RUKUNGIRI – The Rukungiri Municipal financial year budget for 2020-2021 is projected to slightly increase from UGX 8, 055, 290, 000 (2019-2020) to UGX 8, 458, 054, 500 in the next financial year both from central government and local revenue according to Jackson Mwebesa the Principal Treasurer for the municipality.
These remarks were made on December 3, during the Rukungiri Municipal budget conference for the financial year 2020-2021 held at Rukungiri District headquarters main hall and chaired by Ambrose Tusiime the municipal’s Senior Development Officer who represented the Town Clerk Ms. Theo Tibihika.
The salary/wages that will include recruitment of new workers are projected to cover a lion share, amounting to UGX 4, 275, 214, 540 indicating an increase from last year’s UGX 4, 121, 160, 540.
According to Mwebesa this year’s local revenue performance is still poor with the recovery rate at 14% within a period of three months instead of the estimated 25%.
Mwebesa noted that unreliable tax laws and policies as implemented by government officials have led to a decline in tax collection due to inadequate knowledge on the social and economic well-being of locals.
Mr. Dan Kaguta the Rukungiri Resident District Commissioner asked the technical team and politicians to monitor planned government activities to avoid shoddy work that costs the budget every year.
“It is a good idea you have looked at these estimates but endeavour to ensure that funds in these estimates once approved are put to the right use to benefit the community” Kaguta advised the Rukungiri Municipality leadership.
Mark Rutikarayo a resident of Eastern Division in Rukungiri Municipality said opening of local access roads in the municipality should be highly considered to ease access to some remote areas. He cited an example of Kagugu- Kicence- Izinga – Kanyanga Trading Centre to Ikuniro Road that has been impassable thus hindering farmers and brick-makers access to the market.
Other projects to be considered in the 2020- 2021 budget include upgrading Kitimba HC II to HC III, demarcation of planned roads, physical planning and sensitisation programmes.