Parliament-Watch-Bulletin_Mid-Term-Audit-2014

A Mid Term Citizens’ Assessment of the 9th ParliamentStandard 2: Protect Uganda’s National Interests including at Regional and International levels, by promoting peace and security,protecting Uganda’s diverse cultural heritage, preservation of the dignity of every Ugandan and economic interests,protecting Uganda’s Natural Resources as well as enhancing Uganda’s Human Capital development:• From the perception survey 63.3% of Ugandans felt that government is doing enough for peace and security in the country while thosewho answered in the negative were 28.9 % and 6.2% were not sure as the rest refrained from giving any answers• Another 44.1% answered yes when asked if they had seen or heard of the parliament conducting oversight visits to insecure are as, both nationallyand regionally or conducted public hearings on citizens’ security concerns while 44.1% answered NO, and the rest, 10.5% refrained from giving any answersCitizens’ anticipated actionsfrom the 9 th Parliament1. Expected actions on Peace& Security• Resolving some of thenational, regional andinternational conflicts;• Ensuring territorial integrity,peace and Security i.e. amongEAC member states, DRC,South Sudan, Somalia andCentral Africa• Effective supervision ofperformance of state securityinstitutionsKey findings of specific actions taken bythe 9 th ParliamentFindings:• MPs have continued to raise statementsconcerning peace and security e.g.during debate on the State of the NationAddress (May 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)as well as motions e.g.• Seeking explanation on deployment ofUPDF and UPF in foreign countriessuch as the Republic of South Sudan,CAR• On the plight of the formerly abductedchildren and persons affected by theLord’s Resistance Army 2014• On deployment of UPDF in SouthSudan and the Status of forcesagreement.• The alarming youth unemployment, asa source of increased crime and nationalinsecurity, were also discussed.Verdict Gaps RecommendationsGOOD• Inter district border conflict(i.e. Siroko/Kapchorwa;Katakwi/Karamoja;Amuru/Adjumani;Kabarole/Ntoroko; Migingocontinue to loom• JLOS as one of the mostenabling sectors of nationalpeace, justice and security inUganda have financing gaps,• Budget shares further indicatethat 50.56% of the total sectorbudget 2013/14 is allocated toUganda Police Force, followedby Uganda Prison Services(13.79%) and Judiciary only(10.88%). The least share isallocated to Judicial ServiceCommission (0.42%) andUganda Registration ServicesBureau (0.50%), which are twovery critical players in thesector.• Increased vigilance of thePolice Force has generatedfurther responsibilities forsister institutions such asUganda Prison Services, DPPand Judiciary, whose budgetallocations, unfortunately, haveremained static.• Parliament needs to revisethe budget to adequatelysupport the Justice Law andOrder Sector (JLOS) toenhance policy and legalreforms; provide access toJLOS services and institutea human rights andaccountability functionamong JLOS institutions.The increased budget willassist JLOS to handle itsmajor challenges ofcorruption and shortage ofstaff.• Parliament shouldstrengthen measures toaddress incidences ofcorruption among all stateinstitutions. Given that inthe Inspectorate ofGovernment (IG) report of2011, the Uganda PoliceForce was branded as themost corrupt institutionfollowed by the Judiciary.The East African BriberyIndex 2011 rated theUganda Police as the mostcorrupt in the five EastAfrican countries.Corruption increases thecost of public servicedelivery and implementationof public projects, besideseroding public confidencein the institution.14UGMP September 2014