Government needs 26.8 billion shillings to operationalise 23 new districts by 2016, according to Local Government Minister Adolf Mwesige.
While appearing before Parliament on Tuesday, Mwesige said the money will ensure that districts function at a minimum level. The Minister defended the figure saying it was established by the Local Government Finance Commission as a level that will mitigate negative impact on service delivery arising from the creation of new districts.
In the 2012/2013 financial year government will spend 2.2 billion shillings for Kagadi and Kakumiro districts both curved out of Kibaale District. This means that for every district to operate minimally it would require that government provides approximately one billion shillings.
Article 179 of the constitution empowers parliament to alter boundaries of districts and create new ones. The article stipulates that any measure for the alteration of or the creation of district or administrative units shall be based on the necessity for the effective administration and need to bring services closer to the people. The changes may take into account the means of communication, geographical features, the population density in the district, economic viability of the proposed district and the wish of the people concerned.
Government last week tabled a proposal creating 23 new districts by 2016. The proposal is now at the committee level for scrutiny.
But legislators on the Public Service and Local Government are questioning the hurried manner in which government seems to be creating the new districts.
The MPs are instead proposing that government strengthens administration in the existing districts as opposed to creating new ones. Christine Abia, Arua Woman MP, Stephen Mukitale the Buliisa MP and Stephen Tashobya for Kajara County questioned the criteria of creating new districts. They did not see why government is creating new districts while the old ones are still limping. Abia observed that some district councils have failed to conduct meetings for lack of funds.
Betty Nambooze, Mukono Municipality MP, cited regional imbalance in the creation of new districts. She observed that Western Region has 12 new districts while central has three. East and Northern Uganda each got 5 new districts.
The committee Deputy Chairperson, Raphael Magyezi demanded for a report on financing of new districts following a study conducted by the Ministry of Local Government. The committee also wants an outline of the revenue generated from the areas where government has created new districts.
For Electoral Commission to establish its offices in the new districts it would require that government tables a supplementary budget of about 15.2 billion shillings. According to Sam Rwakojo, the Electoral Commission Secretary, the biggest part of the money would be used to conduct elections for District Women MPs, district chairpersons and councilors resulting to an 8.8 billion shillings extra amount spent by the taxpayer.
