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The East Africa Local Governments Forum retreat, which brought together Permanent Secretaries and representatives of County Government umbrella bodies and local government associations, concluded on Wednesday afternoon at the Kenya School of Government.
This year’s retreat was centered around the theme “Strengthening National-Local Cooperation and Coordination to Deepen Devolution in the National and EAC Regional Integration Agenda.” The event attracted delegates from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, Congo, and Somalia.
Mr. Patrick Mutabwire, a former Permanent Secretary from Uganda who attended the three-day forum, shared his insights on the significance of the East African Local Government Forum and its role in promoting effective local governance and economic development.
Mr. Mutabwire, who chaired the formulation of the East African Local Government Forum Strategic Plan in 2013, emphasized the importance of institutionalizing the Forum within the East Africa Community (EAC) to ensure that the voice of local governments is heard in regional and international discussions.
“In most cases, when meetings are convened, it is the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and East African Community that are represented. However, the issues that affect our people are primarily at the local government level,” said Mr. Mutabwire.
He stressed that functioning local governments are essential for achieving national and international goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Forum serves as a platform for discussing ways to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of local governments in delivering services to their communities.
Mr. Mutabwire also highlighted the importance of local economic development and urged local governments to take the lead in attracting investments and developing their local economies. He emphasized that national statistics on GDP and foreign direct investments should be complemented by data at the local government or county level to reflect the impact of these investments on communities.
The forum also addressed innovative financing options for local governments, with a presentation from Dr. Jenifer Bukhohe of UNCDF showcasing successful examples of municipal bonds. Dr. Bukhohe’s presentation highlighted the potential of innovative financing mechanisms to fund local government projects that may not be feasible through traditional funding sources.
Mr. Mutabwire described the forum as “pivotal and instrumental” in exposing opportunities for local governments to develop and implement innovative solutions to address the challenges they face.
The East Africa Local Governments Forum retreat concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening collaboration among local governments in the region and promoting devolution as a key driver for national and regional development
