Sub Counties, Town Councils Disagree Over Local Revenue

http://ugandaradionetwork.com/a/story.php?s=54125

Sub Counties and town councils in Kabarole district are fighting over the control of local revenue.

Last week, during the district council session, a resolution was passed that the newly created town councils should share the local revenue with the respective sub counties. The new town councils are Rwimi, Kibiito and Karago. According to the council resolution, the town councils are supposed to receive 40% of the local revenue.

The councilors argue that since the town councils are new, they lack adequate funds for them to operate. However this didn’t go well with the sub county authorities, who say that the local revenue is inadequate and can’t be shared between two administrative units.

This has stalled implementation of some activities, since they lack funds.

In Rwimi town council, there isn’t any water source. Residents are forced to spend 300 shillings on a jerry can of water or walk long distances to fetch water. Bright Kamugasa, the LC3 Chairperson for Rwimi town council, says that although the local revenue is not enough, it can be used to construct at least four boreholes in the town council. Kamugasa says the nearest water sources from the town council are 5 kilometers away. Rwimi Sub County generates 400 million shillings in local revenue per month.

He says that since some of the markets are located in the town council, they should have a share of the revenue.

//Cue in: “The money isn’t enough…
Cue out: …not helping at all.”//

But Francis Mwesige, the LC3 chairperson for Kibiito Sub County, says they will not share the local revenue with the town council, because it has many activities to implement like construction of more markets, public toilets and bore holes.

However, some residents accuse the leaders of hurriedly advocating for creation of the town councils.

Harriet Kobwemi, a trader at Kibiito market, says that some of the residents weren’t consulted by the leaders on the creation of the town council. She says that some leaders wanted the town council created because they wanted to contest for elective posts.

Gerald Mugenyi, a resident of Rwimi town council says the government’s argument that the creation of new administrative units will bring services closer to the people is a hoax. Mugenyi says that since the creation of Kibiito town council, residents are still facing difficulties to access clean and safe water. According to Mugenyi, instead of creating more administrative units, the government should increase funding for social services.

//Cue in: “The creation’s a hoax…
Cue out: …dividing the districts.”//

In a telephone interview, Harriet Nanyonjo, the deputy Chief Administrative Officer Kabarole, says she will meet leaders of the town councils and sub county, to address the matter.

The district created new town councils of Rwimi, Karago and Kibiito in July 2009.