OTAFIIRE HANDS OVER CREDITS AND CHALLENGES TO MWESIGE
Mar 11, 2009
A fter six years as local government minister, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire handed over the ministry to Adolf Mwesige last week. Mwesige has taken over successes and challenges. But at the hand-over ceremony, he said challenges are common and can be overcom
BY JOSHUA KATO
A fter six years as local government minister, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire handed over the ministry to Adolf Mwesige last week. Mwesige has taken over successes and challenges. But at the hand-over ceremony, he said challenges are common and can be overcome.
Local government is one of the most influential ministries in the country. Its minister is in charge of 81 districts, each with LC5 chairpersons, 980 sub-county chairpersons, 50,000 LC1s and their staff.
When President Yoweri Museveni replaced former National Resistance Movement stalwart Bidandi Ssali with Otafiire, Otafiire promised to cause a fundamental change in the ministry. But since he assumed office, Otafiire nursed mixed feelings.
Last year, he said: “I enjoy the challenges of the ministry. There is no single day when I do not get angry or laugh my head off.†But in a turnaround, he was quoted in The New Vision of February 23, saying he was happy that the President had promoted him to a more serious ministry. “I have been saved from dealing with garbage and people who do not appreciate development,†he said.
The unresolved challenges include inadequate funding of local governments, corruption among local leaders, as well as conflicts and contradictions over the management of markets in Kampala. Others are conflicts over control of key revenue sources like the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association (UTODA) and the unnecessary creation of new districts.
But the most prominent of them was the sale of markets, the Lugogo football pitches and the Nakawa/Naguru housing estates. Otafiire did not resolve most of these issues; he engaged in battles with the Inspector General of Government (IGG).
When Otafiire was appointed local government minister, Kampala City Council (KCC) had decided that revenue collection in city markets be leased out. According to then mayor, John Ssebaana Kizito, KCC had failed to collect the revenue. Otafiire seconded the idea and KCC implemented it.
During Otafiire’s reign, Nakasero Market traders locked horns with KCC over management of the market because the tender had been awarded to city tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba.
The Shauri-yako Market saga was not any different. Much as the issues were later resolved, there had been several violent demonstrations by the traders over management of the market. The wrangles over the management of St. Balikudembe (Owino) Market were also unresolved.
The wrangles over the award of tenders and arrears in UTODA have not been fully resolved. But by the time Otafiire became local government minister, the problem existed and he tried to intervene. In 2006, he ordered UTODA to pay their arrears or vacate the taxi park. However, they neither cleared their dues nor vacated the park.
A month ago, Otafiire and some KCC officials directed that taxis be moved from the New Taxi Park to Nakivubo Settlement Primary School. This contradicted the President’s stand; he did not want the school moved.
Through out his reign as local government minister, local leaders complained about inadequate funding from the Government. To make matters worse, graduated tax, which was the main source of local revenue was scrapped three years ago. hen he became minister, local revenue collections countrywide were at about sh150b a year. However, with the scrapping of graduated tax, the amount dropped to sh70b. About sh28b was being collected from Kampala.
“Mwesige should make sure that we have a steady flow of local revenue. We almost entirely depend on the central government for funding,†says Mayuge LC5 chairman, Ikoba Tigawalana.
Efforts to find new sources of revenue have not been successful either. In 2006, the local service tax and local hotel tax were introduced, but they only became operational in 2008/09. Contrary to what Otafiire had anticipated, only the urban areas are benefiting.
Local leaders also argue that the autonomy the districts used to enjoy under the decentralisation system is no more.
The appointment of chief administrative officers was re-centralised during Otafiire’s reign and some powers of decision-making taken away.
Otafiire tried to handle corruption. For three years, local governments were listed among the most corrupt institutions.
He warned LCs to desist from corruption, threatening that they would be sacked.
He also instituted probes into the mismanagement of divisions in Kampala and other districts like Mbale and Mbarara.
Local government chairpersons were being paid by their councils, however during his reign, the Government took over the payments.
The LCs claim the benefits are inadequate, so they are lobbying to be paid gratuity, like all other salaried government officials.
At the hand-over, Otafiire advised his successor to look into the emolument of councillors. He also advised him to reject all demands for new districts because the country does not benefit from their creation. The number of districts increased from 49 three years ago to 81.
But despite the challenges, Otafiire should be credited for ensuring that the new taxes are operational. Otafiire also united districts as they lobbied for funding. He also helped their umbrella body, the Uganda Local Governments Association, become more pivotal to the running of local governments.
Moves to harmonise the operation of local government councils, vis-Ã -vis the new political dispensation are under way. Mwesige should ensure that the plans are instituted.
A fter six years as local government minister, Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire handed over the ministry to Adolf Mwesige last week. Mwesige has taken over successes and challenges. But at the hand-over ceremony, he said challenges are common and can be overcome.
Local government is one of the most influential ministries in the country. Its minister is in charge of 81 districts, each with LC5 chairpersons, 980 sub-county chairpersons, 50,000 LC1s and their staff.
When President Yoweri Museveni replaced former National Resistance Movement stalwart Bidandi Ssali with Otafiire, Otafiire promised to cause a fundamental change in the ministry. But since he assumed office, Otafiire nursed mixed feelings.
Last year, he said: “I enjoy the challenges of the ministry. There is no single day when I do not get angry or laugh my head off.†But in a turnaround, he was quoted in The New Vision of February 23, saying he was happy that the President had promoted him to a more serious ministry. “I have been saved from dealing with garbage and people who do not appreciate development,†he said.
The unresolved challenges include inadequate funding of local governments, corruption among local leaders, as well as conflicts and contradictions over the management of markets in Kampala. Others are conflicts over control of key revenue sources like the Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association (UTODA) and the unnecessary creation of new districts.
But the most prominent of them was the sale of markets, the Lugogo football pitches and the Nakawa/Naguru housing estates. Otafiire did not resolve most of these issues; he engaged in battles with the Inspector General of Government (IGG).
When Otafiire was appointed local government minister, Kampala City Council (KCC) had decided that revenue collection in city markets be leased out. According to then mayor, John Ssebaana Kizito, KCC had failed to collect the revenue. Otafiire seconded the idea and KCC implemented it.
During Otafiire’s reign, Nakasero Market traders locked horns with KCC over management of the market because the tender had been awarded to city tycoon Hassan Basajjabalaba.
The Shauri-yako Market saga was not any different. Much as the issues were later resolved, there had been several violent demonstrations by the traders over management of the market. The wrangles over the management of St. Balikudembe (Owino) Market were also unresolved.
The wrangles over the award of tenders and arrears in UTODA have not been fully resolved. But by the time Otafiire became local government minister, the problem existed and he tried to intervene. In 2006, he ordered UTODA to pay their arrears or vacate the taxi park. However, they neither cleared their dues nor vacated the park.
A month ago, Otafiire and some KCC officials directed that taxis be moved from the New Taxi Park to Nakivubo Settlement Primary School. This contradicted the President’s stand; he did not want the school moved.
Through out his reign as local government minister, local leaders complained about inadequate funding from the Government. To make matters worse, graduated tax, which was the main source of local revenue was scrapped three years ago. hen he became minister, local revenue collections countrywide were at about sh150b a year. However, with the scrapping of graduated tax, the amount dropped to sh70b. About sh28b was being collected from Kampala.
“Mwesige should make sure that we have a steady flow of local revenue. We almost entirely depend on the central government for funding,†says Mayuge LC5 chairman, Ikoba Tigawalana.
Efforts to find new sources of revenue have not been successful either. In 2006, the local service tax and local hotel tax were introduced, but they only became operational in 2008/09. Contrary to what Otafiire had anticipated, only the urban areas are benefiting.
Local leaders also argue that the autonomy the districts used to enjoy under the decentralisation system is no more.
The appointment of chief administrative officers was re-centralised during Otafiire’s reign and some powers of decision-making taken away.
Otafiire tried to handle corruption. For three years, local governments were listed among the most corrupt institutions.
He warned LCs to desist from corruption, threatening that they would be sacked.
He also instituted probes into the mismanagement of divisions in Kampala and other districts like Mbale and Mbarara.
Local government chairpersons were being paid by their councils, however during his reign, the Government took over the payments.
The LCs claim the benefits are inadequate, so they are lobbying to be paid gratuity, like all other salaried government officials.
At the hand-over, Otafiire advised his successor to look into the emolument of councillors. He also advised him to reject all demands for new districts because the country does not benefit from their creation. The number of districts increased from 49 three years ago to 81.
But despite the challenges, Otafiire should be credited for ensuring that the new taxes are operational. Otafiire also united districts as they lobbied for funding. He also helped their umbrella body, the Uganda Local Governments Association, become more pivotal to the running of local governments.
Moves to harmonise the operation of local government councils, vis-Ã -vis the new political dispensation are under way. Mwesige should ensure that the plans are instituted.