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Jesper Steffensen
will, however, depend on the practical approach to the possible introduction of regions (see Steffensen and Tidemand 2004). The possible centralization of some elements of local government personnel administration constitutes a more fundamental threat to decentralization by devolution for two basic reasons: first, central government appointment of the CAO will cut a crucial accountability link between the elected local councils and the local government staff; second, such an approach to solving administrative problems in local governments (through centralization) may result in a snowball effect, whereby local accountability mechanisms become totally undermined.
Structure of Local Governments Local government in Uganda is a multitier system with the district, city council, and municipalities as units under which are lower local government structures and administrative units (figure 3.1). The local governments are corporate bodies, with perpetual succession and a common seal; they may sue or be sued in their corporate names (LGA, section 7). The chairs of all local governments are elected through universal adult suffrage and secret ballot. Local governments have powers to approve plans and budgets that incorporate plans of lower local councils. Unlike local governments, the administrative units4 are not corporate bodies. Apart from county councils, both local governments and administrative units have autonomy in planning and initiating self-help projects. Both local governments and administrative units receive or retain a share of local revenues, resolve problems or disputes at their level, monitor delivery of services, and assist in the maintenance of law, order, and security.
Political Structures At the district and city levels are the district and city councils, the highest political authorities in the local government’s jurisdiction. The district or city council is composed of one councilor directly elected to represent each electoral area of a district, two councilors (one female) representing the youth in the district, and two councilors with disabilities (one female), representing people with disabilities. Women councilors form one-third of the council. The chair of the district council5 is the political head of the district and answerable to the council (1995 constitution, article 183; LGA, section 13) (see figure 3.1).
