Africa-Press – Uganda. The Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA) and the Urban Authorities’ Association of Uganda (UAAU) have petitioned Parliament, warning of a deepening service delivery crisis and calling for urgent reforms to restore efficiency, accountability, and community development.
The petition, signed by ULGA President Andrew Awany Moses, who also chairs Kole District, was formally presented to Parliament by Buyanja East County MP Emely Kugonza during a plenary sitting chaired by Speaker Anita Among.
Kugonza said local governments are grappling with a cocktail of challenges, including inadequate orientation of elected leaders, poor remuneration, severe staffing shortages, lack of transport, neglected infrastructure, weak planning frameworks, revenue mismanagement, and uncertainty over electoral scheduling.
“Elected leaders in the 2021–2026 term have not undergone proper induction, leaving them ill-prepared for their duties. ULGA is urging Parliament to finance a structured onboarding programme with clear timelines and measurable impact,” Kugonza told legislators.
Low pay, weak oversightAmong the most urgent issues raised is poor pay for local government leaders. District LC5 Chairpersons and Mayors currently earn Shs2.38 million, Vice Chairpersons Shs1.19 million, District Speakers Shs724,000, while LC1 Chairpersons receive Shs10,000 a month. ULGA argues that such low salaries undermine supervision and motivation, weakening governance at the grassroots.
Transport was cited as another major challenge. Many leaders lack official vehicles to monitor projects or attend national meetings. ULGA is demanding vehicles for district, city, and municipal leaders, implemented through a transparent plan.
Severe staffing gaps, neglected infrastructureLocal governments are operating at just 30–60 percent of their staffing capacity, with newly created cities and administrative units hamstrung by wage ceilings. Critical vacancies in education, health, and public works remain unfilled, leaving services strained.
On infrastructure, ULGA and UAAU highlighted deteriorating road networks and inadequate equipment. They want graders, rollers, and tippers for cities and municipalities, and tractors for town councils to improve waste management. They also decried the lack of road maintenance funding for hundreds of new town councils and sub-counties created in 2017/18, saying the situation is crippling local economies.
Planning and financing gapTo strengthen planning, ULGA proposed creation of dedicated funds: Shs500 million for each district, Shs300 million for municipalities, Shs200 million for town councils, and Shs100 million for sub-counties.
Speaker Anita Among commended the petition, describing it as a timely expression of citizen participation. “These concerns require urgent attention under Rule 31,” she said, directing that the matter be prioritized.
Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, who previously served as ULGA Secretary, requested one day to prepare a comprehensive response, which is expected at the next sitting.
The petition is among the strongest collective appeals yet from Uganda’s local government leaders, who warn that without decisive intervention, the very institutions responsible for delivering essential services risk further collapse.
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