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REPORT OF THE SENSITIZATION
WORKSHOP FOR MEMBERS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY SESSIONAL COMMITTEES ON THE UGANDA
ROAD FUND BILL 2007.
 This
is the the report of the Sensitization Workshop on the Uganda Road Fund Bill
2007, held at Entebbe, 14-15 Dec. 2007 for Members of the Parliamentary
Sessional Committee on Finance Planning Economic Development and the Sessional
Committee on Physical Infrastructure. The workshop was opened by the Hon. M/S
FPED in Charge of General Duties.
Following the tabling of the
Bill to Parliament for First Reading on 28th September 2007, the
Members of Parliament requested for a workshop to get an in-depth understanding
of the general principles and key features of the Uganda Road Fund Bill 2007 and
to share the experiences of African countries that already had Road Funds in
place.
HIGHLIGHTS OF
THE SUGGESTED CHANGES
Below is a summary of the major changes suggested during the workshop.
The details of the suggested amendments to the Bill are contained in
Annex IV of this report.
·
Clause 8(1)
Board Composition:
The Board shall be broad based comprising private and public representation with
a majority of road users, constituting 9 reputable persons nominated from the
public and private sectors, appointed by the Minister of Finance in consultation
with the Minister responsible for roads.
·
Clause
8(2[d-h])
The Members of
the Board appointed under Clause 8(1) shall include one person appointed from a
list of three names submitted by an organisation, representing the following:
d)
The Private Sector Foundation of Uganda;
e)
Freight Forwarders in Uganda;
f)
Passenger Transporters in Uganda;
g)
The Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Uganda (ICPAU)
h)
Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers (UIPE)
·
Clause 14(3):
Functions of the Board: The Board shall be responsible and accountable to
the Minister for ensuring efficiency, effectiveness, transparency and propriety
in:
(a)
the utilisation of public funds under this Act;
(b)
the conduct of its business; and
(c)
the operations and activities of the Fund
·
Clause 19(1):
Tenure of Office of Executive Director: The Executive Director shall hold
office for three years and shall be eligible for re-appointment for one more
term.
·
Clause 22(1):
Purposes for which the Fund may be applied: That in addition to funding
maintenance, the Fund may also support financing of road works research.
·
Clause 23(2):
Annual Road Maintenance Programme: The annual Road Maintenance Programme
shall be reviewed by the Board in order to determine the amount allocated for
each class of roads.
·
Clause 42(a):
General Duties of Designated Agencies: In the execution of its functions
under this Act, a designated agency shall ensure the development, rehabilitation
and maintenance of the public road network it is allocated in a manner
consistent with the economy and set standards.
·
Areas considered relevant but not covered in the Bill: In brief, the areas considered relevant but not covered in
the Bill particularly with regard to the annual road programme were referred to
Part IV—Designated Agencies. They seek to address issues on financial year of
road agencies, accounts and records, collection of information by the Board,
furnishing of information, as well as preparation of technical and financial
audits.
CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATIONS
· That
the Parliamentary Sessional Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic
Development would continue with its work and would accord due attention to the
proposed amendments.
· That
arrangements be made for some members of the Parliamentary Sessional Committees
together with members of the Road Fund Task Force to visit the countries with
best practices to have onsite assessment of what is exactly obtaining, to enable
them to clearly internalize the Bill and be able to present to the Plenary.
· That
there is need for the Sessional Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic
Development to take note of any possible provisions in the Bill that would
potentially constitute a substantial duplication of functions and roles already
being handled by the Ministry of Works and Transport.
· The
Chairman, Committee on Finance, Planning and Economic Development would invite
the Hon. Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, together with
the Hon. Minister of Works and Transport to formally present the Bill to the
Committee at an appropriate time.
·
That the benchmarking study tour of the MPs and Members of the Road Fund
Taskforce should be fast-tracked and reports arising from the tours shall be
presented to the Honourable Minister prior to the aforesaid meeting with the
Committee. |
