Poor telecommunications networks hinder revenue realization in Gulu
Other factors include the ongoing Balaalo herdsmen eviction, which has affected the realization of money from animal produce such as meat and milk.
By Christopher Nyeko
Gulu: Poor telecommunication network connectivity, coupled with the ongoing Balaalo herdsmen eviction, a ban on commercial charcoal businesses, and an ignorant parish chief who does not know how to operate IRAS, are some of the factors that are reportedly affecting revenue realization in Gulu district.
Gulu district authorities have revealed that they are hardly struggling to collect locally raised revenue from all 11 sub-counties in the district using new technology, the Integrated Revenue Administration System (IRAS), due to poor telecommunication network connectivity in some of the sub-counties in the district.
Atim Vicky, Vice Chairperson, LCV Gulu District, lists the sub-counties hit with poor telecommunication network connectivity as Palaro, Owalo, Owoo, Paibona, and Omel sub-counties.
In the 2023–2024 financial years, Gulu district projected to collect over 900 million shilling as locally raised revenue; however, during their first revenue review meeting held in December last year, the district discovered that they had raised less than 200 million shilling, leaving them with a shortfall of over 700 million shilling.
Due to financial constraints resulting from poor revenue collection, Gulu district last year had only 4 council meetings; however, by law, every district is supposed to deliberate after every two months.
Atim reveals that the two committees that were formed to find out why Gulu is failing to realize its projected revenues have traversed all 11 sub-counties in the district and have established that Palaro, Patiko, and Paicho sub-counties are fairly performing in revenue collection, while Owoo, Omel, and Pukony are the poor performing sub-counties.
Apart from poor network connectivity, it has also been established that some of the parish chiefs in many of the parishes in the district are not well conversant with the IRAS system, thus making it a hurdle for them to collect revenue.
Other factors include the ongoing Balaalo herdsmen eviction, which has affected the realization of money from animal produce such as meat and milk.
In a bid to improve revenue collection, the district has embarked on massive sensitization of local leaders and stakeholders on their role and involvement in revenue collection.
Meanwhile, the parish chief, who is ignorant of IRAS, shall be taken for orientation, and the CAO is also directed to write a letter to the telecommunications company to improve network connectivity in some of the sub-counties with poor networks.
Atim says that the district is currently looking at evidence-based planning for revenue and levying taxes on agriculture, fisheries, livestock, and agro processing to boost their revenue.
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