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Way Forward: Towards Right to Know Day 2011. Gilbert Sendugwa Coordinator/ Head of Secretariat Africa Freedom of Information Centre . The Act . Implementation – full implementation within 1 year of adoption
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Way Forward: Towards Right to Know Day 2011 Gilbert Sendugwa Coordinator/ Head of Secretariat Africa Freedom of Information Centre
The Act • Implementation – full implementation within 1 year of adoption • Manual of functions and index of records of public body (within 6 months of adoption) • Automatic disclosure & publication of certain records without receiving requests once every 2 years • Each Minister shall submit annual report to Parliament on requests (read implementation)
Progress • Constitutional Guarantees, Art. 41 • Access to Information Act, 2005 • ATI Implementation Plan • Appointed Information Officers • Public awareness on the law
Way Forward Ministry of Information & National Guidance • Manual of functions and index of records of public body • Regulations to guide implementation (while not required, it is a good practice) • Capacity strengthening for information officers & systems • Promote & coordinate ATI implementation at central and local governments • Awareness raising on the right & enabling legislations • Initiate process to harmonise OSA with constitution
…Way Forward Line Ministries • Pilot ATI- e.g. budget transparency (30% of National Budget) • Pro-active disclosure of gov’t budget & plans- in a manner that allows use of information • Improve records management for ease of dissemination • Introduce and implement client charters • Introduce and make use of Notice boards • Awareness raising on the right & enabling legislations • Share experiences on good practices e.g. LG
Parliament • Require all ministers to make annual reports on ATI implementation as required • Establish & enforce sanctions for failure to report • Debate status of implementation and suggest measures to improve implementation • Allocate resources to facilitate implementation & oversight • Expand space for civil society & media to facilitate successful ATI implementation
…Way Forward Uganda Human Rights Commission • Make ATI implementation & oversight part of annual reports to parliament • Compliance with international treaty and convention obligations on human rights- • African Charter on Democracy Elections and Governance • Protocol to the African Charter on Human And Peoples' Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples Rights • Protocol of the Court of Justice of the African Union • Sensitise population on ATI as a fundamental Human Rights
Way Forward Civil Society & media • Create awareness of the right • Monitor implementation & oversight practices • Advocacy for policy & legislative reforms
Opportunities • Legal framework • Leader/ led ratio • Decentralisation • FM stations • Barazas/ public accountability forums • Use of ICT
Africa Freedom of Information Centre Plot 5 Katego Road, Kamokya P.O Box 21265 Tel: 256 414 533554 Fax 256 414 533554 Email: gilbert@africafoicentre.org Website: www.africafoicentre.org