Public Accounts Committee hands over 2016/17 FY report to Museveni

The President made the remarks yesterday at State House, Entebbe while receiving the report from the Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Okumu Ronald Reagan, who is also Aswa County MP in Gulu District.

Public Accounts Committee hands over 2016/17 FY report to Museveni
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The Parliamentary Committee on Public Accounts on Local Government has been praised by President Yoweri Museveni for its well and elaborate researched findings on the Accounting Officers of District Local Governments and Municipal Councils countrywide on the irregularities of service delivery to the public.

The President made the remarks yesterday at State House, Entebbe while receiving the report from the Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Okumu Ronald Reagan, who is also Aswa County MP in Gulu District.

The Committee made its findings during the execution of its mandate while considering the Auditor Generals Report for the 2016/2017 Financial Year. The Committee says that a number of recurring issues have continued to hinder service delivery in Local Governments for which the Committee has sought proposals and practical solutions as a way forward regarding issues in service delivery irregularities. 

The committee areas of concern were related  to the dwindling portion of the national  budget allocated  to local governments, sources of revenue for local governments and the impact of creating  town Councils in the viability  of some districts, non performing accounting officers, theft through electronic money transfers from the ministry of finance,  planning and economic development to some local governments as cited in the  districts of Kiruhura and Apac, central  government ministries setting standards for service delivery  in local governments to achieve the  set standards like some ministries  have set  an example namely the ministries  of Education and Sports, health, water among others. 

The meeting was attended by First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni and the Minister of education and Sports, the Minister of Finance,planning and economic development  Matia Kasaija , the Minister of Local government Tom Butime, various government  permanent secretaries among others. 

On receiving report,  president Museveni called upon the leaders to emulate  the NRA/NRM doctrine of prioritizing on scarce resources  and  manpower as the  government  has managed to build the infrastructure of roads,  electricity, education and health sectors,  defense  among others. "You people, you should be able to listen and learn the experience of NRM.  Its an illusion to be everywhere to do everything at ago without prioritization” he said. 

He urged  Ugandans  to emphasize  the issue  of managing  scarce resources,  economizing  manpower, to ensure  the little resources are not stolen and encourage  tax points on the  population through  consumer taxes not local governments  to tax the poor population. 

On projects planning and construction, the President appealed to parliament to support him on comparable salary increment for scientists like in other countries. "Somebody who can do a good job should be paid well. Focus on this crucial point is needed” he said. 

The President also concurred with committee recommendation that the local governments policy decentralization of 1993 should be amended. 

The Minister of local government Tom Butime and his finance, planning and economic development counterpart Matia Kasaija concurrently agreed on enforcement on accountability for improved service delivery by both ministries. 

In the  report,  the chairperson of the committee  Okumu Ronald Reagan said, " the issues  to do with accountability  and auditing  for public  funds should  not be mixed up with politics." The Committee looks forward to have a workable solution to the irregularities of public funds in local governments.
 

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