OPM creates website to monitor Gov't ministries

By Darious Magara

By just a click on a button of one’s computer, it is now possible to access information on the performance of Government ministries, thanks to the website set up by the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM).

The OPM has set up an evaluation database that is a “One Stop Centre” for access to all relevant evaluations that have been carried out in Uganda.

The evaluations are properly catalogued for easy search, access, reference and download. The database is accessible from the website: gef.opm.go.ug

It was launched by the Minister for General Duties in the OPM, Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere this week.

The minister also said the government, through the various ministries, departments and agencies, has been carrying out monitoring and evaluation of government programmes and projects for several years, but that their access had been a challenge.

“I urge the evaluation community in Uganda to share with us any relevant information so as to keep the website up-to-date,” Kabwegyere appealed.

He said access to all the evaluations done will promote transparency.

“We also have a great number of evaluations that have been carried out by development partners, civil society organisations and international agencies. All these evaluations are relevant for supporting “evidence-based policy making,” said Albert Byamugisha, the commissioner in charge of monitoring and evaluation in the OPM.

Byamugisha said some of the evaluations carried out include the one on the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, the Plan for the Modernisation of Agriculture and the study of court-case backlogs in the Judiciary.