MPs to review finance ministry rules
Sep 25, 2008
THE parliamentary budget committee has rapped the finance ministry for the delays in releasing funds to the local governments.
By Joel Ogwang
THE parliamentary budget committee has rapped the finance ministry for the delays in releasing funds to the local governments.
William Okecho, the committee chairperson, said the delay hindered delivery of services since most projects were not completed in time.
“The committee has embarked on reviewing the ministry every three months to ensure timely release of funds to implement the set projects,†Okecho said on Saturday at Ridar Hotel in Seeta.
The legislator was speaking at a seminar on human rights, budgeting, accountability and democracy for district leaders, councillors and political heads from Mukono, Tororo, Mayuge and Nakasongola districts.
Okecho said the committee had approved a sh940b budget for the local governments this financial year.
The money that would cover both districts and town councils, included graduated tax compensation, he added.
Okecho noted that each district would be given road equipment to ease road management and rehabilitation.
The local council leaders criticised the Government for re-centralising chief administrative officers even before the decentralisation policy had succeded.
They also showed discontent with resident district commissioners (RDC) for ‘being partisan and for interfering in the running of districts’.
Bunya South MP James Kubeketerya clarified that the RDCs were appointed to monitor Government projects.
“The Government funds 95% of the district budgets. The office of the RDC was constitutionally set up to oversee the successful implementation of the projects that are funded by the state,†he noted.
THE parliamentary budget committee has rapped the finance ministry for the delays in releasing funds to the local governments.
William Okecho, the committee chairperson, said the delay hindered delivery of services since most projects were not completed in time.
“The committee has embarked on reviewing the ministry every three months to ensure timely release of funds to implement the set projects,†Okecho said on Saturday at Ridar Hotel in Seeta.
The legislator was speaking at a seminar on human rights, budgeting, accountability and democracy for district leaders, councillors and political heads from Mukono, Tororo, Mayuge and Nakasongola districts.
Okecho said the committee had approved a sh940b budget for the local governments this financial year.
The money that would cover both districts and town councils, included graduated tax compensation, he added.
Okecho noted that each district would be given road equipment to ease road management and rehabilitation.
The local council leaders criticised the Government for re-centralising chief administrative officers even before the decentralisation policy had succeded.
They also showed discontent with resident district commissioners (RDC) for ‘being partisan and for interfering in the running of districts’.
Bunya South MP James Kubeketerya clarified that the RDCs were appointed to monitor Government projects.
“The Government funds 95% of the district budgets. The office of the RDC was constitutionally set up to oversee the successful implementation of the projects that are funded by the state,†he noted.