‘Proposed merger of agencies will be phased’

Kamapala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Government’s rationalization exercise in which government agencies will be merged, abolished or reverted to the mother ministries will be done in a phased manner over a three-year period.

This has been disclosed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Service Catherine Musingwiire on Tuesday while presenting a paper at a public dialogue on the rationalization policy announced by the cabinet on September 10th.

The public dialogue was organized by the Makerere University Business School Economic Forum in conjunction with the Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung at The Sheraton Hotel, Kampala.

The move has sent shock waves through the affected agencies with reports suggesting loss or morale and some banks declining to give loans to the workers.

In the presentation titled “Rationalisation of Government Agencies: Why, When, How and for Whose Benefits?” Musingwiire said creation of many agencies has not served the purpose.

Musingwiire said creation of many agencies has not served the purpose, especially in the area of efficiency.

The exercise will affect 121 agencies that have been created over time. While some like Uganda Revenue Authority and Kampala Capital City Authority will be retained, others will be merged, collapsed, returned to mother ministries or abolished altogether.

Musingwiire noted that challenges like duplication of work overlaps of mandates, conflicts, wasteful expenditures, wide wage gaps and complex legal frameworks impacted on government efficiency.

Musingwiire explained that the mushrooming of agencies was also due to some public servants who lobbied hard for them, like those nearing retirement who wanted to keep working.

She said some agencies were also created due to demands by development partners and as requirements for international agreements Uganda entered into.

Musingwiire said the rationalization exercise is aimed at, among other outcomes, aligning functions, structures, plans, budgets and operations of the government to eliminate wasteful expenditures and improve government efficiency.

Speaker after speaker said the government should come clear on the time frame.

Patrick Birungi, the Director for Development Planning at National Planning Authority, said there are agencies that are a drain on the Consolidated Fund, adding that the era of agencies has created a situation in which government institutions work in silos.

Gideon Badagawa, the chief executive of Private Sector Foundation, said the rationalization exercises should look at the entire government structures including ministries and districts instead of focusing only on agencies.

Rama Omonya, from Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group-CSBAG, said rationalization of government structures should be part of planning and reflected in the National Development Plans.

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