Review of government agencies to top NRM caucus meeting tomorrow

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) parliamentary caucus meeting scheduled for tomorrow will focus on the rationalisation of several government agencies, among other key issues, spokesperson Alex Brandon Kintu has revealed.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Kintu emphasised the importance of continuous engagement between the NRM, the government, and parliament.

"We agreed as the NRM parliamentary caucus that we shall be meeting constantly, mainly every month, to discuss and update ourselves on the issues within parliament and government," Kintu told The Nile Post.

He reiterated the caucus’ commitment to ensuring that "everything in this country is successfully done."

One of the primary topics on the agenda will be the rationalization of government agencies, a matter that has sparked contentious debates in previous meetings.

Kintu confirmed that discussions would continue on agencies such as the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA).

“We all know that Uganda is cutting administrative costs to manage the economy. If we have agencies doing the same work as ministries, it is better to rationalize them to reduce expenses and ensure a steady economy," Kintu explained.

This push to streamline agencies is part of a broader government effort to reduce redundancies and improve operational efficiency.

Kintu also highlighted the NRM’s achievements, particularly in maintaining national security and stability, which has enabled Uganda to host several international conferences.

“You cannot host such international conferences without stability and security,” he noted.

He also pointed to the government’s infrastructure development, particularly in transportation, which has facilitated private sector growth.

The caucus will review a wider range of government agencies, many of which were created by acts of parliament.

"Some of these agencies were created to build capacity, and they have successfully done so," Kintu said, promising further communication on the meeting’s outcomes.

Recently, the Government Chief Whip, Hamson Obua, summoned NRM Members of Parliament (MPs) for the caucus meeting, scheduled for September 6, 2024.

The meeting comes as tensions between the executive and the legislature continue to rise over the proposed merger and rationalisation of government agencies.

The caucus was called in light of a recent decision by the Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, to halt the re-tabling of several rationalization bills that were initially slated for discussion in August 2024.

Magyezi stressed the need for further consultations with key stakeholders before any final decisions are made.

On September 3, 2024, President Museveni met with MPs from the Parliamentary Committees on Agriculture, National Economy, and Finance to discuss the issue.

It was agreed to move forward with the rationalization of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) and the Dairy Development Authority (DDA), both of which will now fall under the Ministry of Agriculture.

However, the merger of UCDA will be delayed by three years to ensure a smooth transition.

MPs have raised concerns about the Ministry of Agriculture’s capacity to manage UCDA’s mandate, particularly in maintaining Uganda’s globally recognized coffee standards, which rank third in the world in value.

The NRM caucus is expected to provide further clarity on the future of these agencies and other national matters during tomorrow's meeting.