production (NERICA project) and Farm Income Enhancement
Project – the Agricultural Componen.The report is a useful
resource to our budget advocacy for public financing for
agriculture.
Key conclusion of Agriculture Performance Study
1) The budget allocation to agriculture as a share of the national budget remains low, at 3.2% in FY 2012/2013.
Most funds are disbursed as small discrete projects whose contribution is not impactful and nor sustainable. Sector
attracts less than 10% of the donor assistance in Uganda that is channeled to the development budget. A
substantial part of external support to the sector is in form of Technical Assistance policy and institutional development
yet the MAAIF continues to lack sufficient implementation capacity.
2) Slow disbursements of donor funds in the sector in turn leading to slow implementation of donor funded
interventions. In FY 2011/2012, 74% of the total loan portfolio equivalent to US$ 341.55 remained undisbursed. The four
case study loans bring out many factors that singularly or in combination slow implementation of donor funded projects.
For example, the poor design of the FIEFOC irrigation project slowed funds disbursement and project implementation.
ADB Funded projects generally have long bureaucratic procurement processes that delay disbursement of funds. The
Government of Japan and FAO took lead in the implementation of the Agriculture improved Rice Production project
which led to distribution of poor quality inputs, the bulk of funds being used in recurrent expenditures indicative
of poor allocative efficiency and low project sustenance. The FIEFOC case study illustrates that some projects are
complete failures because of low implementation/institutional capacity in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry
and Fisheries. Although funds absorption was high, it was for the wrong reasons, with 87% of the resources being spent
on general operating expenses without any tangible outcome.
3) Gender mainstreaming is not prioritized in agricultural loans.
4) Access to extension services remains low, with 80% of the agricultural households having not been visited by an
extension worker in the recent agricultural survey of 2008/2009.
5) District and sub-county officials are not adequately involved in the project design, planning and budgeting stages. They
are brought late into the implementation stage which lessens ownership, supervision and sustainability of the donor
funded projects.
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Hope’s story
“They teach local people how to budget for their
needs. Women have achieved a lot. Women used
to grow food or cook exclusively for their families.
Now they’ve learned how to plan and sell extra to
pay for school fees.”
-Hope, Kabale during the Women’s Conference at the Farmers forum

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VIDEO DOCUMENTARY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR
CSBAG in 2012 produced a video documentary on the performance of agriculture which brings to the fore
issues on: Resource Allocation in the agriculture sector and how it impacts on advancing this sector. Information
for this documentary was generated from CSBAG members including Action aid, FOWODE, PELUM, VEDCO and
Local governments and farmers from Pallisa and Luwero government. This will help CSBAG in her advocacy
for improved resource allocation and management of public funds the agriculture sector. The video can be
accessed via you tube on this link – Financing and performance of Agriculture in Uganda /youtube.com
ANALYSING THE PUBLIC FINANCE BILL, 2012
CSBAG engaged with Parliament, Ministry of Finance in order to input into the Public Finance Bill, 2012.
Additionally, national and regional dialogues were organised to provide a forum for citizens to engage in the
process of reviewing the public finance bill and deliberate through a public domain, the avenues for engendering
the Bills; thus contributing to greater gender equality and accelerated poverty reduction efforts in Uganda.
CSBAG met with parliament to present policy makers. There a number of proposals CSBAG is making to the bill.
Specifically CSBAG proposed the Public Finance Bill 2012 to:
Specify spaces for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) other stakeholders’ participation within the budget
preparation, approval and management.
Retain the Parliamentary Budget Office and its independence to carry its work needs to be guaranteed.
Have a provision mandating EOC To issue a ‘Certificate of Gender Equity’ as a certification of how an MDAs
budget address gender equity issues
Recommendations were raised by both local leaders and the citizenry in the regional dialogues. It was however
very evident that the citizenry mostly in rural areas is still very ignorant about such legislation and the impact
it has on their lives. CSBAG proposal not to remove the parliamentary budget office was largely backed by
parliament and this strengthened our voice on this issue.
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GOVERNANCE
In order to streamline the operations of CSBAG and her membership, 4 CSBAG strategic engagements were held
to engage on issues including governance of CSBAG. As a result an interim planning committee was nominated
which developed the CSBAG constitution and reviewing the CSBAG strategic plan. To date 33 individuals and 21
organizations are fully registered as CSBAG members and the exercise is still ongoing
CSBAG INTERIM PLANNING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Kapwepwe Julius Chairperson
Imelda Namagga Treasurer
Elliot Onzaam Member
Daniel Lukwago Member
Julius Mukunda Co-ordinator
INFORMATION SHARING
CSBAG developed a website to increase its information sharing channels. The website can be accessed on
www. csbag.org
MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATION
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CIVIL SOCIETY ALTERNATIVE BUDGET PROPOSALS
When government released the Indicative figures CSBAG developed
an alternative budget proposal with key budget recommendations
geared towards ensuring that the views and concerns of the poor
people are incorporated in the National Budget priorities for the FY
2012/2013. The Alternative budget proposals were shared with the
policy makers in various parliamentary sessional committee meetings
and also shared with the different local government and CSOs.

13. 2524
MONITORING AND EVALUATION
After the implementation of an activity an evaluation form is filled
by the participants of the training. From the trainings carried out,
participants indicated that the trainings in budget advocacy and the
training of trainers were very useful and would assist participants as
they carry out budget analysis in their organizations but also as the
Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group. The graph below indicates the
new knowledge and skill member’s thought critical from the capacity
building trainings. This was collated from training evaluations
CSBAG analysed the Ministerial Policy Statements and the approved
2012/13 budget to identify which of its alternative proposals had been
incorporated in the different sect oral plans and budgets. This provided
information on how effectiveness of CSBAG advocacy activities. To
further streamline this mechanism CSBAG through the Public Finance
Bill is lobbying for a feedback mechanism where Parliament officially
communicated to stakeholders on the action taken on the proposal it
submits to Parliament.
0 10 20 30 40 50
New skills in gender sensitive budgeting
New Skills in tracking agricultural resources
New skills in analysing budget information
CSBAG National
Agricultural
training
CSBAG members attending a post budget
dialogue, 2012
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CHALLENGES
At best CSBAG successfully delivered and accomplished most of the planned activities however some unforeseen
challenges were experienced.
At the national level, the time provided by government to discuss the budget was limited to parliament which
hindered CSBAG to participate effectively since some committees did not provide space to present CSO
positions.
Political interference also affected some of the CSBAG members especially when government accountability
and transparency was in doubt on critical issues impacting on citizen’s quality of life. Government threatened to
close offices and deny re-newel of registration for these organisations. This greatly hindered their participation
in membership activities.
Absence of local partners on CSBAG national activities, this can be attributed to project design. CBSAG plan
to bridge this gap in future to enhance our national level advocacy with the local level advocacy for improved
financing for agriculture
Limited resources hindered our effective use of media engagements to further raise awareness and amplify our
voices through media on increased financing for agriculture.
We have built capacity of CSOs in resource tracking and gender budgeting. This resource will stay in the different
organizations even when the project has ended. In addition, we constantly encourage CSBAG members to integrate
the budget advocacy work in their organizations work, a step many have enthusiastically taken on in their day today
work.
As a result of the consistent advocacy work of the CSBAG, linkages have been established with Ministry of Finance,
Parliament and the wider civil society. CSBAG is increasingly being recognized as the voice of Budget Advocacy in
Uganda. CSBAG is also striving towards strengthening these linkages at the local level in order to enhance the linkages
of national and local level CSBAG advocacy in the area of agriculture
SUSTAINABILITY
26
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
27
THANK YOU
The work of The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group is reliant on the help, support and
goodwill of many thousands of individuals and the backing of a range of public and private
bodies and organisations. We are greatly appreciative of this support. Our thanks to our most
important asset – the partners -without your efforts the achievements we have accomplished
would never be realised.
10%
30%
20%
40%
Training Publication Media advocacy Admnistration
CSBAG Financial Expenditure, 2012
CSBAG Financial Income FY, 2012 (Ugshs)

15. 2928
CSBAG members meeting with Deputy to the
treasurer, Ministry of Finance, Planning and
Economic Development
OUR MEMBERS
The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) since its launch in 2004 has made major leaps towards
ensuring that the Ugandan budget making process is more participatory, transparent and citizen concerns
are prioritized in government budget allocations and implementation. The partnership comprises of both
individuals and organisations including;
Profile of CSBAG membership
Forum for Women in Democracy (www.fowode.org)
The Southern and Eastern African Trade Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI-U)
www.seatini.org
African Centre for Trade and Development (ACTADE) www.actade.org
The Uganda Debt Network (UDN) www.udn.or.ug
The Uganda National NGO Forum donor community. www.ngoforum.or.ug
Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) www.pelumuganda.org
Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment www.acode-u.org
The Centre for Women in Governance (CEWIGO) www.cewigo.org
The Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF- Uganda) www.esaff.org
Environmental Alert (EA) www.envalert.org
Uganda Road Sector Support Initiative (URSSI)
The Human Rights Network Uganda (HURINET- U) www.hurinet.or.ug
National Union of Women with Disabilities of Uganda (NUWODU)
Development Research and Training (DRT) www.drt-ug.org
Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET ) www.uwonet.or.ug
Water Aid Uganda www.wateraid.org/uganda
Platform For Citizenship Participation and Accountability (PLACA) www.placaug.org
African Youth Development Link (AWYDL) www.aydl.org
Action Group for Health Human Rights and HIV/AIDS (AGHA)www.agha.or.ug
African Women’s Economic Policy Network (AWEPON) www.awepon.net
Hope after Rape www.har.interconnection.org
Women and Girl Child Development Association
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C
SBAG
Budgetingforequit
y

17. 32
Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CS BAG] is a coalition of Civil Society
Organizations (CSOs) and Individuals which was formed in 2004, to advocate
for pro-poor budget policies in Uganda. The major aim is to ensure that the
views and concerns of the poor and marginalized people are incorporated into
local and national budgets.
CS BAG STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• The national and local government budget processes are transparent,
inclusive and accountable
• Critical information for effective participation of all stakeholders is availed to
CSOs and other stakeholders and in good time
• Central and Local Government budgets are pro-poor and adhere to results
oriented budget management principles
• Pro-poor budget principles and practices are initiated and integrated in the
overall budget process.
C
S B A G
Budgeting for equit
y
Email: csbag@csbag.org • www.csbag.org