By Patriot Corps
Gulu, August 6, 2024
Colonel Emmy Katabazi, the Deputy Director General of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), has urged Resident City Commissioners (RCCs), Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), and other key officials to enhance their monitoring of government programs to combat poverty and drive socio-economic transformation in Uganda.
Speaking at a three-day capacity-building retreat at Bomah Hotel Limited in Gulu city for officials from the Acholi sub-region, Col. Katabazi emphasized the critical role of RDCs in maintaining stability and ensuring the effective implementation of government initiatives. “If the President appointed you, count yourself lucky and be committed to executing the tasks assigned to you. Don’t wait for problems to escalate, but be strategic by identifying the issues affecting the country before they run out of hand,” he said.
Col. Katabazi stressed the importance of professionalism and discipline, urging participants to avoid behaviors that undermine their roles. “Part of the problems affecting you and the work are social. Avoid drunkenness and other morally unacceptable behaviors in your areas of jurisdiction,” he cautioned.
Highlighting the detrimental impact of corruption, the Deputy Director General called on officials to uphold integrity and fight against corruption at all levels. “You sit in district council committee meetings. You are the one who knows the budget that is passed and the allocation of funds; then you later hear issues of corruption. Who is corrupt? It is you who is avenging corruption,” he noted.
Katabazi underscored the need for proper utilization of government funds allocated to schools and other public services, advocating for efficient monitoring to reduce illiteracy and improve school attendance. He introduced the Zaidi App, developed by ISO for the Parish Development Model (PDM) monitoring, which captures beneficiary data to streamline progress tracking.
Professor Sudi Nangoli, a senior lecturer at Makerere University Business School (MUBS) and an expert in Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), echoed the call for robust monitoring. He advised participants to engage directly with PDM beneficiaries to assess the progress of their projects and stressed the importance of stakeholder engagement and capacity building.
Nangoli highlighted political interference and corruption as significant challenges to effective monitoring and urged participants to reject bribes and maintain ethical standards. “Stop receiving bribes from corrupt individuals and say, ‘My salary that I receive is enough.’ So, don’t steal because you think you’re helping others,” he stated.
Lt Col (Rtd) Kibrian Ambako and Sadat Kisui from the Cabinet Secretariat also addressed the participants, emphasizing the need for collective action against corruption and effective communication and feedback in management practices.
The World Bank Global Monitoring and Evaluation Index report (WBGMEI 2022) rated Uganda 27th out of 190 countries, with an M&E performance score of 42%. As Uganda strives for better governance and accountability, the insights from this retreat are poised to play a crucial role in achieving these goals.
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