District leaders criticised over poor service delivery
District Administrative Officers (CAOs) and Municipality Town Clerks (TCs) were on Friday criticised over laxity in executing their duties, as required by law.
The criticism on poor service delivery by the said public officers were put across by the ministry of Local Government Permanent Secretary, Ben Kumumanya and various government entity stakeholders, during the 4th quarterly meeting for the CAOs and TCs, held at Kampala Hotel Africana on Friday.
“The stealing of human drugs in hospitals or health centres and supply of agriculture inputs in districts when the season is over continues to be a big challenge. What is the role of district inspectors?” he asked.
He reminded the district leaders of their primary obligation; to pay allegiance to government and render services to the people under their jurisdictions with dedication.
He tasked the CAOs and TCs to avail his office, with academic qualifications of district and sub county councillors, plus that of directly elected women representatives, as soon as possible, for the Ministry to evaluate their performance on ground and advice Government on the way forward.
Julianne Mweheire, Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) director for Industry Affairs and Content Development, lambasted CAOs and TCs for frustrating Telecom investors in their areas of jurisdiction.
She said the high cost of ground rent and high operational costs through taxes from local governments are some of the factors discouraging telecom companies from investing in upcountry districts. “
Permit approval delays due to administrative bureaucracy, theft and vandalism of telecom equipment, are some of the factors making it difficult for telecom operators to do business from your areas”, she added.
She advised the district leaders to provide land for communication infrastructure, because these projects help their own citizens. She outlined the benefits of telecom companies operations in districts to include; increased coverage to communication, faster internet services in schools, hospitals and local communities among others.
Steven Edemo, a district administrator, in defense of his colleagues said: “Telecom Company proprietors enter
