Creation of counties hangs in the balance

Masindi. The split of Buruli County in Masindi District into two constituencies of Buruli North and Buruli South hangs in the balance as the Ministry of Local Government is yet to secure funds to run the new administrative units.

Local Government minister Tom Butime said they are set to meet their counterparts in Finance today to discuss funding the new administrative units.
Mr Butime told the district leaders on Monday that the new administrative units, which will not be funded in the district, will be considered in the next financial year due to budget constraints.

The district council okayed the creation of the two new constituencies in the last financial year, which saw Kyatiri Parish become a town council that now requires more funding.
Before new administrative units are created out of a district, the Ministry of Local Government considers several factors such as population, revenue collection rate and access to service delivery.

The minister also blamed the district leaders for failing to lobby the rural electrification agency for power to support the new constituencies.
“Rural electrification is almost political, you have to demand for it, not to sit in Masindi and expect electricity to follow you up to here,” Mr Butime said.
He was reacting to the district chairperson, Mr Cosmas Byaruhanga who expressed concern over lack of power supply despite the presence of the rural electrification scheme.

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