Parliament has adopted a proposal to determine retirement benefits for the Auditor General.
The motion, brought forward by Hon. Henry Musasizi and seconded by Hon. Amos Kankunda, was addressing post-retirement provisions outlined in the National Audit Act of 2008.
The debate, presided over by Speaker Anita Among, on Wednesday highlighted the crucial role of the legislation not only for the current Auditor General but for all future appointees.
Hon. Musasizi emphasized the importance of investing in retirement benefits, linking it directly to the integrity and effectiveness of the auditing function within the government.
However, the discussion was not without its challenges. Hon. Joel Ssenyonyi, Leader of the Opposition, raised concerns about the need for a comprehensive approach to benefits allocation, advocating for a formula applicable to all public servants.
Various proposals were put forward during the deliberations. Hon. Nathan Nandala-Mafabi proposed a substantial retirement pay of 50,000 currency points, equivalent to Shs1 billion, citing the exemplary service of the Auditor General.
While the Minister Musasizi suggested this be reduced to 25,000 currency points, which is Shs500 million.
Despite disagreements over the terminology, consensus was reached on the need for equitable treatment.
Hon. Christine Kaaya suggested considering a percentage-based approach to account for inflation, while Hon. Jonathan Odur proposed a systematic framework based on a percentage of the retiring Auditor General’s annual salary multiplied by years of service.
The emphasis was on ensuring fairness and parity in benefits allocation.
With consensus reached on the proposed framework, the Speaker presided over the final vote, resulting in the unanimous adoption of the motion with amendments.
Comments are closed.