The Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, has called on the Committee on Local Government and Public Service to ensure the availability of funds for the procurement of vehicles for mayors and district chairpersons.
Magyezi stated that the ministry requires a budget of Shs35.2 billion to purchase the vehicles, suggesting that the amount can be allocated from the three percent supplementary threshold that allows the government to spend without prior approval from Parliament.
The requested funds would cater to the needs of 135 district chairpersons, 10 mayors of cities, and 31 mayors of municipalities. Magyezi conveyed this message during a meeting with Members of Parliament on the committee, which was chaired by Martin Ojara Mapenduzi on Wednesday.
The minister highlighted the unfortunate incidents involving district chairpersons, such as the fatal accident that claimed the life of the Hoima District Chairperson due to an inoperable vehicle. He also mentioned the road problems faced by the Mubende District Chairperson.
Magyezi emphasized the necessity of allocating at least Shs200 million per district to procure the required vehicles, which could be either departmental or personal vehicles.
Mapenduzi, the committee chairperson, expressed concern over elected district chairpersons and mayors who, lacking assigned vehicles, resorted to using district ambulances to fulfill their duties, including conducting inspections.
He called for strict action against individuals who abuse their powers, while also emphasizing the importance of providing necessary resources for entities to function effectively.
Furthermore, Magyezi urged for a strong stance on matters related to decentralization and recentralization. He noted that local governments had previously thrived under a sound decentralization policy but that the system has been experiencing a decline lately.
Magyezi stressed the correlation between the people’s ability to manage their economy and affairs and the overall state of the economy. He highlighted instances where elected district chairpersons’ powers were overtaken by Regional District Commissioners (RDCs) and proposed a national review of decentralization if immediate action is not possible this year.
Additionally, Magyezi advocated for proper physical planning of newly established administrative units, the relocation of districts in newly created cities, and the equitable distribution of assets. He suggested that amending the Local Government Act could address these issues effectively.