Members of Parliament have demanded that the Minister of State for Finance, Planning and Economic Development (Privatisation and Investment), Hon. Evelyn Anite, explains the delayed completion of eight industrial parks countrywide despite a Presidential directive.

The lawmakers were forced to defer adoption of the Report of the Public Accounts Committee (Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises – COSASE) on the Financial Statements of Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) for the Financial Year ended 30 June 2023.

The report was presented by the Chairperson, Hon. Medard Lubega Sseggona.One of the recommendations of the committee was fast tracking of the completion of eight industrial parks, to be established countrywide.

The committee observed that UIA was behind schedule of implementation of the Presidential directive, which envisaged complete establishment of the 22 industrial parks by 2O2O.

“UIA should seek renewal of the expired directive of the President. The Board and management of UIA should complete the establishment of the eight industrial parks as envisaged,” the report read in part.

Speaker Anita Among guided that the recommendations on the parks as well as other investments should be clarified by the minister before the report is adopted.

“We have had a lot of issues on investments, is it possible for the minister to come? All of us want industrial parks and that can only be answered by the Minister,” she said.

Hon. Martin Ojara Mapenduzi (Indep., Bardege-Layibi Division) said that UIA has been faced with several challenges which require the attention of the Minister.
“UIA plays a very critical role and it would be good for us to have this discussion when the minister is here,” he said.

Hon. Joseph Ssewungu (NUP, Kalungu West County) added that the report of the Committee on Government Assurances on the oversight visit to the industrial parks should also be presented to enrich debate on the parks. “I was one time the Deputy Chairperson of the Government Assurances Committee and we had full visits to industrial parks. A lot of questions were raised,” he said.

Madi-Okollo District Woman Representative, Hon. Joanne Okia, welcomed the recommendation to expedite the completion of the eight industrial parks.
“I would like to agree with the committee that Uganda Investment Authority should be facilitated to procure the eight industrial parks,” she said.

The report also recommended expeditious completion of the Shs849.5 billion Kampala Industrial Park – Namanve project. “Delays in project implementation often lead to cost overruns due to inflation, rising material costs and extended labour costs. Budgeting and financial plans become less accurate, leading to a need of additional funding,” read the report.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Public Service, Hon. Wilson Muruuli Mukasa, gave Parliament re-assurance that the Public Service Commission will soon present practical proposals to tackle several shortcomings faced by District Service Commissions (DSCs).

This follows the adoption of COSASE’s report of the Auditor general’s report on Public Service Commission for the year ended 30 June 2023; wherein committee chairperson, Sseggona observed that DSC’s are faced with several challenges including; corruption, poor pay and incomplete service commissions; among others.

Muruuli Mukasa said that government has conducted a study on how to make DSCs more efficient.
“Cabinet directed that Ministry of Public Service and that of Local Government, and the Attorney General should look into these issues and provide concrete recommendations. Some of the issues are corruption and political interference especially in the constitution of district service commissions,” he said.

He added that Cabinet’s proposal is to pay members of the district service commission salaries, and not retainers, as is currently being done. “We are saying let the salary come from the consolidated fund, not just retainer. We are privy to some of these shortcomings and gaps and ready to address them so that we have vibrant district service commissions,” the minister said.

The committee recommended enhanced remuneration of district service commission and the Speaker, Anita Among urged the minister to expedite implementation of recommendations of the committee.