Hon Members of Parliament
Resident District Commissioner
District Chairperson
Hon. District Councilors
Development Partners
Heads of Departments
Religious and Opinion Leaders
Representatives of Civil Society Organizations and Private Sector
People with Different Abilities and all Special Interest Groups
Distinguished Elders and Youth Representatives
Ladies and Gentlemen

Let me take this opportunity to welcome you all to this Local Government Budget Conference that marks the beginning of the Budget preparation process for FY 2020/21.

Public Finance Management Act 2015 (PFMA as Amended) requires that each Accounting Officer in consultation with stakeholders should prepare a budget frame work paper (BFP) for each Local Government. The Act requires each Local Government to prepare and present its BFP before 15th November each year and submit to Ministry of Finance Planning and Economic Development.
The PFMA also provides that districts should prepare and present to District Council budget proposals by 3oth March each year. The District Council should approve the Budget before 31st May each year. It is within these timelines that we are holding this budget conference today. Today we started the Planning/budgeting process for the following financial year 2020/21 and it is in pursuit of this requirement that Ntoroko District is consulting you today for your input in the Planning/budgeting for FY 2020/2021.
National and Regional consultative meetings in preparation for Budget frame work papers have already been held in Kampala and Fort Portal. The District Chairperson, CAO and Heads of Departments attended the Regional meetings held in Fort Portal.
During these meetings, we were told that government is completing the implementation of the NDP II and is preparing the NDP III (2020/2021 – 2024/2025). The process is on and is expected to be completed by June 2020. Ntoroko District is also expected to have completed its District Development Plan (DDP) 2020/21 – 2024/25 by 15th February 2020. I have already set up a task force led by the District Planner to draft our district development plan. This means that the BFP will feed into DDP as well.

1.1 Purpose of the BFP Conference
Budget Conferences are meant for:
1) Information sharing on policy and over all National priorities
2) Presentation of budget performance and challenges of 2018/19 and 2019/20 (3 months) Financial Years.
3) Provision of the resource envelop and proposed projects and activities for the next F/Y 2020/21
4) To capture stakeholders’ opinions, comments and input on the proposed development interventions.
5) Share the collaborative arrangements and support with stakeholders
1.2 BUDGET THEME:
The budget strategy for 2020/21 is guided by theme:- “Industrialization for Job Creation and shared Prosperity” . The budget strategy is based on medium term growth and development objectives of the NDP 111. The budget will focus on Agro – based Industrialisation, Mineral Beneficiation, Tourism development, labour intensive manufacturing and trade and environmental protection.
1.2.1 Objectives
1) Efficient and sustained exploitation of the productive sectors
2) Consolidating and increasing the stock and quality of productive infrastructure to support trade, industrialization, exports and efficient urbanization
3) Increasing the productivity, inclusiveness and well being of the population
4) Strengthening the private sector to promote growth
5) Enhancing the effectiveness of both fiscal and Administrative governance
1.2.2 The areas for specific interventions emphasized by Central Government are as follows:-
1) Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation
2) Tourism Development
3) Scientific research and innovation
4) Improving value addition to tradable minerals and commodities
5) Enhancing efficiency in public investments in provision and maintenance of productive and trade infrastructure, provision of health services and skills development programs
In this regard therefore, we are expected to analyze the specific areas of intervention and formulate corresponding interventions.
1.2.3 The District objectives have to take into account local aspirations and National priorities. They as follows:-
1) To provide Improved and accessible health services
2) To increase the Quality and level of Basic Education and Functional Adult Learning
3) To contribute to sustainable growth of agricultural production.
4) To improve the District’s communication, trade and accessibility Infrastructure
5) Improve safe water accessibility to communities.
6) Identify and collect sufficient revenue to ensure that the planned services are met.
7) To contribute to good governance, security, law and order.
8) Protection and conservation of the Natural resources
1.2.4 Key Achievements in FY 2018/19
Under the period of review, the District has registered key achievements contributed by Central Government, Development Partners, CSOs and all stake holders.
1) We attracted funding from Central Government under UgIFT Project and were are constructing Nombe Seed Secondary School. I want to report that construction is ongoing and 4 buildings are at roofing level. Our supervision reports indicate that the quality of works is good.
2) We Fenced the District Headquarter Offices
3) We Constructed Kakoga and Rwensenene bridges
4) Rehabilited 4kms on Katanga – Kamuaga road, 7.4 kms on Makondo – Kanyamukura road, 6kms on Butungama Budiba road, and 9.6 kms on Kyamutema road.
5) We are Constructing Bweramule Health Centre III, we have requested Save the Children to Complete the General ward at Karugutu Health centre IV.
6) Together with Development Partners, we have managed to stop EBOLA from spreading to our community.
7) Prepared and submitted budget supplementary for which we have received a wage increment.
8) We have prepared and submitted budgets, plans and reports to central government in fulfillment of performance contracts
9) Operationalised systems and structures of a Local Government. The District Council, DEC, Standing Committees fully constituted, all Boards and Commissions in place, assignment of officers to performance of their respective functions.
10) We have been connected to Integrated Finance Management System IFMIS and Introduced to e.cash system. These systems will be operational very soon.
11) Government is extending electricity to rural areas and small towns like Kanara and Rwebisengo under the Rural Electricity Programme.

12) Government is also extending piped water to Kanara Town Council.

13) Government has upgraded Rwebisengo HC 111 to HC 1V, Butungama HC 11 to 111 and construction is about to start and we are in the process of functionalizing Rwangara HC 11 to HC 111.

14) Government has asked us to identify land for an Industrial Park for Bundibugyo and Ntoroko Districts. We have identified the land wrote to the Permanent Secretary MoLG confirming availability of land.

2.0 District Proposed Interventions for FY2020/21
Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me present a summary of district interventions that will facilitate private enterprises increase investment, facilitate employment, facilitate economic growth through infrastructure development and promotion of public private partnerships; interventions that will help in commercializing production and productivity in primary sectors through mechanization, increased access to inputs, improved technologies and affordable credit. These interventions include:
a) AGRO Industrialization Local Economic Development (AGRI-LED)
This is a Presidential Initiative that is aimed at improving household’s livelihoods by creating local wealth through agro industrialisation. This targets to increase local government financing and fiscal space. The AGRILED initiative will also introduce LG financing for local economic development as opposed to funding through conditional grants system. This program is piloted in the Rwenzori Region for three years (2019/20 – 2021/22) with a budget of 55,950,000,000/=. The District team in conjunction with Ministry of Local Government implemented some preliminary activities aimed at complying for funding. These include feasibility study, preparation and submissions of program work plans and budgets, benchmarking, program activities validation to mention but a few. Summary of the Work Plan is attached.

b) Local Economic Growth (LEGS)
This is a 4 years (2019/20 – 2022/23) program being funded by Islamic Development Bank through Ministry of Local Government. It is a development program with two components. Component a) is funding Water for consumption and water for Production and Roads while the other component is going to extend financing to Groups, Associations like SACCOs through Micro – Finance Support Centre.
We have also prepared and submitted pre-requisite information (plans, budgets,) and have now qualified for funding. We already have received a field office LEGs Staff who will Co-ordinate Ntoroko and Kabarole Districts. We shall have a detailed report on projects/ interventions to be implemented by the officer concerned.
C) United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR)
Ntoroko District is a refugee’s transit District and it experiences pressures on its Health services, and Social services provision systems such as roads, food, schools, accommodation, water sources, mention it. As a result of this unplanned populations that sometimes stay here for long periods and let alone dissolving into the local population, we find our service delivery stretched beyond bounds. We have recently engaged the leadership of UNHR - Uganda and they have agreed to fund refugees’ related interventions in Ntoroko district.
2.1 CHALLENGES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED
Despite the above interventions mentioned and not mentioned, the District still has challenges that need to be addressed.
1) The district is hard to reach characterized by a unique terrain with steep mountains, deep valleys, flat lands and water bodies. Thus higher unit cost of construction and high cost of living.
2) The District has low local revenue sources. Most of the taxes (Local Service Taxi, Local Hotel, Tax) identified by Central Government do not apply in the District or they are minimal given the nature of life around.
3) In both the two zones of the District (mountainous and valley) there are always long dry spells and intensive rains and storms.
4) Most of the land in the district is in protected areas (game reserve and forest reserve) and water bodies and this leaves little land for farming.
5) The District boarders DRC whereby the population across encroaches on a number of our already stressed social services delivery systems.
6) Low staff retention mainly health workers and teachers because of hard to reach nature and absence of staff houses.
7) There is a weak private sector. They are not organized into cooperatives. They are not competitive at regional level.
8) The district has no banks, no FM radio stations, no/scanty internet connectivity and is sparsely populated.
9) Currently there is EBOLA scare. There are 23 entry points some of which are manned and others not. 14 out of 23 entry points are manned with volunteers who have spent 6 months without getting any allowance.
10) Government has stopped paying UPE and USE in private schools beginning with FY 2020/21.
2.3 Strategies/Recommendations to address these challenges
1) We need to widen the tax base. We should identify new sources of revenue such as having a cattle tax, agglomerate all markets into one tender, tap into forest resources and carry out thorough revenue assessment and enumeration.
2) We should submit some district roads to UNRA like Buranga Passi – Rwamabale Road, Rwebisengo – Rwangara road and Rwamabale Rwebisengo road. The District Political leadership is expected to lobby Central Government to take over these roads.
3) Operationalise Rwebisengo HC IV and Rwangara HC III by lobbying ministry of Health and Ministry of finance for funding and provision of requisite infrastructure and wage.
4) Organize and hold a Development partners conference to enable them clearly select projects/interventions they can fund from the Development Plan.
5) Promote staff and fill the gaps in the existing staff structure in all departments.
6) Effective delivery of infrastructure development and maintenance through timely development of infrastructure projects, road development and maintenance to enable access to markets, industrialization and value addition.
7) Handle the 68% population not in the money economy.
8) Providing efficiency in government management by supporting the financial and accountability systems through implementation of reforms such as full rollout of IFMS and Treasury Single Account and decentralization of the budgeting and payment of pensions and gratuity.
The Private sector is the engine to economic growth. A number of government interventions shall be geared towards improving business environment and competitiveness in the economy. Local governments are urged to sensitize, monitor and promote investments in their localities most especially with the coming on board of Regional Industrial Parks. They must attract investors and accord them condusive business environment.
We are also aware that youth unemployment is a big problem at both National and Local level. This problem should be critically addressed in our workplans by providing avenues for income generating activities especially for the youth and vulnerable groups in our society.
Lastly, issues of HIV/AIDS and Gender mainstreaming in our budgets should not be overlooked in our plans.
I thank you very much for being good listeners and wish you fruitful discussions.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY

Anselm Kyaligonza
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
NTOROKO DISTRICT LOCAL GOVERNMENT