Civil society group wants gov''t to merge its agencies

By Francis Emorut

Government should consider merging its agencies in order to reduce public administration costs and to mitigate the threat by donors who are withholding their aid.

This call was made by Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) in a press briefing on the national budget framework on Sunday.

The briefing took place at the African Youth Development Link (AYDL) in Ntinda, a Kampala suburb.

The advocacy group argued that there is need to merge government agencies especially those that are duplicating the roles of others.

According to the group the agencies that need to be merged include Uganda Tourism Board, Uganda Wildlife Authority and the ministry of tourism and antiquities.

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Ahmed Hadji (right) and Julius Mukunda, the coodinator of  Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group compare notes during the press conference. PHOTO/Francis Emorut

Other agencies they proposed that need merging are Uganda Investment Authority, Uganda Export Promotion Board and the President’s Office and State House.

They also called for the expedition passing of the Public Finance Bill 2012 into law.

“We strongly believe that this will establish benchmarks and enforcement mechanisms of mobilization, allocation and utilization of resources,” Ahmed Hadji the team leader of African Youth Development Link said.

The advocacy group however, lauded government for the proposal to increase civil servants salaries across the board and the decentralization of a payroll saying it will eliminate its manipulation.

The group also commended government on the proposal of establishing cooperative bank to support small scale farmers and the introduction of a treasury single account.

“We appreciate government efforts to establish a treasury single account which will eliminate ghost accounts that have been used hitherto for siphoning public resources,” Hadji said.

Julius Mukunda, the coordinator of CSBAG pointed out that it’s the responsibility of government to cut wasteful expenditure to ensure that social service delivery in the nation is achieved.

He singled out the blotted number of Members of Parliament, Resident District Commissioners and chief administrative officers and others.