The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) has allocated 37 billion shillings to divisions in the 2019/20 financial budgeting process.
This is the first time that KCCA has created budget votes for the divisions since its creation in 2011. The division mayors have been lobbying for creation of budget votes for their areas as a process of implementing section 31 of KCCA 2010 Act which establishes the office of division town clerk.
According to the act, the town clerk is the accounting officer of the division urban council and is supposed to present the annual budget to the division urban council.
Kawempe Mayor, Emmanuel Sserunjogi who is the chairperson of Forum of Mayors says that what is happening is not real devolution but it’s a good starting point.
Nakawa Division has been allocated 10 billion shillings, Nakawa and Central 7 billion each, Makindye 8 billion and Rubaga Division 6 billion.
The Act specifies that 29 functions that KCCA is supposed to devolve to division urban councils.
They include; division council expenses, poverty eradication programmes, health and education inspection, road sweeping, repair of Murram roads among others.
Sserunjogi says they are happy with what has been provided to them this time around but will continue demanding for more funds and creation of accounts for divisions. He says it’s a great relief for divisions because previously, whatever money they received was at the discretion of the Executive Director.
“At least, this time around, we can budget unlike previously when we were sending our wish list to the executive director’s office. We can budget and says this is what our people want and do it,” Sserunjogi said.
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