President Yoweri Museveni has returned the National Commission for UNESCO (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Higher Education Students Financing (Amendment) Bill, 2024, to Parliament for further consideration.
In a letter read by Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa during the House session on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, Museveni raised concerns regarding the National Commission for UNESCO Bill. He criticized the Bill for proposing to establish a department rather than a unit, which he argues deviates from standard public service practices. According to Museveni, a ministry typically refers to a set of formal arrangements, including structures established administratively with Cabinet approval.
He highlighted that Section 4 of the amendment act proposes that the commission be re-established as a department within the Ministry responsible for Education without corporate status. This, he contends, means that while UNATCOM would be established as a legal entity, it would lack corporate status. Museveni further argued that maintaining the term “commission” in the long title of the amendment act could lead to legal confusion. He called for a reconciliation of the two aspects to ensure consistency and prevent misrepresentation.
Regarding the Uganda Higher Education Students Financing (Amendment) Act, 2024, Museveni requested a reconsideration of the title. He noted a discrepancy between the title and the one outlined in Section 5 of the Higher Education Standards (Amendment) Act.
Deputy Speaker Tayebwa referred both Bills to the Committee on Education and Sports for further review and reconsideration.
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