1. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
(a)"chairperson" means the chairperson of the commission;
(b)"commission" means the commission established by this Act;
(c)"director" means the director of planning appointed under section 2;
(d)"member" means a member of the commission other than the chairperson.
2. Establishment and membership
(1)There is established a commission to be known as the Uganda Planning Commission which shall consist of—
(a)the President, who shall be chairperson;
(b)the director of planning, to be appointed by the President; and
(c)such other persons as the President may appoint to be members.
(2)The members shall hold office on such terms and conditions and shall receive such remuneration and allowances, if any, as the President may in each case direct.
(3)Any remuneration or allowances payable to any member shall be paid from the funds of the commission.
(4)The secretary to the commission shall be a public officer designated by the President.
3. Functions of commission and duties of director
(1)The functions of the commission shall be—
(a)to plan and to advise the Cabinet on the planning of—
(i)the economic and social development of Uganda; and
(ii)the effective and efficient utilisation of the resources of Uganda in order to attain the maximum rate of growth of output; and
(b)to perform such other functions relating to the development of Uganda as may be referred to it by or on the direction of the President.
(2)The duties of the director shall consist of such duties in relation to the functions of the commission as may be assigned to him or her by the President.
4. Appointment of advisory bodies, etc.
(1)For the purpose of advising it on or in connection with the performance of its functions under this Act, the commission may—
(a)establish and appoint the members of a body to be known as the National Economic and Social Advisory Council and of such other bodies as it thinks appropriate; and
(b)appoint to be advisory experts or to constitute a panel of advisory experts such persons as appear to it to be suitably qualified.
(2)Members of a body established under subsection (1) and advisory experts appointed under that subsection shall hold office on such terms and conditions and shall receive such remuneration and allowances, if any, as the commission may in each case direct.
(3)Any remuneration or allowances payable under subsection (2) shall be paid from the funds of the commission.
5. Procedure
(1)The following provisions shall apply in relation to the proceedings of the commission—
(a)the chairperson shall preside at all meetings at which he or she is present;
(b)if the chairperson is not present at a meeting, the members present shall elect one of themselves to preside at the meeting;
(c)the quorum at a meeting shall be not less than one-half of the total membership, including the chairperson, and every question shall be decided by a majority of the members present and voting on that question; and
(d)in the event of an equality of votes, the chairperson or member presiding shall have a casting vote in addition to his or her deliberative vote.
(2)The commission may co-opt any person to attend any meeting for the purpose of advising or otherwise assisting the commission, but no such person shall have the right to vote on any question.
(3)Subject to this section, the commission may regulate its own procedure.
6. Funds
(1)The funds of the commission shall consist of such sums as may be provided by Parliament for the purposes mentioned in subsection (2).
(2)The funds of the commission shall be used for the following purposes—
(a)for defraying expenses charged on those funds by this Act;
(b)for paying such travelling expenses and other allowances as the commission thinks appropriate to persons co-opted to attend a meeting of the commission or of a body established under section 4 or to consult with an expert or with a panel of experts appointed under that section;
(c)for meeting administrative and office costs; and
(d)for any purpose of a similar kind which is connected with or incidental to the performance by the commission of its functions under this Act.
7. Audit
The accounts of the commission shall be examined and audited by the Auditor General and shall be laid before Parliament by the President as soon as may be after they have been so audited.
8. Authentication of seal and signification of decisions and orders
(1)The common seal of the commission shall be authenticated by the signatures of the chairperson, or a member, and of the secretary.
(2)A decision or order of the commission may be signified under the hand of the chairperson or the director.