ROWAN KANZIRA: Criticism of the recent RDCs reshuffle, a blunt attempt on the Presidency! 

On the 23rd of March 2022 His Excellency The President of the Republic of Uganda, acting by his constitutional mandate outed a list of RDCs/RCCs, Commissioners and Presidential advisors, all being public servant positions under the Presidency which is Headed by Minister Hon. Milly Babalanda.

The position of RDC is the most powerful field slot under the Presidency with its mandate derived from the 1995 constitution of Uganda and also well catered for in the Local Government Act. It weilds quite some high level of authority as the office is the presence of the President and Central Government in a District with supervisory powers over all government entities and programmes in a District.

The history of the office is traced back in the inception of the NRA/M leadership right from the Bush war times. Since then the position has gone through different stages of evolution especially in the manner of occupants’ selection, as influenced by political trends and dynamics in the country; although its mandate has remained uninterrupted.

The most recent reshuffle of RDCs has since attracted mixed feelings from different groupings in the NRM fraternity, with most people crediting the architects for considering more young people into service, regional balance, political inclusion and recognition of voluntarism in the NRM political mobilisation apparatus. On the other hand, some political activism groups of the NRM orientation, some elements from Districts that have traditionally dominated in previous reshuffles seem to castigate the current list.

The National Youth Council, an affirmative action wing of the Local Government setting with elective representation from village to National level has gone ahead to pen a petition to the Presidency Ministry in respect to the dropping of their members who had served as Deputy RDCs on the outgoing team.

While it is democratic practice for persons or groups of persons to express their opinion, regarding the above especially to critics of the reshuffle and choice made by the President of the designates it is important to note a few facts.

First, a quick scan through the list of the new entrants will reveal that most of them are former Media activists who were recruited, oriented and deployed as volunteer NRM pundits in their localities since 2017. These defended government programs, promoted the NRM National Chairman’s agenda and eventually publicized the NRM Party presidential election manifesto 2021 with high level loyalty.

Although many of there colleagues missed out, they are calm, simply due to the ideological orientation they underwent and these will certainly find placement in future, why not? Another category of new entrants is of mobilisers who worked under close supervision of Party organs, friendly opposition elements and former security operatives.

This is a no joke formation that one can not simply critique and go unchallenged. The most balanced act portrayed in this recent reshuffle is representation of Districts and subregions that either marginally benefited from the previous deployments for many years or even hardly had any one appointed.

There are some districts which always took a lion’s share of the slots and then others scramble for a handful slots. For example, Districts like Mbarara, Kiruhura, Ntungamo, Kasese, Kampala, Luwero, Kamuli, Arua among others had between 10 to 6 persons appointed RDCs previously, covering a sizeable percentage.

This always left many Districts uncatered for. In the recent reshuffle, more districts especially in Northern and Eastern Uganda including Karamoja sbubregion were thought about.

Busoga Subregion with 11 Districts and a city is being highlighted negatively to have about 40 people deployed as RDCs/ Deputy RDCs. On average, each District has 4 RDCs,as compared to the past when only four Districts in one great District had over 40 slots.

Another credit to the reshuffle is the youth factor. Since 2014, this is the second time many young people have been absorbed. Most of these young people put their jobs to risk to mobilised for the NRM. There has been a complaint by the National Youth Council leadership regarding their members who were dropped. But why would an elected office bearer seek to serve in a public office under the public service standing order and electoral law?

But as a matter of fact, the current job scarcity and the desire for economic engagement by young people who form the bigger part of Uganda’s population are enough justification for the criticism. It is only prudent though for true cadres to desist from the unrealistic criticism and focus on organizing for engagement in job creation programs of government such as the Emyooga, the Parish development model and others while other opportunities are sought.

Lastly, appointment of RDCs is only exceptional to the President of the Republic of Uganda upon satisfaction after vetting is done by different state agencies. It is therefore in vain and blunt to attack or criticize the Presidency on the subject of the 23rd March 2022 RDCs /RCCs list !