Administration of Parliament Act

This section provides definitions for terms used in the Act, including "classification", "clerk", "commission", "financial year", "leader of Government business", "office", "service", and "unattached officer".

Establishes the Parliamentary Commission, sets its membership, names the Speaker as chairperson, makes the clerk to Parliament its secretary responsible for arranging business and keeping minutes, and gives the commission corporate powers including to sue and be sued.

A member of the commission holds office for the duration of the Parliament in which they are elected and must not vacate the office until a replacement is nominated or elected immediately after a general election.

A member of the commission must cease to hold office when they vacate their seat under article 83 of the Constitution.

Parliament may remove a member of the commission (except the Speaker and the leader of Government business) from office for infirmity of body or mind, misbehaviour, misconduct or incompetence.

Lists the commission's functions related to staffing, reviews, security, services, estimates and allowances for Parliament.

The clerk is the head of the parliamentary service and must be responsible to the Speaker for the general working and efficient conduct of the service's business.

The clerk may delegate any functions of clerk under this Act to any officer in the service, in consultation with the Speaker and by a writing signed by the clerk.

The Speaker must make recommendations to the commission, as and when the need arises, on organisational or staffing changes and on alterations in salaries or allowances of officers or employees under the Speaker's control.

The commission must consult with the Public Service Commission when determining terms and conditions of employment of members of the service under sections 6 or 12.

The commission may, on the Speaker's recommendation, create (and create, abolish, reclassify or change the designation of) offices in the service.

The commission must specify certain matters in a notice under subsection (1); the commission may publish invitations in the Gazette or elsewhere to invite applications for appointments, promotions or transfers.

If a person was an officer in the public service immediately before appointment to the parliamentary service, that prior public service shall be counted as service in the parliamentary service for purposes of leave, pay in lieu of leave, and calculating pension and other gratuities.

The Speaker may, on application, grant an officer leave of absence without pay when that officer is appointed under another Act; an unattached officer at the end of such leave who is subject to retirement age or dismissal for misconduct is entitled to appointment to an office not lower in classification than the former office.

Before assuming office, an officer must take, before the Speaker, any oath under the Oaths Act prescribed by regulations made under section 37.

The commission should decide by consensus where possible; if not, matters are decided by majority vote of members present and voting; the chairperson has no original or casting vote; each member has one vote and no casting vote; quorum is four; the commission may act despite absences and may regulate its procedure subject to the Act.

Sets meeting frequency and notice rules: the commission must meet at least once every two months; the Speaker must convene meetings with at least seven days’ notice; procedures for extraordinary meetings and who may call them are specified.

Establishes a parliamentary service made up of persons appointed under section 6(a); the service is subject to the direction and control of the commission and forms part of the public service of Uganda.

Each financial year the commission must prepare and submit to the President estimates of parliamentary departmental and other service-of-the-house expenses; the President must lay those estimates before Parliament without revision but may include Government recommendations.

Parliament's administrative and operational expenses, including salaries, allowances, gratuities and pensions for persons serving in Parliament, shall be charged on the Consolidated Fund.

The commission must open and maintain necessary bank accounts and must pay into them specified monies from the Government, parliamentary receipts, and monies appropriated by law.

The commission may establish procedures and expenditure involving official overseas travel and purchases necessary for Parliament departments.

The commission may establish a tender board for Parliament.

The commission must make regulations and statutory instruments for its functions; Parliament may annul instruments laid before it within 21 days; the commission may adopt enactment provisions with modifications on Parliament's recommendation.

The commission must keep proper books of account and records; the accounts must be audited and reported on by the Auditor General in accordance with article 163 of the Constitution.

The commission must submit to Parliament an annual report each year, promptly after the end of the financial year and not later than 30th September, covering its activities and operations and including any other information Parliament may request.

The parliamentary service shall include the following departments: department of the Speaker; department of sergeant-at-arms; department of the library, research and documentation; department of the official report; department of legislative counsel; and department of finance and administration.

The commission may create other departments.

The commission may abolish or merge any of the departments of the service.

The Speaker fixes classifications, subject to approval of the commission and in consultation with the Public Service Commission.

Officers and employees in the service may be paid allowances as determined by the commission.

The commission must determine officers' and employees' hours of duty; officers and employees of the service must perform duties outside normal hours when required by the clerk to meet parliamentary exigencies.

Every officer is entitled to an annual leave and leave of absence for periods set by the commission by regulation.

Deductions may be made from the entitlements of officers and employees for any service provided by the State.

Members of the commission must be paid allowances determined by the commission with the approval of Parliament.

The commission must, by statutory instrument, make regulations on disciplinary offences and penalties, the right to a fair hearing for officers or employees facing disciplinary proceedings, and the right to appeal to the Public Service Commission in case of dismissal.

An officer may retire from the service after reaching age fifty-five, and must retire upon reaching age sixty.

The commission may retire an officer from the service if, because of mental or bodily infirmity, the officer is unfit to discharge the duties of the office.

If an office is abolished or reclassified, the commission may discontinue the holder's service and the commission must determine the holder's entitlements consistent with public service rules.