Rubanda District Chairperson Stephen Kasyaba has called on the Office of the Prime Minister to decentralize disaster management authority and funds to local governments, citing delays in emergency response.
Kasyaba also highlighted Rubanda District’s progress in health, education, and infrastructure since its creation in 2016.
Speaking to our reporter, Kasyaba emphasized that national disaster funds, currently managed by the Prime Minister’s office, are slow to reach affected communities due to bureaucratic processes.
“Disaster funds are currently managed by the Prime Minister’s office, yet disasters occur within local communities. When natural hazards strike, local governments face delays in accessing emergency funds due to the lengthy process involved in obtaining them from the central government,” Kasyaba said.
He added that decentralizing these funds would allow for faster and more effective local responses.
Kasyaba also highlighted development gains in Rubanda since its establishment, noting improvements in health services.
The district has constructed and operationalized a hospital, currently undergoing additional works under a Uganda People’s Defence Forces contract, and is recruiting health workers to strengthen service delivery.
Efforts are underway to upgrade a health facility to Health Centre IV status, while several health centers now have three professional doctors.
Maternity wards have been constructed to reduce referrals to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital.
“Good health is central to productivity and development. A healthy population can effectively contribute to economic growth,” Kasyaba said.
On education, he outlined initiatives to improve competitiveness and access. The district has recruited 155 primary school teachers and plans to hire 40 more.
Over the past five years, Rubanda has secured three seed secondary schools in Ruhiiga, Kibuzigye, and Nyamweru, and it plans to construct a government technical school this year with a budget of over Shs3 billion, providing vocational skills for students who do not proceed to university.
Rubanda District was carved out of Kabale in 2016 and has since focused on strengthening local service delivery and infrastructure development.