PROMOTE ACCOUNTABILITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

A recent study by ACODE revealed that there is lack of accountability in the local governments of Uganda. Some of the reasons for this lack of accountability are low levels of education of most local political leaders and absence of a graduated tax.

Politicians at the local government level play a fundamental role of supervising national development programmes. These programmes include primary health care, Education, Plan for Modernization of Agriculture (PMA), transport and communication, and security. The successful implementation of these programmes will enable the government to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Unfortunately, policy makers at the local level are caught up in the horns of dilemma. Most of them are graduates of primary five, whereas others have never stepped in school! In 2006, I attended a swearing in ceremony of a district chairperson and district councillors in western Uganda. Amazingly, most councillors almost failed to take an oath in English Language before a magistrate. In my subcounty, the highest educated candidate for the position of Chair person Local council III in 2011 elections is a primary four graduate! Whoever wins these elections will supervise graduate technocrats who include the subcounty chief, community development officer and sub county accountant. The same scenario applies to other sub counties in the district. Most district councillors did not complete primary four. When it comes to making important decisions in the district, the elite technocrats manipulate these semi-illiterate politicians.

Human resource managers tell us that for one to be able to supervise a subordinate, he must understand what the junior is doing. Surprisingly, this is not the case with the Ugandan Local governments. A primary four district councillor or subcounty chairperson will always feel inferiority complex while supervising the implementation of government policies by his highly educated subordinate technocrats. Politicians derive their mandate from the populace. They are supposed to report to the masses government programmes among other duties. However, since most of them do not understand the technical issues handled by the graduate subordinates, they have nothing to report to the masses at the end of the day. Their low level of education obviously acts as an accountability obstacle! Local leaders meant to be saviours of the people end up being traitors of the people. This creates accountability darkness in the eyes of the citizens.

Effective accountability involves telling people what social services have been put in place and with what financial, time and human resources. It is an assurance that people’s tax is being put to proper use. It enables citizens to understand the role government is playing for them and how they can support government in the fulfilment of its mandate. Lack of accountability is like a double edged sword. It can hit the government hard at the same time sabotage the development at all levels in the country. The local politicians have a big role to play in enhancing this core administrative value. How then can accountability be enhanced at the local government level?
• The academic qualifications of local politicians at the subcounty should be increased to atleast graduate levels. This will enable proper coordination and implementation of the government programmes in the local governments. Consequently, rural local governments will be able to catch up with their counterpart urban local governments in development.
• The central government should carry out regular monitoring of the local government programmes including making physical visits and holding discussions with communities. At the moment, local governments have too much power over funds from the central government. There is fear of some of these local governments misusing government funds and then submitting doctored accountability o their mother ministries.
• The government should pass a policy in which local government decisions are translated in dominant local language for the benefit of the people.

EVEREST TURYAHIKAYO
Human Resource Specialist
Kampala