Uganda Deputy Speaker warns committees of funding cuts

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has warned that parliamentary committees failing to meet their reporting obligations risk losing public funding. During a plenary sitting, Tayebwa stated that Parliament will no longer allocate resources to committees that utilize funds without demonstrating their work through required reports.

Under Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, specialized standing committees are mandated to present reports to the House at least twice a year to ensure oversight of critical policy areas. Tayebwa specifically criticized the Committee on Climate Change, noting it has not presented a single report during the 11th Parliament despite receiving and spending funds. Other committees mentioned for scrutiny include those overseeing Equal Opportunities, HIV/AIDS and Related Matters, Human Rights, and Science and Technology.

In addition to financial consequences, Tayebwa indicated that committee leaders who fail to fulfill their duties may face replacement. He noted that Parliament’s leadership would engage party whips to ensure that committee chairpersons are suitable for their roles and committed to their responsibilities.