LC5 chiefs storm out of budget meeting

Dec 06, 2007

TEMPERS flared yesterday when all 80 district chairpersons walked out of the national budget meeting with donors, protesting against government failure to provide sh45b as compensation for graduated tax revenue that was scrapped in 2005.

By Alfred Wasike
and Cyprian Musoke

TEMPERS flared yesterday when all 80 district chairpersons walked out of the national budget meeting with donors, protesting against government failure to provide sh45b as compensation for graduated tax revenue that was scrapped in 2005.

The angry leaders demanded the immediate release of the money and an apology from finance minister Ezra Suruma and trade state minister Nelson Gaggawala. They accused Suruma, who was not at the meeting, of making “cynical remarks” that local governments “should look for the money they wanted.”
International donors, ministers and parliamentarians attended. The donors made no comment.

Suruma allegedly made the remarks while opening the meeting on Wednesday at Hotel Africana. At the function, Gaggawala blamed the local leaders for failing to mobilise their people to generate revenue.

Yesterday’s tension began at 9:00am when moderator William Oketcho, the head of the budget committee, called the meeting to order.

The chairpersons instead gave a thick document to their leader, Arua’s Ferua Andama. Adama is also the vice-president of the Uganda Local Governments Association, which includes 1,002 sub-county chairpersons.
As micro-finance state minister Salim Saleh was about to address the meeting, Andama walked up to his table where he was seated with Rukia Chekamondo, the minister for privatisation.

An angry Saleh insisted that the meeting should go on. “If our colleagues have any complaints they can bring them to my desk so that we can proceed with the programme,” he remarked.

At this stage, the chairpersons became rowdy. They shouted and ordered Andama to read their statement “for all to hear our problems”, adding: “We are tired of this foolery.” Saleh resumed his seat.

Reading the statement, Adama said: “We are very appalled by your negative conduct and attitude that sought to portray local governments as asking for funds without plans or budgets.”

The leaders accused Suruma of deliberately ignoring their concerns including the request that he explains his reason for not releasing the money.
They also accused him of undermining decentralisation and demanded the immediate release of sh45b graduated tax compensation.

They warned Suruma not to confuse “this fund with the sh33b already being used for salary enhancement as passed by Parliament.”

“Local governments have decided to excuse themselves from your budget workshop now, since you do not find them relevant,” Andama said.

He warned that local governments would not participate in any meetings organised by the finance ministry until the money had been released and Suruma apologised. They called for a meeting with the President and the Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi.

As they walked out, Gulu’s Norbert Mao asked: “If they can talk to Kony, why can't they talk to us?”

Katakwi’s Robert Ekongot said: “Suruma has the highest form of insensitivity to the people at the grassroots.”

Wakiso’s Ian Kyeyune remarked: “It is very unfortunate that we are being treated like this.”

Closing the meeting in the afternoon, Saleh regretted the walkout, describing it as an overreaction.

He said the leaders had been under pressure to attend another meeting being addressed by local government minister Major General Kahinda Otafiire, at the same venue.

“I tried to persuade the minister that he was interfering with my meeting, but the General just ignored me,” Saleh remarked.

Saleh urged the other district officials who had stayed in the meeting to ensure that the budgeting process continued.
“Local governments are advised to review sector-specific issues and provide feed back next week.”

Salim Saleh also argued the central government was dedicated to working with local governments to find sustainable sources of financing their activities.

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