Urban local councils demand autonomy

Sep 09, 2005

URBAN authorities want the Local Government Act amended to enable the finance ministry remit grants directly to them instead of taking it through district councils.

By Apollo Mubiru
and Paul Kiwuuwa


URBAN authorities want the Local Government Act amended to enable the finance ministry remit grants directly to them instead of taking it through district councils.

Appearing before the parliamentary committee on public service and local governments on Wednesday, urban authority heads complained that district councils do not want to transfer conditional, unconditional and equalisation grants that are channelled through the district council accounts.

A delegation from 66 town councils and 13 municipal councils under the Urban Authorities Association of Uganda, led by Jinja mayor David Wakudumira, demanded autonomy under section 80 of the local governments act.Delegates said as the money passes through several hands, it creates fertile ground for financial irregularities.

They showed MPs evidence of the delayed transfers of funds to urban councils, amounting to over sh800m.
Tororo district council owes the highest of sh252m, Mbale sh150m, Lira sh118m, Mbarara sh92m and sh25m to Sironko.

Luweero district owes sh34m to Wombulenzi, Kapchorwa owes sh23m, Bugiri sh22m and Ssembabule sh19m.

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