Kasese District donates Shs. 500 million to middlemen in Mawa Market

Kasese District Civil Society Organizations, supported by the European Union adopted the RWECO- Kasese District Budget Analysis 2012 as a position paper  that was presented to the Kasese District budget Conference held on Friday 21, December 2012 at Diocese of Kasese, SSD-Hall, Kasese Municipality.  A presentation was made by Ms. Sheila K, a staff from RWECO with the support  of the four Civil Society supported by European Union:  FURA, Rwenzori Peace Bridge, KADNET and Red Cross on locating the vulnerable in Kasese district Budget and Plan as discussed on 19/12/2012 during a round table meeting. The chair of the session was the Chairperson LC V, Kasese district, Lt Col (Rtd) Dula Mawa Muhindo

(File Photo) Lt.Col. (Rtd) Dula Mawa Muhindo, Kasese District LCV Chairperson

Reaction from the District Leaders all started with a phrase thank you for opening our eyes and the budget analysis was used as a reference for prioritizing activities for the financial year 2013/2014. Councilors used the information in the budget analysis to advocate for  among others:

i)                     budget allocation to the water sector that was under funded,

Business in Mawa Market, Kasese Municipality: Matooke is mainly imported from neighboring districts

ii)                  Distribution of water according to the zoning,

iii)                Specific mention and consideration for the vulnerable in the NAADs

iv)                Improved production in agriculture by adding value to agriculture through modern technologies.

One counselor asked “Why does Kasese donate  money by buying Matooke after learning that annually over Ugx. 0.5bn  as given in the  Mawa market case in the Budget Analysis.  The chairperson LC5 was concerned about the need to increase local revenue in the district so as to become self reliant instead of depending on central government transfer. It was agreed that the technical planning committees should involve the CSOs in the planning as well as consider their budget in planning. Another gratifying experience was the Education Department that has  acknowledged RWECO as development partner in the district and allocated it a revenue projection of UGX 1000/=. This was interesting as most departments only recognized the international donors. The findings by the monitors were reacted on by the counselors referring to our report like Karusandara Health centre that had no latrine

 Bravo to all the members of the CSO for the support as well as positioning ourselves well.  See details: http://www.kasese.go.ug/administration/index.htm , http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rweco&oq=rweco&gs_l=youtube.12...0.0.0.1299.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0...0.0...1ac. , 

In summary the Kasese district Budget Analysis revealed the following:

•      Locally raised revenue is only 1.95% of the total budget of Ugx. 41,683,630.

•      Donor funding takes only 12.3%

•      Local development grant is only 2.8%

•      Government transfers is only 82.9%

•      This indicates a high dependency on government transfers.

•      There is need to explore other local revenue sources – such as the informal sector (e.g Artisans)

•      Education takes 48.2% of the total Kasese District budget  while Kamwenge is 37.2%, Kabarole 47%, National 17%

•      Health takes 9.9% (Kamwenge 9.07%, National 11%)

•      Water takes 0.17%

•      Production takes 8.1% (Kabarole 9%, National 5%)

Case of the Production Sector:

•      Total budget for production sector = 3,382,200,000/

•      Its takes only 8.1% of the total Kasese LG budget

•      NAADS = 79.2% of the production budget.

•      Let us pose a question; if the 79.2% will translate into improved productivity

•      By observation, at least more than 3 trucks bring in matooke to Mawa Market from outside Kasese district;

•      A bunch of matooke of 50Kg costs Ugx. 20,000=

•      Over 500 bunches are sold= 500 x 20,000 = 10,000,000 weekly x 4 x12 = 480,000,000million

•      This is what Kasese district residents donate to the middle men every year.

•      Yet we spend 79.2% of the production  budget on NAADs and still depend on imported matooke- where is the value for money spent?

•      This 480million  could have been revenue for Kasese district if we were able to produce our own food, however that is revenue for out side districts.

•      That means Kasese district can not produce enough for its own population

•      Window of hope, the district has redirected the NAADs priorities after realizing that Kasese district was food insecure.

•      From the records, the PWDs are reflected in the NAADs sector

•      Inclusive groups have not helped to bring out the plight of the vulnerable groups

•      Need to locate the vulnerable groups in the LG processes- PWDs, women, youths ( FY 2013/14)

•      Sensitizing staff to handle children with hearing/vision impairment- health workers

•      Inspire young girls/women to take up leadership positions ( only 61/365) by role models/senior civil servants

•      CBS take advantage of the NGOs/CBOs in the district to meet its sector objectives

•      NGOs/CBOs participate in the LG process right from the LCI- district level ( FY 2013/14)

•      During the planning process, district should take cognizant of the geographical zones- Highlands, low lands, pastoral and salt/lake areas

•      Water sector take affirmative action for PWDs by planning for water harvesting tanks

•      Need for affirmative action in the NAADs sector- PWDs

 

Merry Christmas To all.

Sheila K
RWECO