Rubanda District local government leaders and technical committee members have voiced their dissatisfaction with the increasing centralization of government grants and funds. The district leaders argue that this centralization limits their ability to prioritize and effectively utilize funds, as most government contributions come with strict conditions.
The concerns were raised during a Local Government Finance Commission outreach, as the 7th Commission members began their Kigezi Sub-Region tour with a visit to Rubanda District. The event took place at the district’s Rukiko Hall in Rubanda Town Council and was attended by the District Executive Committee (DEC) and the district Technical Planning Committee. The commission was led by Adam Babale, the Secretary of the Local Government Finance Commission, and Mariam Nalubega Patience, the Vice Chairperson.
Rubanda district leaders accused the central government of undermining decentralization by concentrating control over funds in the center, leaving local governments with little authority to make decisions. They argued that the assumption that local governments lack the capacity to manage their own affairs has led to the imposition of conditional grants, limiting their ability to address the district’s needs independently.
Dr. Abdon Birungi, Rubanda District Health Officer, stressed that local governments are often restricted by conditional grants from the central government, stating, “Conditioning means you do not trust the capacity for the other party to choose for themselves.” He added that such constraints have locked the minds of local officials, reducing their performance as they are forced to implement decisions made by the central government rather than addressing local priorities.
Dr. Birungi cited the example of Mpungu Health Center III in Hamurwa Sub-County, which remains under central control three years after its construction and elevation from a Health Center II to a Health Center III, as an illustration of how local projects suffer from centralization. “Projects and Services taken on by the Local Governments especially here in Rubanda are progressively well as compared to those by the central government.
Rubanda District Speaker, Mary Waguma, echoed similar concerns, particularly regarding revenue sharing from the district’s mineral resources and game parks. She highlighted that despite the district’s wealth in resources like iron ore, the central government handles revenue negotiations, leaving the district with little benefit.
In his remarks, Elly Mucunguzi, who represented the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) during the event, pointed out that local governments have little to no say in negotiating conditional grant guidelines. He urged the Ministry of Local Government to always engage district leaders in discussions about grant guidelines to ensure they are favorable for local development.
Adam Babale, the Local Government Finance Commission Secretary, explained that the outreach aimed to address fiscal decentralization, local economic development, and revenue enhancement. While acknowledging that the central government has assumed more control due to local governments’ failure to comply with certain standards, Babale emphasized the need for capacity building at the local level rather than further centralization.
The Commission’s three-day outreach in the Kigezi Sub-Region will also include visits to Rukiga District and Kabale Municipality. In Rubanda, the commission concluded its outreach with courtesy visits to Mpungu Health Center III, Bukombe Primary School, and Bubaare Primary School to assess their performance.
ENDS///
