Busoga RDCs Warned Against Approving Substandard Government Projects

Officials from the Office of the President have issued a critical caution to Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and city commissioners across the Busoga sub-region. They are being urged to meticulously scrutinize Bills of Quantities (BoQs) and verify the quality of work before officially commissioning any government projects.

This directive is a key measure aimed at curbing corruption, preventing shoddy workmanship, and ensuring that public funds yield tangible value for taxpayers. The warning was delivered during a recent oversight and mentoring exercise conducted by the RDC Secretariat and the Anti-Corruption Unit.

The exercise, held in the Busoga sub-region, focused on assessing the implementation of government programs and reinforcing accountability among local officials. During a session at Luuka Town Council, Maj. Martha Asiimwe, head of the RDC Secretariat and Anti-Corruption Unit, emphasized the importance of field officers actively monitoring, assessing, verifying, and following up on government programs to ensure effective service delivery.

“Our responsibility is to complement and reinforce the efforts of our field officers to monitor, assess, verify and follow up government programmes for effective and efficient service delivery,” stated Maj. Asiimwe. She added that the initiative also aims to foster a mindset shift, encouraging self-reliance and engagement with government opportunities.

Col. Dhamuzungu Oguli, the Regional Coordinator for RDCs in Eastern Uganda, specifically advised RDCs against commissioning projects without verifying that the executed work aligns with allocated resources. He stressed the necessity of obtaining and scrutinizing BoQs, seeking expert guidance when needed, and stressed that RDCs can be held accountable for approving poorly executed projects.

Concerns were also raised regarding the Parish Development Model (PDM) in Luuka District, with reports of low fund recovery. Asiimwe urged local leaders to enhance supervision to ensure PDM funds are invested wisely and repaid, framing it as a tool for wealth creation rather than a handout.

Luuka District Chief Administrative Officer, Ronald Mutegeki, welcomed the engagement, noting that the district had recovered Shs31 million from fraudulent transactions and interdicted 13 staff members for alleged misconduct. The exercise underscores a broader initiative to ensure public resources are protected and government investments deliver the intended benefits to citizens.

Source: Nile Post