Legislators on the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee showed they mean business, Thursday, as they kicked out three ministers who were appearing with bills on the merger of government agencies.
Kiryowa Kiwanuka's tough brows, Norbert Mao's glib tongue and Muruli Mukasa's seasoned wrinkles did nothing to slow down the tough-talking legislators, who ruled that three bills on rationalisation that trio were before the committee to defend did not meet the standard.
The legislators on the Committee argued that the bills presented are not in line with section 76 of the public Finance Management Act 2015.
Attorney-General Kiwanuka, Justice minister Mao and Public Service chief Mukasa found themselves with backs against the wall and had to leave for another.
The committee trashed the Constitutional Amendment Bill 2023, the Arbitration and Conciliation Amendment Bill 2024, and the National Tribunal Bill 2023.
However, the MPs led by Ibrahim Ssemujju Nganda (Kira Municipality), Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality), and Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri County) ruled that the certificate of financial implication presented to support the bills are not up-to the standard.
This compelled the committee to halt the consideration of all bills related to the rationalisation of government agencies until the requirements as stated in Section 76 of the Public Finance Management Act 2015 are complied with.
Section 76 of the Public Finance Management Act 2015 says demands that every bill introduced in Parliament be accompanied by a certificate of financial implications issued by the Minister.
"The certificate of financial implications issued under subsection (1) shall indicate estimates of revenue and expenditure over the period of not less than two years after coming into effect of the bill when passed," the law says.
It also requires that the certificate indicate the impact of the Bill on the economy.
Legally, a certificate of financial implication can only mature 60 days from the date of request.
Before throwing the the three powerful ministers out of the committee, AG Kiwanuka said he would need to consult with the Ministry of Finance on the alleged inefficiency in the certificate of financial implications before returning to the committee.
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