By Ben Ssebuguzi
Kampala: When UNRA, a corporate body of government responsible for roads was appearing before COSASE committee of Parliament, it was revealed that the parent ministry of works is alleging that they diverted funds without informing them.
Well, according to Public finance expenditure, it is a requirement, but can’t that be harmonized through dialogue instead of exposing the other in the public?
Ministry of works should only query if the diverted money was used for personal use, but if the said money was used for roads activities, then the mother ministry should investigate the value for money of the diverted funds in order to save tax payers money.
Secondly, the law should be amended to give UNRA complete autonomy to execute their duties efficiently without tieing the hands of UNRA by the mother ministry.
Ever since government created agencies, service delivery increased because red tape and bureaucracy that is a common feature of government ministries was minimized. That’s why if UNRA wants to urgently fix a broken bridge on Masaka road, they don’t have to first first make a requisition or permission from ministry of works.
UNRA can respond in time for any urgency simply because they have vision, mission and values which are customer centric which do not exist at some ministries. U might take a decade to get a reply of your email from some government ministries. As crusaders of government agencies, we implore Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to use his God given wisdom while rationalizing government agencies so that we don’t create a vacuum in service delivery. All those pushing for razing some of them don’t know their relevance of their contribution to the GDP of our nation.
In a nutshell, UNRA should be given enough flexibility and agility and not be limited by any party because they are independent. Ministry of works should only be limited to supervision but not accountability.
Ben Ssebuguzi is the Secretary General Uganda Poor Youth Movement, A 2019 Public Opinion certified Public Awareness and information Dissemination fellow, A July 2022 chartered international Business Leadership fellow by Public Opinions.