WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LEADERS SHUN A LEADERS MEETING?

“Some leaders have not yet conceptualized the reason why they are in leadership, and this is one of the biggest challenges and obstacles to development, Good Governance and improved service delivery” asserted the Kasese District Speaker Hon. Zepher Mubingwa.

He noted thus while presenting a paper on the District Position on Effective Service Delivery and Participation of the Citizenry in Governance of resources at the District Leaders Meeting organized by GoodHope Foundation and RWECO Coordinating Unit on 01.02.12 at Kasese SSD Hall.

Hon. Zepher Mubingwa was one of the six (6) leaders who turned up for the leaders meeting out of the invited and expected seventeen (17) leaders in the District. Hon. Geoffry Lubangula District Youth Councilor, Hon. Adongkara for Mayor, Vice Chairperson Karusandara Sub County, LCIII Chairman Nyakiyumbu Sub County, LCIII Chairman Bulembia Division and LCIII Chairman Maliba Sub County were the only leaders that turned up for the meeting.

Frustrating as it unveiled, the meeting nevertheless proceeded with some leaders standing in to present for the absent leaders. The meeting whose purpose was to review the progress on the fulfillment of the regional issues in the Citizen’s Manifesto by leaders and to sensitize stakeholders on the concept of Citizen Manifesto and Neighborhood Assemblies still achieved its objectives at the end of the day, courtesy of the few leaders that turned up.

In his presentation, the District Speaker Hon. Zepher Mubingwa challenged the participants to tell him how many people in Kasese vote Candidates basing on their Manifestos; he together with the participants agreed that largely most decisions are not based on their (voters) knowledge of the candidates’ manifestos but rather personal sentimental attachments or bandwagon influence. He added that it’s unfortunate that many development programs and Candidates’ Manifestos are drafted by individuals without the in-put of those they intend to lead. He thanked RWECO/GoodHope for this Citizen Manifesto program which he noted will help in merging the two to shape the delivery of services to the people.

Explaining the position of the District/Government’s on Effective Service Delivery and Participation of the Citizenry in Governance of resources, the Honorable noted that Government is the sole provider of social services and its main task is the creation of a favorable environment for development. He revealed that Kasese District Local Government is committed to improving service delivery and ensuring a poverty free society by 2015.

He added that the District intends to achieve this through encouraging people’s participation in development programs and processes - bottom up planning; “this planning will enable government to capture the people’s needs” he remarked.

He hailed Government for the policy/law framework although he regretted to note that Uganda on the other hand has continuously failed to implement these good laws and policies. “There is still very limited will to enforce these laws; I think we are defeating ourselves” Mubingwa Lamented.

Among other challenges to improved service delivery the Honorable noted; irresponsible citizens and leaders. He said under the UPE program parents irresponsibly have convinced themselves that they have no role to play while some leaders have continued to take citizen’s concerns and Government programs for granted whereas others have embarked on mismanagement of public resources. Interestingly Hon. Mubingwa said that while corruption/mismanagement of public resources is being practiced by both NRM and Opposition, it has most often been associated with/tagged to one party-NRM; “ I with due respect acknowledge that the vice of corruption exists but it’s not political, and, thus should not be attached to NRM alone” he remarked. Inadequate resources and lack of specialized Human resource were also named among the challenges.

Summing up his presentation the District Speaker pledged Government support and cooperation to CSOs and RWECO in particular in all her programs and activities.

Other topics discussed during the meeting included the youth and unemployment: steps and programs by Government to make the youth engage in work and Women as Vanguards of development: has Parliament delivered on its promises. These sessions pointed out Government’s interventions in extending services to the two interest groups and also got the participants into debates on Government’s shortfalls in delivering services and what can be done to address these hiccups.

Bravo to all the leaders that turned up, without you we would not have realized the day’s objectives and also heard the vast information that you shared. Still wondering what happens when leaders shun a leaders meeting?; it still goes on my dear, big ups are given to those leaders that turn up while the absentees are entered into the Voters black books till then…