Finance Minister: "Interaction Between Government and EPRC Won't Affect Autonomy."

Hon. Matia Kasaija, the Minister of Finance has this evening asserted that the collaboration between Government and the Economic Policy Research Centre won't compromise its independence. This was in response to Dr. Sarah Ssewanyana's concerns that government may want to compromise the Centre's independence.

In reiteration, the Minister noted that government is supportive of the Centre's autonomy. "The interaction between EPRC and the government doesn't affect the autonomy of the Centre," said the Minister. "My ministry respects the operational autonomy of the Centre to guarantee innovation and independence from vested  interest."

The Minister however shared a few concerns and called upon EPRC to respond to the needs of its key stakeholders, by creating an effective mechanism for interaction with them, addressing urgent problems and widening the circle of policy actors who use evidence-based analysis for decision making.

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