By Johnson Kanyesige
District, city and Municipal leaders in the Midwestern region have asked the central government to increase funds for the road sector. They note that the 1 billion Shillings that is allocated to local governments for road maintenance is inadequate.
According to the leaders, districts, cities, and municipalities have failed to rehabilitate and open more roads due to the limited funding being allocated to the road sector.
The leaders who are attending a two-day local government budget consultative engagement organised by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development at Hoima Resort Hotel in Hoima City noted that most roads in the region are in a very poor state, hindering accessibility to various social services such as hospitals.
Richard Rwabuhinga, the LCV Chairperson for Kabarole district, stated that the shillings 1 billion allocated for road maintenance, especially among districts with a large road network, is not sufficient, given that coverage of the road network is not the same and uniform.
He demands that more funding be allocated to the road sector to enable local governments to rehabilitate and open up more roads.
Yosia Ndibwami, the Kagadi LCV Chairperson, explains that some districts have wider road coverage networks, urging the central government to ensure that the allocation formulae take into consideration the number of kilometres of road network in the local governments and terrain to ensure equity.
Godfrey Kasanga Muwonge, the Kibaale LCV Chairperson, notes that the meagre road funding has hindered rehabilitation processes as well as the opening of new roads, which would boost agriculture and access to other social services.
He has appealed to the ministries of finance, Works and local government to ensure that more funding is allocated to the road sector.
Cosmas Byaurhanga, the Masindi LCV Chairperson, states that, with heavy trucks plying some of the district the roads, the condition of roads has worsened, noting that there is a need for improved funding in the road sector so that the roads are maintained to avoid being damaged more.
According to Byaruhanga, the funds allocated are inadequate to create any impact on the roads, considering the topography factors of the various districts.
Eric Odongo, an economist with the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), explains that allocation of more funds to the road sector is crucial to enable local governments to fully execute their mandate and offer sufficient service delivery.
Odongo further explains that other sectors, including health and education, are still doing badly in the country, noting that the government should provide more funding to improve the quality of services being undertaken and consumed by the public in these sectors.
John Muheirwoha, the commissioner for Budget policy in the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, admits that the money availed by the government for the road sector is not sufficient, but tasked the district, municipal and city leaders to ensure that the funds are put to better use and give full accountability of the money to the public.
According to Muheirwoha, the Ministry of Finance organised the engagement to sensitise the local governments on the issues that the ministry needs to capture in the budget strategy for the next financial year, specifically, alignment of the local government plans.
This he says, will enable the ministry and the government to take the right direction and decision while planning for the nation in order to offer appropriate service delivery.
