Barely two months after lawmakers returned from a recess, plenary has yet again been adjourned for two weeks. 

According to Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa, the move is aimed at enabling oversight committees to handle backlog ahead of the budgeting process. 

Suffice to note, that the accountability cycle ends when the Treasury Memorandum is laid back before Parliament.    

The directive is a U-turn from an earlier directive he issued on August 23, this year, banning committees from undertaking oversight trips when the house is in session until further notice. 

At the time, it was thought that this would cure perennial absenteeism and quorum issues that were threatening to mar the passing of the Anti-Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act 2023. 

According to Tayebwa, this development was informed by an outcry from unnamed committee chairpersons who appear to be trapped between a wall and a hard place. 

“This is not a break of you going to your constituencies, it is a break of all of us going to the field. I have received 11 requests, today alone, I cleared 11 requests for committees wanting to go for field work and you remember we said that when we have plenary, you shouldn’t be going to the field. So Committees are stuck, they want to go and do field work,” he expounded. 

“So we are going to send you on a break where all of us are going to the field, you are cleared to go to the field, the committee chairpersons are taking the lead and we look at the performance of the budget and at the end of the day, you will report back. When you will return, I will give a chance to each committee to report its findings on the floor and we discuss and see how best it can influence the budgeting process. So with that, the House adjourned to 15^th November 2023,” Tayebwa ordered. 

According to the terms of reference, a key focus will be placed on the implementation of the ongoing 2023/24 financial year budget and release of funds.   

“I am ready to come to many of the meetings because this is the only way we shall ensure that the money we appropriate produces value so because of that I am sending the committees on a two-week break which is starting tomorrow. I am going to have a few administrative meetings, business meetings and others,” he hinted.   

Suffice to note, that Parliament has fourteen standing committees whose term is fixed at two and half years. Among many, these include the Public Accounts Committees (Central Government), Government Assurance and Implementation, and Human Rights Committee which comprise 30 members.  

Sectoral committees on the other hand are fifteen in number and comprise 30 members who are selected at the start of each session. They include; Education and Sports chaired by John Ntamuhiira Twesigye (Bunyaruguru, NRM), Physical Infrastructure led by Dan Kimosho and Health Committee led by Charles Ayume (Koboko Municipality, NRM) among others. 

Concerns 

The development comes at a time when several MPs are up in arms over the delayed release of the sh1b road fund grant that each of the 135 districts was supposed to receive at the beginning of this ongoing year under review.   

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, October 31, Bukanga North MP Nathan Byanyima (NRM) harangued the finance ministry for crippling critical sectors by refusing to release funds. 

Nathan Byanyima, Bukanga North MP presents during plenary on 31 October 2023. (Photo by Miriam Namutebi)

“He talked about first quarter and second quarter releases, I can assure you the releases are not there. People all over Ministries are crying. It is air supply I can tell you. Like the roads, people are relying on the sh1b, it was supposed to help the bad situation. The other usual money that used to work in districts is no longer going there,” Byanyima lamented.   

Henry Musasizi, state minister Finance-General duties presents during plenary on 31 October 2023. (Photo by Miriam Namutebi)

Finance state minister Henry Musasizi however partly attributed scarcity of funds to Parliament itself. 

“This sh1b was supposed to be over and above what road fund was released to these districts. At the same time during the appropriation process, this Parliament took away sh60b from the road fund budget and this has affected releases to the Uganda Road Fund. I really need your support members in future when I bring my proposals,” he pleaded.