Rwabuhinga calls for full decentralization to improve service delivery

Fort Portal: Kabarole District Chairperson, Hon. Dr. Richard Rwabuhinga, has voiced strong concerns over the diminishing implementation of Uganda’s decentralization policy, warning that increasing centralization of funds is undermining effective service delivery at the grassroots level.

Speaking at a regional accountability conference held Tuesday at Nyaika Hotel in Fort Portal City, Dr. Rwabuhinga revealed that decentralization in the current 2025/2026 financial year has dropped to below 9%, calling it a “huge mismatch between societal needs and actual service delivery.”

“Local governments are on the frontline of responding to emergencies like disasters, road maintenance, and community development. It is counterproductive for funds meant for these critical interventions to be retained by the central government,” said Hon. Dr. Richard Rwabuhinga.

He advocated for a policy shift that would allow local governments direct access to funds designated for emergencies and public services, enabling quicker and more efficient responses to local needs.

His concerns were echoed by Hon. Linda Irene Mugisa, the Woman Member of Parliament for Fort Portal City, who supported the call for more equitable financial allocation. She emphasized the need to base disbursements on population size and geographical coverage, ensuring fairness and efficiency.

“While some funds reach local governments directly, others are routed through ministries and agencies such as universities and referral hospitals. These should all be coordinated to serve the people efficiently,” said Hon. Linda Irene Mugisa.

The accountability conference brought together a wide range of stakeholders including religious leaders, political figures, and civil society actors from across the Tooro sub-region. The focus of the gathering was on key governance issues: corruption, budget planning and execution, transparency, and public service reforms.

Organized by the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy (NIMD) in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), the event aimed to foster citizen participation, accountability, and responsiveness in public institutions.

Attendees included members of parliament, district chairpersons, sub-county leaders, religious heads, and civil society representatives, all of whom stressed the need to strengthen decentralization, improve transparency, and empower local governments to drive community development.

Participants agreed that addressing governance gaps and improving public resource management are critical to restoring public trust and ensuring sustainable, inclusive development.

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