Economists have weighed in and joined the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mr Joel Ssenyonyi to slam regional Parliament session plans as untenable.
In March, a section of Members of Parliament called for regional parliamentary sessions in a bid to close the gap between the Legislature and the electorate.
Parliament is set to hold four regional sittings with the inaugural plenary 3-day sessions set to commence on August 28, 2024, at Kaunda grounds in Gulu City.
Speaking at a post budget dialogue on financing for the land sector organized by LANDnet Uganda, under the Stand for Her Land Campaign, Economist Dr. Fred Muhumuza said the Shs5 billion that will be spent per regional session, can be used fund other basic public concerns like payment gaps in the health sector.
He added that Parliament should instead focus on frugal initiatives that will deliver basic services to vulnerable groups like women in farming.
“I want to believe Members of Parliament themselves will agree that deployment of medical interns is even more critical and that can be debated online and in Kampala, they don’t have to put an extra cost of going to spend that money in Arua,” Dr. Fred Muhumuza said.
The post budget dialogue on financing for the land sector has jointly been organized by the Women’s Land Rights Movement (WLRM), Food Rights Alliance (FRA), and Uganda Community-Based Association for Women and Children’s Welfare (UCOBAC).
On her part, Ms. Agnes Kirabo, the FRA Executive Director said that effective land management is key for sustainable development.
