Local government leaders have called on the government to address disparities in remuneration and chronic underfunding of local governments, arguing that corruption and inefficiency cannot be effectively tackled without empowering leaders and technical staff. Ahmed Nyombi Mukiibi, the Chairperson of Kalungu District, said the fight against corruption and inefficiency in local governments remains an uphill task due to structural challenges that continue to demoralize both elected leaders and civil servants.
According to Nyombi, efforts to eliminate corruption should begin within local governments themselves, but this requires adequate facilitation and support from the central government. “This fight should begin from the local governments themselves, such that everybody there can hold each other accountable. While everybody condemns corruption, people often find excuses to engage in it because of the underlying factors that sustain it,” Nyombi said.
He warned that the fight against corruption and inefficiency, major obstacles to effective service delivery, will remain difficult unless local government leaders are adequately empowered to perform their supervisory responsibilities.
Michael Mulindwa Nakumusana, the outgoing Chairperson of Nyendo-Mukungwe Division in Masaka City, also called for the harmonisation of remuneration for political leaders and civil servants, saying it would improve motivation and service delivery. He observed that local governments, which are at the frontline of delivering public services, continue to operate with inadequate resources and funding, leaving leaders overstretched and creating opportunities for corruption.
The leaders’ concerns come amid renewed efforts by the government to tackle corruption and inefficiency in public service. In his inaugural address last month, President Yoweri Museveni warned that his administration would not tolerate corrupt and inefficient public officials who frustrate government programmes intended to improve the livelihoods of Ugandans.
The President specifically highlighted local governments as areas where corruption and inefficiency remain prevalent and indicated that tougher measures would be taken against those responsible. However, Andrew Lukyamuzi Batemyetto, the former Chairperson of Masaka District, argued that many local governments will remain ineffective unless the government fully implements the decentralisation policy.
Batemyetto appealed to President Museveni to prioritise the empowerment of local governments, saying greater autonomy and adequate resources would strengthen accountability and improve service delivery. He noted that empowering local governments to perform their responsibilities effectively would revive the sense of responsibility and accountability at the grassroots level.
The leaders maintain that while punitive measures are important, the fight against corruption must also address systemic challenges such as poor remuneration, inadequate facilitation, and limited decentralisation if meaningful improvements in service delivery are to be realised-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
