MPs support Kadaga in bid to reject Bill

By -
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.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

When midwives turned to mobile phone light to save mothers

By -
A mother at Lapainat Health Centre III lies on the floor as she waits to be attended to. Midwives now use mobile phone light to help mothers deliver. In Summary Finding options. With most of the health facilities lacking adequate personnel and the required medical equipment, most affected people -- the peasants -- decided to take control of their development affairs. The experience she goes through is beyond her imagination. Just in her early 20s, Vistine Kemigisha is already dealing with situations that even an experienced midwife would not wish to face. “I remember a day when I assisted a woman to deliver in a facility that didn’t have any equipment. Not even light. Yet it was late in the night,” Kemigisha, a young midwife in Kabale District, told the Saturday Monitor. “This woman was brought to the health centre by a group of six young men, who had each carried her in turns on their shoulders.”In her attempt to help th
Read more

TIMELY CALL TO CHAMPION SPACES, SOLIDARITY AND SOLUTIONS IN THE WOMEN DELIVER 2023 CONFERENCE

By -
Image
 As one of the largest multi-sectoral convening to advance gender equality, convening 6,000 advocates onsite, and over 200,000 advocates online from diverse fields, the Women Deliver 2023 Conference has been co-created by grassroots advocates, youth, civil society, governments, multilateral organizations, and the private sector, including from and representing communities facing systemic discrimination around the world.   Rwanda continues to make great effort in leading gender equality in the world. By 61.3%, it is the country in the world with first female majority in Parliament not forgetting that it has also promoted women’s health, made policies to advance equal pay and established laws criminalizing violence against women among others. This makes Kigali the perfect venue for Women Deliver 2023 because of its strong commitment to gender equality and girls and women’s health, according to Kathleen Sherwin, the outgoing CEO Women Deliver.   Women Deliver is a leading global advocate
Read more