Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa has directed the Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi to present a comprehensive statement explaining why budgets that had not been approved by districts were submitted to parliament.
Gertrude Rose Gamwera, the Association Secretary-General argues that the current policy has been curtailing efforts by Local Governments to deliver services effectively
According to the minister, local leaders and parliamentarians should instead be focusing on creation of economic zones in the already existing structures to boost local economies hence increased local revenue tax collections.
Persis Namuganza, the Lands, Housing and Urban Development State Minister, said improving the outlook of the towns, municipalities and cities across the country is one of the signals that Uganda is driving towards the middle income status.
The committee chaired by Aringa North MP Godfrey Onzima notes that no budget provision for wages, non-wage and Development for the new town councils and sub-counties has been availed apart from an earlier 50 million shillings that was released as start-up funds to only 100 town councils.
The total annual receipts from district collections as at June 2018 only stood at Shillings 212, 749,998 leaving an outstanding balance of Shillings 514, 750,002. The association only received 24 percent of the total projected annual subscriptions from both districts and sub counties last financial year.
Tulambule pearl is a ten people team led by the Minister of State for Tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda who will mobilize local communities to visit tourism sites within their areas of residence on a weekly basis.
The Speaker also raised the concern of insufficient funding to Local Governments, which she said is one of their biggest challenges and affecting service delivery.
Kabarole Chief Administrative Officer Dunstan Balaba says that salaries of the CAOs needs to be increased from the current gets 1.7 million Shillings to at least 13 million Shillings and that of town clerks from the current 940,000 shillings to at least 11 million Shillings.
The audit report highlights persistent stock-outs of the 11 essential medicines that are supposed to be at hospitals, health centers at per the Ministry of Health and WHO guidelines.
Former Mukono District Chairperson, Godfrey Kiwanuka Musisi, says the local government Ministry should reintroduce mandatory induction training for councillors. Musisi, also the former President of Uganda Local Authorities Association ULGA, says many districts are failing to deliver the needed services because newly-elected politicians are not adequately inducted to perform their duties outlined in the Local Government Act.
The Auditor General notes that 33 local governments procured items worth Shillings 27.5 billion Shillings without following Public Procurement regulations and guidelines.
Kalungu Chief Administrative Officer, Ddembe Davis Bayeze says the districts remoteness frustrates skilled people from taking up offices. The district is located 21 kilometers northeast of Masaka, the largest metropolitan area in the sub-region.
Lower local government leaders in Busoga are blaming the poor delivery of services to bureaucracies in the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Act. They argue that the stringent procurement procedures delays greatly impacts on service delivery.
Councilors under a newly formed National Local Government Councilors Association (NALCA) are demanding for an improved welfare to match service delivery at the grass roots level. The formation of NALCA is meant to inform government about the urgent need to address the welfare of local government councilors and address their quest for fair play, equity and fairness in governance.
Local Governments in Bunyoro are considering allocating money to install lightning arrestors in schools in their districts. It follows the recent incidents of lightning in Hoima, Masindi and Kiryandongo.
