SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP ACTIVITIES IN ARUA CITY SUFFER LOW BUDGET AND LATE RELEASES

By Morish Dramadri

Arua City

The delay in release of funds and underfunding of the Special Interest Groups (S.I.Gs) activities by Arua city council has been cited as the major hiccup affecting their operations.

While presenting their queries before officials from Equal Opportunities Commission in Arua city on Thursday, 14th September 2023, the leaders of the different categories under special interest groups blamed the office of the Arua City Community Development Officer for not being open to them.

Opima Dan, the Arua City chairperson for the elders’ council revealed that the office of the community service seemed to be too committed thus giving insufficient attention to the special interest groups. “Because of the busy schedules of the community services department, the guidance that you give to the groups is not that sufficient.

The fact that the budget for older persons is actually the least among interest groups, and yet this little budget does not come as we are told. At the national level we are told we get five percent of the releases to interest groups, but this money is hard to come by. And because of limitation in funding, we are not able to even reach our constituencies out there”, Opima said.

Opima Dan- Chair Elders Council

Similarly, Hon. Enatu Simon, the male youth councilor for Arua City said since the city was operationalized, activities in the youth offices in the two divisions had never been funded. “The C.D.Os of these two divisions are giving the youth headache. Since the city began, Ayivu Division Youth Council has not implemented a single activity just because they are saying the money is delaying. The other financial year 2021/2022, they were voted shillings four hundred thousand. To release four hundred thousand shillings is a challenge. Up to now the money just vanished like that. Last financial year, they voted eight hundred thousand shillings. Out of eight thousand shillings, they released shillings six hundred thousand. The six hundred is in someone’s pocket. If we decided as the youth leaders of Arua City to go to I.G.G, will you see us bad?” he queried.

Sasaga John Peter, the station and training officer Equal Opportunity Commission said their mandate was to know the level of participation of the special interest groups in the various government programs. “As mandated by The Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, we are interested in knowing the level of participation and benefit of our constituents. I mean the people with disability, the youth, the older persons the women; to see whether they are benefitting, the level at which they are participating in government development programs that are available,” Peter stressed.  

Sasaga John Peter- Station and Training Officer Equal Opportunities Commission

But Tazita Doris, the Arua City Clerk-to-Council blamed the ministry for the low budget for the Special Interest Groups (S.I.Gs).  “These special interest groups that we are talking about fall under one department, which is community service. I am made to understand that the issue of budgeting even starts from the ministry. I wonder why the ministry is not considered to receive a lot funding to support its activities. As a city, we shall see how to address it through the budget desk,” Tazita said.

A special interest group (SIG) is a community within a larger organization with a shared interest. 

COVER PHOTO: Leaders of S.I.Gs in an Engagement with Equal Opportunities Commission By Morish Dramadri