Cabinet has received and noted the plan for scrapping, merging and consolidating a number of agencies and institutions.
According to the Minister for Information and National Guidance, Hon Judith Nabakooba, the proposed plan presents a roadmap that will be followed over a three year period to re-organize a number of ministries and institutions with a view of improving service delivery.
The plan was received in a cabinet meeting that took place on February 22, 2021 at State House Entebbe.
To embark on this process, the plan involves constituting an inter-ministerial technical committee on government agencies, commissions, authorities and public expenditure. Then, a circular will be issued to public service communicating a freeze on creation of new agencies, commissions, and authorities and providing guidance on the management of transition arrangements for boards and staff whose contacts expire in due course of rationalization.
Other planned activities include; A change management and implementation strategy will be developed, and stakeholder engagement workshops conducted to prepare staff for the new changes. Thereafter, a legal framework of the affected agencies will be reviewed.
An institutional and structural framework including terms and conditions of service of employees will be reviewed and financial implications established before the revised structures are presented to cabinet for approval.
Validation of credentials of employees from the affected agencies that will be absorbed in the public service will then be conducted and compensation of off-boarded personnel undertaken.
Thereafter, salary structures of agencies will be harmonized in accordance with the approved pay targets, and a harmonized salary structure be issued.
Cabinet in 2018 agreed to disband or merge 24 agencies except for Kampala Capital City Authority, Uganda Bureau of Statistics, Uganda National Bureau of Standards, Uganda Communications Commission and National Medical Stores.
The merge among other things seeks to avoid wastage of public funds. Authorities then stated that the decision is aimed at liberating resources and harmonizing salary structures.
According to available documents, the agencies have been taking about 37 percent of the total wage bill.
Hon Nabakooba says when completed, the proposed reorganization of government entities will save up to Shs 988BN while at the same time increasing efficiency.