By Matthew Okello
TORORO
Tororo district local government in collaboration with Oxfam International has launched a 3 year project dubbed fair recovery-strengthened civil society and media for fiscal justice.
The project aimed at improving tax collection in the district and later enhance service delivery was launched yesterday, 1st June, 2023.
The program will be implemented by Osukuru united women Network and directly funded by Norwegian Agency for Development cooperation, SEATINI amongst others running from 2023-2025.
Speaking during the launch, the Oxfam project manager in charge governance and accountability, Joseph Olweny, said they chose Tororo district for reasons that it’s endowed with large deposits of minerals like phosphate, gold, limestone, industries and one of the busiest borders in the country that can be converted into revenue sources to benefit the populace.
Olweny, noted that this project is purposed at bridging the inequality and injustices gaps in communities community through involving them in decision making from inception of all programs so that tangible results are realized.
To achieve their objectives, Olweny says they are going to work with Tororo district leadership to enhance their potential to mobilize more local revenue in a fair manner, lay strategies for effective accountability and through this he believes the district will be in a position for gender responsive service delivery.
Tororo district assistant chief administrative officer in charge implementing partners Susan Asemenye welcomed the program noting that it has come at a time when local governments are undergoing finance reforms to improve revenue mobilization.
After revitalizing the project scope, Asemenye says it will help the district envelop all the revenue management leakages.
Tororo district chairperson John Okea revealed that the district is performing poorly in terms of local revenue which stands at not more than I Billion making it hard to run the district due to limited resources however he has trust that this program will help strengthen their systems.
He also decried increased tax evasion in the district and under declaration of taxes by companies in Tororo for example Tororo cement pay the district only 200m, Hima 82 million and Simba over 120 million and yet he feels they should be paying and believes this program will help.
Cue …//…. LC5 on revenue evasion
This has come at the time when the ministry of local government has accepted the district to spend more than 20% of local revenue collected in the district to help meet the allowances for the big district council with more 80 district councilors.
In every council meeting, councilors receive 33,000 for transport allowance and 44,000 as sitting allowance far below many districts in the country and the district chairperson believes that this will help improve the status quo.
Cue
Constance Okolait the coordinator of Osukuru united women Network says they are ready to be part of revenue mobilization and accountability in the district.
