Minister Tumwebaze reassures staff set to lose jobs after agency mergers

The Minister told MPs that priority will be given most to scientists who are working in the agencies, which will be returned under the Ministry in the proposed mergers.

The government is in the final stages of implementing rationalization of government agencies and public expenditure.

Under this arrangement which is pending the passing of constitutional amendments, several agencies will be scrapped or returned to their mother ministries.

Under the Ministry of Agriculture, agencies such as the Uganda Coffee Development Authority, (UCDA), Dairy Development Authority (DDA), and the Coordinating Office for Control of Trypanosomiasis In Uganda (COCTU) among others will all be returned to the ministry.

According to President Museveni, the government will save up to Shs. 1 trillion annually through these mergers.

However, concerns have emerged about what is going to happen to the staff of the said agencies.

Some of the staff members recently petitioned the Parliamentary Agriculture Committee to express their fears.

In response, Minister Tumwebaze said that although he cannot guarantee the jobs of all the affected employees, some of them especially the technical ones will be prioritized to work in the ministry.

“The fears of the staff are valid because they are concerned about losing jobs,” he said.

“I would not rebuke them for coming here to complain because they are worried. But what I can promise is that all technical people from these agencies will be given priority to fill the vacancies.

“What I am not sure of are the administrative positions. If you have been an HR I can't guarantee, but all lead scientists will be the priority in the new structure,” he added.

The Minister urged the MPs to support the rationalization measures, adding that if successful, its dividends will be enjoyed by all Ugandans.