Officials from Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) have asked Parliament’s Presidential Affairs Committee to urgently intervene in the proposed 100 billion Shillings budget cut saying that this is going to leave the Authority unable to perform key activities.
Led by the Minister of State for Kampala, Kabuye Kyofatogabye, officials from the City Authority on Friday appeared before the committee to present the budget estimates for next financial year 2023/2024.
According to the proposed Budget Framework Paper, KCCA has an allocation of 403 billion, a funding reduction compared to the Authority’s current financial year 2022/2023 budget of 504 billion.
Minister Kyofatogabye said that whereas the budget allocation for the current financial year is still inadequate for KCCA to effectively meet the service delivery demands in the city, the further reduction of the funds is going to negatively impact the already constrained operations.
Dorothy Kisaka, the KCCA Executive Director says that the Authority’s Public Sector Transformation programme has been affected by a 23.21 billion cut and that this will affect the city legislative function that entails allowances for councilors and Division Councils.
Also affected is the KCCA fleet management and purchase of lubricants, enforcement of city legislations and trade order, staff medical insurance cover, security guard services and others.
Donny Kitabire, the Acting Director Treasury Services says that the Integrated Transporrt Infrastructure and Services programme has a funding gap of 68.5 billion and will affect the planned desilting and routine maintenance of the drainage network, repair and maintenance of city street lights, acquisition of right of way for some roads under the Kampala Road Rehabilitation Project (KRRP) funded by African Development Bank and others.
Another 8.05 billion budget cut is reported under the Authority’s Human Capital Development programme and this is to affect the purchase of land for Kasubi Primary School and its refurbishment, construction of a six classroom block at Mpererwe Primary School, fencing Naguru Katali primary school, removal of asbestos and expansion of 24 classrooms at Kololo Senior School and others.
The Agro-Industrialization programme that is to handle the completion of Phase 2 civil works for Kitintale market in Nakawa Diision and other activities has a cut of 6.8 billion while the Natural Resources, Enviornment, Climate Change and Environment programme is affected by a 2.34 billion cut.
Jesca Ababiku, the Presidential Affairs Committee chairperson tasked KCCA officials to present only the key unfunded activities so that they are defended before the Budget committee.
Meanwhile, a section of Members of Parliament questioned the city authority leadership about the poor road network and drainage system despite the continuous provision appropriation of funds for the same.
Abubaker Kawalya, the Shadow Minister for Kampala cited that potholes are evident on roads in the central business area and in the different divisions of the City.
Tony Awany, the Nwoya County asked the KCCA officials to provide the committee with a list of contractors for different roads to ascertain the costs considering different allegations of cost inflation by the Authority.
David Lagen, the Agago County also questioned KCCA officials about potholes is newly constructed roads.
The Committee chairperson Jesca Ababiku, asked the KCCA officials to present a separate statement on the status of roads in the cities and the money spent on each.
Kisaka, the KCCA Executive Director explained that the Authority did not receive any funding in the first quarter for the current financial year 2022/2023 to handle roads and that the only money received came in the second quarter on 27th December.
Ababiku insisted that KCCA officials should first present a schedule of roads and their costs before any other discussion of the matter.
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