BAHATI: No budget for elections in new districts

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The government does not have a budget to facilitate the election of leaders in the six newly created districts, according to State Minister for Planning David Bahati.

The affected districts are Nabilatuk, Kapelebyong, Bugweri, Kwania, Kassanda and Kikuube, which all became operational in July last year.

Bahati told parliament that although they had planned for elections as soon as the districts became operational, the processes were constrained by lack of finances. The government requires up to 2.4 billion Shillings to conduct elections in the new districts.

Bahati was presenting a statement to explain the delays in the election of leaders for the new districts. He said that the districts will have to wait much longer before electing their substantive leaders and requested parliament for an additional three months to provide a way forward.

However, MPs put him to task to explain why the government continues to create districts which cannot be financed. Kasese Woman MP Winnie Kiiza observed that district elections are not catered for in the budget framework paper which was recently adopted by parliament. This implies that the same issue shall rise in the next financial year

Arua Municipality MP Kassiano Wadri says that the creation of districts, which initially was intended to bring services closer to the people, has now turned out to be a source of deprivation. He says that it is unfair that the government has not budgeted for the elections in the next financial year.

However, Bahati stated that although the constitution says the election should be held in 60 days at the creation of a vacancy, the same constitution provides no ways of funding the process.

Recently, National Resistance Movement candidates intending to contest for positions in the district petitioned Parliament demanding for elections.

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