Barugahara urges East African govts to increase funding for local authorities
Beyond their traditional service delivery responsibilities, Barugahara challenged local governments to play a more active role in stimulating investment, creating employment and improving household incomes.
Barugahara said effective decentralisation requires adequate financial resources, skilled personnel and sound public financial management, warning that local authorities cannot fulfil their mandates without the necessary support and oversight.
KIAMBU - Uganda’s Minister for Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, has called on East African governments to increase funding to local governments, strengthen accountability and invest in institutional capacity to improve service delivery and accelerate development at the grassroots.
Barugahara said effective decentralisation requires adequate financial resources, skilled personnel and sound public financial management, warning that local authorities cannot fulfil their mandates without the necessary support and oversight.
He made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 9th East Africa Local Governments Forum (EALGF) held at the Windsor Golf Hotel in Kiambu County, Kenya on Wednesday, which brought together ministers, local government leaders, policymakers and development partners from across the East African Community (EAC) to discuss decentralisation, governance and service delivery.
He said local governments are central to implementing national development programmes, particularly in healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure development, road construction and access to clean water.
However, he noted that inadequate funding, staffing shortages and poor coordination continue to undermine their effectiveness, despite progress made by countries such as Uganda in transferring planning, budgeting and implementation responsibilities to lower levels of government.
Barugahara called for deliberate interventions to strengthen local government institutions and equip them with the human and financial resources needed to respond to the needs of their communities.
He also raised concerns about corruption and the misuse of public resources, urging governments to strengthen financial controls, procurement systems and institutional oversight to ensure accountability at the local level.
He emphasised that public funds allocated to essential services must be properly utilised and reach their intended beneficiaries.
"Money appropriated for roads, schools, health facilities, water and other essential services must reach the intended beneficiaries," Barugahara said.
"Public resources must serve the public," he added.
Beyond their traditional service delivery responsibilities, Barugahara challenged local governments to play a more active role in stimulating investment, creating employment and improving household incomes.
He cited Uganda's Parish Development Model (PDM) as an important government intervention designed to bring economic opportunities closer to households and support the transition from subsistence to commercial production.
He urged local government leaders to strengthen the implementation and monitoring of the programme to ensure beneficiaries receive the necessary support and public funds are properly managed.
Barugahara identified rural road networks, agricultural markets, storage facilities, irrigation and access to affordable financing as critical investments needed to stimulate local economies.
He said local authorities should identify economic opportunities within their jurisdictions and create an enabling environment for businesses and enterprises to thrive.
According to Barugahara, stronger cooperation among local governments would improve institutional performance, enhance service delivery and support the broader East African regional integration agenda.
Regional cooperation key to improving governance
He urged participating countries to share experiences and adopt best practices in digital governance, revenue mobilisation, urban planning, citizen participation and alternative financing mechanisms.
According to Barugahara, stronger cooperation among local governments would improve institutional performance, enhance service delivery and support the broader East African regional integration agenda.
He also challenged delegates to focus on measurable development outcomes rather than concentrating on administrative processes and policy formulation.
"The success of local government should not be measured by the number of meetings held, policies written or administrative structures established. It should be measured by the lives we transform," he said.
He urged participants to come up with practical recommendations to address the challenges facing local authorities and improve governance and service delivery at community level.
Kenya takes over regional chairmanship
The forum also witnessed a leadership transition, with the chairmanship of the East African Local Government Council of Ministers passing to Kenya, Balaam hands over to Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Dr. Musalia Mudavadi.
The meeting was attended by Uganda's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for East African Community Affairs, Rebecca Kadaga, alongside fellow ministers and senior government officials from across the EAC.
The outgoing chairperson described his tenure as an honour and privilege, thanking fellow ministers for their support, cooperation and commitment to advancing the regional local governance agenda.
He also wished the incoming chairperson God's wisdom, strength and success as he takes on the responsibility.