The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Hon Mathias Mpuuga launched a 17-point legislative agenda with proposals for constitution amendment, deepening decentralisation and health services sector review.
Mpuuga said the opposition will be benching for reforms in the appointment of electoral commissioners, making it a public process, and clarifying-in the constitution, the role of security forces in elections.
Decentralisation, which Mpuuga said is on a roll-back, will be mainstreamed, with proposed amendments to cap the revenue that by law should be reserved for local governments.
National Health Insurance Coverage will also top the agenda, roping in other essential services like education, infrastructure and others.
On education, Mpuuga proposes deepened government involving.
“…we intend to propose a review of the Education Act to clarify the responsibility of government and parents or guardians on the education sector beyond the abstract by providing for the specifics based on the realistic assessment of the conditions in the country,” he said.
Mpuuga criticised what he termed wasteful expenditure by government agencies, which he said will be a matter of focus for the Opposition in the 11th Parliament.
“It is common for government to spend public resources extravagantly without due concern to the quality-of-service delivery. Through the accountability committees, government will be held accountable and reports presented within 45 days,” he said.
The Opposition also promised to propose a motion seeking the reduction of the number of districts in Uganda, which they say are now duplicitous and are financially non-viable.
On fiscal policy, the Opposition intends to look at enhancing tax collections by roping in more investors whom they say have a problem facing the taxman.
“…we shall call for an audit of all businesses that have benefited from tax exemptions and holidays since 1990 within the broad framework of assessing its cost-benefit analysis as well as its sustainability,” he said,
Indigenous investors will be favoured, with the economy tilted to support and incentivize them more.
“…we shall call for the audit of domestic and foreign-owned businesses to identify the gaps and thereafter, advise for the requisite reforms with the overall objective of championing for the promotion of indigenous capital,” Mpuuga said adding that, ‘we have lined up the Investment Code Act for review to promote sustainability of the locally owned initiatives and promote employment’.
Speaker Jacob Oulanyah officiated at the event, with the advice that the Opposition must synergize with the rest of the House for the achievement of collective objectives.
“Let us keep an eye on the ball; the ball is not regime change, but the change in the lives of the people; regime and country are two different things. Let us work together as a Parliament and make a difference in the lives of Ugandans,” he said.
Also present were leaders of Opposition political parties represented in Parliament and the Lord Mayor, Erias Lukwago, among others.
Parliamentary News
