By. Damba Rogers
A report released today by the equal opportunities commission reveals that only 65 local governments out of the 172 assessed managed to attain the gender and equity requirement in their respective budget report for 2019/20 with three local governments not failing to even file their reports.
Reading the May assessment findings today at the commission offices in Kampala, the chairperson of the commission, Sylvia Muwebwa Ntambi names the districts of Abim, Kalaki and Mityana as being among the three which failed to file the budget framework papers as per the public finance Act.
Muwebwa states that the districts of Rwampara, Nebbi municipal council and mbarara passed exceptionally with a score of 70% and above.
However, the assessment further analyzed regional performance and Kigezi region exhibited the highest level of compliance with 47%, while Karamoja region exhibited least compliance at 36%. Further results scored the regions as follows; Bukedi (46%) Central 1 (45%) Teso (45%) Ankole (44%) Bunyoro (44%) Toro (44%) Central 2 (43%) Elgon (43%) Lango (43%) Busoga (42%) Acholi (39%) and West Nile (37%)
But a member of the commission, Zaminah Malole says, failure for local governments to comply with the set gender and equity standards, punitive measures are likely to be taken against them that include denial of the certificate of compliance by the commission and the finance ministry which then will see them denied funds to run their planned activities hence affecting service delivery.
The commission now has embarked on a huge task to sensitize district and local government leaders on the benefits of having gender and equity budget framework papers.
Gender and equity planning and budgeting improves capabilities and opportunities of the vulnerable and marginalized population, which eventually contributes to better outcomes that lead to sustainable inclusive development.
The commission has now sensitized more the 20 districts in the first phase and over 20 are under sensitization currently.
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