Museveni signs nine bills into law to streamline gov’t operations
The development was confirmed in a statement released on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, by Ms. Gloria Asio Omaswa, Principal Private Secretary in the Office of the President.
President Yoweri Museveni has signed into law nine key bills aimed at enhancing efficiency, cutting costs, and streamlining operations across sectors such as education, agriculture, infrastructure, and technology.
The development was confirmed in a statement released on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, by Ms. Gloria Asio Omaswa, Principal Private Secretary in the Office of the President.
Among the signed bills is the Higher Education Students Financing (Amendment) Act, 2024, which integrates the functions of the Higher Education Students’ Financing Board (HESFB) into the Ministry of Education and Sports. This move aligns with the government’s Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX) policy to optimize service delivery.
Ms. Omaswa also highlighted the National Commission for UNESCO (Amendment) Act, 2024, which ensures the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO is structured as a unit rather than a department, addressing concerns previously raised by the President.
The signed laws pave the way for significant institutional changes. The Higher Education Students Financing Board may see staff positions abolished, with employees either compensated or redeployed to other public service roles.
The Uganda Road Fund’s functions will be transferred to the Ministry of Works and Transport, while the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) will be dissolved, with its roles absorbed by the same ministry.
The responsibilities of the Cotton Development Organisation will now fall under the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries, while the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) will be rationalized to enhance alignment with government priorities.
Other laws assented to include the Dairy Industry (Amendment) Act, 2024, the National Information Technology Authority (NITA) Uganda (Amendment) Act, 2024, and the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Earlier this year, opposition lawmakers, led by Leader of the Opposition Joel Ssenyonyi, opposed the mergers, arguing that critical entities should remain operational due to their essential roles. They also raised concerns about potential job losses among government employees.
Despite heated debate, Parliament passed the bills, which were subsequently sent to the President for assent.
The newly enacted laws mark a major step in Uganda’s efforts to streamline public institutions, improve efficiency, and reduce redundancy in government operations. However, their implementation will be closely watched, especially regarding job transitions and service delivery.
