Local govt body gets new offices
Dec 09, 2008
IN the African tradition, when a man gets a wife and constructs a house, there is no doubt he has matured. Three weeks ago, the Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA) commissioned their complex at Najjanankumbi in Kampala.
By Joshua Kato
IN the African tradition, when a man gets a wife and constructs a house, there is no doubt he has matured. Three weeks ago, the Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA) commissioned their complex at Najjanankumbi in Kampala.
The association is the umbrella body of local administrations. It was started to unite local government leaders in the wake of the decentralisation system.
The new home was launched by the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Muganwa Kajura, in November. Recently, President Yoweri Museveni also toured the premises.
All district chairpersons, speakers, mayors, sub-county chairpersons and chief administrative officers are required to subscribe to the association.
The association which is headed by John Karazarwe has regional chairpersons countrywide. Buganda is headed by the regional chairman, Vincent Ssetuba; north by Gulu LC5 Norbert Mao; west by Kabarole LC5 Michael Mugisa; and east by Manafwa LC5 Charles Walimbwa.
Districts contributed sh1,000,000, while sub-counties remitted sh100,000 to the construction of the complex. Part of the building will be rented out to generate revenue for the association.
According to the ULGA vice-president, Ferua Andama, the building has saved them about sh54m they have been paying as rent annually. “We liaised with donors to raise the funds,†he says.
The association plans to set up other income-generating ventures, including a savings bank, to increase members’ earnings.
ULGA has been instrumental in lobbying the Government to improve funding for decentralisation. But like the President said, the association is still grappling with corruption in many districts.
In some districts, funds for government programmes like universal primary education have been diverted to other sectors. But Andama says ULGA has a code of conduct and will discipline members who engage in corruption and abuse of office.
IN the African tradition, when a man gets a wife and constructs a house, there is no doubt he has matured. Three weeks ago, the Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA) commissioned their complex at Najjanankumbi in Kampala.
The association is the umbrella body of local administrations. It was started to unite local government leaders in the wake of the decentralisation system.
The new home was launched by the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Muganwa Kajura, in November. Recently, President Yoweri Museveni also toured the premises.
All district chairpersons, speakers, mayors, sub-county chairpersons and chief administrative officers are required to subscribe to the association.
The association which is headed by John Karazarwe has regional chairpersons countrywide. Buganda is headed by the regional chairman, Vincent Ssetuba; north by Gulu LC5 Norbert Mao; west by Kabarole LC5 Michael Mugisa; and east by Manafwa LC5 Charles Walimbwa.
Districts contributed sh1,000,000, while sub-counties remitted sh100,000 to the construction of the complex. Part of the building will be rented out to generate revenue for the association.
According to the ULGA vice-president, Ferua Andama, the building has saved them about sh54m they have been paying as rent annually. “We liaised with donors to raise the funds,†he says.
The association plans to set up other income-generating ventures, including a savings bank, to increase members’ earnings.
ULGA has been instrumental in lobbying the Government to improve funding for decentralisation. But like the President said, the association is still grappling with corruption in many districts.
In some districts, funds for government programmes like universal primary education have been diverted to other sectors. But Andama says ULGA has a code of conduct and will discipline members who engage in corruption and abuse of office.