Staff Reporter
On Tuesday, the Ntungamo District local government approved a budget of Ushs 76.134 billion, highlighting budgetary shortfalls as a significant obstacle to effective service delivery.
District Chairperson Mr. Samuel Mucunguzi Rwakigoba pointed out that despite the increasing budget figures, declining local revenue collection was hampering the performance of key local sectors. Much of the funding from the central government was allocated to specific activities, limiting flexibility.
The central government was expected to contribute Ushs 82.463 billion, but by the third quarter, only Ushs 65.755 billion had been received, representing 75.3% of the expected amount. Additionally, the district did not receive development grants in the first quarter or the road fund in the second quarter, which Mr. Mucunguzi identified as a significant setback.
As a result, the budget expectation was revised downwards from Ushs 85.653 billion to Ushs 76.134 billion, reflecting anticipated shortfalls and indicative planning figures from the Ministry of Finance.
The council also approved a revenue enhancement plan, including a charging policy for various market commodities. However, they expressed concern over the declining service delivery performance despite the budget’s growth over the years.
The council prioritized the construction of classroom infrastructure, rehabilitation of roads, market development, salaries of civil servants, health infrastructure, and staff recruitment.
