Uganda introduced decentralization in 1997 under the local government act of 1997 that has since undergone four amendments. The policy inherently decentralized service delivery institutions and their governance in order to improve access to services for the rural poor and creation for modernization in communities.
Its main focus was to improve service delivery in health, education and reduce poverty in rural and hard to reach communities as well as management of natural resources in Uganda.
Creation of administrative units like districts, town councils and sub county levels has not contributed a lot towards achieving the goal of the country. The panelists hosted were Mr. John Kahunde general secretary Bukuku advocacy forum and Kiwalabye Chris a senior citizen. The two were hosted live on Jubilee Fm on 10th February 2019.
The country is now driven by few individuals and this has sidelined citizens from giving ideas on planning and engaging in government process. This has affected rural citizens since they have not been given a chance to plan and decide for themselves”. Said John Kahunde during the discussion.
He added that as a country we have to weigh our budget if it’s capable to administer the proposed administrative units. Most sub counties have un-facilitated health facilities, impassable roads networking, and no infrastructures in school etc due to limited funds from the central government.
He advised that, the government to first improve the already existing administrative units before creating more and more of them.
Our leaders have stopped working for people they only work to fulfill their political obligations and this has increased on the number of newly created administrative unities in the country hence poor service delivery”. Said Mr. Kiwalabye Chris during the discussion.
The government should invest more funds to improve on infrastructures in all sectors other than creating more units which can’t sustain themselves like roads.
During the 2 hours live discussion listeners participated and gave out their views through calls inns facebook and SMS platform; “Leaders have failed to present fully the electorates at all levels in the country and people’s views have been not given a priority,” Said Kadoma Joseph from Butiti Kyenjojo district.
“It’s not good to create new administrative units and yet the old ones are not fully funded. The government should first consider of increasing the budgets for the already existing unites before creating new ones ,” Said Kamukama Rajjab from Hakibale sub county Kabarole district.
“The money they allocate to sub counties, town councils cannot fully improve services in those areas. The government should concentrate on building roads, equip health centre, improve education instead of creating other administrative units and yet they don’t have funds to cater for their demands,” Light a caller from Kabahango Kabarole district,
we are grateful to our donors for financial and technical support
