A span of stability is one of Uganda’s bedrocks for development, but it might be on the verge of collapse if the Government does not revise its funding for resident district commissioners (RDCs) and the Internal Security Organisation (ISO), according to members of the presidential affairs committee of Parliament.
The lawmakers said whereas RDCs are at the core of monitoring service delivery to ensure implementation of government’s manifesto, ISO is on the other hand charged with gathering relevant intelligence as a basis of strengthening security checks, but allocation of resources to facilitate their work has remained poor.
The matter came to the fore yesterday during an interface between the committee and the Minister for Presidency, Esther Mbayo, to scrutinise the ministerial policy statement for the Office of the President. Mbayo submitted that to ensure monitoring of the Government projects and programmes in 135 districts, RDCs need sh12b in the 2019/2020 financial year, but only sh6b has been provided for in the proposed budget while of the sh25b required to purchase 165 double cabin vehicles, only sh4.5b has been allocated.
She added to strengthen ISO through collection of timely intelligence reports, purchase of 132 double-cabin vehicles and 1,578 motorcycles and specialised machinery and communication equipment, the institution needs sh136b, but only sh29b was provided in the budget. Some of ISO’s statutory benefits such as money for staff annual leave, arrears of retirees between 2017/18 and 2018/19 and ex-gratia were completely not availed.
Bukanga County MP Stephen Kangwagye said:
“We still have RDCs and ISO operatives in the villages that ask for transport help to work from MPs which I think is detrimental to our security.”
The committee chairperson, Jessica Ababiku, wondered how RDCs if not facilitated are able to network with local leaders to ensure service delivery and chairing of security committees at the district level.
Mbarara Municipality MP Michael Tusiime warned that if the Government does not address the issue of facilitating RDCs and ISOs, the negative effects of the electorate will be felt during the coming general elections when people start asking questions about the quality of service delivery and the state of their safety.
Currently, RDCs and their deputies are paid sh1.5m and sh1.4m monthly respectively. In 2014, the committee vied for increment of their salaries but the request is yet to materialise. Speaking to our reporter at the sidelines of the meeting, the Minister of Security, Gen. Elly Tumwine, said although Parliament had increased funding for security agencies, the finance ministry continuously cuts their budgets.
“Last year, Parliament cut sh3.5b from the KCCA budget to ISO, but it is nowhere to be seen. It has not been provided for by the finance ministry. However, since last year when the,” Tumwine said.