Uganda’s Ministry of Finance has cut planned operational spending for the October–December quarter by nearly 3 trillion shillings (about $680 million), the Daily Monitor and Pulse Uganda reported on 25 October. All ministries, departments and agencies must halve spending on fuel, travel, workshops and consumables, according to the Monitor, out of total quarterly releases of 21.82 trillion shillings. The cut follows the Bank of Uganda’s emergency rise in its policy rate to 12% on 14 October, which failed to stop the shilling falling past 4,400 to the dollar on 23 October, a 33-year low. Lower state demand for fuel and imports eases pressure on the currency, but delayed spending will slow payments to suppliers already facing dearer credit.