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KAMPALA - Parliament has merged the Uganda Export Promotions Board with the Uganda Free Zones Authority.

The entity emerging from the merger is now called the Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotions Authority and will be under the supervision of the trade ministry.

According to a report from the Parliament trade committee, the merger will save the Government shillings 6.516 billion, while seven staff are likely to lose their jobs.

Committee chairperson Mwine Mpaka said in the first year of the merger, the Government will make a savings of shillings 6.227 billion but will increase to 6.516 billion in the subsequent financial year (2025/26).

The committee also recommended the mainstreaming of the Uganda Warehouse Receipt System Authority (UWRSA) into the trade ministry.

The move, according to Mpaka, will save the Government shillings 12. 427 billion. Committee members also accused the authority’s top management of involvement in financial irregularities.

While presenting the report, Mpaka said the decisions made by the authority not to transfer shillings 4.87 billion into the Consolidated Fund in 2021/22 and instead utilised it at source in FY2022/23 without authorisation, showed some financial management irregularities.