Parliament Allows Accountability Committees to Sit Daily to Clear Audit Backlog

What the report says

Nile Post reported that Uganda’s Parliament has cleared three key accountability committees to meet every weekday in an effort to reduce a backlog of audit reports and accountability matters. The authorisation applies to the Public Accounts Committee for central government, the Public Accounts Committee for local government, and the Committee on Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises, commonly known as COSASE.

According to the report, Clerk to Parliament Adolf Mwesige Kasaija communicated the decision in a July 29, 2026 letter to chairpersons of standing and sectoral committees. Nile Post said the letter cited a large backlog affecting the accountability committees and permitted the central government PAC, local government PAC and COSASE to sit from Monday to Friday each week. The communication was reportedly copied to the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, MPs, the Director of the Clerks Department and the Sergeant-at-Arms.

The change removes earlier limits that confined committee meetings to particular days, giving the three committees more room to hear officials and process pending files. Nile Post linked the decision to pressure on Parliament to move faster on Auditor General reports and other accountability submissions from ministries, departments, agencies and other public bodies, some of which have accumulated over the past two financial years.

The development matters because these committees play a central role in examining how public funds are managed and in requiring government entities to respond to audit concerns. More frequent sittings could shorten waiting times for hearings and help Parliament strengthen oversight, though the pace of progress will still depend on committee scheduling, attendance, documentation and follow-up on recommendations.