Parliament has endorsed five key bills aimed at rationalizing gender and special interest entities by transferring them to the National Secretariat for Special Interest Groups under the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development. The decision was made during a plenary session on Friday, April 19, 2024, chaired by Speaker Anita Among.
Among the entities affected by the rationalization move are the National Youth Council, National Women’s Council, National Council for Older Persons, National Council for Persons with Disabilities, and the National Children’s Authority. These entities were relocated to the Ministry of Gender in an effort to streamline their functions and improve coordination.
One of the bills passed by Parliament is the National Youth Council (Amendment) Bill 2024, which facilitates the integration of the National Youth Council’s secretariat functions into the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development. However, concerns were raised about the potential loss of experienced technical officers due to uncertainties regarding their redeployment within the National Secretariat.
Hon. David Kabanda raised questions regarding the funding of special interest groups under the new arrangement. He sought assurances from the Minister for Gender regarding independent funding for these groups or whether they would fall under a unified secretariat.
Hon. Jane Avur expressed concerns about how the secretariat would address the specific needs of vulnerable youths, such as those in fishing communities. In response, Speaker Among emphasized the role of youth MPs in representing the interests of their constituencies in Parliament.
Minister Betty Amongi clarified that the councils overseeing these special interest groups would retain their autonomy. Each council will have its budget approved within its jurisdiction, ensuring that they maintain control over their respective funding.
In addition to the National Youth Council, Parliament also approved the mainstreaming of the National Children’s Authority’s functions into the Ministry of Gender through the Children (Amendment) Bill 2024. Despite calls for an independent body to handle children’s affairs, Parliament decided to integrate the authority into the ministry to ensure more coordinated efforts.
Similarly, the National Women’s Council (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed, incorporating the functions of the National Women’s Council into the Ministry of Gender. Despite concerns about the vulnerability of women in society, Parliament opted for this integration to improve efficiency and coordination in addressing women’s issues.
Parliament also endorsed the Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the National Council for Older Persons (Amendment) Bill 2024, sending their management to the national secretariat of Special Interest Groups under the Ministry of Gender. This move aims to centralize support and resources for these vulnerable populations, ensuring more effective implementation of programs and policies.
