Parliament has passed the National Records and Archives (Amendment) Bill, 2024 that dissolves the National Records and Archives Agency.
In February 2021, Cabinet adopted a Government policy for Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX) intended to cut public expenditure and reduce duplication of roles.
During the Tuesday Plenary sitting, chaired by Speaker Anita Among, Parliament scrutinized and passed the Bill to scrap the National Records and Archives Agency and have its functions mainstreamed to the Ministry of Public Service.
The National Records and Archives, Act was enacted in 2001 and it came into effect thereafter but was never operationalised.
While presenting the committee report, Hon. Ojara Mapenduzi, Chairperson of Committee on Public Service said the intention of the rationalisation of the National Records and Archives Agency under the Bill and mainstreaming its functions into the Ministry is appropriate.
According to the Minister of Public Service, Muruli Mukasa, the Bill would relieve the Government of the financial drain on its resources and the burden of wasteful administration and expenditure.
“The bill will also facilitate efficient and effective service delivery by clearly delineating the mandates and functions of the Ministry in respect to the agency, thereby avoiding duplication of mandates and functions,” he said.
As passed, clause 3 of the National Records and Archives (Amendment) Bill states that the National Records and Archives Agency established by the National Records and Archives Act, 2001, should be dissolved.
Clauses 4 to 20 seek to amend the Act to mainstream the functions of the National Records and Archives Agency into the Ministry of Public Service.
During the same sitting, sector Ministers also withdraw other rationalization bills after MPs raised concerns of defects on the certificates of financial implication on several bills. Only 3 bills; the National Information and Technology Authority (NITA-U) Bill, Karamoja Development Agency Bill and National Archives Bill had sufficient certificates.
Speaker Among urged the respective ministers to retable the bills once the flaws on the certificates of financial implication have been addressed.
