Min. Magyezi Defends Parish Model Gaps
The minister of local government Raphael Magyezi has told off Members of Parliament that the Parish Devt Model can be implemented without an independent policy framework.
Although parliament has been calling for a special policy and the law for effective implementation of the program, Magyezi says the Decentralisation policy which regulates local government is enough to shape the program.
The minister of Local government Raphael Magyezi today appeared before the Local Government Committee where he presented the guidelines of the Parish development model for the first time and responded to queries of members of parliament on the implementation of the program.
Committee members put Minister Magyezi on task to explain why they rushed implementation of the program without a clear policy and guidelines.
MPs expressed a need for an act of parliament that will ensure effective operationalization of the program since the Parish model is a long-term program.
However, Minister Magyezi noted that there is no need for new legislation for the parish model, as they are already operating within the local Governance structures and law.
The committee of local government also pointed at the absence of a clear recovery mechanism of funds yet the parish model is a revolving fund. But the National Coordinator of the PDM Ssozi Galabuzi allayed fears of the committee.
The parish Development Model will be implemented through the Parish Revolving Fund which will be Shs17 million per parish in the financial year 2021/22 and Shs100 million for the next financial year per parish.
