Mbarara City earmarks Shs39.3 budget for FY 2023/24

MBARARA -Mbarara City intends to spend Shs 39.3 billion during the financial year [ FY ] 2023/24, which is less than Shs 40.2 bln earmarked in the current FY 2022/23.

Patrick Kanamugira, the senior city’s senior planner presented the new figures on Friday during a budget conference where delegates reviewed FY 2022/2023 budget as provided for in the Public Finance Management Act, 2015 [as amended].

Kanamugira said planning and budgeting are guided by the Third National Development Plan [NDP III] which spells out the development priorities of the country.

He said Mbarara city collected local revenue of Shs 907,261,002 by the end of the first quarter of FY 2022/23, which he said was below the target of Shs 9.1 billion.

“We plan to enhance local revenue performance in the third and fourth quarter to reduce the gap because this is normally the peak period for local revenue collection,” he said.

Despite the low revenue performance so far recorded in FY 2022/23, Kanamugira said the city council is planning to maintain local revenue target of Shs 9.1 bln in the next financial year.

“In this current financial year, we are budgeted 9.1bln as local revenue, the rest being government transfers, making it a total of Shs 40.1 bln. In the next financial year, we are proposing a budget of Shs 38. 2 bln” he said.

The city official said they plan to evaluate all properties in the city and establish a fully-fledged revenue collection unit that will collect all revenue through the Integrated Revenue Administration System [IRAS] during the next FY.

“We compiled a complete taxpayers’ register so that every eligible taxpayer contributes to service delivery.  We also plan to initiate accountability mechanism so that the population is aware of the services financed by the locally collected fees,” said Kanamugira.

According to the 2023/24 budget estimates, education has remained the most dominant sector funded with over Shs 15.6 bln. Health is allocated Shs 3.3 bln, while roads and engineering Shs6.7 bln.

The city revenue base includes; local service tax, land fees, hotel tax, business licences, property tax, animal and crop husbandry-related levies, inspection fees, market gate charges among other fees.

Out of Shs 39.2 bln the city headquarters will spend Shs 5.2 bln on its two city divisions.

Assy Abirebe, city town clerk Mbarara said the city is still constrained by low staff capacity in administration, education, and public health.

“It is pertinent to note that we have greatly enhanced service delivery amidst resource constraints,” he said, adding that the city is operating at 35 percent capacity in terms of the required human resource.

“Apparently, our structure provides about 400 technical staff, minus health workers and teachers. We are operating with only 103 technical staff,” he added.

The city town clerk called upon all the stakeholders to contribute positively to the budget process for the forthcoming financial year, which he said would enhance service delivery in the city.

Jomo Mugabe, mayor of Mbarara City South, challenged leaders to address the issue of double taxation, which he said is affecting traders in the city.

“Our traders are suffering with offloading and loading fees,” he said, adding that weekly markets should also be gazetted in specific places rather than letting vendors operate along the roads, which he said interferes with the traffic flow in the city.

Other stakeholders complained about the congestion in the city brought about by the boda-boda riders. Lt Col. James Mwesigye, resident city commissioner Mbarara City, was concerned that bod-boda riders have established their stages in the city uncontrolled, calling upon the city council to address the matter.

Mwesigye also challenged the people of Mbarara to hold their leaders accountable for better service delivery. “We must give people proper services and I am happy that you have started fighting the civil servants who have been grabbing everything here, including the markets. If we are to save this country, we must fight corruption,” he said.

https://thecooperator.news/kiryandongo-official-unveils-progress-report-of-pdm/

Buy your copy of thecooperator magazine from one of our country-wide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news