Donors warn on CAOs
Nov 10, 2004
DONORS have opposed a proposal in the Government White Paper to centralise the appointment of chief administrative officers (CAOs).
By Joyce Namutebi
DONORS have opposed a proposal in the Government White Paper to centralise the appointment of chief administrative officers (CAOs).
They questioned the assumption that centralising appointment of CAOs would improve decentralisation or accountability.
“Instead, we are concerned that this may cut the crucial accountability link between the elected local councils and the local government staff,†said the donors’ statement which was read by the Netherlands’ ambassador, Yoka Brandt.
They also said, “As graduated tax is the main contributor to local taxation, its suspension or abolishment without a viable alternative would have detrimental effects.â€
The statement was issued at the Joint Annual Review of Decentralisation workshop at the International Conference Centre yesterday.
Brandt said local governments should be autonomous and have a very clear mandate, while the centre should have adequate measures to intervene.
The Government wants CAOs, the district accounting officers, to be appointed and answerable to the Public Service Commission.
The donors instead called for regular and coordinated supervision, mentoring and inspection by the Ministry of Local Government.
“This will have to be combined with a simplification of corrective and punitive measures in cases of suspected mismanagement. The central principle should be mutual respect,†she said.
She said a government without tax could not stand the test of time and that local revenue enhances self-reliance and the confidence of local councils.
The Government has suspended graduated tax for 10 years from next year.
Prime minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi said the decentralisation policy was irreversible. He said it had opened political space and introduced politics of inclusion, one of the reason, he said, the Uganda was stable.
Local government minister Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere said decentralisation had democratised Uganda’s politics and introduced participation.
DONORS have opposed a proposal in the Government White Paper to centralise the appointment of chief administrative officers (CAOs).
They questioned the assumption that centralising appointment of CAOs would improve decentralisation or accountability.
“Instead, we are concerned that this may cut the crucial accountability link between the elected local councils and the local government staff,†said the donors’ statement which was read by the Netherlands’ ambassador, Yoka Brandt.
They also said, “As graduated tax is the main contributor to local taxation, its suspension or abolishment without a viable alternative would have detrimental effects.â€
The statement was issued at the Joint Annual Review of Decentralisation workshop at the International Conference Centre yesterday.
Brandt said local governments should be autonomous and have a very clear mandate, while the centre should have adequate measures to intervene.
The Government wants CAOs, the district accounting officers, to be appointed and answerable to the Public Service Commission.
The donors instead called for regular and coordinated supervision, mentoring and inspection by the Ministry of Local Government.
“This will have to be combined with a simplification of corrective and punitive measures in cases of suspected mismanagement. The central principle should be mutual respect,†she said.
She said a government without tax could not stand the test of time and that local revenue enhances self-reliance and the confidence of local councils.
The Government has suspended graduated tax for 10 years from next year.
Prime minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi said the decentralisation policy was irreversible. He said it had opened political space and introduced politics of inclusion, one of the reason, he said, the Uganda was stable.
Local government minister Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere said decentralisation had democratised Uganda’s politics and introduced participation.