By Frank Kamuntu
Shadow Public Service Minister, Ms. Anna Adeke Ebaju, has put forward a proposal to reduce the size of Uganda’s Parliament and Cabinet in a bid to improve government efficiency.
The plan suggests cutting the number of lawmakers from 529 to 260 and reducing the Cabinet from 82 to 21 ministers. Ms. Adeke argues that the current system’s size leads to inefficiency and places unnecessary financial strain on the country’s resources.
A key element of the proposal is the call for a clear separation between the legislative and executive branches of government.
She advocates for MPs who are appointed as Cabinet ministers to resign from their parliamentary seats, preventing any conflicts of interest. This recommendation follows concerns over the overlap of duties, where MPs serving as ministers might struggle to effectively oversee government actions.
The issue of MPs holding dual roles has been a subject of legal debate. In 2016, citizens Isaac Wadada and Hamim Nsimbe questioned the constitutionality of such appointments, citing potential conflicts of interest and violations of the separation of powers.
However, the Constitutional Court ruled that appointing MPs as ministers does not violate the constitution, granting the President the discretion to form the Cabinet.
Ms. Adeke’s proposal is part of ongoing efforts to optimize government resources and improve service delivery. In April 2024, Parliament approved a restructuring of government agencies aimed at enhancing efficiency and reducing operational costs.
This restructuring involved merging several agencies and transferring others between ministries to streamline operations.
Despite these efforts, the implementation of such proposals faces challenges. In June 2021, Parliament approved an increase in the number of state ministers from 50 to 51 to address regional representation and governance needs.
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