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The Cabinet Handbook THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA THE CABINET HANDBOOK Cabinet Secretariat Office of the President www.cabinetsecretariat.go.ug December 2008 FOREWORD I am pleased to introduce the Cabinet Handbook which provides clear and comprehensive policy management guidelines for the Cabinet and other arms of Government involved in the policy management process. Cabinet is the highest policy making organ of government and is therefore responsible for policy development and its successful implementation. Cabinet collectively, and Ministers individually, have a primary duty to ensure that government policy best serves the public interest. This Cabinet Handbook outlines the principles by which Cabinet operates. It also sets out the procedures laid down to facilitate Cabinet’s realization of its central role of determining government policy and supporting ministers in meeting their individual and collective responsibilities, facilitating coordinated and strategic policy development. In the recent past, my government has made major contributions in the documentation and improvement of processes and procedures that support decision making at all levels of government. In conformity to our principle of transforming government processes and achieving greater transparency, and effectiveness in our management of policy; my government has focused its attention on introducing best practices in the processes and procedures that support decision making at all levels of Government. This Cabinet Handbook is primarily intended for Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State. However, it must be read by all officers that are in various ways associated with the policy process, so that they are guided to make a better contribution to Cabinet's efficient functioning. The Secretary to Cabinet and the Cabinet Secretariat are available to offer advice and assistance. This Cabinet Handbook is only one document in a set of guidelines being developed and published by the Cabinet Secretariat. Other documents provide detailed technical guidance on Policy Development in general. It is of utmost importance that members of Cabinet abide by these guidelines and implement them in the interest of transforming our systems to serve the public good. YOWERI KAGUTA MUSEVENI PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA ii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................. 1 1.0 ORGANISATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT ..................... 1 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 The Executive .................................................................................................... 1 1.3 The Legislature ................................................................................................... 2 1.4 The Judicature ..................................................................................................... 2 1.5 Relationship between the three Arms of Government ........................................ 3 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................ 4 2.0 THE ORGANISATION AND FUNCTIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE .................. 4 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 4 2.2 The Executive ..................................................................................................... 4 2.2.1 The President .............................................................................................. 4 2.2.2 The Vice President ...................................................................................... 4 2.2.3 The Prime Minister ..................................................................................... 5 2.2.4 Cabinet Ministers ........................................................................................ 5 2.2.5 Individual Responsibility and Collective Responsibility ............................ 6 2.2.6 The Attorney General ................................................................................. 7 2.2.7 Deputy Attorney General ............................................................................ 7 2.2.8 Ministers of State ........................................................................................ 7 2.3 Relationship between the Permanent Secretary and the Minister ............................ 7 2.4 The Cabinet ......................................................................................................... 8 2.4.1 The Cabinet Meetings ................................................................................. 8 2.4.2 Cabinet Committees .................................................................................... 9 2.4.3 Secretary to Cabinet .................................................................................... 9 2.4.4 The Cabinet Office ...................................................................................... 9 2.5 Ministries .......................................................................................................... 10 2.5.1 The Permanent Secretary .......................................................................... 10 2.5.2 Personal Assistants.................................................................................... 10 2.5.3 The Public Service .................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER THREE .......................................................................................................... 12 3.0 CABINET DECISION MAKING ........................................................................ 12 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 12 3.2 The Cabinet: Roles, Powers and Membership ................................................. 12 3.3 Cabinet Committees: Roles, Powers, Membership and Terms Of Reference 12 3.4 Principles of Cabinet decision making ............................................................. 13 3.4.1 Collective responsibility ........................................................................... 13 3.4.2 Confidentiality .......................................................................................... 14 3.4.3 Consultation .............................................................................................. 14 3.4.4 Declaration of interest ............................................................................... 14 3.5 Issues for consideration by Cabinet .................................................................. 14 3.6 Referral to Cabinet of decisions taken outside the Cabinet process. ................ 15 3.7 Cabinet procedures............................................................................................ 15 3.7.1 Preparing and submitting Cabinet papers ................................................. 15 3.7.2 Deadlines and late papers.......................................................................... 15 3.7.3 Amendment to papers ............................................................................... 16 3.7.4 Withdrawal of papers ................................................................................ 16 3.7.5 Agendas..................................................................................................... 17 iii 3.7.6 Minutes ..................................................................................................... 17 3.8 Meetings and Meeting Times............................................................................ 17 3.8.1 Chairs of Meetings .................................................................................... 18 3.8.2 Attendance of Cabinet............................................................................... 18 3.8.3 Quorum ..................................................................................................... 19 3.8.4 Ministers’ holding the portfolio in the absence of the substantive Minister 19 3.8.5 Attendance of officials in Cabinet or Committee meetings ...................... 19 3.8.7 Statutory decisions .................................................................................... 19 3.9 The role of the Cabinet office and the Secretary to Cabinet ............................. 20 3.9.1 Mission ...................................................................................................... 20 3.9.2 Mandate and Function............................................................................... 20 3.9.3 Statement of Objectives/Strategies ........................................................... 21 3.9.4 Role of the Secretary to Cabinet (see Article 173A of the Constitution (Amendment) Act) .................................................................................................... 21 3.10 Standards of Conduct for Ministers, Staff and Officials ................................... 21 3.11 The budget cycle ............................................................................................... 23 3.12 Supplementary Expenditure .............................................................................. 23 3.13 Macro-economic plan and framework .............................................................. 24 3.14 Submission of estimates of departments ........................................................... 24 CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................
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