Colonel Emmy Katabazi, the Deputy Director General of the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), has highlighted the digitization of the Parish Development Model (PDM) through the Zaidi App, which he said aims to limit corruption in government programs and ensure socio-economic transformation.
Col Katabazi, while giving a keynote address on September 2, 2024, to over 431 participants, including Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), Local Council V chairpersons (LCV), councilors, youth leaders, and NRM mobilizers from districts of Gomba, Kalungu, Nakasongola, Mbarara, and Mbarara city, who are currently attending a two-week Transformation Leadership for District and Local Council Course intake 5 2024, at the Oliver Reginald Tambo Leadership School-Kaweweta in Nakaseke district, on PDM Digital Information Technology, underscored the PDM digital application system that was designed by ISO to ease monitoring of the government programs.
“Government programs that are meant to change the lives of people also have enemies both internal and external. Any government that wants to develop is attacked; Kenya cannot be happy that we are developing. Those who colonized us cannot be happy when Uganda is developing,” he said.
He said that the introduction of the Zaidi App was a result of the misuse of PDM funds by the beneficiaries.
“Some of the beneficiaries diverted the money into alcohol and other unnecessary dealings. So, the application will fast-track all beneficiaries across the country. On that application, we can get the beneficiaries’ addresses, including land titles,” Col Katabazi said.
The Colonel noted that the application will boost business since the application will be used when searching for the beneficiaries’ address on Google, thus the government will make earnings from it which will lead to development.
“If the people you lead don’t give you calls, your allowance will not be increased because they will not be taxed through airtime. So, make sure that they join the money economy,” he stated.
He cautioned participants against engaging in corruption tendencies and implored them to respect and remain morally upright. The Colonel, therefore, called for unity and togetherness among the leaders towards supporting government programs in order to ensure development.
“When talking about mindset change in PDM, we are changing the syllabus,” Col Katabazi noted.
The Deputy Director General further cautioned participants against laziness and getting involved in enemy subversive activities, asking them to work and eradicate poverty in their areas of jurisdiction. He also asked them if they know and are conversant with leadership, and the direction they are taking those they’re leading.
“As leaders, you determine the destiny because you are the thing and others are in you. A government is a group of people who come together and unite to plan for the country. So when you’re a leader, you are supposed to lead,” he noted.
When asked about why the education system hasn’t changed and what has limited it, the ISO boss said that Ugandans’ minds are still colonized, adding that UNSA started to work hard towards changing the education system and that currently, it’s being revised.
“Mindset change isn’t about PDM because even those under PDM, their minds are not yet changed. So, they need mindset change since we have irrelevant education which is making you a slave. That’s why even some teachers teach about soil erosion but you find it taking place in the school compound,” he noted.
The trainees are expected to be passed out by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni at the National Leadership Institute ( NALI) in Kyankwanzi on Saturday, September 7, 2024. Some of the trainees attending the leadership course are People with Disabilities (PWDs) and the elderly. Out of the overall number of participants,138 are ladies.
