EALA Speaker asks leaders to not "abuse" taxpayers' money

Mar 29, 2016

Uganda and the East African region was not in deficit of good leaders, but said the “some” who were misusing taxpayers’ money and grants from development partners bogged down the region

East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) speaker Daniel Fred Kidega on Tuesday presided over The Leadership Academy graduation ceremony at the Kampala Serena Hotel, where he asked the leadership graduands to not "abuse" taxpayers' money.

In a rather hard-toned voice the speaker who replaced Margaret Zziwa at the helm of the East African lawmaking organ lamented the "glaring headlines" about taxpayers' money that gets swindled in the region. The speaker asked the young leaders to emulate the "servant leadership" module, which allows for them to place their subjects at the center of their leadership.

A total of 66 young men and women received certificates for attaining "practical and most relevant skills" in leadership after they joined the programme, run by the Uganda Youth Network and the International Republican Institute, a year ago.

esident ountry irector nternational epublican nstitute ara etricevic illiams and peaker of the ast frican egislative ssembly t on an red idega during the eadership cademy raduation at erena otel on 2932016 hoto by ary ansiime

Resident Country Director International Republican Institute Lara Petricevic Williams and Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly Rt. Hon Dan Fred Kidega during the Leadership Academy Graduation at Serena Hotel on 29/3/2016. Photo by Mary Kansiime

Daniel Fred Kidega said Uganda and the East African region was not in deficit of good leaders, but said the "some" who were misusing taxpayers' money and grants from development partners bogged down the region.

Lillian Bagala, the Uganda Youth Network executive director, said they wanted to build a new breed of young men and women leaders who are transformational and practical and can cause rapid makeover of the region from a third to a first world one.

She called on the graduands to not forget the core guidelines of transformational leadership, mentorship and leading by example the programme offered them to better the region.

xecutive irector ganda outh etwork illian agala and esident ountry irector nternational epublican nstitute ara etricevic illiams handing over certificate to raduate imothy uwonge for finishing the leadership cademy rogram during the eadership cademy raduation at erena otel on 2932016 hoto by ary ansiime

Executive Director Uganda Youth Network Lillian Bagala and Resident Country Director International Republican Institute Lara Petricevic Williams handing over certificate to Graduate Timothy Muwonge for finishing the leadership Academy Program during the Leadership Academy Graduation at Serena Hotel on 29/3/2016. Photo by Mary Kansiime

Also in attendance was the Danish Ambassador to Uganda Mogens Pedersen, the USAID deputy mission director John Mark Winfield and the National Water and Sewerage Corporation executive director Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha.

Dr. Eng. Silver Mugisha, who recently got international acclaim for transforming the water corporation, called for courage, honesty, and hard work among the graduands. He said NWSC extended water services to 157 towns in Uganda from about less than a half (of 157) two years ago courtesy of the institution's "courageous" strategic direction.

Boney Otim, one of the graduands, described the programme as necessary to build Uganda into a first world economy.