Colonel Emmy Katabazi, the Deputy Director General of the Internal Security Organization (ISO), has told the Resident City Commissioners (RCCs), Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), Deputy RCCs and DRDCs, Assistant RCCs and ARDCs, and District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) to adopt the revolutionary mobilization methods to ensure strategic security and boost socio-economic transformation in Uganda.
Col Katabazi opened his keynote address by quoting the book of 2 Corinthians 5:20, which says, So we are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God. He, therefore, urged participants to be good messengers in ensuring a peaceful and secure country while adhering to proper revolutionary mobilization for economic progress.
“When you are a leader, you should put into consideration issues of leadership and administration. Society is more complex than the biology. Therefore, it is imperative as a leader to analyze the tools to use to handle society.
Col Katabazi was giving a keynote address to the RCCs, RDCs, DRCCs, DRDCS, ARCCs, ARDCs, RISOs, and DISOs from the Teso and Sebei sub-regions during the closure of a three-day capacity-building workshop at Akello Hotel in Soroti city on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
He asked the participants to know their worth and roles as leaders because they influence change since leadership is not attained by mistake but comes with a lot of responsibilities that need to be executed.
Col Katabazi further urged participants to abide by the law and respect the morality of society by being morally upright and disciplined while executing their duties. He, therefore, asked them to behave in a more magnified manner.
“Leadership is not by accident; get time to study the laws of nature and how to handle societal issues because when some things change, they cause others to conform as a necessity. So, your role is to understand society,” Col Katabazi said.
Col Katabazi also highlighted the issue of technology, imploring the leaders to take an interest in and understand technology because it is what society is rotating on. He further cited cybersecurity, which is the current trend and can lead to the country’s destabilization.
The Deputy Director General put emphasis on the leaders to familiarize themselves with the Parish Development Model (PDM) and its seven pillars, adding that ISO developed a computer program known as the Zaidi application to monitor and evaluate the progress of the program across the country. He said that the government programs are aimed at alleviating poverty and ensuring that the country attains the middle-income level.
“The superstructure includes norms, culture, political, economic, and other social societal issues, among others. As leaders, you can initiate programs that can cause change in the superstructure, like UPE, USE, vaccination, and PDM,” he highlighted.
Additionally, the Colonel asked the participants to be leaders of action, not of mere words. He quoted the book of Genesis 3:19, which says, In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread till thou return unto the ground, urging them to work hard.
“You, as an RDC, what can you do to add to the economic base? It can be by promoting government programs like PDM to eradicate poverty because statistics show that 36 percent of the population is still poor,” the Colonel noted.
He cautioned them against corruption and to desist from it in every way possible since it undermines development. Col Katabazi, therefore, warned them not to issue PDM funds to the well-off but to give to the disadvantaged so they could join the money economy and alleviate poverty. The Colonel, therefore, emphasized the fight against corruption and asked them to live exemplary lives.
“When we talk of the security of the country or the country being secure, we are referring to the well-being of the local people. Therefore, be exemplary; we have one role, which is to diligently serve our country and ensure social transformation. When we do that, we ensure security and stability,” the Colonel noted.
Col Katabazi called for teamwork and warned the leaders against getting involved in internal and small fights, which he said affect their performance and workforce to equitably deliver services to the populace for the development of the country.
The Minister for Presidency, Milly Babirye Babalanda, cautioned the leaders against misusing power and the offices they were appointed to and thanked those who were working and submitting their reports on time to ease planning and service delivery.
“As RDCs, you should not misuse your authority, power, and office like what the RDC of Katakwi did. He is currently under scrutiny and investigation to aid further action,” she noted.
Babalanda re-echoed Col Katabazi’s message of fighting corruption and building teamwork as opposed to internal fights that jeopardize proper service delivery.
“I request you to emphasize teamwork so that you all benefit from your collective success and achievements,” she noted.
She added, “On the matter of corruption, I urge you to continue fighting hard to eliminate these instances in your districts but especially for you to personally avoid any involvement in the same. As Office of the President, we are champions of a corrupt-free country. We do not work with corrupt staff. If you are caught red-handed, no one will defend you.”
