Mps Want Budget For War-Ravaged Districts.
Mar 22, 2004
MEMBERS of Parliament have urged the Government to come up with special supplementary budgets to help war-hit districts.
By Denis Ocwich
MEMBERS of Parliament have urged the Government to come up with special supplementary budgets to help war-hit districts.
They said the district’s revenues had slumped due to the insurgency.
“Parliament should support that a special grant be created. It is worth noting that the supplementary budget 2003/4 does not have a specific item on war-ravaged areas,†Dora Byamukama (Mwenge South) said.
Byamukama said this recently during a meeting with the United States (U.S.) Ambassador, Jimmy Kolker at his residence in Kampala.
Soroti woman MP Alice Alaso said there was need for provision of equalisation grants and “waving of the need for co-funding in all affected districts.â€
She called for a “catch-up fund to allow affected districts to undertake operations like holding of district council meetings and payment of executives, which are not normally supported by donors.â€
Dr. Okulo Epak said affirmative action was essential, especially in the field of education.
He asked the Government to provide scholarships to disadvantaged bright children in war-hit areas.
“This is where we feel donor funding for education in the north should be directed and such assistance should be given directly to the district local governments to manage and operate through a memorandum of understanding,†said Epak.
Ends
MEMBERS of Parliament have urged the Government to come up with special supplementary budgets to help war-hit districts.
They said the district’s revenues had slumped due to the insurgency.
“Parliament should support that a special grant be created. It is worth noting that the supplementary budget 2003/4 does not have a specific item on war-ravaged areas,†Dora Byamukama (Mwenge South) said.
Byamukama said this recently during a meeting with the United States (U.S.) Ambassador, Jimmy Kolker at his residence in Kampala.
Soroti woman MP Alice Alaso said there was need for provision of equalisation grants and “waving of the need for co-funding in all affected districts.â€
She called for a “catch-up fund to allow affected districts to undertake operations like holding of district council meetings and payment of executives, which are not normally supported by donors.â€
Dr. Okulo Epak said affirmative action was essential, especially in the field of education.
He asked the Government to provide scholarships to disadvantaged bright children in war-hit areas.
“This is where we feel donor funding for education in the north should be directed and such assistance should be given directly to the district local governments to manage and operate through a memorandum of understanding,†said Epak.
Ends