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The Parliamentary Committee on Information, Communication and Technologies (ICT) has rubbished claims that its members may have been financially compromised to save some entities affected by the ongoing rationalization of government agencies.    

Tonny Ayo, the deputy chairperson of the ICT Parliamentary committee, said they gave their report with justifications and that anybody who wants to challenge them must bring an alternative argument that is stronger than what they raised. 

The development came after a local media publication reported that each parliamentary ICT committee may have pocketed $500 (sh1.9m) to spare the affected agencies, among which was the National Information Technology Authority (NITA-U).

Dismissing the allegations as untrue, Ayo said “Some decisions were made by some people to spite leaders of some government agencies by putting their names up for rationalisation”.

“Some people are picking some sectors without facts and pushing them (for rationalization) for their selfish interest. But when those positions were defeated people are beginning to build positions to defend themselves and the best that has remained is blackmail,” he said.

“We are not fools. We are citizens of this country and we understand what is good and what is bad and nobody is going to intimidate us when we are doing our work and doing the right thing,” he said.

He was speaking at the ICT Parliamentary Committee retreat at the Kampala Resort in Namanve on April 25, 2024. The exercise was organised to familiarise Members of Parliament with the workings of the ICT ministry so they can be able to provide better oversight and appropriation of funds for the sector.

Under an arrangement that started mid-last year, the government is attempting to reduce the number of government agencies, check duplication of government services, improve efficiency in public affairs, and reduce government expenditure.

During a meeting with the NRM parliamentary caucus in February this year, President Museveni informed the caucus members that if the government decides to carry out the merger now, they will save sh1trillion a year.

Besides NITAU, other agencies that have so far survived the merger include the National Forestry Authority (NFA), Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), and Uganda National Road Authority (UNRA).

Others include the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), the Cotton Development Organisation (CDO), and the Dairy Development Authority (DDA).

The legislators’ decision was premised on the justification that the agencies do not meet the qualifications suggested under the rationalisation policy. They argued that the entities are critical in generating both domestic and foreign revenue and that their mandates do not overlap.