CAOs, town clerks tasked with using revenue collection app
The application dubbed the Integrated Revenue Administration System (IRAS) is both an online and mobile application platform.
Benjamin Kumumanya, the permanent secretary of the local government ministry (left) interacts with CAO of Kapelebyong district Rhoda Oroma during the opening of the strategic leadership and management training for CAOs and town clerks at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi on Thursday (April 3). (Photos by Francis Emorut)
Francis Emorut
Journalist @New Vision
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The Government has tasked chief administrative officers, city clerks and town clerks with filing reports using the new digital revenue collection app to assess its impact.
The application dubbed the Integrated Revenue Administration System (IRAS) is both an online and mobile application platform.
It enables local governments to collect revenue.
Benjamin Kumumanya, the permanent secretary of the local government ministry, said the district accounting officers and town clerks should update the central government on a regular basis about the effectiveness of the platform.
“We want to know the performance of the IRAS and ensure that the money received or registered in the system does not go to the individual pocket," he said.
"We need the status records of revenue collection in each district."
Kumumanya made remarks during the opening of the strategic leadership and management training for CAOs and town clerks at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi on Thursday (April 3).
A cross section of participants taking notes during the opening of chief administrators officers and city town clerks training at National Leadership Institute in Kyakwanzi district on April 2, 2025. 
The training attracted 170 participants, including officers from the 10 new cities and 31 municipalities.
The main objective of the refresher training is to revitalize and upscale the knowledge, skills and competencies of CAOs, city clerks and town clerks.
This way, they can perform their duties and fulfil their responsibilities more responsively, effectively and efficiently.
The training is also aimed at demonstrating their capacity to serve as effective and efficient liaison officers between the central government and the districts, cities and municipalities.
This group is also expected to effectively supervise the implementation of the government’s decentralization policy as a key tenet of the democratization process.
'We are yawning'
Lucy Nakyobe, the head of the Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet, decried the absenteeism by some CAOs in the districts they are deployed.
She was also critical of poor waste management in cities and municipalities.
The head of public service and secretary to the Cabinet Lucy Nakyobe (left) interacts with Major. Nichola Kakuru the political commissioner after opening the chief administrators officers and city town clerks training at National Leadership Institute in Kyakwanzi district on April 2, 2025. 
Nakyobe spoke of some accounting officers who leave their offices to their deputies and instead concentrate on their personal businesses in Kampala.
“There are those with the habit of being in Kampala doing their businesses and yet you are posted in Kapchorwa, and you leave your deputy. Why don’t you decline to be posted there?" she posed.
Key concerns raised by the accounting officers included the need for salary enhancements.
They argued that the government has enhanced salaries of chief executive officers in the central government while ignoring local governments.
They also highlighted the lack of transport for inspecting and monitoring government projects.
“We are yawning, don’t take it lightly," said Gabriel Atama, the accounting officer of Tororo district.
"I am talking with a lot of pain in my heart. Please listen to our plea and use your office to enhance CAOs' salaries."
On revenue collection, Kapelebyong CAO Rhoda Oroma appealed to the government to allow CAOs to retain some revenue collected to enhance their salaries, considering that pay as you earn (PAYE) is catered for.