Amolatar Budget : csbag.org

INTRODUCTION

Budget Transparency is where relevant budget information is fully disclosed in a timely and simplified manner. Such simplified budget information can be presented in form of leaflets, posters, drawings showing the planned activities for easy interpretation by citizens. This attracts public participation in budget processes. Transparency in budget processes helps to reduce waste and corruption especially where citizens actively engage duty bearers for feedback on service delivery and accountability. It further fosters accountability of public funds spent by Government institutions. The Access to information Act 2005 provides for citizens to access public information from any public office.

Participatory Budgeting: It is every citizens’ right to participate in national and local government planning and budgeting processes according to Article 38 of the Constitution of Uganda, 1995 (As amended). Participatory budgeting encourages citizens’ involvement in the decision-making process that concerns allocation of resources. It further empowers citizens with knowledge to enable them demand for transparency and accountability from duty bearers. Participatory Budgeting initiatives are usually in response to demands from citizens/community groups. for citizens to participate effectively in the budgeting process, there is need for access to budget information.

KEY DISTRICT BUDGET FACTS

ITEM	FY 2021/22	FY 2020/21	FY 2019/20
Domestic Dev’t	6.029bn	4.357bn	5.48bn
External Financing	0.446bn	0.368bn	0.218bn
Wage	10.348bn	10.99bn	9.61bn
Non-wage	5.442bn	8.55bn	4.30bn
Total	22.265bn	24.284bn	19.62bn

Source: Amolatar LG Approved Budget Estimates

ABOUT AMOLATAR DISTRICT

Amolatar District is located in the Lango Sub-region in Northern Uganda bordering by Apac District in the North- west, Dokolo District to the northeast, Kaberamaido District to the east, Buyende District to the southeast, Kayunga District to the south and Nakasongola District to the west. The district covers a total area of 1,581.77km2 of which 15 % is under open water while 6% is under forests leaving, 79% for human settlement and cultivation and other land use.

Amolatar district has a total population of 147,166 people1 with 49.0% (73,014) males and (50.4%) 74,152 females according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics (National Population and Housing Census, 2014). The District is largely Agrarian with majority of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry and commercial fishing from area lakes constitute the economic engine of the district. Some of the crops grown in the district include, plantain Bananas, Millet, Maize, Sorghum, cotton, sunflower, soy beans, Rice, Sweet potatoes, Cassava, Beans, Field Peas, Ground Nuts and Sim-sim. Some households were reported to be engaged in livestock farming e.g rearing of Cattle, Goats, Pigs, poultry, sheep, Ducks and Turkey.

The number of persons aged 6-15 years not attending school was 6,318 (14%) while the number of persons aged 6-12 years attending primary school was 25,932 (77.4%). At Secondary level, 5,400 (24%) persons aged 13-18 years were found to be attending secondary school.

CSBAG WORK IN AMOLATAR

The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) and Diakonia are implementing a 2 year project (January 2020 to December 2021), the Gender Responsive Accountability, and Citizens’ Empowerment (GRACE) project in Alebtong and Amolatar Districts under the Development Initiative for Northern Uganda (DINU) programme being funded by European Union and coordinated by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). The programme focuses on the sub-region of West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Teso and Karamoja, through a multi-sectorial approach. The overall DINU Programme goal is to consolidate stability in Northern Uganda, eradicate poverty and under-nutrition and strengthen the foundations for sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development.

CSBAG and Diakonia interventions focus on LOT 2 of the DINU action which is Improving Performance and Accountability of Local Governments through Strengthened Participation of Communities and contributing to the DINU result 3.3 i.e Downward accountability of LGs to its constituents is strengthened by empowering citizens, Civil Society Organizations, media, Non-State Actors (NSAs) , Private Sector in their interaction with Local Governments.

GRACE Project overall Objective: To Enhance Gender Responsive Accountability and Citizen Empowerment in Amolatar and Alebtong Districts of Northern Uganda. This is through strengthening the capacity of Local Governments, communities and Non-State Actors to prioritize Gender Responsive Budgeting through participatory planning, budgeting and joint service delivery monitoring.

IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS

CSBAG is a coalition formed in 2004 to bring together CSOs at national and district levels to influence government decisions on resource mobilization and utilization for equitable and sustainable development. CSBAG is committed to making the national budget pro-poor and gender.

Diakonia works in the Karamoja and Acholi regions, focusing on voice giving, promoting active citizenship, as well as the protection and realisation of the human rights and the dignity of marginalised girls, boys, women and men. Diakonia also works with national civil society organizations to conduct strategic evidence-based advocacy.

INTERVENTIONS

Since project inception, CSBAG and Diakonia interventions have enhanced gender and equity responsiveness at service delivery centres in the areas of operation with specific focus in Education, Health, Roads, Gender & Equity, WASH and Budget Transparency. This has been achieved through strategic approaches including;

District ownership and participation.
Partnerships with like-minded local partner CSOs on gender budget advocacy and accountability.
Empowerment of Women and Girls on Gender and Equity.
Youth Engagement - Female and Male Young Leader Budget Activists (YLBA)
Community Participation in Local Governance and Gender budge
Accountability Dialogue Engagements

Capacity building on Gender Responsive Budgeting for Stakeholders

IMPACT

CHANGE STORY 1

BEFORE: Pit latrine at Muntu Township Primary School in Muntu Sub County Amolatar District on 15th /10/2020

AFTER: The new 2 stance drainable pit latrines constructed in Muntu Primary School in Muntu Sub County in Amolatar District by the District and completed on 16^th/06/2021

CHANGE STORY 2

Changing room for girls under construction at Omara Ebek Primary School, Agwingiri Sub County Amolatar district: February 2021

CHANGE STORY 3

BEFORE: Community members advocated against the Eucalyptus poles being used by the contractor for roofing the pit latrine at Anara HC III in Aloi Sub County in Alebtong District in November 2020

AFTER: The Contractor responded by using timber for roofing the pit latrine in Anara HC III in Aloi Sub County in Alebtong District by February 2021

Tweets by CSBAG

KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS

District Budget Guide

Amolatar Budget

INTRODUCTION

KEY DISTRICT BUDGET FACTS

KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS

Amolatar District Budget Facts FY2020/21

Why Millions of cash go Unspent

PPDA, Civil Society Partner on Accountability

CSOs POST-BUDGET DIALOGUE: Top Agencies, Local Gov’ts recognized for excellent service delivery.

CSBAG pushes for greater budget discipline in post-budget review