Sembabule District leaders have ignored the directive from the Local Government Minister, barring the creation of new administrative units in the area.
The Minister of Local Government Raphael Magyezi issued a circular to all District Chairpersons and Mayors last year, informing them of a suspension of the creation of new administrative units in villages, parishes, sub-counties, divisions, municipalities, and districts.
The Minister noted in the circular, that the suspension was derived from cabinet deliberations on how government can reduce public expenditures and instead use the resources committed to other productive sectors.
However, despite the guidance, the sub-county councils have created new administrative units, after they approved the splitting of the existing sub-counties and parishes.
The councils have considered motions to create two new sub-counties namely; Kasambya and Nankondo, three parishes of Nabiseke, Kakiika, and Buddebutakya, and 15 villages that were curved out of existing lower local government units in the area.
According to Stephen Akabwayi the Chairperson for Lwebitakuli Sub County which was split to create Nankondo Sub County, their decision was based on the demands of the local communities that wanted the areas to be split.
He argues that some of the villages in the sub-county are not fully covered in terms of service delivery due to the very huge land area, hence the need to split it and create new units to further decentralize service delivery.
Akabwayi adds that suspension for the creation of new units contradicts those principles of democracy that respect the views of the majority.
Elias Kasozi, the Sembabule District Council Speaker says that his office has already received minutes of councils of lower sub-counties where the new units have been created.
The matter has been referred to the social services committee before it is eventually considered by the entire district council.
He observes that the electorates through the representatives or groups have the right to demand the creation of new units if they perceive them as the solution to underlying inadequacies in the social service delivery in their areas.
However, Minister Raphael Magyezi insists that the guidance of his circular still stands.
