UGANDA – The Ugandan Parliament has voted against the government’s proposal to merge several crucial agricultural bodies despite President Museveni’s call to support the process.
The bodies to be merged included the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA), National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADs), Dairy Development Authority (DDA), and Cotton Development Authority, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries (MAAIF).
Previously the president had called for the Member of parliament to support the processes claiming that it would save the government 1 trillion Ugandan Shillings.
However, at a parliamentary meeting, the Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries committee argued that some of the agricultural agencies involved serve key independent roles and that their return to the ministries would affect major gains made.
In addition, the committee noted that the return to the ministries would also lead reversal of the food security gains.
“The pivotal role played by NAADS in filling in the gaps in the agriculture sector and providing demand-driven services in line with modern agricultural trends and global market demands cannot be over-emphasized,” the committee noted in a report.
“This calls for strengthening of the institution rather than merging it back into the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.”
Ms Janet Okori-Moe, the Chairperson of the committee, addressing the issue regarding UCDA noted that in major coffee producers coffee is regulated by special agencies and that Uganda is committed to its coffee production roadmap.
“The civil service mode of operation and service delivery cannot efficiently undertake and deliver this mandate and Uganda is not about to retract from the coffee road map of achieving 20 million bags by 2030.”
Initially, the government had proposed the rationalization of various agencies earlier this year aiming to cure duplication of roles, cut down the financial drain on its resources and reduce the burden of wasteful administration and expenditure.
However, this is not seen to succeed as legislators have also called for more funding for the agencies to carry out their mandate.
“We need coffee, cotton, and dairy and we need to play the highest standards. Let us find the resources and we ensure that these resources are in the budget and fully appropriated.”
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