Uganda Police officers rolling a casket containing the body of Atat Cecillia Atim Ogwal at Dokolo Technical Institute during a joint council meeting. Photos by Sharon Akello
By Sharon Akello
Dokolo: Leaders in Lango Sub-region are concerned about the slow implementation of resolutions made during joint regional council meetings.
The concern comes at the heels of a joint council meeting held by local government councils from Lango sub region to eulogize the late Cecilia Atim Ogwal, who was the Woman Member of Parliament for Dokolo district.
During the joint council meeting at Dokolo Technical College, the councilors made several resolutions, including; providing financial support for the education trust fund initiated by Cecilia Ogwal to educate needy children, commitment to complete construction of roads, health facilities and tourist sites that she left unfinished.
Relatedly, when (Rtd) Col Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo the State Minister for Labor, Employment and Industrial relations was shot dead in May 2023 from Kampala, a joint regional council meeting was held at Boma Grounds in Oyam District, and 12 resolutions were made in his memory.
Amongst them included; tarmacking of Iceme to Oyam Town Council road, promoting the late to Lt. General, government to taking care of his family and children’s education.
Others were; upgrade of Anyeke Health Center IV to a general hospital, completion of projects started by the late, including the construction of Agoba vocational school and another in Apac district.
Emphasizing the concern
However, during the deliberations, Alex Opara, the councilor 3 of Abongomola sub-county in Kwania District wondered how the government is implementing these regional council resolutions often passed after a prominent leader dies.
Opara cited that during the joint council sitting held in Oyam in memory of the late Rtd Col. Charles Okello Engola, a number of resolutions were made but they are yet to see results.
He added that there are also no updated on the resolutions made in the regional council sitting held in Omoro District after the demise of the late Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah.
“For this matter I would like to request you honorable speaker, we do have the chairman of all the LCV chairpersons in Lango, let us know if such meetings we do attend are just for fun and no implementation is being done about it,” Opara said.
Several district leaders concurred with Opara, and asked government to give feedback on the matter, so that they don’t waste time making such resolutions in future.
Local gov’t expert weighs in
However, Walter Akena, a research officer with Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE) attributed the delayed implementations of regional council resolutions to lack of resources.
“When such a resolution is made, all that requires action by the central government should be communicated to the central government so that they are captured into the National budget and they are located,” Akena said.
Akena advised that resolutions that require actions by the respective local governments should be factored in the budget.
“Like right now we are midway the financial year 2023/24, meaning whatever resolutions that were made in that joint council meeting cannot be implemented, especially those that require resources,” he explained.
He said once resolutions aren’t communicated to the central government, then it becomes very difficult for them to act on it.
“…once such resolutions are made, they have to be clear on the responsibility center. Who will be responsible for implementing these resolutions,” he said.
Low local revenue collection a problem
Country wide, local governments are budget-constrained due to low local revenue bases.
Since 20% of the total collection is meant to facilitate six district council meetings, it becomes hard for a local government to directly fund projects whose initiators have passed on.
MP’s to work with districts
David Kennedy Odongo, the chairperson of Alebtong district, also the Chairperson of all district chairpersons in Lango Sub-region, said some of the resolutions from the joint council sitting have been implemented with support from Lango Parliamentary Group.
Odong cited that among the resolutions whose implementation is underway is the completion of Oyam district headquarters which construction was started by Mac-odwogo.
“I have to inform you now that Oyam District has got money and are now painting the structure,” said Odongo.
Odongo added that his suggestion to promote some army officers in Lango like Rtd. Col Tonny Otoa, to Brigadier General, has also been honored.
Judith Alyek, the Chairperson Lango Parliamentary Group also the Woman Member of Parliament (MP) for Kole district, told GNNA that together with all the LCV chairpersons in Lango Sub-region, the resolutions will be tabled on the floor of parliament and included in the national budget.
