The district leaders’ retreat on Manifesto Implementation at the National Leadership Institute(NALI) has finally come to a thunderous end with key presentations from Ministers, Milly Babalanda (Presidency) , Mary Grace Nagasa( Public Service, and Peter Ogwang(Economic Monitoring).
The induction workshop was organised by the Manifesto Implementation Unit under the office of the President to deliberate on the successful implementation of the 2021-2026 manifesto.
Willis Bashasha, the Director Manifesto Implementation thanked the leaders for attending and urged them to go out and shere fruits from their three day deliberation with the population to ease the work of delivering on the promises made to the voters.
On her part, Mrs Babalanda admitted that the 2021 National Unity Platform (NUP) wave caught the NRM government unawares and it gained momentum on the basis of propaganda largely due to their negligence and laziness.
Those who attended the retreat included; RDCs/RCCs, LCV Chairpersons, NRM District Chairpersons, City, Municipal and Town Council Mayors, and Chief Administrative Officers(CAOs).
The Minister advised that the mistakes exhibited by government officials that led to NUP’s gaining of momentum should be reversed and ensure that they will never be repeated again.
“I need to remind you however that, the image of government continues to fade on the account of lazy communicators. You as RDCs/RCCs are the Chief government communicators in your districts who are required to feed the public with clear information on government programs. You are also supposed to counter negative media with facts on the progress of manifesto Implementation,” urged Mrs Babalanda, adding that this will restore hope in the public.
She also tasked RDCs/RCCs, and other government officials to always appear on radio/TV programs and utilize the free government airtime to explain its programs.
“We should not wait for the President respond to issues that can be handled at our level. The RDCs/RCCs are required to start sharing their information on progress of manifesto Implementation with the Manifesto Implementation Unit. This will not only equip the RDCs/RCCs with information to use in their weekly radio and TV programs, they being the Chief government communicators but it will feed the center with the necessary district level information.”
On the other hand, the Minister applauded the Director of the Manifesto Implementation Unit, Mr Bashasha, Office of the President for organizing the retreat.
The NRM Manifesto 2021-2026 was launched by President Yoweri Museveni as a foundation to the January 2021 General Elections.
“I wish to particularly commend the Secretary, Office of the President Hajj Yunus Kakande for organizing such a workshop where the RDCs/RCCs and politiciarom the entire Western Uganda have attended under one roof and have laid strategies on how the NRM Manifesto 2021-2026 will be delivered,” Mrs Babalanda explained.
“The Office of the President through Manifesto Implementation Unit is mandated to track, report and popularize the performance, progress and challenges of implementation of the Manifesto commitments and strategic guidelines and directives in the different ministries, Departments, agencies and local governments.”
She also stated that through the Manifesto for the 2021 election, government entered a social contract with the people of Uganda to ‘secure their future.
“That was the theme of our pledge to all Ugandans, and that is what we are working on to achieve. Important to note is that the Manifesto is secured in the vision 2040 and the 3rd National Development Plan. It commits to deliver Uganda into middle- income status and to ensure sustainable development.”
Prime Minister Robinah Musafiri Akiki Nabbanja who was the Guest of Honour amplified the significance of the district leaders, noting that she, and Babalanda had once served at their levels before they were elevated to where they are now. She encouraged them to prioritise transparency in executing their duties, describing corruption and misuse of their offices as an embarrassment only comparable to treason.
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