The Minister for Presidency, Milly Babirye Babalanda, has advised the Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), Resident City Commissioners (RCCs), and their deputies in the West Nile sub-region to take advantage of mass media and mobilize people to embrace government programs.
The advice was in her message that was delivered to West Nile RCCs, RDCs, and District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) by Amelia Kyambadde, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Industry, on May 22, 2024, during the opening of a 3-day capacity-building workshop at the White Castle Hotel in Arua City.
Babalanda noted that RDCs and RCCs have not taken advantage of the media, particularly radio stations, to sensitize the public, yet it is a very powerful tool at their disposal.
“You have the information the people need to learn about how their government is intervening in their situations; please share this information as widely as possible,” she asserted.
She reminded them that they are the chief government communicators in their areas of jurisdiction and are expected to share information with the public regarding government policies and programs, adding that they are supposed to mobilize the public to participate in government programs aimed at raising people’s incomes.
“We have been receiving your briefs about Emyooga and PDM performance, and these have been shared with the concerned officials at the national level. We are addressing the gaps reported, but I need to remind you that, as RDCs, you represent the President’s interests in these two programs. You know why the president introduced these programs. You know what he needs, and you are his shock absorbers. I do not expect you to sleep on your jobs,” Babalanda noted.
However, the Undersecretary in the Office of the President, Emmanuel Walani, who represented the Secretary in the Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, reminded the RDCs that they are public servants who are mandated to serve the government to ensure that better services are delivered to Ugandans.
“You are serving a government that has a social contract with Uganda. You should work towards the socio-economic transformation of Ugandans,” Walani said.
He also informed the commissioners that their role is crucial to the development of the country, which is why the President appointed them to be his representatives in their respective areas of jurisdiction.