The Rubanda District LC5 Chairman, Stephen Ampeire Kasyaba, has urged the government to decentralize road maintenance and emergency response funds to enable local governments to act faster in addressing community needs.
Speaking at the Local Government Budget Consultative Workshop for FY 2026/27 held at Agaba Center in Kabale Municipality on Thursday, Kasyaba expressed concern over delays in emergency funding, particularly for natural disasters such as floods and landslides.
He questioned why emergency funds remain centralized under the Office of the Prime Minister, instead of being allocated to departments like Natural Resources to allow for quicker response.
On road maintenance, Kasyaba criticized the government for keeping highway funds under the Ministry of Works. He highlighted the Kisoro–Rukungiri road, which frequently becomes blocked by stones and mud, leaving communities isolated for months while waiting for intervention from the center.
CUE IN KASYABA……ON EMERGENCY FUNDS……ENG//
Reacting to the budget allocations, Kasyaba noted that government-created town councils lack road funds, leaving new administrative units stranded. He said five of the seven town councils under his jurisdiction have no allocation for road maintenance.
He also pointed out that road construction and maintenance costs in mountainous regions such as Kigezi, Elgon, and Kapchorwa are significantly higher than in flatter areas like Lango, yet all local governments receive the same Shs1 billion.
He called on the Ministry of Works to conduct a region-specific assessment and allocate funds based on actual needs.
CUE IN KASYABA……ON THE MATTER…..ENG//
Kisoro District LC5 Chairman, Abel Bizimana, welcomed the government’s recent move to bring the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) under the Ministry of Works but challenged the ministry to decentralize some of its functions.
He said empowering districts with funds and capacity to respond quickly to blocked roads and disasters would save lives and reduce economic losses in this disaster-prone region.
CUE IN BIZIMANA…….ON THE ISSUE…..RR/ENG//
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