Local Government devolution remains a mere paper work in Uganda.

The government disseminated a new constitution in 1995 with the
provision on decentralization of Article 176 2 (b) that acted shortly
before the rebirth of the local government act in 1997. Devolution as
a form of decentralization transferred both political and
administrative powers from the center to lower local councils
specially to handle the responsibility of service delivery.

According to Hon. Raphael Magyezi, the Chairman Parliamentary
Committee on Local Government, devolution allows local governments to
plan for their people and decide on what is best for the needs of the
people in their area but their autonomy has been undermined by the
inadequate local revenue to finance service delivery and meet their
budget expectations as demanded by their people.

Magyezi who spoke to our reporter from Kampala says that much
as decentralization has increased the capacity of local governments to
plan and budget for their local development, about 9% of the budget is
still funded by the central government as grants. He says the grants
are mostly conditional which restrict the money to particular uses and
may not address the needs of the people in a district or an area.

Amid delays to release the funds and return of unexpended funds to the
treasury for various reasons, local governments continue to struggle
with about 5% of local revenue generated to meet the huge demands of
the local people.

Magyezi suggests that there is need to devolve tax sources to enhance
the tax base of local governments so that they are able to finance a
bigger percentage of their budget to avoid dependence on money that
comes from the central government with strings attached.

He says as long as tax sources like transit tax, tourism, among others
continue to go to the central government, the local government
autonomy will remain a paper work since finance is a major area for
decisions in local government operations and administration.

In Gulu district, the Chairman LCV, Ojara Martin Mapenduzi says that
unless money is released from the central government into the district
account, most times their activities at the district is affected which
affects service delivery to the local people. He adds that the local
government revenue base is still narrow at the district level which is
inadequate to meet the huge service demand of the people.

In 2014, local government officials under their umbrella organisation,
Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA), asked the central
government to cede more powers to them Under decentralization. They
claimed that since decisions on their operations and financing are
made at the local government ministry, they are left with little power
especially in relation to raising revenue.

The commissioner for Local Councils Development however says the
councils just need to invoke the powers they already have to execute
their plans and also seek alternative revenue sources.

30 man pressure group formed in Gulu

By

Irene Abalo Otto

Gulu

Civil Society Organizations have formed a 30 man task pressure group
to sensitize and advocate for a change in Gender Based Violence and
Land Wrangles in Gulu district. The Group comprises of NGOs already
working in Gulu district like Gulu Women Economic Development and
Globalisation, GWED-G, Action Aid, representatives from the district,
teachers, health workers among others.

Noreen Nampewo, the program coordinator at Centre for Women In
Governance an NGO advocating for peace and security of Women in the
five districts of Gulu, Dokolo, Bushenyi, Lira and Kasese said the
pressure group is to advocate and localize the national action Plan on
Gender based violence and sensitize the community on the peaceful
mitigation of land conflicts.

Centre for Women in Governance is an advocacy network that is
localizing the 1325 UN resolution on women’s rights to peace and
security that the Uganda ascribes to and has a coalition of 35 Members
including Gulu.

While talking to our reporter from the Gulu district council hall
today, Nampewo says the 30 form the Gulu cluster that is tasked with
reaching the community to advocate on peace and security of women and
link them to the policy makers.

“The silence of the guns in Northern Uganda does not mean that there
is peace. We believe that there are already documents that can be
localized to create peace in our communities that are suffering from
the post war drama and many other issues among them.” Says the CEWIGO
Coordinator.

Olyel Olanya Christine, the newly elected chairperson of the pressure
group said under CEWIGO, their work will be to sensitize the community
and advocate for implementations of policies that address the needs of
the people on the community especially on Gender Based Violence and
Land Wrangles.

“There are organizations already doing this but we want to focus on
specific activities with the community to track progress. We want to
handle Gender based violence from the aspect of school drop outs and
Land wrangles from the aspect of access to and ownership of land.”
Says the chairperson elect.

She says the district has the GBV ordinance that is still before the
attorney General for scrutiny but when the document comes out for
public use, it will be helpful in advocacy.

Betty Joyce Omony, the Chairperson Laroo Local Council Court says that
the formation of the Pressure group will help to reduce cases
conflicts in access and ownership of land and GBV among the community.

In 2000, the United Nations Security Council formally acknowledged
through the creation of Resolution 1325 the changing nature of
warfare, in which civilians are increasingly targeted, and women
continue to be excluded from participation in peace processes. UNSCR
1325 addresses not only the inordinate impact of war on women, but
also the pivotal role women should and do play in conflict management,
conflict resolution, and sustainable peace.

Opposition leaders concede defeat in the Omoro elections.

A section of leaders from the opposition have conceded defeat and attributed the failure by their parties to win the Monday Parliamentary and LCV positions due to disorganizations within the opposition parties that saw 10 candidates competing to the woman member of parliament and five men in the LCV race.

Gilbert Olanya, the Kilak South MP say that the elections were free and fair and congratulated the candidates who won the elections.

They are, Catherine Lamwaka for the Woman MP Position and Douglas peter Okello for the Chairman LCV of the new Omoro district.

Gilbert Olanya says that the opposition candidates lost because of being divided along party lines and not speaking the same voice for their candidates. He also attributes the loss to internal wrangles within parties that deviated interests of members from fighting for a common cause.

“I really feel the opposition were totally disorganized. DP headed by Mao had a candidate. FDC who lost in the primary election also got nominated. If the opposition had fronted a single candidate against NRM we would have taken the positions. We lost because we were very disorganised as the opposition and this should be a lesson. ” Says the Kilak South MP.

Patrick Okello Oryema, the Nwoya Chairman LCV says that as the opposition in FDC party, they concede defeat because the elections were free and fair.

He adds that the people of Omoro have decided and their voice should be respected.

” We want to concede defeat, the opposition lost but i want to say the people of Omoro have spoken their minds. In the history of Acholi elections, this has been the most contested election where almost all parties had their candidates. To me the election was free and fair. Congratulations to those who won.”

Denis Kamuchene, the DPC of Omoro district confirmed to our reporter on phone that the elections were peaceful with no major incidences and the situation is calm and normal in the district.

“The situation is calm and peaceful and we never had any major incidences.”

The five new districts that voted on Monday this week were Omoro, Rubanda, Kibaale, Kagadi and Kakumiro that combined have 49 sub counties.

FDC president calls for peace to ensure prosperity.

By

Irene Abalo

Gulu

The FDC party president Gen Mugisha Muntu has urged Ugandans to fight for justice as the only way to attain peace in the Country.

While in an interview with our reporter from Pearl Afrique Hotel in Gulu town on Friday with our reporter, Muntu says that unless the people of Uganda demand for justice for any impunity committed on them by government or security agencies, they shall be deprived of the peace that they ought to enjoy as citizens of Uganda.

Muntu adds that for people to prosper they must have peace at individual levels as well in what they do.

According to Muntu, the brutality that is being experienced in the country is as a result of unresolved conflict and trauma among the people.

He condemned the shouting of the Gulu University Lecturer, Okidi Isaiah who was shot dead by a security guard near DFCU bank in Gulu town.

Muntu says peace of citizens should be seen in the way the security agencies and government security institutions endeavor to protect its people.

Lamwaka celebrates victory as FDC Alanyo plans for political career after losing in Omoro polls.

By

Irene Abalo Otto

Gulu

Omoro Woman MP elect Catherine Lamwaka has urged the women never to give up in any struggle until they succeed.

The visibly excited Lamwaka was giving her victory speech after winning the Omoro Woman Member of Parliament seat.

She contends that after losing in the February woman Member of Parliament Election she learnt a lesson to build on her strengths to be able to serve the people of Omoro better. She says her victory is a sign that once a leader losses and election, it does not mean they should fold back but continue to struggle for their people.

Lamwaka says that her areas of focus as the Woman Member of parliament will be on Health, education and poverty eradication for the women to live a better life.

Oyat Chagga Wilson, the FDC secretary General for Gulu and Omoro agrees that the opposition parties were disorganized and that contributed to them losing in the Omoro elections yesterday.

Cue in……………….Oyat Chaggo on losing the Omoro elections…………..

Meanwhile Prossy Alanyo Owiny, the FDC party flag bearer in the Omoro Woman Member of Parliamamt race who lost to Catherine Lamwaka has told journalists today at a press conference from NUMEC that losing does not mean the end of the raod in her leadership career.

Cue In ……………….Alanyo Prossy Owiny on losing Omoro elections………………………..

Ten candidates contested for the Woman Member of Parliament position in the new Omoro district.

Appa Shooting victims receive oxen from area MP.

By

Irene Abalo Otto

Two victims of the September 7th 2015 random shooting by Uganda police and the UPDF last month received 5 million shillings each to help them have a means of livelihoods.

Anthony Akol, the Kilak South Member of parliament in Amuru district handed the money to the two amputees and asked them to use the money to buy an ox and ox plough each so that they can make more money through hiring to other farmers in their village.

“I am buying for them the oxen and ox ploughs so that they can begin to earn money from it and also use it to plant their own crops. I shared with them and this is more sustainable than giving them cash for other ventures.”

Akol told our reporter from his home in Lyibi division that he saw a great need to contribute to the wellbeing of the two youth who lost their hands during the scuffle at the ApaaAdjumani demarcation last year.

He says the two are among the over 83 people who got injured and some are still nursing their wounds in the villages without help from the government that was supposed to protect them from being hurt.

“These are Ugandans living in Apaa, Amuru district which is also part of Uganda. The government should have protected them instead of using the armed force against them. I am coming in to help them because I see the pain that they are going through yet the government that inflicted pain upon their lives is not bothering,’ says the Kilak South Member of Parliament.

Felix Opiyo, a 27 year old victim who lost his right hand in the Apaa shooting victims says that from the day he was wounded, he has been living in both physical and psychological pain because he can no longer dig to make ends meet for his widowed mother and siblings.

“They came and attacked us brutally in our ancestral home. I uses to dig. Now I cannot dig to pay my school fees to finish compass. I cannot even bath my own body. I have problems with my lung and other sickness that I never had before yet I have sought for justice from government entities in vain.” Say Opiyo.

At the time of the shooting, Felix was already in his second year at Gulu University pursuing Bachelor of Business Administration paying his own tuition and that of his other siblings through proceeds from his farming activities.

He adds that they feel the government of Uganda will not help them because their case with Uganda Human Rights commission is dragging on without signs of success.

Christine Ayet, 48 years, the mother of Felix Opiyo says that being a widow, her first born son had become a husband to her because he was the one fending for the family. She urged the government and other able NGOs to provide support to her son and if possible marry for him a wife so that she is relieved from bathing him like a child on a daily basis, a duty she says is uncomfortable.

“My first born son was already at the University yet he fended for the family through farming in the village. Now he cannot dig because his hand was amputated after the bullet wounds damaged it. Their father was killed during the war and I have no one to help me now. He was like my husband but see what they have done to him,” Ayet narrates while in tears referring to Uganda Police and the UPDF.

Jacob Okumu, another 26 year old victim whose left hand was also amputated because of the bullet wounds from the Apaa shooting told our reporter his three wives left him with four children the moment he got wounded.

Okumu says that since he is a peasant, his wives rendered him useless because he can no longer dig to fend for the family. He adds that his major personal challenge is bathing since he does not have anyone to help him apart from his father.

The Appa shooting Incident that happened when residents protested the boundary demarcation of Adumani and Amuru on 7th September 2015 that left 83 people wounded and 11 are still missing to date.

However, Patrick Jimmy Okema, the Asqwa Region Police Spokesperson says that the police has no issue to answer concerning the amputated youth.

“We came out clearly after the Apaa incident that no body was shot at. But those who got hurt were those who picked the tear gas canisters, it exploded on them. It is unfortunate that they lost their hands.” Says the Police PRO.

The Apaa operation by the police during the Boundary demarcation was allegedly ordered for by the IGP, Gen Kale Kaiyura.