Parliamentarians from seven African countries are meeting in Kigali for a three-day training aimed at strengthening their ability to monitor government spending and the management of public assets.
The meeting, which began on Monday, brings together lawmakers from Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Benin, Ghana, Liberia and Malawi who serve on committees responsible for public accounts and financial oversight.
The participants are discussing how parliamentary committees can improve their examination of government spending and strengthen cooperation with public financial oversight institutions.
They are also looking at ways of working more effectively with institutions being monitored, civil society organisations and bodies responsible for fighting corruption.
Beline Uwineza, deputy speaker of Rwanda’s Chamber of Deputies in charge of parliamentary activities, said the training comes at a time when African countries need to make better use of limited public resources to support development.
“Our countries are required to do more while using fewer resources,” Uwineza said. “It is therefore important that public resources are used properly and produce visible results in people’s lives.”
She said stronger oversight was needed to reduce waste and support accountable governance.
“Public resources should not be wasted,” Uwineza said. “We must do everything possible to ensure they are used productively and for the benefit of citizens.”
The training is organised through an African network linking parliamentary committees responsible for monitoring public finances.
Discussions during the three-day meeting will also focus on transparency, accountability and preventing corruption, with participants examining how stronger cooperation among oversight institutions can improve public financial management.
The organisers said the wider objective is to strengthen parliamentary oversight so that management of public resources contributes more effectively to sustainable development across Africa.
