Embracing the Formation of New Districts

The recent creation of 14 new districts has created unnecessary furor among antagonists of progress. The argument that more districts will create more divisions among the people is a lame argument. The creation of more districts, in essence, is the creation of more jobs. In this case, we are talking of new MPs, RDCs, CAOs, District Chairpersons, not forgetting those below them. This translates to service coming closer to the people.

These leaders are not going to look on doing nothing like idiots when the roads are poor, when there are no hospitals or schools in the districts, no telecommunication operators, or when criminals lurk in the dark killing and robbing. Otherwise the locals would disown and boot them at the next election.

As Local Government Minister, Adolf Mwesigye said, the new districts will pave the way for effective administration because in creating the districts, the Government looked into their economic potential, means of communication, geographical features, and most of all –the wishes of the people.

In my Political Education classes, I learnt that Democracy, simply, "Is the government of the people for the people and by the people." The people who demand for districts are not fools. The man who ate a rat to show how badly he wanted a district is not deranged. What is wrong with the government hearing the cries of the people and granting them what they ask for?

Besides, the creation of the new districts which include Zombo, Amudat, Otuke, Lamwo, Kyegegwa, Buikwe, Buyende, Namayingo, Luuka, Kiryandingo, Ntoroko, Serere, Mukuju, and Kisoko –bringing the number of Ugandan districts to 97 –is legal and had the stump of approval from the Parliamentary Committee on Local Government.

The question to ask is: was life better off for Ugandans in 1995 when the number of districts was only 39? Certainly not. Today, even in the remotest part of the country, there are radio stations, there is peace, people make calls to Kampala on their mobile phone handsets and Universal Primary Education remains the loved enemy of illiteracy.

It is the inflexible that say the creation of new districts holds no promise for the Pearl of Africa. But those who went to school know that when a county or town council is elevated to a district, that is called progress in bold. This is decentralization, which if you have forgotten, focuses on empowering local governments for the well being of the grassroots.

In the whole new district creation hullabaloo, the only genuine concern should be if the newly formed districts have the financial muscle to meet their running costs. In that case, the Finance Ministry has to set aside a substantial amount in the next Financial Budget to help build these districts.

There is also need to lobby donors to help put up structures at the new district headquarters. Similarly, the new districts can turn to their natural endowments and economic/agricultural prowess to attract tourists and potential investors. So let us look with bright eyes into the future for that is where the silver lining is.

The Progress So Far...

A consultative meeting was held with the Steering Committee on the formation of the Association of District Information Officers (DIOs) and the Commissioner of Information and National Guidance on Friday, May 22 at the Ministry of Information and National Guidance Offices. The meeting was to see how best Information Officers can be used to help the community to benefit from Government programs as well as to discuss the need to bring together all the DIOs to review the Articles of Association.

The meeting was attended by Proscovia Basangwa –the Chairperson the Steering Committee, Gladys Baligonzaki –in charge of Publicity, Francis Okiror –Member Steering Committee and Brian Rwehabura –Member Steering Committee.

After the introductions, Okiror, the District Information Officer of Pallisa, set the pace by giving a background of the formation of the Association of DIOs which he said came out of the realization that for a long time there was no link between the Information Department and the mother Ministry. This, he said, left the DIOs at the mercy of Local Governments but added that this would only depend on how one liaised with the District Chairman and CAO for survival.
He said the meeting was meant to help link the Association to the Centre for Guidance on policy matters and also to improve on the working conditions of DIOs. He informed the Commissioner that the Steering Committee was setup to liaise activities of the Association in preparation for the main launch of the Association set for October this year.

Proscovia Basangwa, the Senior District Information Officer, Wakiso, informed the Commissioner that the Committee deemed it important to meet him in order to get advice and support from the Ministry in preparation for the meeting of all Information Officers to review the Articles of Association for the Information of the Association of DIOs. She noted that the Association was incapacitated to coordinate the over 80 DIOs and needed the financial support from the Ministry and linkage with the private sector, who she said are vital in the work of the Association.

She added that the Association would help in the dissemination of government information to the grassroots.

On his part, the Commissioner said he has been promoted to the level of a Permanent Secretary and was awaiting posting instructions but noted that he had a lot of interest in the Association and thus reiterated his support for it.

He informed members that there were incentives to help the Association not feel like orphans after the Ministry realized that information flow at the District and the Centre was not well coordinated. He added that proposals to improve the working conditions and authority of DIOs were made but were still awaiting Government approval.

The Commissioner said the National Communication Strategy was being revised that will take care of the role of DIOs at the district. The matter, he added, was already being handled at the Cabinet level. However, he called for patience as things take time. He advised that sensitization of stake holders be done both within and outside the District involving all Information Officers.

The Commissioner also urged that the linkage with the Ministry was very vital, noting that the Under Secretary would be responsible, considering she's responsible for managing Media issues. He however said that communication was not well streamlined right from the Government down to the Districts.

As a way forward, it was resolved that a date be set to meet the Under Secretary, and that another meeting be organized with Mr. Robert Kabushenga, the CEO of The New Vision, and another with the Media Centre, and to confirm whether all the Information Officers had received the Copy of the Articles of Association before the meeting with them.