Parliament has approved the rationalisation of at least 14 government agencies, to reduce public expenditure , enhance efficiency and optimizing resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a plenary session chaired by Speaker Anita Among, Parliament passed five bills related to this rationalisation, including the Warehouse Receipt System (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Free Zones (Amendment) Bill 2024, the Uganda Exports Promotions Boards Act (Repeal) Bill 2024, the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre Act (Repeal) Bill 2024 and the Uganda Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other Bills approved include Uganda National Meteorological Authority (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the National Commission for UNESCO (Amendment) Bill 2024 doing away with the board and having the entity back to the Ministry of Education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Uganda National Meteorological Authority (Amendment) Bill 2024 proposed to amend the Uganda National Meteorological Authority Act, 2012, to integrate the functions of the authority into the Ministry of Water and Environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, the report of the Committee on Environment, presented by Dr. Emmanuel Otaala, the Chairperson of the Committee recommended retaining UNMA as a semi-autonomous entity, emphasising its specialised role and capacity for self-sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Otaala highlighted UNMA\u2019s critical functions in weather and climate monitoring, essential for early warning systems and addressing climate-related challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Committee noted that UNMA\u2019s roles are specialised and specific and not duplicated at the Ministry. It is therefore important to retain UNMA as an autonomous institution, while the Ministry focuses on development of policy,\u201d Otaala said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the committee\u2019s recommendation, some members objected to retaining UNMA as an independent entity, a move that would later lead to the return of the Agency to the Ministry of Water and Environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prof. Elijah Mushemeza (NRM, Sheema County South) questioned the authority\u2019s current financial performance and its effectiveness compared to when it operated as a department.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are seeing the proposal that it will generate income, but he has not tabled currently how much money is being generated by the Authority,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, others, such as Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (FDC, Kira Municipality), supported the government\u2019s position, emphasising the need for efficient resource allocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI support the position of Government because they are doing the right thing,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The debate surrounding UNMA\u2019s rationalisation highlighted concerns about maintaining specialised expertise and ensuring effective service delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While some advocated for retaining its autonomy to preserve its specialised functions, others favoured integration into the Ministry for streamlined coordination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parliament resolved to transfer the Warehouse Receipt System Authority to the Ministry of Trade Industries and Cooperatives, aiming to save government expenditure. This decision came following concerns about the authority\u2019s poor financial management and governance practices, as highlighted by Mwine Mpaka, Chairperson of the Trade Committee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere has been poor absorption of funds allocated to the authority, continued utilisation of funds in excess of parliamentary appropriation, and persistent carryover of funds across financial years without authorisation which are indications of a poorly governed institution,\u201d Mpaka said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Enos Asiimwe (NRM, Kabula County) opposed the move to rationalise the Warehouse Receipt System Authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stated that the committee never consulted other stakeholders in the warehousing system like banks, farmers groups and warehouse owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey were never consulted on the impact of having the authority back to the Ministry,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Furthermore, Parliament repealed the Uganda Export Promotions Act, Cap 102, to merge the Export Promotions Board with the Uganda Free Zones Authority, creating the Uganda Free Zone and Exports Promotions Authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parliament also passed the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre Act (Repeal) Bill 2024 and adopted the Uganda Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2024, merging UWEC with UWA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Editor ;msserwanga@gmail.com<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Parliament has approved the rationalisation of at least 14 government agencies, to reduce public expenditure , enhance efficiency and optimizing<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[65],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/R.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":11489,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/cabinet-clears-30-bills-for-merger-of-government-agencies\/","url_meta":{"origin":11873,"position":0},"title":"Cabinet Clears 30 Bills For Merger Of Government Agencies","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"February 13, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Cabinet has approved at least 30 Bills that will be tabled in parliament for merger of agencies to save money . Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said that discussions on merging and abolishing government agencies with overlapping functions will begin next week. Updating Parliament on government business, Nabbanja confirmed the Executive\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/FnJmMI9X0AAMBJn-750x375-1.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/FnJmMI9X0AAMBJn-750x375-1.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/FnJmMI9X0AAMBJn-750x375-1.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/FnJmMI9X0AAMBJn-750x375-1.jpg 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11418,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/civil-aviation-authority-amendment-bill-2024-passed-by-parliament\/","url_meta":{"origin":11873,"position":1},"title":"Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment ) Bill 2024 Passed By Parliament","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"February 2, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The National Parliament has passed the Civil Aviation Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024 to meet international oblihgations under the Convention on International Civil Aviation which was ratified by Uganda. The new law now awaits for President Yoweri Museveni's signing to become operational .. Among the provisions of the amendment , UCAA\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Air Travel"","block_context":{"text":"Air Travel","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/air-travel\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/civ.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/civ.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/civ.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/civ.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/civ.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17020,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/president-museveni-assents-to-eight-new-laws-to-improve-governance-and-increase-economic-opportunities\/","url_meta":{"origin":11873,"position":2},"title":"President Museveni Assents To Eight New Laws To Improve Governance And Increase Economic Opportunities","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"April 29, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has assented to eight new laws which were passed by the national parliament . The laws intended to improve governance and increase economic opportunities target sectors such as health, energy, labour, justice, finance, public enterprises, and intellectual property. Among the most significant laws include , the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":13249,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/unra-urf-collapsed-taken-back-to-ministry-of-works\/","url_meta":{"origin":11873,"position":3},"title":"UNRA, URF Collapsed , Taken Back To Ministry of Works","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"November 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Members of Parliament on the\u00a0Committee on Physical Infrastructure\u00a0have recommended that the Uganda Roads Authority and Uganda Road Fund be taken back to the Ministry of Works and Transport. In a report to parliament, the MPs agreed with the reasoning of the government on the need to save money spent on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/wamala.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/wamala.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/wamala.jpg 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2875,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/speakership-race-women-advocacy-groups-join-hands-to-campaign-for-kadaga\/","url_meta":{"origin":11873,"position":4},"title":"SPEAKERSHIP RACE :WOMEN ADVOCACY GROUPS JOIN HANDS TO CAMPAIGN FOR KADAGA","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"March 25, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Ugandan women advocacy \u00a0groups have joined\u00a0 hands to root for Hon. Rebcca Alitwala Kadaga to retain her position as Speaker of the 11th parliament . Among the women groups that are campaigning\u00a0 for Kadaga to beat her main arch-rival Jacob Oulanya is Ms. Patricia Munabi Babiiha\u2019s \u00a0 Forum for Women\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "National News"","block_context":{"text":"National News","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/national-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/kad.jpg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/kad.jpg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/kad.jpg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/kad.jpg 2x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/kad.jpg 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9371,"url":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/errant-drivers-to-be-fined-ug-shs-2m-for-over-speeding-after-president-museveni-signs-into-law-the-amended-traffic-and-road-safety-act\/","url_meta":{"origin":11873,"position":5},"title":"Errant Drivers to be fined Ug.shs. 2M for over speeding after President Museveni signs into law the amended Traffic and Road Safety Act","author":"UgandaUpdate","date":"July 2, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"President Yoweri Museveni has assented to the Traffic and Road Safety Amendment Bill of 2023 which was recently passed by parliament. Speaker of the national parliament, Anita Among, said the President has signed into law six Bills. The Amended Traffic and Road Safety Act which is effective July 1st 2023\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Road Safety"","block_context":{"text":"Road Safety","link":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/category\/road-safety\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/27e9510f90e1b1a4c1de5ce3cb7b82ab.jpeg","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/27e9510f90e1b1a4c1de5ce3cb7b82ab.jpeg 1x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/27e9510f90e1b1a4c1de5ce3cb7b82ab.jpeg 1.5x, https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/27e9510f90e1b1a4c1de5ce3cb7b82ab.jpeg 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0aOV-35v","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11873"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11875,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11873\/revisions\/11875"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prowebinhost.com\/anzu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}