Ntungamo District local government spent over Shs80 billion in the previous financial year and is now implementing a Shs76 billion budget, with district leaders saying the slight reduction has not slowed development.
Officials attribute the drop from over Shs80 billion to Shs76 billion to irrigation projects that are not being implemented this financial year.
However, technocrats insist service delivery has remained steady, with procurement processes completed early and several projects finalised before the halfway mark of the year.
Of the Shs76 billion budget, Shs47 billion has been allocated to salaries for about 3,700 staff, with key administrative positions now filled.
District authorities say this has stabilised operations and improved service delivery.
Chief Administrative Officer Fildeus Kizza said early planning enabled the district to pay contractors on time, particularly under the works and education departments.
“By December we had completed some of the schools and we managed to pay some contractors especially under works and education department. We had targeted constructing very many pit latrines in our schools because sanitation is very critical,” he said.
Six out of ten planned roads have been completed, while sanitation in schools has been strengthened through the construction of five-stance pit latrines.
The district has also expanded water access and rehabilitated boreholes. Health facilities have been upgraded, including improvements at Rubaare Health Centre IV.
Through the Parish Development Model, the district has received over Shs46 billion to support household income.
However, cases of extortion have been reported. Kizza said action has been taken against offenders.
“For cases of extortion, we have dealt with the issues of extortion and we either recover the money and so far we have some culprits that we have taken to court and they are now in prison having extorted the money from the PDM beneficiaries,” he said.
District Chairperson Samuel Muchunguzi said the past five years focused on cleaning up the administration.
“There was too much corruption in the district, we found ghost worker but now they are no more. We cleaned the payroll of Ntungamo district. We found about twelve ghost health units but we cleaned all that,” he said.
Muchunguzi also cited investment drives in coffee processing and mineral development.
“In terms investment, we produce the best quality coffee, we have minerals, and we have tried to attract steel in Rushenyi then pig iron in Rwenanura, Ruhaama," he said.
"We have also lithium here. The factory will be in Kajara County. They will bring job creation and changing lives as well as tourism. With the coffee factory so far, almost 20 million goes into Rwashamaire every month yet the factory is still at 70% imagine when it gets 100% complete."
Looking ahead, district leaders say the next term will prioritise health, education and household income through coffee growing, fish farming and agro-tourism.
However, some residents say infrastructure gaps remain. Political analyst Edward Natamba argues that delivery has not fully matched campaign pledges.
“The politicians voters selected 2021/2026, they made some promises when campaigning with targets but according to what they have delivered is not to the expectations of the people. Contact with the electorates has been lacking. Most of them have depended much on NRM manifesto which sometimes it's hard to deliver,” he said.
