Report indicates that Gulu has raised under 25 percent of the expected 400 Million shillings in locally raised revenue.
In 2016/2017, Gulu budgeted for 26 billion shillings as its annual budget estimate of which 25 percent was to be locally raised.
Ninety percent of Gulu’s annual budget is from central government which are termed as conditional grants.
William Komakech, the District Revenue Officer said in the first quarter of this financial year, only 52 million shillings was raised.
Komakech noted that the poor revenue collection is due to failure by Sub County officials to remit the collected fund.
Komakech added that some of the collected revenue ends up in the pockets of individuals.
The Gulu Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Anselm Kaligonza says the low revenue collection is likely to affect the functioning of the district council. Allowances for councilors is paid from local revenue.
Recently Gulu District local government officials revealed a plan to hire a consultant in order to resolve the persistent problem of low revenue in the district.
Dorothy Ajwang, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) said a firm would be hired to help the district to identify revenue sources. But due to lack of funds to the pay the consultant, the plan was prematurely abandoned.
For the last decade, Gulu has been raising only 80 million shillings on average every financial year.
