Gov’t needs Sh160b to operationalise new town councils

KAMPALA – Jenipher Namuyangu, the State Minister of Local Government has revealed that Government requires Sh160b to kick off the operationalization and recruitment of staff for new sub-counties, town councils, and cities.

Namuyangu made the revelation today while appearing before the Committee of Public Service and Local Government where she explained that out of the Sh160b that the Ministry requires, over Sh100b would go to 203 town councils, while Sh29b would be used for 198 sub-counties, and Sh30b would go into operationalizing cities.

The Minister further told the Committee that out of the Sh100b required to at least help the town council to start up, only Shs2b was provided leaving some town council grappling with start-up funds.

However, despite all these lamentations of lack of funds, this didn’t stop the legislators from asking for the creation of more town councils in their areas with some even accusing the minister of only looking at districts from only one region, accusations Namuyangu refuted saying all districts have a town council created.

During the meeting, Minister Namuyangu also said that nine municipalities including; Fortportal, Mbarara, Gulu, Arua, Mbale, Hoima, Lira, Entebbe and Jinja have been lined up to get city status as soon as government provides the funds.

In a related development, Government has also admitted that it needs more time to make consultations on the operationalization regional governments commonly referred to as regional tier.

It should be noted that the Committee on the public service and local government which is currently scrutinizing a motion brought by Stephen Mukitale (Buliisa County) where he petitioned Parliament seeking government to bring to parliament a bill that will put in place enabling law to give government power to enforce this controversial law.

In 2005, parliament passed the regional tier bill into an Act but this law has been on shelves pending enabling law by government to operationalize it.

Further still, the 1995 Constitution provided for a regional government for Uganda, meaning that any district wishing to cooperate with another district or districts can form a regional government.

On her submission of the motion, Namuyangu said that the ministry of Local Government is still making consultations on the matter as the last time they brought a bill to Parliament, some regions like Buganda were against it and there is a need for consultations to harmonize with all regions before a common position on the matter is taken.

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