Local govt: Officials’ transport improved

Dec 30, 2009

FOR starters, a serving local government minister, major general Kahinda Otafiire, was replaced by Adolf Mwesige. During the 2008 annual review of the decentralisation system, district leaders had complained about the failing state of affairs in local gov

By Joshua Kato

FOR starters, a serving local government minister, major general Kahinda Otafiire, was replaced by Adolf Mwesige. During the 2008 annual review of the decentralisation system, district leaders had complained about the failing state of affairs in local governments as a result of poor financing. This persisted throughout the year with some lower local governments almost closing down.

The budget allocation

About sh1.35trillion was allocated to local governments across the country.

Inadequate finances

Earlier in the 2008/09 budget, the Government started local services tax(LST) and local hotels and lodgings tax as substitutes for the scrapped graduated tax(GT).

However, by the end of the financial year, less than sh5b was collected from LST. About sh60b was expected from the taxes.
“Lower local government councils (LC3s) are no longer effective largely because they do not have any sources of revenue,” lamented Vincent Ssempijja, LC5 Chairman, Masaka district.

This made running local government difficult. Small districts like Abim collected less than sh10m in taxes and yet 20% of it had to be used for council activities.

That is why local leaders have persistently demanded that the 20% quota of local revenue that must be used to run council activities be revised to either 30% or discretionary.

On a positive note, the Government announced that local leaders will start receiving gratuity, something they had been lobbying for for many years.

The deputy speakers and district councillors will also start receiving monthly salaries in addition to their allowances. The LC1 chairpersons will also receive an annual perseverance allowance next financial year.

Transport for LC3 leaders
Over 700 motor-bikes were distributed to LC3 chairpersons across the country.
“Starting next financial year, LC1 chairmen will start receiving bicycles to enable them move around villages faster,” Mwesige announced.

Accountability problem

Various surveys put districts among the most corrupt institutions in the country.
  • Many were arrested under the NAADS Probe Committee, while others were arrested under other corruption surveys.

  • District technical leaders were arrested in Lira, Nebbi, Kanungu, Mbarara, Masaka, and Iganga.

  • Some of the districts that appeared before the Parliamentary Accounts Committee and failed to produce proper books of accountability included Nebbi, Kampala, Kabarole, Kisoro, Wakiso, Masaka, Kyenjojo and Kaabong.

    Conflicts among leaders

    Most conflicts were between political against technical leaders . These were due to failure to understand local government regulations and political differences.
  • In Rakai, the LC5 chairman, Vincent Ssemakula Ssetuba, ‘fought’ with his speaker, Joe Mukisa.

  • In Masindi, the LC5 chairman, Steven Birija Vs the CAO Milton Kato over finances and alleged corruption.

  • In Bundibugyo, the LC5 chairman, Jackson Bambalira, conflicted with his CAO, Julius Byamungu who was subsequently transfered.

  • In Tororo, district councillors called for the removal of the RDC, Mpimbaza Hashaka, from the district over ‘interference in their work’. However, Hashaka said he was only carrying out his oversight work
  • .

    Officials resign

    Steven Birija, the Masindi LC5 chairman, resigned John Tebyasa, Masaka mayor finally relinquished his seat after over a year of absence due to illness.

    22 new districts formed
    Buikwe in Mukono, Buvuma from Mukono, Luuka in Iganga and Budiope in Kamuli, Gomba from Mpigi, Kyankwanzi from Kiboga, Albetongo from Lira, Obongi from Moyo, Serere from Soroti, Rwebisengo from Bundibugyo are some of the new districts.

    However, the operationisation of Terego-Maracha district has remained a cause of endless conflict.
    The district created in 2006 has not been operationised because of a conflict over the location of the district headquarters. While some people want it at Nyadri others want it Maracha. As the year came to an end, Terego County had been dropped from the district, leaving only Maracha as the new district. According to a parliament resolution, Terego now remains in Arua.

    It was not only the Maracha/Terego impasse that characterised local governments highlights this year:

    The proposal in May to create two new districts Mukuju and Kisoko out of Tororo district generated conflicts.
    This would not have drawn the kind of conflict it did if it was not for the location of Tororo Municipality.

    According to the announcement, the municipality would be located in Mukuju (Tororo county) which is dominated by the Iteso and not in Kisoko, which is dominated by the Japadhola. The issue is being mooted for a referendum.

    Elections beckon

    2011 is the general elections year. It is not yet clear if elections of LC5 chairpersons will be carried out in the 22 new districts or wait until 2011.
    But whichever way, 2010 is the spring board for the 2011 elections. This is when positioning and ground laying by prospective candidates will kick off.

    (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});