Government hires experts to support in merging its agencies

In Summary
  • Minister Muluri Mukasa say the merging process is on course.
  • It will be done in phases.
  • MP Abdul Katuntu say government should consult parliament on the merger.

The government has hired a team of experts from the legal, human resources management, labor sectors, and diplomatic relations to provide technical and relevant support in different areas during the process of merging government agencies and parastatals

The minister of public service Wilson Muluri Mukasa presented a statement to Parliament and said the exercise is on course but envisaged challenges and risks that are likely to result from the process which include legal and policy frame work in which affected institutions operate, internal protocols, running contracts and agreements between the government of Uganda and other countries and loss of jobs among others. 

The minister said that the institutional review and reorganization for some of the institutions without legal impediments have already commenced and the team is fast tracking the review of the Office of the Prime Minister,11 agencies within the ministry of education and sports ,the amnesty commission and Rural Electrification Agency whose legal frame work has already expired.

He said the merger will be implemented in phases and phase one of 2021/22 will focus on comprehensive review of 18 government ministries and organizations and 77 agencies which were affected by the merger and transfer of functions.

Muluri adds that phase two of 2022/23 will focus on the remaining 6 government ministries and 80 agencies that were recommended for retention but require institutional review and restructuring to enable them adequately respond to current service delivery demand.

He however says that all the affected staff during the merger and restructuring of government institutions will be fixed in vacant positions across the service`` but those affected staff who will not get a chance to be fixed anywhere will be paid their gratuity.

Bugweri county mp Abdul Katuntu said that since the institutions were created by acts of parliament then government has to consult parliament on the matter before it mergers the agencies because it has no discretion to repeal any law. The law maker warned over the cost implications that tax payers will face if the merger takes places without parliament repealing the laws that created the agencies.