Streamline district committees - LC5
Dec 09, 2008
THE roles of the parliamentary accounts committees (PAC) and the district public accounts committees (DPACs) should be harmonised to avoid duplication.
By Josephine Maseruka
THE roles of the parliamentary accounts committees (PAC) and the district public accounts committees (DPACs) should be harmonised to avoid duplication.
The Uganda Local Governments Association president, John Wycliff Karazaarwe, said while local governments appreciate the role of the PAC, it overlaps those of the DPACs.
“This has led to a conflict of interest among local government staff, who have to appear before the PAC to answer queries that have been dealt with by the DPACs,†Karazaarwe said.
He was recently making a presentation at the fifth Joint Annual Review of Decentralisation at Hotel Africana.
He said once the mandate of both committees is streamlined, duplication of work by the two institutions would be avoided.
Isingiro South MP Alex Byarugaba, said MPs do not contradict the decisions of the DPACs.
He said most districts had no PACs and the majority lack adequate staffing while the few available staff are misplaced.
He gave an example of Mbale municipality which does not have a town clerk but instead has a deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
He said: “Most times you (DPACs) make us lose our cool. You fail to respect administrative advances and you spend money without signing vouchers.â€
Byarugaba said Mbarara and Soroti had made positive changes. However Mbale, Lira and Mukono continue to abuse administrative procedures.
He urged the local leaders to sensitise the communities on the causes and effects of climate change. “The Government should provide funds for the exercise,†he said.
The acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Tom Matte, explained that Mbale has a deputy CAO as town clerk because out of the 13 municipalities only 11 town clerks are appointed.
“There was no qualified person for the post that is why we allowed a qualified deputy CAO to be acting.â€
Karazaarwe said: “This year 19 out of 80 district chairpersons attended the annual conference.
Having very few district leaders at such a gathering and excluding some members undermines the spirit of decentralisation.â€
THE roles of the parliamentary accounts committees (PAC) and the district public accounts committees (DPACs) should be harmonised to avoid duplication.
The Uganda Local Governments Association president, John Wycliff Karazaarwe, said while local governments appreciate the role of the PAC, it overlaps those of the DPACs.
“This has led to a conflict of interest among local government staff, who have to appear before the PAC to answer queries that have been dealt with by the DPACs,†Karazaarwe said.
He was recently making a presentation at the fifth Joint Annual Review of Decentralisation at Hotel Africana.
He said once the mandate of both committees is streamlined, duplication of work by the two institutions would be avoided.
Isingiro South MP Alex Byarugaba, said MPs do not contradict the decisions of the DPACs.
He said most districts had no PACs and the majority lack adequate staffing while the few available staff are misplaced.
He gave an example of Mbale municipality which does not have a town clerk but instead has a deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
He said: “Most times you (DPACs) make us lose our cool. You fail to respect administrative advances and you spend money without signing vouchers.â€
Byarugaba said Mbarara and Soroti had made positive changes. However Mbale, Lira and Mukono continue to abuse administrative procedures.
He urged the local leaders to sensitise the communities on the causes and effects of climate change. “The Government should provide funds for the exercise,†he said.
The acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Tom Matte, explained that Mbale has a deputy CAO as town clerk because out of the 13 municipalities only 11 town clerks are appointed.
“There was no qualified person for the post that is why we allowed a qualified deputy CAO to be acting.â€
Karazaarwe said: “This year 19 out of 80 district chairpersons attended the annual conference.
Having very few district leaders at such a gathering and excluding some members undermines the spirit of decentralisation.â€