By Daniel Edyegu

THE Government will start paying an annual allowance to LC1 chairpersons next July, the local government minister, Adolf Mwesigye, has said.

Mwesigye explained that the allowance is to motivate the chairpersons to effectively carry out their duties and minimise graft. “If there has been any inefficiency among LC1 chairpersons, it is due to lack of motivation. These people do a great job settling local disputes and supervising community works,” Mwesigye said.

The Cabinet, he added, would soon determine the exact allowance each chairperson would earn. “The Government hatched this idea some time back but what hampered its implementation were the limited funds to cater for over 50,000 LC1 chairpersons countrywide,” Mwesigye said.

Mwesigye made the remarks on Sunday at Masakye Community Hall in Mbale during the launch of the seven newly-created sub-counties of Bumasikye, Lukhonge, Mushasha, Nyondo, Bubiyangu, Lwaso and Budwale.

He said the Government supports the creation of new sub-counties to reduce unemployment in the country and bring services closer to the people.

He said each new sub-county would this year receive sh86m from the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), while the Government would provide funds to set up administrative infrastructure.

The housing state minister, Michael Werikhe, said each sub-county would get a secondary school, health centre and better roads.

Werikhe called on the residents to increase their agricultural production and venture into other productive businesses to improve their livelihood.