Four districts selected for pilot barazas
Dec 30, 2009
FOUR districts have been selected to pilot the local government accountability fora known as Barazas. The Barazas are intended to fight corruption in the local governments.
By James Odongo
FOUR districts have been selected to pilot the local government accountability fora known as Barazas. The Barazas are intended to fight corruption in the local governments.
An official from the prime ministers’ office, Edmond Owori, said the four districts chosen include Kumi for the east, Nebbi for the north, Bushenyi for the west and Masaka for the southern region.
Owori was speaking at the launch of the Baraza in Kumi district on Tuesday, saying two sub-counties were chosen in each of the pilot districts. In Kumi, the Barazas are being implemented in Mukura and Kanyumu sub-counties.
The pilot Baraza for Mukura was launched by the Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness and Relief, Musa Ecweru, at the sub-county headquarters on Tuesday.
“We have selected community monitors in each parish and trained them on how to verify government programmes so that they report to the office of the RDC,†Owori said.
The office of the RDC is responsible for organising Barazas every six months for leaders to account to the people.
Under the Barazas, communities are given a chance to ask their leaders questions about the use of funds and implementation of government programmes.
“From the time I became an RDC more than 20 years ago, I have seen civil servants abusing government programmes by using one project to account for various funds. In some instances, I tried to intervene. Now with the Barazas, the situation will not be the same,†Ecweru said.
He said it was disheartening that the Government sends billions of shillings to districts to help communities get out of poverty but the money does not reach the intended beneficiaries, who then blame the Government.
FOUR districts have been selected to pilot the local government accountability fora known as Barazas. The Barazas are intended to fight corruption in the local governments.
An official from the prime ministers’ office, Edmond Owori, said the four districts chosen include Kumi for the east, Nebbi for the north, Bushenyi for the west and Masaka for the southern region.
Owori was speaking at the launch of the Baraza in Kumi district on Tuesday, saying two sub-counties were chosen in each of the pilot districts. In Kumi, the Barazas are being implemented in Mukura and Kanyumu sub-counties.
The pilot Baraza for Mukura was launched by the Minister of State for Disaster Preparedness and Relief, Musa Ecweru, at the sub-county headquarters on Tuesday.
“We have selected community monitors in each parish and trained them on how to verify government programmes so that they report to the office of the RDC,†Owori said.
The office of the RDC is responsible for organising Barazas every six months for leaders to account to the people.
Under the Barazas, communities are given a chance to ask their leaders questions about the use of funds and implementation of government programmes.
“From the time I became an RDC more than 20 years ago, I have seen civil servants abusing government programmes by using one project to account for various funds. In some instances, I tried to intervene. Now with the Barazas, the situation will not be the same,†Ecweru said.
He said it was disheartening that the Government sends billions of shillings to districts to help communities get out of poverty but the money does not reach the intended beneficiaries, who then blame the Government.