By THE INDEPENDENT UG
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government is set to introduce nine new Bills in Parliament starting January 13, 2024, with the much-anticipated Rationalisation of Government and Public Expenditure taking the lead. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and the Head of Government Business in Parliament state that the proposed Bills encompass the Rationalisation of Government Agencies (Education Sector) (Amendments) Bill, 2024, and the Rationalisation of Government Agencies (Internal Affairs Sector) (Amendments) Bill, 2024.
Additionally, the list includes the Rationalisation of Government Agencies (Natural Resources and Environment Sector) (Amendments) Bill, 2024; the Rationalisation of Government Agencies (Works and Transport Sector) (Amendments) Bill, 2024, as well as the Arbitration and Reconciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Among other legislative items, the Government aims to present to the House are the Karamoja Development Agency (Repeal) Bill, 2024; the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Uganda Health Professional Regulatory Council Bill, 2023; the National Tribunal Bill, 2023; and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021.
The omnibus Bill is designed to legalize the impending government plan to merge Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). The proposed merger involves moving 33 agencies to their respective mother ministries, consolidating 35 into 19 entities, while 80 others will remain semi-autonomous. This process is expected to commence on July 1, 2024.
During a Monday meeting, the Cabinet, chaired by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at State House Entebbe, endorsed a total of 30 Bills to facilitate the consolidation of existing MDAs. The government first introduced the plan to rationalize MDAs in 2018. President Museveni emphasized that implementing the merger now could save the country up to 1 trillion Shillings in annual expenditure. He stated, “When we talk of rationalization, we are talking about doing things that are rational and save money.”
Museveni argued that, during the rationalization process, the entire government structure should be geared towards supporting wealth creators, as they play a vital role in the country’s development.
Earlier this month, the President convened a caucus meeting of Members of Parliament under the National Resistance Movement (NRM) party to garner support for the rationalization of government agencies.
It’s important to note that in November 2023, Parliament, chaired by Speaker Anita Among, rejected the Government’s omnibus Bill on agency rationalization. Denis Hamson Obua, the Government Chief Whip, revealed that after discussions with the President, ruling party legislators unanimously agreed to support the Bills once tabled on the floor.
Key agencies slated for merger include the Ugandan National Roads Authority, set to be integrated into the mother Ministry of Works and Transport; the National Forestry Authority (NFA); the Dairy Development Authority (DDA); the Equal Opportunities Commission; and the Electricity Regulatory Authority (REA), among others.
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