It was only a matter of time before President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni’s government to start on the process of rationalization, merging and scrapping of agencies and departments to cut unnecessary spending, free money and invest in development projects and programs.
After years of back and forth, including lobbying by those who did not want ‘their agencies’ touched, cabinet has finalized the Rationalisation of Government Agencies (Repeals and Amendments) Bill.
The bill was gazetted on October 6, 2023, it has emerged. The piece of legislation will make possible the repeal of Acts of Parliament that created affected agencies.
For example, there will be amendments to the Uganda National Roads Authority Act, 2006 will the view of placing the Allen Kagina-led agency under the Ministry of Works and Transports as a department. Once the Rationalisation of Government Agencies (Repeals and Amendments) Bill has become an act, the piece of legislation that made it effective will be deleted from Uganda’s law books.
Government hopes to save Shs1.3tn through the rationalization exercise as money, previously spent on salaries that rendered public service pay scales useless, and in administrative costs, will be freed.
Affected Agencies
| Merged Entity | Parent Ministry |
| Non Performing Assets Recovery Trust, the Board of Trustees and the Sinking Fund | Finance |
| Karamoja Development Agency | Karamoja Affairs |
| National Records and Archives Agency | Public Service |
| Uganda Trypanosomiasis Control Council | Agriculture |
| Uganda Cotton Development Organisation | Agriculture |
| Uganda Coffee Development Authority | Agriculture |
| Dairy Development Authority | Agriculture |
| Higher Education Students Financing Board | Education |
| UNRA | Works Ministry |
| Uganda National Meteorological Authority | Ministry responsible for meteorology |
| Uganda Human Rights Commission & Equal Opportunities Commission | Merged into one commission |
| Uganda Registration Services Bureau | Transferred to National Identification and Registration Authority |
| Uganda Warehouse Receipt System Authority | Trade |
| National lnformation Technology Authority | ICT and National Guidance |
| National Forestry Authority | Environment |
| Departed Asians’ Property Custodian Board | Finance |
| Uganda Microfinance Regulatory Authority | Finance |
| Privatisation Unit | Finance |
| National Curriculum Development Centre | Amend Act to include curriculum reforms for PTCs |
| National Bureau of Non-Governmental Organisations | Internal Affairs |
| National Population Council | National Planning Authority |
| National Physical Planning Board | National Planning Authority |
| Uganda National Commission for UNESCO | Education |
| Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center | Uganda Wildlife Authority |
| Uganda Road Fund | Works |
| NAADS | Agriculture |
| Agricultural Chemical Board | Agriculture |
| Children Authority | Gender |
| National Council for Persons with Disabilities | National Secretariat for Special Interest Groups |
| National Women’s Council | National Secretariat for Special Interest Groups |
| National Youth Council | National Secretariat for Special lnterest Groups |
| National Council for Older Persons | National Secretariat for Special Interest Groups |
| Centre for Arbitration and Dispute Resolution | Justice |
| Uganda Free Zones Authority and the Uganda Export Promotions Board merged into single entity: Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotions Authority | Trade |
Meanwhile, Museveni’s government will pay a lot of money to UNRA bosses for termination of their contracts as the roads agency will be scrapped off. (See Details Here and There).
Editor: We have an update on this story:
https://www.pearltimes.co.ugnew-twist-parliament-blocks-museveni-proposal-on-scrapping-of-agencies/
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