Uganda’s Cabinet has approved the change of practice on clearance of Public Officers to travel abroad, a move that has seen the powers of the country’s Prime Minister reduced.
This was reached at during a Cabinet sitting on Friday 25th august, 2017.
The meeting was chaired by Ruhakana Rugunda, the current Prime Minister of Uganda.
In a communication issued by Frank K Tumwebaze, the Minister of ICT & National Guidance, who also doubles Cabinet Spokesperson, the Prime Minister will only be responsible for clearance of Ministers, Ministers of State, Specified Officers, Head of Public Service, Deputy Head of Public Service, Permanent Secretaries and Chief Administrative Officers.
Cabinet further agreed that clearance for other Public Officers below the position of Permanent Secretaries and Chief Administrative Officers will be the responsibility of the respective Minister.
The Current Practice has been that all travels abroad would be cleared by the Prime Minister.
“The change of practice is premised on the need to reduce the work load of the RT Hon Prime Minister and to enable Ministers to take full charge of the affairs of their ministries and therefore be accountable as Political heads,” Tumwebaze said, adding: “The measure is also intended to reduce on the cost of travels abroad through rationalization of trips of abroad at any given time.”
Cabinet also approved the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS)
2017/18 -2021/2022. The strategy will operationalise the Policy on export promotion and coordinate all efforts of different Ministries.
Cabinet also “Directed all responsible Ministers to undertake Sectoral budget reprioritization in context of the NEDS implementation with a view to focusing existing resources on implementing the NEDS.”
