MPs on the parliamentary committee of finance have ordered an investigation into the circumstances under which the finance ministry signed 13 new loan agreements equivalent to Ugx1.3 trillion without parliamentary approval. In the committee report on the ministerial policy statements and budget estimates for the financial year 2013/14 that was tabled before the House last week, the committee observed that the ministry overlooked the provisions of the Constitution and the Public Finance and Accountability Act (PFAA) and therefore undermined the mandate entrusted to the legislative arm. Members will recall that Article 159 (2) of the 1995 constitution requires that borrowing…

Several government schools were by yesterday forced to close temporarily as teachers stayed away from class for the third day and the administrators could not control the pupils. If you visited any of, Buganda Road, Nakasero, Bat Valley, Kyaggwe Road, Nabagereka, Old Kampala, East Kololo, Shimoni and Ngora District’s St. Aloysius and Okoboi Demonstration primary schools, you be greeted by padlocks as there were neither teachers nor students. “It is only Uganda National Teachers’ Union (Unatu) that will advise us otherwise. We shall not yield to any intimidation by some of the State agents who are threatening us,” Mr Asiata…