Six new districts become operational amid challenges

Countrywide- The six newly created districts across the country are now operational despite numerous challenges.
The districts that started work effective July 1 are among the 23 created in 2015.

They include Obongi that was carved out of Moyo, Kazo from Kiruhura and Rwampara from Mbarara. Others are Kitagwenda carved out of Kamwenge, Madi-Okollo from Arua, and Karenga from Kaboong.

Ideally, districts are instituted with complete administrative, financial and operational autonomy and with the view of bringing services closer to the people but this is yet to be achieved.

This now bring the total number of districts in the country to 135.

A senior official from the ministry of Local Government, who declined to be named because he is not authorised to speak, yesterday said the new districts will share personnel from mother districts and will be run by interim leadership pending recruitment of staff as well as election of substantive persons.

Local Government minister Tom Butime said he was in a meeting. We were unable to reach the State Minister for Local Government Jennifer Namuyangu as her known telephone contacts were not accessible.

However, in Rwampara and Kazo districts, the top political leadership have not been selected.
Rwampara with a budget of Shs17.6b has already recruited the chief administrative officer, district planner, district population officer, district education officer, district procurement officer, district community development officer, district statistician and district registrar.

Kazo District that was allocated Shs16.4b has so far recruited the CAO, district engineer, district education officer, district planner, district health officer, district agriculture officer and district procurement officer.

At the inauguration of Rwampara District, the commissioner for Urban Development in Local Government, Mr Justinian Nuwagaba, asked politicians and civil servants not to interfere in each other’s roles and responsibilities. “The laws are very clear, if you are a civil servant and want to join politics, resign but some of the civil servants want to use their positions to advance their future political interests,” Mr Nuwagaba said.

Obongi District where social amenities are lacking has been allocated Shs19.9b in 2019/20 budget.
The Obongi County MP, Mr Hassan Kaps Fungaroo, said: “We want this place to be industrialised and we need power. We are ready to be integrated into systems of accountability for the funds that will be sent here so that there is transparency and value for money is realised.”

Earlier Ms Namuyangu cautioned the leaders against misappropriation of funds. “We are creating districts to bring harmony for people to live together in decentralisation. We need improved accountability of funds that are sent for service delivery…,” she said.

The Kamwenge District chairman, Mr Aggrey Natuhamya, said Kitagwenda is still leaning on its mother district for support. “Its interim government is not yet in place. We are waiting for the Electoral Commission to carry out elections, so I am now in-charge-of Kitagwenda, the law allows me to be in-charge for two months,” Mr Natuhamya said.

He added: “We hosted an asset sharing party and we gave them 972 technical staff including the CAO and remained with 1346 staff. Those who remained in Kitagwenda include health workers and teachers.”

Kitagwenda District was allocated Shs14b for the financial year 2019/20.
However, the inauguration of Madi- Okollo District was delayed due to bickering over the composition of the interim leadership committee.

A member of the inauguration Prayer Day Committee, Rtd Capt Stephen Arubaku, said: “We want to start this district with prayers so that the spirits of corruption are chased away from it. We will need the leaders to exhibit transparency and accountability.”
Madi -Okollo was allocated Shs15.7b to kick start the operations.

Reported by Ephraim Kasozi, Felix Basiime, Warom Okello, Fednand Tuhame, Rajab Mukombozi, Felix W Okello,
Scovin Iceta & Alfred Tumushabe