Following the timely and patriotic call by Hon. Balaam Baruhagare to expose and fight corruption in public service, I have taken time to reflect deeply. This is not just a political statement, but a wake-up call for all of us who have been entrusted with public resources to serve the Wanainchi. Hon. Balaam has reminded us of the core mandate of leadership, which is service delivery to the common person. Anything else is a betrayal of public trust.
In many districts, we have lost focus. The goal should be service delivery, not personal enrichment, not political accumulation, and not survival of self. When we forget the goal, we serve ourselves. We have also operated in silos. The RDC, LCV Chairperson, CAO, DISO, technical heads, and elected political leaders have at times pulled in different directions. When leaders are not on the same page, the common person suffers because coordination is lost and projects stall.
We must be honest that corruption begins with us, the citizens. We have created a cycle where citizens pressurize politicians to give them money in exchange for votes. A politician who spends 200 million to get a seat must recover it. He will then pressurize the technical people to give him a percentage of the project money. This is why we see sub-standard roads, classroom blocks that leak, health centers without quality, and water projects that fail. Part of the money meant for the ordinary citizen has already been deducted before work starts. This is the root of poor service delivery and we must confront it.
District leaders across Uganda must get back to the drawing board and ask themselves what was not done right. They must conduct an honest stock-taking of all projects in the last 5 years. Which ones failed, why, and who was responsible. This self-critique is painful but necessary. It is not too late to change, but we need a change of mindset beginning with the citizens themselves. I appeal to the people of Uganda to stop selling their vote for money. When you demand money, you are instructing your leader to steal. If you want good roads, good schools, good hospitals, you must vote for a leader based on character and service, not money.
A district can become an epitome of reference in service delivery if, and only if, leaders have a common goal and are on the same page. Leaders should commit to quarterly leadership coordination meetings between political, technical, and security leaders to review progress. They should commit to joint monitoring of all major projects, so that no project is monitored by one person alone. They should commit to transparent contracting and reporting, where all project funds, contracts, and progress are displayed on notice boards and shared on radio. They should also commit that there will be no percentages, and any leader or technical person who demands a percentage will be exposed as Hon. Balaam has instructed.
True leadership is patriotism. It is service above self. Leaders should put Uganda first and protect public funds with utmost responsibility and integrity. They should exhibit a high level of patriotism in all their work and promote this spirit in their communities.
District leaders across Uganda should pledge to expose corruption by reporting any corrupt leader, officer, or citizen who demands or offers a bribe to the RDC’s office, the Police, and to the State House Anti-Corruption Unit. They should pledge to protect quality and ensure technical people are not pressured to do sub-standard work, with quality as the standard. They should pledge to serve the common person, recognizing that the boda rider, the market woman, the farmer, and the teacher are their bosses and they will be accountable to them. They should also pledge to work together, with the RDC, LCV, CAO, District Chairperson, and Members of Parliament having one agenda, which is better services for the people of Uganda.
Hon. Balaam Baruhagare has shown us the mirror. We have a choice to continue on the path of corruption and poor services, or to change and become a model district. It is not late. Any district in Uganda has the potential to be a reference in service delivery. This can happen as long as leaders have a common goal, are on the same page, and put the people first. Let us rise up and work.
For God and My Country.
Kiwala Caroline Tahir
Assistant Resident District Commissioner – Iganga
The post KIWALA CAROLINE TAHIR: Beyond Hon. Balaam’s Anti-Corruption Call: Why District Leaders Must Put Service Above Self appeared first on Watchdog Uganda.