Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Operationalization of the newly created cities in Uganda is stirring bitter controversies as leaders of mother districts decline to support the new entities. In April 2020, the Uganda government elevated seven municipalities to city status in a phased process that will see more towns become …
Read More »The rot in Local Government projects
COMMENT | Samson Tinka | In early August, Minister of State, Office of the President for Economic Monitoring Peter Ogwang started touring districts to check on government projects. What he came across was shocking, and was characterized by gross misuse of government funds, signs and symptoms of fraud, corruption and shoddy work. …
Read More »Contractor of two Seed schools in Bunyoro accused of shoddy work
Hoima, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kwik Build Contractors and Engineers are on the spot over shoddy work at Kigorobya seed secondary school in Hoima district and Nyairongo Seed Secondary school in Kikuube district. The company owned by Patrick Isagara, a resident of Hoima City is accused of executing shoddy …
Read More »NEW CITIES: Government moves to further amend Local Government Act
Masaka, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Local Government Ministry is considering further amendments to the local government Act to introduce provisions too specific to the management of the newly created cities. In July last year, the government started operationalizing seven new cities including Hoima, Mbarara, Mbale, Gulu, Jinja, Masaka …
Read More »New cities can’t perform without financial help
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The United Nations Agency in Uganda is worried that the newly created cities will increase the financing burden of the central government and affect the achievement of sustainable development goals. The UN Capital Development Fund, UNCDF, which aims to make public and private finance work for …
Read More »Improving district local revenue
New cohort of local government leaders need to think about getting revenue from local tourism COMMENT | WALTER AKENA | In May 2021, a new cohort of local government elected leaders will be sworn-in to drive the local development agenda for the next five years through policy formulation, resource mobilisation …
Read More »Why academic qualifications matter for Local Government leaders
Since Plato, political observers have argued that governing is best left to those who are highly educated COMMENT | Walter Akena | As the dust settles from the January and February elections and we await that comical “I solomonly swear to bear true allergy” and “Madam Speaker Sir” moments in May, …
Read More »Post COVID-19: Role of Local Govts in promotion of primary health care in Uganda
COMMENT | Oscord Mark Otile | In 1946 the World Health Organization (WHO) defined health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Since the The Declaration of Alma-Ata was adopted at the International Conference on Primary Health Care, Almaty, …
Read More »The potential impact of COVID-19 on Local Governments
COMMENT | Jonas Mbabazi | In Uganda, as of April 24, 2020, there were 75 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 46 of these have recovered and none has died. The shocks from the coronavirus pandemic have been sudden and unprecedented. Within a few months, many businesses, government offices, markets, public and …
Read More »Over 100 teachers transferred in Arua
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Arua district local government has transferred more than 100 primary school Head teachers, their deputies and classroom teachers. Those affected include the sickly that need to move closer to their families for medical attention, those who have overstayed at their current work stations and those …
Read More »