By Ismael Kasooha
Kyankwanzi
The minister of state in charge energy Okaasai Sidronius Opolot has tasked local leaders to jealously guard against vandalism of government infrastructure in the country.
Okaasai made the call on Thursday while addressing leaders undergoing a two-week leadership transformation training from 10 districts.
The training is taking place at the National leadership training Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi district and Oliver Reginald Tambo school of leadership and Pan African center of excellence Kaweweta in Nakaseke district.
Okaasai said that it’s the duty of all Ugandans to protect government infrastructure and the local leaders should be on the look out to address such challenges.
“As local leaders you shouldn’t allow the vandalism of government infrastructure in your areas of jurisdiction because such acts affect you and the economy of the country,” said Okaasai.
He says that the country faces serious challenges when infrastructure is vandalized yet the local leaders are available in the country.
Okaasai asked local leaders not to just demand for power extension in their areas but rather promote productive use of electricity.
“The government policy is for all areas in the country to be connected to electricity but it should be used productively to increase household incomes for socio-economic transformation,” said Okaasai.
Okaasai assured the people of West Nile that the government will soon harmonize power tariffs in the region to be uniform with other parts of the country.
“Your rates have been a bit high because of generation costs but now that you have been connected to the national grid these rates will automatically come down in a month or two from now,” said the minister.
The local leaders undergoing training raised a number of issues pertaining to power in their respective areas.
The leaders are demanding a portion of the money collected by electricity distribution companies because they are offering a service and as local governments they ought to get a share also.
Andrew Batemyetto Lukyamuzi, the Masaka district LC V chairman, wondered why the government is opting to export crude oil through Tanga yet the country needs jobs for the youths if they had set up a refinery in the country.
Leaders from areas that are mining Gold are asking for Royalties also to improve on local revenues for their sub counties.
Agnes Alaba, a commissioner for minerals in the ministry of energy and mineral development explained how Royalties from minerals are shared among stakeholders.
“All minerals belong to the government by law. For example, if it is gold, the Government gets 5% of the value of that production and this is shared where the central government gets 70%, the local government gets 15%, and the sub county gets 10% and the land owner is supposed to get 5%.” She said.
The leaders camped at NALI have been drawn from the districts of Kiboga, Masaka, Yumbe, Kibuku and Kibaale while those at Kaweweta for the same course are from the districts of Nakasongola, Gomba, Mbarara, Kalungu and Mbarara City.
The two-week course that is expected to end on Sunday 8th September 2024 is organized by the Office of the Prime Minister in conjunction with the Ministry of Local Government and the Patriotism Secretariat.
The course has attracted over 1000 leaders from ten districts camped at the National Leadership Training Institute and Oliver Reginald Tambo school of leadership and Pan African center of excellence Kaweweta in Nakaseke district.
President Yoweri Museveni is expected to preside over the closure at NALI where all the trainees will converge.
End
