Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has called on ministers to refrain from idle discussions and corridor talks in Cabinet regarding Parliament’s handling of recently passed Bills concerning the rationalization of government agencies.
Among emphasized that instead of speculating in Cabinet about whether Members of Parliament (MPs) were influenced to reject or pass certain Bills, ministers should present their concerns directly to Parliament, where legislative matters are addressed.
During a plenary session on Thursday, May 2, 2024, Among stressed that legislation is the responsibility of Parliament, not the Cabinet, even though it’s the Executive branch that proposes Bills.
She expressed frustration with the notion that some ministers may only be appointed to observe parliamentary proceedings and then criticize Parliament elsewhere.
Among encouraged ministers whose Bills were rejected by Parliament to review them and resubmit them for reconsideration. However, she also urged the Executive to carefully examine Parliament’s concerns and recommendations regarding the concluded rationalization Bills.
Among highlighted specific concerns raised by MPs, including issues with the quality of drafting of the Bills, deficiencies in financial implications certificates, and the potential impact of rationalizing certain entities on service delivery.
She urged ministers to thoroughly analyze these concerns and refrain from assigning blame.
Additionally, Among emphasized the importance of ministers being present during parliamentary sessions, stating that legislative matters should be addressed within Parliament itself.
Parliament recently concluded debates on a series of Bills aimed at rationalizing government agencies back to their parent Ministries. This process, which began in February, saw the discussion of 29 Bills, with 22 being passed, eight rejected, and seven withdrawn by the Executive.
Among the approved Bills are those concerning the Warehouse Receipt System, Trypanosomiasis Control Council, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Board, and others.
However, Bills proposing the merging of certain agencies, such as the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre (UWEC) and Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), faced rejection.
Parliament is now tasked with forwarding the approved Bills to President Yoweri Museveni for assent. The President will then decide whether to approve them or send some back for review.
The proliferation of government agencies over the years has led to overlaps in mandates and operational inefficiencies. The rationalization process seeks to address these issues and improve service delivery.
Minister for Public Service Muruli Mukasa highlighted the need for rationalization, citing the strain on the national treasury and the challenges of administering numerous agencies.
During parliamentary debates, Speaker Among dismissed allegations of bribery among MPs and emphasized that decisions were made based on members’ views and the state of the agencies. She called for an end to such misinformation and urged cooperation between Parliament and the Executive in addressing legislative concerns.
Finance Minister Matia Kasaija and State Minister for Public Mary Mugasha stated that Cabinet has yet to discuss Parliament’s decisions regarding the rationalization process and expressed willingness to harmonize these decisions.
