Parliament Speaker Demands Accountability from Officials

Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth, has issued a firm directive to accounting officers, stressing the critical importance of attending parliamentary committee meetings when summoned.

During a recent House sitting, the Speaker noted with concern that several accounting officers have failed to appear before parliamentary committees. He underscored that this absence not only impedes the work of Parliament but also undermines the fundamental principles of constitutional accountability.

“It has come to my attention that some accounting officers are not honouring invitations to appear before committees of Parliament,” Speaker Oboth stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation.

He reminded these officials that their primary duty is to be accountable to the citizens of Uganda, with Parliament serving as the direct conduit for this oversight. “I would like to remind all accounting officers that it is their constitutional obligation to be accountable to the citizens of this country through Parliament, where they are represented. I therefore beseech them to appear whenever summoned,” he added.

The Speaker’s remarks come amidst ongoing parliamentary scrutiny, including a particular instance where the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises (COSASE) faced difficulties in its investigation into alleged mismanagement at the Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) due to the non-appearance of its Director General and Accounting Officer.

Speaker Oboth framed appearing before committees not as a mere courtesy, but as an indispensable part of the accountability mechanism designed to ensure that public funds are managed responsibly and in the best interest of the taxpayers.

Source: https://www.parliament.go.ug/index.php/news/4567/accounting-officers-must-honour-committee-summons-speaker