Minister Raphael Magyezi Calls For Review Of Decentralization Policy

Posted by: Eninu William in Uganda news January 18, 2023

The Minister for Local Government, Raphael Magyezi has called for an urgent review of Uganda’s decentralization policy which was implemented in 1992.

The government introduced this policy that empowered lower governments to manage public affairs on behalf of the central government. This is in a bid to speed up development and service delivery. According to Magyezi, the policy review is long overdue.

“We evolved and gave powers to local governments; how are they feeling? Is it delivering services as we expected in the Constitution? So we need a review of the decentralization policy,” Magyezi said.

He said on Tuesday, 17 January 2023 while presenting the Budget Framework Paper for 2023/2024 for the local government sector before the Committee on Public Service and Local Government.

Magyezi said it is prudent that about Shs3 billion is provided this new financial year. This is to allow the government to conduct a national review of the decentralization system of governance.

Legislators on the committee backed the need for an urgent review of this policy. this is based on complaints of inefficacies in service delivery, central government interference on complaints of inefficacies in service delivery, interference of central government, and limited access to local revenues.

“I think we erred in allowing the government to pay emoluments for local government officials. This is because ‘he who pays the piper calls the tune’. If local governments who collect the revenue would be allowed to use the revenue to pay their officials, then we would not be having such scenarios [of low salaries],” Isaac Modoi, Lutseshe County MP said.

Aswa County MP, Simon Peter Wokorach said the goals and objectives of decentralization are being stifled by poor management of local revenues. This has to be remitted to the central government before it is returned for expenditure.

“By the time this amount of money returns to the local governments, the expenditure period is almost over. So I am with the minister that for us to allow decentralization to realize its objectives. Let us avail this Shs3bn to review the policy,” Wokorach said.

Source: The Independent.

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