Parliament blocks merger, UNOC prevails

The Parliament has blocked proposed plans by the government to disband and merge several departments and agencies until the legal and cost implications of the mergers is revealed.

Government recently proposed to merge agencies like the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) among others to be their respective (mother) ministries.

Hon Muruli Mukasa, the Minister for Public Service had come ready and equipped to table the Rationalisation of Government Agencies (Repeals and Amendments) Bill 2023 in which he defended the mergers but could not convince the House.

The mergers are based on the fact that there has been a proliferation of agencies that have over the years had their roles duplicated and overtaken by events.

Meanwhile, Parliament has passed into law the Petroleum Supplies Amendment Bill 2023 giving the Uganda National Oil Company (UNOC) monopoly to import all Petroleum products into Uganda, ending the dependence on Kenyan Government.

There has been a lot of debate and uncertainty within the public but the matter has been cleared.