Constituency Development Fund not for entertainment
Rhoda Kalema’s letter — Constituency Fund another Government scandal to the Speaker of Parliament raised a number of pertinent concerns about the rationale behind the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the method of its distribution and its accountability.
Helen Kawesa
Rhoda Kalema’s letter — Constituency Fund another Government scandal to the Speaker of Parliament raised a number of pertinent concerns about the rationale behind the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the method of its distribution and its accountability. To address these issues, I clarify as follows:-
- The CDF established by the Government under the Parliamentary Commission was never cancelled, but was reviewed by the Parliamentary Commission and the Government to set guidelines on how accountability can be done.
- The CDF is intended to support projects not supported by the local governments and shall not be used for political, recreation and entertainment activities.
- The CDF funds should be accounted for annually by the MP to whom the money is paid, directly increase household incomes, create employment, boost food security, promote poverty alleviation programmes, stimulate sustainable growth and development, trigger rapid rural transformation and support non-state social institutions.
Some of the challenges that MPs face at constitutional level do not attract government intervention, therefore these projects fill in the gaps and MPs are expected to and ordinarily have an obligation to participate in them.
- Much as there might have been some flaws regarding the accountability for the CDF in the past, new measures have been put in place to ensure that the funds are used for the intended purposes.
- MPs are mandated to establish a Constitutency Development Committee of five members which should identify projects to be funded, ensure equitable distribution and be accountable for the funds distributed.
- It is the responsibility of the MP to provide the funds accountability at the end of each financial year.
Much as there may have been some shortcomings in handling the CDF in the past, there are new guidelines set and it is only prudent that the MPs are given an opportunity to abide by them so as to gauge whether the new system will work.
It is also incumbent upon the public to trust the MPs, because by electing them into office they made a statement that these are their stewards in whom they have placed confidence to represent them as they work towards developing our country.
That MPs face at constituency level, some of these projects to engage in and support development projects and programmes that do not attract government intervention. These fall under a number of institutions including the church and social/community groups falling under private public partnerships. These are steered by non-policy making institutions, for which the government does not budget and they do not necessarily duplicate government projects. T
Additionally, MPs may make contributions to different projects or individuals in the community to provide incentives for development activities. Projects under this category may include women’s groups ‘Nigina’, which may be equated to the ‘Harambee’ initiative in Kenya.
The writer is the Public Relations Manager for Parliament of Uganda
Rhoda Kalema’s letter — Constituency Fund another Government scandal to the Speaker of Parliament raised a number of pertinent concerns about the rationale behind the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), the method of its distribution and its accountability. To address these issues, I clarify as follows:-
- The CDF established by the Government under the Parliamentary Commission was never cancelled, but was reviewed by the Parliamentary Commission and the Government to set guidelines on how accountability can be done.
- The CDF is intended to support projects not supported by the local governments and shall not be used for political, recreation and entertainment activities.
- The CDF funds should be accounted for annually by the MP to whom the money is paid, directly increase household incomes, create employment, boost food security, promote poverty alleviation programmes, stimulate sustainable growth and development, trigger rapid rural transformation and support non-state social institutions.
Some of the challenges that MPs face at constitutional level do not attract government intervention, therefore these projects fill in the gaps and MPs are expected to and ordinarily have an obligation to participate in them.
- Much as there might have been some flaws regarding the accountability for the CDF in the past, new measures have been put in place to ensure that the funds are used for the intended purposes.
- MPs are mandated to establish a Constitutency Development Committee of five members which should identify projects to be funded, ensure equitable distribution and be accountable for the funds distributed.
- It is the responsibility of the MP to provide the funds accountability at the end of each financial year.
Much as there may have been some shortcomings in handling the CDF in the past, there are new guidelines set and it is only prudent that the MPs are given an opportunity to abide by them so as to gauge whether the new system will work.
It is also incumbent upon the public to trust the MPs, because by electing them into office they made a statement that these are their stewards in whom they have placed confidence to represent them as they work towards developing our country.
That MPs face at constituency level, some of these projects to engage in and support development projects and programmes that do not attract government intervention. These fall under a number of institutions including the church and social/community groups falling under private public partnerships. These are steered by non-policy making institutions, for which the government does not budget and they do not necessarily duplicate government projects. T
Additionally, MPs may make contributions to different projects or individuals in the community to provide incentives for development activities. Projects under this category may include women’s groups ‘Nigina’, which may be equated to the ‘Harambee’ initiative in Kenya.
The writer is the Public Relations Manager for Parliament of Uganda