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Government gives deadline to resolve LC chairpersons’ stamp crisis
"On behalf of Government, we want to commit that we are going to resolve this matter up to the end of November,” Bahati told Parliament.
David Bahati, the State Minister for Industry, said the matter would be addressed within the month. (Credit: Maria Wamala)
By: Nelson Mandela Muhoozi, Journalist @New Vision
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The Government has committed to resolving the shortage of official stamps for newly elected Local Council (LC) chairpersons by the end of November.
The commitment follows concerns raised by Members of Parliament over disruptions in the delivery of services at village level.
David Bahati, the State Minister for Industry, who represented the Government during the 16th Sitting of the 2nd Meeting of the 1st Session of the 12th Parliament on Wednesday, November 4, said the matter would be addressed within the month.
“On behalf of Government, we want to commit that we are going to resolve this matter up to the end of November,” Bahati told Parliament.
He acknowledged that the issue was bigger than initially anticipated and asked MPs to give the Government until the end of November to ensure the affected LC chairpersons receive the official stamps.
The commitment followed complaints from MPs that the failure to provide stamps to newly elected LC chairpersons was undermining the operations of local councils and inconveniencing residents seeking essential administrative services.
Fredrick Angura, the MP for Tororo South County, said some villages whose leadership had changed had successfully completed the handover process, but the absence of official stamps had left new leaders unable to perform their duties effectively.
He said villages that previously had no stamps had nothing to hand over to incoming leaders, forcing residents to seek services from neighbouring villages.
The commitment followed complaints from MPs that the failure to provide stamps to newly elected LC chairpersons was undermining the operations of local councils and inconveniencing residents seeking essential administrative services.
Fredrick Angura, the MP for Tororo South County, said some villages whose leadership had changed had successfully completed the handover process, but the absence of official stamps had left new leaders unable to perform their duties effectively.
He said villages that previously had no stamps had nothing to hand over to incoming leaders, forcing residents to seek services from neighbouring villages.
“In the recent past, those villages that had stamps and leadership has changed; the handover has taken place. Those that have not been having, there has been nothing to hand over, and now people are borrowing services of the neighbouring villages,” Angura said.
Joseph Ssewungu, the Kalungu West MP, said the problem went beyond the availability of stamps, pointing to a lack of training for newly elected LC chairpersons as another major challenge affecting local administration.
Ssewungu said newly elected leaders had assumed office without adequate preparation, creating confusion in the operations of local councils.
He argued that the Government needed to address the training of LC chairpersons, the transfer of official stamps and the transition from outgoing to incoming leaders.
“When you talk about stamps of LCs, I even raised the same matter on the floor here. After electing LC chairpersons, they didn't train them. There is a lot of confusion in LCs,” Ssewungu said.
He further emphasised the importance of LC chairpersons in the administration of justice and access to public services, noting that their official documentation is often required in court processes. "There is nothing you can achieve in court without the use of LCs,” he cautioned.
Joseph Ssewungu, the Kalungu West MP, said the problem went beyond the availability of stamps, pointing to a lack of training for newly elected LC chairpersons as another major challenge affecting local administration.
Ssewungu said newly elected leaders had assumed office without adequate preparation, creating confusion in the operations of local councils.
He argued that the Government needed to address the training of LC chairpersons, the transfer of official stamps and the transition from outgoing to incoming leaders.
“When you talk about stamps of LCs, I even raised the same matter on the floor here. After electing LC chairpersons, they didn't train them. There is a lot of confusion in LCs,” Ssewungu said.
He further emphasised the importance of LC chairpersons in the administration of justice and access to public services, noting that their official documentation is often required in court processes. "There is nothing you can achieve in court without the use of LCs,” he cautioned.