The Committee on Public Service and Local Government chaired by Hon. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, has recommended the provision of Shs79.3 billion in Financial Year 2024/25 for merging government agencies.
The suggestion is the result of the Ministry of Public Service’s funding request, which aims to streamline several government organizations and parastatals.
“The Ministry of Public Service proposed to rationalize MDAs and the Shs79.3 billion is required to fully cater for the payment of gratuity, pension, and severance packages for affected staff as a measure to reduce the high government public expenditures and redundancies and duplication of functions in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs),” stated Mapenduzi.
On Monday, January 15, 2024, MP Mapenduzi spoke in favour of the proposed allocation before the Committee on Budget, stating that the Shs79.3 billion will be used to support public employees impacted by the rationalization process.
Various Sectoral Committees of Parliament are reporting to the Budget Committee on the National Budget Framework Paper for the 2024–2025 fiscal year.
Mapenduzi informed the Budget Committee, “The committee recommends that government fast tracks the mergers, mainstreaming and transfer of the agencies and report to Parliament before the end of the financial year.”
However, members of the Budget Committee argued that the funding request ought to have come before a bill including the rationalizations.
Statistics about the compensation issue ought to have been provided. MP Iddi Isabirye (NRM, Bunya County South) stated, “Given the required Shs79.3 billion, I suggest that the Budget Committee not look at this first because we have a Bill we have not yet considered.”
The House has not been presented with several Bills to deal with the rationalization process, which should have come first before establishing financing amounts in the budget, according to the suggestion of Parliament, Hon. Paul Omara continued.
“Does the Minister for Public Service have a clear commitment that he will be able to present all of those different Bills to Parliament in the upcoming four months?” Omara enquired.
Mapenduzi promised to follow up with the Minister of Public Service on the issues raised.
