BIG STORY: UNRA Dissolved In Merger of 33 Government Agencies

According to Public Service Minister Muruuli Mukasa, the proliferation of agencies had created mandate overlaps and jurisdictional ambiguities among the agencies

At least 33 government departments and agencies, including Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA), have lost an intense battle in the corridors of power to block plans to merge the institution with the Works Ministry. 

According to the rationalisation of government agencies (Repeals and Amendments) Bill gazetted on October 6, 2023, the Uganda National Roads Authority Act, 2006 (Act 15 of 2006) will be amended to “mainstream the functions of UNRA established under the Act into the Ministry responsible for roads.”

On the commencement of the new Act, the Uganda National Roads Authority established by Act 15 of 2006 shall be dissolved.

The Works Ministry will be responsible for performing the functions formerly performed by UNRA such as management, maintaining and developing of the national roads network; advising the Government on policy matters concerning roads, and assisting in the coordination and implementation of the policy relating to roads; contributing to the addressing of transport concerns in overall national planning through coordination with the relevant ministries, departments and agencies of Government and international organisations.

In Parliament and corridors of power, UNRA officials argued that the institution had developed tremendous capacity to expedite construction of national road networks which should not go to waste.

In 2021, MP David Kabanda defended UNRA’s legal status, saying it was “in the process of operationalizing express ways, toll roads which will be a catalyst for industrialization, economic growth and are expected to generate at least $2 Billion in toll revenue in the next 20 years and create 2000 jobs for the first three toll roads.”

The Government proposal to disband and merge departments and agencies is aimed at slashing annual public administration costs which as of 2021 amounted to Shs 1.3 Trillion.

According to Public Service Minister Muruuli Mukasa, the proliferation of agencies had created mandate overlaps and jurisdictional ambiguities among the agencies. 

“Additionally, the high cost of administering the agencies has drained the national treasury at the expense of effective service delivery,” said Muruuli, adding, “This has overstretched the capacity of the Government to sustain them.”

He said the Government has also established that the generous salary structures of the agencies has created salary disparities between employees of the agencies and public officers in the traditional civil service leading to demotivation of human resources in the mainstream public service.

Muruuli said the new bill will enable the merging, mainstreaming and rationalisation of agencies, commissions, authorities and public expenditure thereby, inter alia relieving the Government of the financial drain on its resources and the burden of wasteful administration and expenditure;

The proposed law is also expected to facilitate efficient and effective service delivery by clearly delineating the mandates and functions of government agencies and departments, thereby avoiding duplication of mandates and functions; promoting coordinated administrative arrangements, policies and procedures for ensuring the efficient and successful management, financial accounting and budgetary discipline of government agencies and departments; and enabling the Government to play its proper role more effectively.

According to the Bill seen by ChimpReports, the board members and staff of the Uganda National Roads Authority shall be paid their terminal benefits in accordance with the terms and conditions of their service.

Compensation is not payable to any member of the board of the Uganda National Roads Authority for loss of office resulting from the dissolution of the Uganda National Roads Authority.

However, the staff of the Uganda National Roads Authority may be redeployed to serve in the public service subject to availability of positions.

The consequential amendment of certain Acts of Parliament provide that where any law enacted by Parliament provides that an agency or commission has the power to recruit staff, determine and establish staff structures or determine and set terms and conditions of service, the agency or commission shall exercise such power subject to the approval of the Ministry responsible for the public service.

Merger 

Government agencies and departments which have been abolished or merged with parent ministries/bodies are:-

Source: Chimp Reports