Parliament’s Budget Committee has threatened not to consider budgets of Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) if the governance issues surrounding gender balance aren’t addressed, saying many public entities are hiding vacant positions yet Ugandans are suffering with unemployment.
The threat was made by Patrick Isiagi, Chairperson Budget Committee while interfacing with officials from Ministry of Finance who came with a delegate of six members who were all male.
The sight prompted Fox Odoi to question if only men are planning for the country and why some of the officials occupying key positions have been acting in their positions for over five years, against the public service standing orders.
“As they answer the question of acting, can they also address us on the issue of gender insensitivity of this wonderful delegation?” he asked.
Isiagi backed Odoi, accusing Ministry of Finance of compromising service delivery, saying the selection of only males demonstrates that the Ministry is taking one direction.
There is that acting issue where somebody acts for five years, a competent qualified officer and you continue having him act on his face, that is injustice of the highest order and you are compromising service delivery.
Henry Musasizi, State Minister Finance for General Duties concurred with the Committee on many of the officials at the top have been acting for quite long and said the issue if being addressed with ministry of public service.
“I know being MP most of our staff reach out to you with such concern, when we confirm people on top, definitely there are people down who will rise. We are a ministry which is an equal opportunity employer, we give chance to men and women who are competent, as you are aware we have got a number of women in key positions and I came along part of the team,” said Musasizi.
However, Isiagi responded tasking the Ministry to sort out its appointments or else have their budgets rejected if the injustices still continue.
“As far as injustice, oppression meted on our citizens for acting for so long, there is no standard, there is no process, guidelines, regulations, so we agreed with Ministry of Public Service they will call you up,” Isiagi said.
He added: “By the time you come for the budget, any entity which will be still oppressing the wanaichi, we shall part ways. We shall not be involved in your budget approval. It is you entities who hide positions and public service says we decentralized, so if you can’t whip, what is the relevance of your Ministry?”
