The Deputy Director General of the Internal Security Organization (ISO) Col. Emmy Katabazi, has urged representatives of the President in the Acholi Sub-region to heighten monitoring of government projects to ensure resources don’t go to waste.
Col. Katabazi notes that many Government Projects are being abused within the region with few or sometimes no one in the respective offices of the president extensively monitoring their implementation.
He particularly emphasized Universal Primary Education (UPE), Universal Secondary Education-USE, and the Parish Development Model (PDM), a government initiative meant to alleviate poverty at the Parish level.
According to Katabazi, some government-aided schools are overcharging school fees despite the government injecting money for learners, a move he says has left many learners unable to attend schools.
“Ensure these children stay in school because the government is paying the teachers in the UPE and USE schools. I want you to monitor schools and understand what goes on in every school within your area,” he said.
Col. Katabazi made the remarks in a keynote speech during a capacity-building retreat for Resident District Commissions and their deputies, Resident City Commissioners, and Assistant Resident City Commissioners in Gulu City on Tuesday.
Other participants were Assistant Resident District Commissioners, Regional Internal Security Officers (RISOs, and District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) from Acholi Sub-region.
He noted that PDM remains a core initiative of the government which entails several government pillars in addressing poverty at the parish level across the country.
He added that ISO rolled out a digital monitoring tool that will be used by the Gombolola Internal Security Officers (GISOs) to monitor PDM progress and detailed knowledge of its beneficiaries.
He, however, cautioned RDCs, RCCs, DISOs, and RISOs against engaging in fights among themselves and their juniors over work, but instead emphasized the need for teamwork and coordination to achieve the common objective of monitoring projects.
Prof. Suudi Nangoli, the Managing Director of the Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation(UPPC) in a presentation highlighted political interference as one of the challenges that still stifles the monitoring and evaluation results of key government projects.
He notes that from the World Bank Study report, over 60 per cent of government officials agreed that political influence greatly influences M&E results in the country.
Prof. Nangoli observed a need to train RDCs, RCCs, and their assistants with valuable skills in monitoring to ensure improvement in the quality of reports they disseminate to the central government.
According to the World Bank Global M&E index report, Uganda ranks in the 127th position out of 190 countries in the M&E performance.
Sadat Kisuyi, a Principal Economist at the Office of the President however says for the respective representatives of the presidents to achieve in their role of monitoring government projects, they must be good managers.
He tipped the RDCs, RCCs, RISOs, and DISOS to employ effective skills in planning, communication, ensuring feedback, and teamwork.
Jane Frances Amongin Okili, the Gulu Resident City Commissioner however says while some of them have in the past tried their best in monitoring government projects, it hasn’t gone without facing intimidation which remains a hindrance.
Osborn Oceng, the Lamwo Resident District Commissioner commended the office of the President for the capacity building which he says will go a long way in developing their monitoring skills and quality report dissemination.
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