Speaking to Uganda Radio Network in an interview, Magyezi noted that the government is looking for money to fund the operations of the new administrative units with the approval of the budget this year.
Newly created
sub-counties and Town Councils will get funding for their operations in 2021/2022
financial year, the Local Government Minister, Raphael Magyezi has disclosed.
At
least 364 sub-counties and 352 town councils created by the government across
the country has been non-functional for close to a year due to a lack of
funding.
Speaking to Uganda Radio Network in an interview,
Magyezi noted that the government is looking for money to fund the operations
of the new administrative units with the approval of the budget this year.
He
however, didn’t disclose the amount of money expected to allocate for the
operations of the new administrative units.
//Cue in: “We shall fund…
Cue out:…happens in future.”//
His revelation comes amidst challenges faced by local governments to finance
the operations of some of the newly created administrative units, which already
have temporary staffs.
For instance, in Kitgum District, 17 sub-counties and
two Town Councils created in the last financial year have remained
nonfunctional due to lack of funds.
They include
Lagoro, Labongo Akwang, Labongo Layamo, Kitgum Matidi, Labongo Amida, Namokora,
Orom, Omiya Anyima and Mucwini sub-counties. Jackson Omona, Kitgum District LC
V Chairperson told Uganda Radio Network in an interview that only Namokora Town
council received Shillings 50 million from the Finance Ministry last year.
He also
says that although the district had sent temporary staff to occupy the
positions in the newly created administrative units, they were withdrawn due to
financial constraints.
//cue in: “we have never…
Cue out:…about 50 million.”
Omona says since the district hasn’t yet received
any indicative planning figure from the Finance Ministry, it will maintain its
budget for the nine traditional sub-counties.
He noted that recently the
district came out with a draft budget of about Shillings 32 Billion that
doesn’t capture funding for the newly created administrative units.
Omona expressed skepticism on the government’s position to fund the new
sub-counties. He says to date, no communication on planning figures have been
passed down to the district accounting officers in respective districts with
newly created administrative units.
In Lamwo District, six Sub-counties and two
town councils were created by the government. However, only Madi-Opei and Palabek town council got
Shillings 50 million each for infrastructural development, according to the
District Chairperson, John Komakech Ogwok.
Ogwok revealed to URN in an
interview on Monday that the district has already received a budget call
circular from the Finance Ministry, a move he says gives hope that government
will fund the new administrative units.
