The Role of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology: The Case of Uganda

Transcription

1 The Role of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology: The Case of Uganda A presentation made at the EA Parliamentary Scientific Committee forum, April 03 rd Hon. Ruth Nvumetta Kavuma,, MP Kalangala District (Ssese( Islands) Deputy Chairperson Parliamentary Committee on S &T 5/18/2009 1

2 Outline Preamble Science and Technology Committee Role of the Parliamentary Standing committee Committee Contribution to Budgetary Process Achievements Conclusion 5/18/2009 2

3 Preamble Article 90 of the constitution of Uganda provides for committees of parliament The article specifically provides that: Parliament shall appoint committees necessary for efficient discharge of its functions. Parliament shall, by its rules of procedure, prescribe the powers, composition and functions of its committees. 5/18/2009 3

4 Preamble Cont. In the exercise of their functions under this Article, committees of Parliament- May call any minister or any person holding public office and private individuals to submit memoranda or appear before them to give evidence; May co-opt opt any MP or employ qualified persons to assist them in the discharge of their functions; 5/18/2009 4

5 Preamble Cont Shall have powers of the high court for: enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath, affirmation or otherwise; Compelling the production of documents; and Issuing a commission or request to examine witnesses abroad 5/18/2009 5

6 Science and Technology Committee Article 90 (2) of the constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides that parliament shall, by its rules of procedure, prescribe the powers, composition and functions of its committees Pursuant to this article, Rule No. 130 of the rules of procedure provides that the house shall appoint parliamentary committees for the efficient discharge of its functions Specifically rule No. 158 (1) provides for functional roles of the standing committee on Science and Technology 5/18/2009 6

7 Role of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on S&T The Committee is mandated among other things to:- Review, discuss and make recommendations on Scientific and Technological content of all bills laid before parliament Initiate bills on strategic issues of science and technology for National development Examine and carryout research on the performance of the National Science and Technology sub-sector sector Examine, recommend and oversee adequate national budgetary provisions for the development of S&T 5/18/2009 7

8 Committee Contribution to Budgetary Process The committee actively participates in the budgetary process/cycle; Of utmost importance is during the medium term Expenditure Framework in which sectors present to parliament their budget framework papers On this premise, the committee considers sectors Budget Framework papers and submits its position on budgetary allocations with the enhancement of Science and technology as the major driving force. The same happens during the consideration of the Policy Statement for each Financial Year. 5/18/2009 8

9 Achievements The committee has convened, discussed and made recommendations on S & T content of bills laid before Parliament; The following bills have been passed into law: The Atomic Energy Act, 2007 The National Information Technology Authority, Uganda Bill, 2008 The Uganda National Health Research Organisation Act, 2006 The Bio-safety Act 5/18/2009 9

10 Achievements-Cont Cont. Bills under consideration The Narcotic drugs and Psychotropic Substances (control) Bill, 2007 The Physical Planning Bill, 2008 The Electronic Transactions Bill, 2008 The Computer Misuse Bill, 2008 The Electronic Signatures Bill, 2008 The Regulation of Interception of Communications Bill, 2008 The Pharmacy Profession and Pharmacy Practice Bill, /18/

11 Achievements Cont. Committee plans to draft and own a Private members bill on the creation of the Ministry of S&T Currently there is Ministry of ICT; UNAS has been granted a charter The committee is aware ICT forms a small percentage of the wider field of ST&I; The committee believes that ST & I should take firm ground in the country ( this rhymes well with sister states in the great lakes region, Nigeria, RSA, Egypt and many others the world over); 5/18/

12 Achievements-Cont Cont.. The committee continuously monitors, evaluates and assesses activities in public institutions and other bodies engaged in national S & T development through: Debriefing dialogues/meetings with MDAs Attending forums Conducting oversight upcountry visits to public and private institutions (University and tertiary, Research institutions etc) Drafting reports of such activities for submission to parliament, for consideration and adoption. 5/18/

13 Achievements Cont.. The committee has managed to contribute to development of policy documents to enhance the performance of the S & T sub- sector in Uganda; To note here, the committee engaged the Civil society in the drafting of The National Bio-technology policy The National Science, Technology and Innovations policy, among others Though still in draft form, its the committees conviction that the two documents shall serve to boost Uganda s quest for S & T advancement 5/18/

14 Achievements-cont cont The Committee was actively involved in Baseline Survey titled: The Role of S &T in evidence Based scrutiny of Government by the Parliament of Uganda conducted by UNAS; Survey aimed at enhancing legislators capacity to conceptualize and deliver at policy level, all matters related to t S &T; Survey forms part of a wide programme of activities to strengthen evidence based scrutiny of Government policies and programmes by the parliament; Could lead to strengthening parliament s s capacity to handle issues related to S & T 5/18/

15 Achievements-Cont Cont. The Study is still on-going, and will involve reviewing existing data, and generating new data, that could inform developing of mechanisms for integrating scientific evidence-based approaches into policy formulation and implementation in Uganda; 5/18/

16 Achievements Cont. With assistance from the parliamentary office of Science and Technology of the UK (POST-UK), and UNAS, five members of the committee were identified and paired with scientists in what is called the MP/Scientist pairing scheme 5/18/

17 Objectives of this scheme To help scientists recognize the potential methods and structures through which they can feed their scientific knowledge to parliamentarians and Gov t of Uganda To provide an opportunity for the MPs to forge direct links with a network of practicing research scientists To help practicing scientists understand the pressures under which MPs operate 5/18/

18 Objectives of the Scheme cont To give MPs the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the process of scientific understanding and topical research and ultimately bring this new knowledge into better informed discussions and policy decisions 5/18/

19 Conclusion Parliamentary committees important avenue in which parliament conducts most of its business; It s s the input of committees that parliament stands on to discharge its duties; An effective and efficient committee system is an ideal catalyst in facilitating the work of parliament; Without the committees input, parliaments are bound to be ineffective in their expected roles as an arm of Government 5/18/

20 Thank You 5/18/