The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Luwero district council has passed a resolution requiring each civil servant and elected leader to contribute at least 5000 shillings per month towards the construction of district headquarters.
Three years ago, Luwero district leaders embarked on the construction of the four-storied building to accommodate district headquarters. The project is worth seven billion shillings.
However, the construction of the headquarters is slowly progressing due to lack of funds. So far, the district has injected over 500 million shillings into the construction.
On Friday, Abdul Kalemera, the Chairperson of District Finance and Administration tabled a motion in a district council session requesting each staff and elected leader to contribute at least 5,000 shillings per month to enable them to complete the building.
Kalemera explained that they copied the idea from Mityana and other districts where staff contributed to the construction of their own offices.
According to the motion, the collections will be made in two financial years and the district expects to get 600 Billion Shillings from 4,026 staff and an unspecified number of elected leaders. The motion was unanimously approved by the district councillors.
Hussein Kato, the District Secretary for Finance says that before enforcing the resolution to deduct the money from each one’s salary, they will meet the staff through their departmental heads and the elected leaders.
Ronald Ndawula, the LC V chairperson says that since the staff are the immediate beneficiaries of the offices, they should lead by example and contribute towards the construction.
Ndawula is hopeful with such contributions from staff and government, they will be able to complete some floors to enable them to host offices there.
It is not yet clear whether the staff and newly elected leaders will readily accept the proposal.
Two years ago, the district leaders attempted to introduce the same proposal but councillors rejected it citing fears of lack of transparency in the collection of the money and award of contracts to people who were building the offices.
Currently, Luwero district staff are operating in a class room like building constructed two decades ago.
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