By Unzimai Stephen

Moyo

West Nile Development Association (WENDA) chairperson Mr. Anyama Williams who is also Moyo district boss has raised concerns over unequal allocation of resources by members of parliament (MPs) at central government as a center for development at local governments’ level. He said the allocations does not favor local governments as a center of services delivery. 

Mr. Anyama made the comment during an engagement meeting with the parliamentary forum on food security and production group held recently at the district head quarter while on their fact finding mission in the district.

Mr. Anyama asked the forum for MPs to help them amplify their voices on the issues of equal resource allocations for local government. “We feel betrayed by own representatives in the parliament because they are not helping us enough on the issues of resource allocations despite the fact that they also come from local governments,” he added.

The team of the legislators under their umbrella parliamentary forum for food security and production group were in the district for facts finding about cases of teenage pregnancies.

Mr. Vuciri Geoffrey, the deputy chief Administrative officer for Moyo district also cited a similar challenge of collected revenue delaying from the central government which he said retards service delivery at local government level. “The local revenues collected at the district goes direct to the central government but many times they delay for about two to three months to re-send to local governments which paralyses development especially at lower local government. You are aware of  the small  local revenues collections  to run most of the activities of the local governments, even the 20% of the collected revenue which is for council operations is not enough to run council business,” Vuchiri added.

However, Mr. Wangolo Jacob, the Member of Parliament for Butaleja constituency blamed the allocation challenges on the change of system in decision making where much of it now lies in members of the executives. “The executives have supper power over the national budget on which parliament has little voice apart from appropriation issues which are minimally done by the parliament,” Mr. Wangolo argued. He cited an example of elevating the salary of the science teachers without consultation of the parliament.

COVER PHOTO: Members of the parliamentary forum with district officials in a group photo By Unzimai Stephen