The Prime Minister of Uganda, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, has launched the National Regulators Association of Uganda (NRAU), an innovative coalition dedicated to fostering collaboration among the country’s regulatory bodies.
Conceived after the inaugural Regulators Breakfast Meeting in June 2022, this platform brings together regulators from various sectors to streamline policy efforts, promote knowledge exchange, and align operational standards with Uganda’s national development goals.
Chaired by the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA), the association’s interim leadership committee comprises eight regulatory bodies, including the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU), Capital Markets Authority (CMA), National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), National Drug Authority (NDA), National Information and Technology Authority of Uganda (NITA-U), Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), and Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB).
This committee will steer the association’s strategic direction and facilitate its mission to minimise redundancy, enhance efficiency, and promote alignment with best international practices.
Launching the association, the Prime Minister, who is also a patron, hailed the association as a critical milestone for Uganda’s regulatory landscape, highlighting its potential to bolster the government’s Vision 2040 objectives and the National Development Plan.
“This association is a key step towards creating a cohesive regulatory environment capable of driving Uganda’s socio-economic transformation,” she said during the launch ceremony on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
The NRAU, she added, aims to improve efficiency and equip regulatory bodies with the skills necessary for nurturing innovation while ensuring public welfare.
“The Association will streamline operations, reduce resource wastage, prevent overlaps, and align Uganda’s regulatory frameworks with national policies, international best practices, and global standards.” This initiative, she said, will equip regulatory bodies across sectors with the skills and resources needed to encourage innovation while upholding public interests.
Calling on all regulatory agencies, she urged active participation, knowledge-sharing, and a commitment to continuously refine Uganda’s regulatory frameworks for the nation’s benefit.
ERA’s CEO, Eng. Ziria Tibalwa Waako, noted that the NRAU marks a crucial shift in the regulatory sector, enabling collective approaches to address shared challenges.
“While our mandates may differ, we all share the goal of improving Uganda’s welfare through regulatory excellence,” said Waako.
She emphasised that the association provides a much-needed forum for regulators to pool resources and expertise to tackle complex, cross-sectoral issues more effectively.
“Permit me to introduce our vision, which is to become a premier national association that guarantees a uniform and unified regulatory framework for socio-economic transformation, right honourable prime minister. Our mission is to facilitate harmonisation of regulatory affairs and practices and supporting best practices, innovation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing in the interest of stakeholders,” she said.
Dr. Sarah Wasagali Kanaabi, the association’s chairperson, emphasised that the association’s formation is a direct response to the President’s call for unity and coherence in governance.
“There is strength in numbers,” she stated, referencing the association’s mission to pool resources and expertise to tackle shared regulatory challenges.
This unity, she argued, would not only save public resources but would also enhance service delivery across Uganda’s regulatory spectrum.
“By coming together, we will not only enhance the effectiveness of our regulatory activities but also save public resources, improve the efficiency of government programmes, and contribute significantly to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation,” she said.
The Minister of State for Energy, Opolot Okasai, pointed to the interdependence of the sectors NRAU represents, from energy and finance to health and technology.
“In today’s interconnected world, effective regulation demands collaboration across all sectors,” he remarked, emphasising that NRAU’s role will be to streamline processes, minimise bureaucratic redundancies, and create a unified framework that will bolster economic growth and innovation in Uganda.
“When you collaborate, you build a stronger, more resilient regulatory framework that enables you to serve the interests of all Ugandans and contributes to the social and economic transformation of our nation,” Okasai said.
