On Friday 19th April, 2024 Parliament convened to deliberate on several government bills aimed at streamlining various entities.
The first bill under consideration is the Registration of Persons Amendment Bill, 2024, which proposes transferring civil registration services from the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) to the National Information Registration Authority (NIRA).
During the session, amendments were made to empower NIRA with the responsibility of registering guardianship, in addition to its existing duties.
According to Gen David Muhoozi, the junior interior minister, staff members from URSB involved in providing these services will be relocated to NIRA.
Another bill on the agenda is the Uganda Trypanosomiasis Council Repeal Bill 2024, which seeks to dissolve the council and transfer its functions to the Ministry of Agriculture.
However, resistance arose from some MPs, led by Theodore Ssekikubo, who argued against processing the bill in the absence of a line minister.
Ssekikubo emphasized the importance of Minister David Bahati, who was delegated to represent the Ministry of Agriculture, being present during the deliberations.
Speaker Anita Among responded by citing a written letter from the Senior Minister of Agriculture, authorizing Minister Bahati to attend in his place. She urged MPs to trust Minister Bahati and proceed with the bill’s processing, noting the presence of the Attorney General to provide legal guidance.
