Officials and stakeholders pose for a group photo during a one-day engagement on revenue monitoring and policy guidance in local governments held at the Bundibugyo Community Hall.

Bundibugyo Chief Administrative Officer Paul Walakira addresses stakeholders during the engagement on revenue monitoring, accountability and local government revenue collection at the Bundibugyo Community Hall.

The Bundibugyo community has been urged to demand accountability for government development projects, particularly those funded through local governments.

The call was made by Michael Twinomujuni, a Finance Specialist from the Ministry of Local Government, during a one-day engagement on revenue monitoring and policy guidance for local governments held at the Bundibugyo District Community Hall.

Twinomujuni said most agricultural-led development projects originate from local governments, making it important for communities to understand their rights and demand services and development projects that are due to them.

He also called for proper accountability of local revenue, especially with the introduction of new taxes such as property tax.

Twinomujuni said some revenue sources, including animal movement permits and forest products, have previously faced accountability challenges due to poor record keeping.

He urged stakeholders involved in revenue collection and management to support development activities that directly benefit communities, including the repair and maintenance of roads, bridges and classrooms.

The Bundibugyo Chief Administrative Officer, Paul Walakira, called for timely engagement between district authorities and lower local governments at the beginning of every financial year.

Walakira said early engagement would help local governments improve revenue collection and achieve their annual targets.

He added that the amount of local revenue collected during a financial year should be one of the key performance indicators for officials responsible for revenue mobilisation.

The CAO also warned officials against spending outside approved budgets, saying implementing activities as planned would help minimise audit queries.

Meanwhile, Bundibugyo District Secretary for Production, Hon. Nausamba Recheal, called for teamwork among stakeholders to increase local revenue collection.

Nausamba said communities need more sensitisation, particularly on new taxes such as property tax, so that taxpayers understand their obligations and how the revenue collected is used.

She also called for part of the locally generated revenue to be directed towards development projects that directly benefit the community.

Several measures were identified during the engagement to improve local revenue collection. These include adopting a whole-of-government approach, establishing revenue enhancement committees, strengthening revenue enumeration and source identification, and developing an updated taxpayers’ database.

The meeting brought together local government officials and other stakeholders involved in revenue collection, management and development planning.