By Kiyimba Bruno
The Uganda government has been urged to increase the capacity of funding that is sent to civil societies.
This was revealed in a report launch policy and institutional framework to cub leakages in public expenditures and information that took place today at Protea hotel Kampala.
Civil societies believe that government has not embraced meaningful partnership and engagement with them to enhance accountability functions.
Gilbert Sendugwa the head of secretariat for Africa Freedom of Information Centre said that if government increases such funding in civil societies, the growing grievance of missing key information shall be curbed.
“Government needs to put up a portal where some of this information can be gathered. Sendugwa noted.
He went ahead to appreciate the World Bank for providing financial support just like government agencies towards the collaboration of these projects.
It should be noted that World Bank programme for social accountability is assisting the government of Uganda to address these challenges through monitoring contracts in health, education and agriculture sectors in the districts of Mityana, Mubende, Ntungamo, Nakaseke and Nebbi.
Dr .Ronald Luwangula, a lecturer from Makerere University at the same function blasted councilors who fear to write reports when in actual sense it is their mandate. He said that many of these councilors are not educated enough and just by mercy of the people, they were voted for in their respective offices.
“Fearing to write reports is a big grievance to the nation. Many people are affected by this and I believe government needs to come out on this.” Said Luwangula.
Despite the legal policy and institutional frameworks, leakages of public resources continue to spiral and citizens as well as public officials have concerns which are not misplaced.
Whereas public expenditure has expanded several folds from 7 trillion in Financial Year 201o/2012 to 26 trillion in Financial Year 2016/2017,the quality and quantity of public funds has remained the same.
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