KCC seeks sh800b for development
May 05, 2009
KAMPALA City Council (KCC) needs about sh800b to develop into a modern urban centre. The acting town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu, said the money is required for infrastructural development, improving public health and education, as well as funding gender and co
By Conan Businge and Juliet Waiswa
KAMPALA City Council (KCC) needs about sh800b to develop into a modern urban centre. The acting town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu, said the money is required for infrastructural development, improving public health and education, as well as funding gender and community programmes.
The Government gives KCC sh23b annually. In the last two years, the Government has provided sh15b more to the council under the Uganda National Road Fund.
KCC also gets more funding from donors for roads, but officials say the money is inadequate. It is estimated that $210m (sh412b) is required if all roads in the city are to be tarmacked at a minimum of sh686m per kilometre.
In the next three years, KCC plans to invest sh63b in the road sector. Speaking at the first KCC business breakfast meeting at Hotel Africana in Kampala recently, Kijjambu explained that upgrading the drainage system would cost $79m (sh158b) over the next 40 years.
She added that sh1.5b would be required to maintain the drainage system annually. Other areas which were not valued in the meeting include urban planning, public health and environment, education, gender and community production.
The council’s revenue increased from sh18.5b in the 2000/01 financial year to sh24.7b in the 2007/08 financial year. But the council maintains that the money is not enough to pay for salaries and allowances to the councillors.
Former town clerk Gordon Tumwesigye cited political interference in the management of the council, adding that it had affected its development.
“The city has to be left in the hands of technicians and professionals and not politicians,†he advised. Rubaga North MP Betty Kamya challenged KCC to raise its revenue collection.
“Several districts with smaller populations are collecting more revenue. Why can’t Kampala collect a good amount of revenue?†she asked.
KAMPALA City Council (KCC) needs about sh800b to develop into a modern urban centre. The acting town clerk, Ruth Kijjambu, said the money is required for infrastructural development, improving public health and education, as well as funding gender and community programmes.
The Government gives KCC sh23b annually. In the last two years, the Government has provided sh15b more to the council under the Uganda National Road Fund.
KCC also gets more funding from donors for roads, but officials say the money is inadequate. It is estimated that $210m (sh412b) is required if all roads in the city are to be tarmacked at a minimum of sh686m per kilometre.
In the next three years, KCC plans to invest sh63b in the road sector. Speaking at the first KCC business breakfast meeting at Hotel Africana in Kampala recently, Kijjambu explained that upgrading the drainage system would cost $79m (sh158b) over the next 40 years.
She added that sh1.5b would be required to maintain the drainage system annually. Other areas which were not valued in the meeting include urban planning, public health and environment, education, gender and community production.
The council’s revenue increased from sh18.5b in the 2000/01 financial year to sh24.7b in the 2007/08 financial year. But the council maintains that the money is not enough to pay for salaries and allowances to the councillors.
Former town clerk Gordon Tumwesigye cited political interference in the management of the council, adding that it had affected its development.
“The city has to be left in the hands of technicians and professionals and not politicians,†he advised. Rubaga North MP Betty Kamya challenged KCC to raise its revenue collection.
“Several districts with smaller populations are collecting more revenue. Why can’t Kampala collect a good amount of revenue?†she asked.