Uganda National Commission for UNESCO Act, 2014

This section provides definitions of terms used in the Act (e.g. Board, Chairperson, Commission, Minister, UNESCO and related terms).

The Commission may appoint committees of the Board; such committees must have a Chairperson and other persons as the Board determines; the Board may require committees to act jointly or cooperate; committees may regulate their own procedure subject to Board direction.

The Board may delegate any of the Commission's powers, duties or functions by instrument to specified persons or a committee; aggrieved persons may appeal to the Board; persons exercising delegated powers must comply with written directions or guidelines issued by the Board.

Establishes the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO (the Commission) as a corporate body with powers to sue or be sued and to acquire, manage and dispose of property and enter into contracts for its functions under the Act.

The Commission must contribute to peace, justice, security, the rule of law and maintenance of human rights and freedoms for the common welfare of humanity through education, sciences, culture, communication and information in Uganda and by involving government ministries, departments and agencies, civil society organisations and individuals in its affairs and programmes with UNESCO.

Sets out the functions of the Commission, which include promoting understanding of UNESCO among the people of Uganda; advising the Government on UNESCO matters; serving as a liaison with education, science, culture, communication and information institutions; approving and recommending UNESCO activities and programmes in Uganda; advising Ministries, departments, agencies, civil society organisations and individuals on UNESCO resolutions and following up on implementation; participating in planning and execution of UNESCO-related activities undertaken with government, UN agencies and other partners; disseminating information on UNESCO programmes; collaborating with other national commissions, UNESCO field offices, UN agencies and partners; participating in selection and placement of candidates and fellows; initiating, supporting and promoting activities in UNESCO fields; collecting and widely distributing relevant data; monitoring and evaluating UNESCO programmes in Uganda and reporting to UNESCO head offices; and performing any other function related to the Act as the Minister may direct. It also provides that the Commission may consult and cooperate with relevant government ministries, agencies, civil society organisations and individuals.

The Minister may, in writing, give policy guidelines to the Commission; the Commission must comply with those guidelines.

The Commission has a nine-member Board appointed by the Minister with Cabinet approval; composition rules, appointment of chair and vice-chair, Secretary General as ex officio, and a gender requirement of at least one-third women are specified.

Members of the Board serve three-year terms, may be re-appointed once, may resign by written notice to the Minister, and the Minister may revoke appointments or appoint replacements when vacancies occur.

The Board must perform a set of specified functions for the Commission, including policy formulation, performance targets, monitoring management, staffing decisions, approving plans, property supervision, and other functions directed or prescribed.

The Board must meet at least once every three months to discharge its functions under the Act.

The Commission must have a secretariat responsible for day-to-day operations and for implementing the Commission's decisions.

The Secretary General is the Commission's Chief Executive, holds office for four years (eligible for one re‑appointment), is appointed by the Minister on the Board's recommendation, and the Minister may remove the Secretary General for specified grounds upon a specified Board recommendation.

A Deputy Secretary General is appointed by the Minister on the Board's recommendation and specified terms; holds office for four years and may be re-appointed once; deputises for the Secretary General.

The Board may appoint officers and staff of the Commission as needed; those officers and staff shall hold office on terms and conditions determined by the Board and set out in their instruments of appointment.

Members of the Board, employees of the Commission, and persons acting under their directions are not personally liable for acts or omissions done in good faith while performing the Commission's functions.

The Minister must appoint officers and staff to Uganda2 s Permanent Delegation, in consultation with the Board, as necessary for the Commission2 s functions under this Act.

The Chairperson and members of the Board are entitled to be paid remuneration or allowances as specified by the Minister in their instruments of appointment.

Members of a committee appointed under section 10 are entitled to be paid remuneration or allowances; the Board has the power to determine those payments.

The Secretary General is entitled to be paid remuneration or allowances as determined by the Board with the written approval of the Minister and after consultation with the Ministers responsible for finance and public service.

Officers and staff of the Commission are to be paid remuneration or allowances as determined by the Board in consultation with the Ministers responsible for finance and public service.

The funds of the Commission must include money appropriated by Parliament; loans, grants, donations and gifts (from within and outside Uganda) with the Minister of Finance's approval; earnings from investments; and other sums payable to the Commission in discharging its functions under the Act.

The Commission must have due regard to sound financial principles when performing its functions under the Act.

The Board must, consulting the Accountant General, open and maintain any bank accounts needed for the Commission; the Secretary General must bank money received promptly and must ensure no withdrawals are made without Board authority.

The Board must borrow money with Ministerial approval when required to meet its obligations or discharge the Commission's functions; the Commission may, with prior Ministerial approval, charge Commission assets to repay such borrowings.

Funds of the Commission not immediately required may be invested by the Board with the approval of the Minister and after consultation with the Minister responsible for finance.

The Secretary General must prepare and submit the Commission's annual income and expenditure estimates to the Board within three months before the start of each financial year; the Board must submit the Board-approved estimates to the Minister within two months of receipt.

The Commission's financial year is the twelve-month period from 1 July to 30 June of the following year.

The Secretary General must keep proper books and prepare an annual financial statement; the Auditor General (or an auditor appointed by them) may require further financial information in writing.

The Auditor General or an appointed auditor must audit the Commission's accounts each financial year; the Board must ensure that within three months after the end of each financial year a statement of accounts is submitted to the Auditor General or appointed auditor for auditing; the Auditor General or appointed auditor is entitled to access records and to information and explanations.

Requires the Board to submit an annual report to the Minister within three months after each financial year; requires the Commission to submit audited financial statements with that report; requires the Minister to table the report in Parliament within two months of receipt; and permits the Commission to produce annual reports to local governments and cultural institutions notwithstanding this section.

The Board decides the form of the Commission's official seal; the seal must be authenticated by the Secretary General and one other Board member (or the acting Secretary General if absent); certain instruments that would not otherwise require the seal may be executed on behalf of the Commission by the Secretary General, a Board member, or another person authorised by Board resolution.

A notice or document may be served on the Commission by delivering it at the office of the Secretary General, by sending it by pre-paid registered post, or through electronic modes of communication to the Secretary General.

The Minister may, by statutory instrument and in consultation with the Board, make regulations to carry the Act into effect.