8 , Monday, April 3, 2017 NATIONAL NEWS No funds for ministers, RDCs, presidential advisors

By Mary Karugaba new ministers appointed for Kampala, office operations. at the National Leadership Institute, as but they have not been budgeted for. BETWEEN THE LINES: This requires sh24.3b, of which well as sh150b for presidential pledges. Ministers for Kampala, resident district However, she did not mention how sh18.3b is for purchasing vehicles, Despite the financial cuts, Mbayo commissioners (RDCs), newly created much they had allocated to the ministry      sh3b for operations and sh1.9b for is optimistic that the ministry will districts and presidential advisors for other activities.     vehicle maintenance. At the moment, maintain broad goals similar to those should brace themselves for hard times According to Mbayo, the money was      Mbayo said 137 vehicles for RDCs and pursued in the previous financial year. this coming financial year as no funds required to help ministers acquire         their deputies require replacement as These include strengthening the have been allocated to finance their office furniture, space, operations and      they break down frequently. monitoring and implementation of activities. vehicles, among others, to enable them       Other funding gaps include the government programmes for improved Whereas the financial year 2017/18 discharge their duties effectively. sh18.3b required for the 30 newly service delivery, promotion of security marks the second year of the In June last year, Museveni named appointed presidential advisors, as for Ugandans within and outside the implementation of President Yoweri the Federal Alliance party the Prime Minister and it will soon be well as sh2.6b to meet the additional country, promotion of regional and Museveni’s manifesto, the Minister for president, Beti Kamya, the Minister for sorted out. costs for the newly created districts of international relations and offering Presidency, Esther Mbayo, is wondering Kampala, with Mubende Woman MP However, the ministry of Kampala Kagadi, Kakumiro, Omoro, Rubanda, leadership in the co-ordination of the how the sector will undertake effective Benny Bugembe Namugwanya as state is not alone. Mbayo said despite the Namisindwa, Pakwach, Butebo, HIV/AIDS multi-sectoral response. monitoring without the funds. minister. role of RDCs and their deputies in Rukiga, Kyotera and Bunyangabo. Mbayo appealed to Parliament to In the sector policy statement, Mbayo Kamya told New Vision yesterday mobilising the population for wealth The ministry also lacks sh5b for the pass the sector’s total budget, worth said the sector required sh7.3b to that the issue has been brought to the creation, there is no money in the promotion of patriotism in secondary sh395b, to enable the ministry run its provide basic facilitation for the two attention of the finance minister and budget to cater for their vehicles and schools and infrastructure development activities in the next financial year. Oulanyah wants districts to retain unspent funds

By Henry Sekanjako

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, has called for the amendment of the Public Finance Management Act to allow districts retain unspent funds oulanyah at the end of each financial year. the gap between Parliament Nanyondo, Oulanyah said it is an error and local government for Mukasa to return committed unspent improved service delivery. Mbidde balances by the districts to the Mutabazi cited poor and Mao Consolidated Fund. remuneration of the local during the Amended in 2015, government leaders as one of thanksgiving the Public Finance the key issues that need to be ceremony in Management Act provides addressed. Bukomansimbi that unspent balances by However, in response, district on government agencies and Oulanyah implored the Friday. Photo local governments must be district leaders to consider by Dismus returned to the Consolidated pushing for the amendment Buregyeya Fund at the end of each of the Local Government Act financial year. and the appointment of a However, speaking during district commissioner to be the launch of the local the link between Parliament Mao endorses Nanyondo government parliamentary and the local government. forum at Hotel Africana Pledging Parliament’s in Kampala on Friday, support for better Oulanyah said the Act needs remuneration of district to be reviewed to enable leaders, Oulanyah told the local governments to use the leaders that Parliament can for Bukomansimbi 2021 money in the subsequent only push for proposals financial year. brought to its attention by “If the districts have members of the public and Dismus Buregyeya hails from; it gives us special Bukomansimbi MP, Deogratious committed the money to the Government without “I will remain memories,” he said. Kiyingi (DP), criticised some activities, it should be necessarily acting as a The Democratic Party (DP) Mao, who contributed 50 Opposition parties for their retained. It is improper for pressure group. president, , has loyal to my bags of cement towards the endless talk against President the districts to budget for the declared the Bukomansimbi Nanyondo Health Centre Museveni, saying they should same activities whose budget Education for councillors District Woman MP, Veronica president Mao.” construction project in instead focus on strengthening was approved in the previous During the meeting organised Nanyondo, as the 2021 Bukomansimbi, said time had their own leaders and parties. budgets,” Oulanyah said by Action for Development, parliamentary election DP flag- come for DP to oust the NRM Kiyingi was responding to amidst applause by the local the officials also proposed that bearer for the district. MP Kiyingi party regime. fellow DP leaders who launched government leaders. the Local Government Act be “I took the initiative to “It is high time DP comes at the a hate campaign against his During the launch, which amended to lift the academic persuade Nanyondo to step forefront in the 2021 elections. wife, Florence Kiyingi. Kiyingi, was attended by district requirements for district in for her sister, the late Susan her another opportunity to serve The party has suffered many who also pledged to construct chairpersons and MPs, local leaders to at least an O’level Namaganda. Other people her own term of office,” he said. wounds in almost every struggle a maternity ward at the health government leaders appealed certificate. were interested in the seat, but However, the ceremony was to liberate the nation, including centre, said the politics of to Parliament to amend the The officials said some of we found it wise to stick to earlier used as a platform to the National Resistance Army lamenting does not work Act to allow them retain the the undertakings at the local Nanyondo and she has not let decampaign the state minister armed struggle,” he said. anymore. unspent balances to finance government level are very us down. She will be back as the for youth, Florence Nakiwala He said party insiders who He said he will stick to his district activities. technical, requiring a higher DP flag-bearer in 2021 and we Kiyingi with the DP leaders are trying to destabilise his party and not be moved by Over the years, the local level of understanding. shall give her our full support,” calling for disciplinary action leadership are weak. his wife’s decision to serve government has returned Meanwhile, the local he said. against her for leaning towards “I do not feel the pressure from as a minister under President billions of money to the government officials and Mao, who was the chief President those trying to bring me down. Museveni. Consolidated Fund, but members of the civil society guest during Nanyondo’s and the National Resistance They are like grasshoppers “Even if they took my blanket, I it is never returned to the movement expressed thanksgiving ceremony at Movement (NRM) Government. trying to hit at an elephant, they will remain loyal to my President districts to fund their pending optimism that the local Kyabagoma village, Kibinge Mao said DP has keen interest are not my level,” he said. Mao. I will not abandon my activities. government parliamentary sub-county in Bukomansimbi in Bukomansimbi because of its Flanked by the party vice- party. I will die in DP, I did At the launch, George forum will promote regular district on Friday, said history with the party founder, president, Mukasa Mbidde, not join politics for commercial Mutabazi, the chairperson of interfacing between Nanyondo deserves another Benedicto Kiwanuka. Mao asked DP supporters not gains,” he said. the Uganda Local Government local governments, civil chance to serve the people of “We do not want to take the to lose hope, saying he is still The Bukomansimbi North MP, Association, commended society and the relevant Bukomansimbi. politics of Bukomansimbu energetic and strong at 50 years. Ruth Katushabe (NRM), asked the MPs for starting the local committees of Parliament, “The other time she contested lightly. DP has a strong He urged DP supporters to be DP to emulate the NRM party. government parliamentary towards sustainable local as a substitute after the death of attachment here because it is embracing and tolerant. She said the party members are forum, saying it will bridge development. Namaganda. Now we are giving where Benedicto Kiwanuka Meanwhile, the loyal to President Museveni.