MPs support Kadaga in bid to reject Bill

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Several MPs yesterday joined civil society in backing Speaker Rebecca Kadaga’s rejection of a proposed law which would severely undermine their role in the budgeting process.
Ms Kadaga indicated at a morning workshop that the government’s proposed Public Finance Bill, 2012, currently before the parliamentary Finance Committee, would weaken Parliament’s role in the budget process if passed in its present form.
The Bill seeks to repeal the Budget Act 2003 and the Public Finance and Accountability Act 2003. It also establishes the Petroleum Fund and legislates for the collection and deposit of revenues into, and the withdrawal of revenues from, the Petroleum Holding Account. 
At the half-day workshop for MPs and civil society, Ms Kadaga said: “I note that the Bill in its current form is complex, with potential for conflicts amongst its provisions and with the Constitution. Where these conflicts render the Bill defective, appropriate recommendations should be made.”

She was supported by members and the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group chairperson, Mr Julius Mukunda Forum for Women in Democracy , who all noted that some clauses would weaken the oversight role of Parliament on public finance by scrapping the Budget Office.
“The Budget Office and the Budget Committee not only enhance the MPs’ participation in the budget process but also their oversight function has been strengthened. With the two institutions, civil society’s participation in the budget has been strengthened,” Mr Mukunda said.
Ms Kadaga recalled that the Budget Act, which brought about closer parliamentary participation, has a unique history. Its object was to cure the inadequate legal framework in place to regulate the budgetary procedure in the period prior to the sixth Parliament.
She said enacting the law was a strategic move by MPs to eliminate “rubber stamping” of the budget.
But Minister for Finance Maria Kiwanuka defended the Bill, saying it will address systemic bottlenecks to good public financial management that have undermined budget planning.


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