Parliament will scrutinize the 2020/2021 budget in two weeks down from the two and half months prescribed under the Public Finance Management Act and the Budget Act due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the parliamentary budget approval process under the Public Finance Management Act and Rules and Procedures of Parliament, the budget the process runs from 15th March as the deadline for submission of policy statement of all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to 31st May when the budget is approved and passed by Parliament, before the final reading in June.
The revelation was made by Director Budget at Parliament; Sulaiman Kiggundu who said that due to the threat the coronavirus pandemic, the whole process will be done expeditiously in only two weeks starting first April as a measure to control the crowds and congestion in parliament.
He said that as opposed to the earlier practice where entities appeared with top leadership before the sectoral committee, this time around, the entities will appear with only four officials.
He has emphasized that Parliament will make use of its electronic the system where ministries will be sending in their documents via the internet to the MPs who will analyze the budget estimates and allocations and where necessary, only a few (not more than four) ministry officials will be called in for further clarification.
The revelation was made in a joint press conference held together with the Parliamentary Commission to announce operations of parliament in this coronavirus pandemic situation.
