Local government leaders from the Northern Districts of Uganda have expressed their dissatisfaction with the procedures involved in the implementation of government programs. These concerns came to light during the Ministry of Local Government’s interactions with local leaders from the Karamoja, Lango, and Teso Sub-regions at the Local Government Regional Consultative workshops for the Fiscal Year 2024/2025 held in Lira City.
Kwania District LC V, Alex Ogwal was among the local leaders who voiced their disappointment at the workshops. He raised concerns about the lack of consideration for issues previously raised during engagements with the Ministry. Ogwal urged the ministry to prioritize action over paperwork, emphasizing that excessive bureaucracy has hindered the effective progress and execution of government initiatives.
Paul Komol Lote, the LC V of Kotido District, echoed similar sentiments. He highlighted the challenges his district has faced since receiving a district hospital in July 2021. The hospital has been struggling with low staffing levels and inadequate facilities, leading to a hindrance in service delivery. Lote expressed his concern that this situation has caused discord between the district leaders and the community, with the latter believing that their leaders are not doing enough to address the issue.
Kaberamaido District Planner, Elalu Albert, appealed to the ministry for sufficient funding for the recently established administrative units. Some of these units are currently operating out of rented spaces, posing challenges to their functioning.
In response to these concerns, Ministry of Finance Assistant Commissioner, Tagoole Ali, unveiled plans to allocate UGX 1 billion to support the new administrative units. He urged existing units to manage their resources wisely as part of the government’s efforts to reduce unnecessary borrowing.
Tagoole also stressed the importance of local governments making the most of their available resources, given the government’s limited funding capacity. He cautioned against excessive borrowing, highlighting the negative impact it can have on the country’s revenue, which currently stands at UGX 30 trillion.
These discussions are part of the 2024/2025 national budget procedure, which aims to achieve a minimum 6 percent economic growth for the fiscal year and 7 percent over the medium term.
The upcoming budget retains the current year’s theme: “Complete Monetization of Uganda’s Economy via Commercial Agriculture, Industrialization, Service Expansion, Digital Transformation, and Enhanced Market Access.”
