By KT Reporter
New administrative units in Pader District are struggling with severe funding shortages, undermining service delivery.
The LCIII Chairperson of Pukor Sub-County, Richard Ojwini, criticized the establishment of these units as politically motivated without considering their financial sustainability. He highlighted issues such as reduced funding for critical grants like the Discretionary Development Equalization Grant (DDEG) and non-wage grants, as well as reliance on acting staff for key positions.
“We lack resources and autonomy over locally raised revenue, leaving us unable to implement community projects or even maintain roads,” Ojwini said.
Phillip Adonga, the councillor for Tenam Sub County said that some of the new administrative units face eviction from their rented office spaces due to unpaid rent. “The startup funding of 30 million Shillings for each unit is not enough to sustain operations or secure permanent structures,” Adonga said.
The LCIII Chairperson of Pajule Sub-County, Alfonse Omona Lokilamoi, expressed frustration over delays in revenue remittance through the Integrated Revenue Administration System (IRAS), which has further hindered their work. “We used to receive over UGX 100 million under the DDEG. Now, the funding is negligible,” Lokilamoi said, urging area MPs to push for better funding.
Pader Chief Administrative Officer, Michael Wanje Michael, revealed that due to understaffing, some staff members are forced to work across multiple sub-counties, which stretches their capacity and affects service delivery.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabanja recently pledged to address these financial challenges after complaints from district leaders.
However, President Yoweri Museveni ruled out the creation of additional administrative units, citing financial constraints and emphasizing that resources should focus on wealth creation.
Pader District, with its 23 administrative units—11 of which are newly created—has struggled to meet basic operational needs-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
