Accountability will promote development in the north
Apr 18, 2007
ACCOUNTABILITY of funds advanced by the Government and development partners is the key to development initiatives of communities in Northern Uganda.
YOUR PLATFORM
By Martin Okumu
ACCOUNTABILITY of funds advanced by the Government and development partners is the key to development initiatives of communities in Northern Uganda.
Communities in the Greater North, covering West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Teso and Karamoja got manna from heaven in the form of the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF).
To date, 7,165 community sub-projects have received funds worth sh111,275,860,405, as at March 31, 2007. However, the latest data reveals that only 64% of the disbursements have been accounted for.
Of the 18 original districts that accepted to implement NUSAF, Lira has accounted for only 23% of the sh8,194,921,667 so far disbursed. The best district is Kaberamaido that has accounted for up to 99% of sh2,813,182,400 received.
Districts that signed a memorandum of understanding to implement NUSAF, also accepted responsibility to mobilise accountability from beneficiary community sub-projects.
NUSAF receives funds from the International Development Agency of the World Bank as a loan to the Government of Uganda but, as grants to communities who are required to promptly account for what they receive in two months.
Due to the slow pace of accountability in some districts, the NUSAF Management Unit is organising technical backstopping missions to Arua, Nebbi, Yumbe, Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Apac, Lira, Kumi, Katakwi, Pallisa, Nakapiripirit, Moroto and Kotido from April 16-26, 2007.
The missions will be divided into five teams to assist districts to mobilise communities to expeditiously account for funds given for implementation of their sub-projects.
The clarion call is to communities to be responsible and make the accountability exercise yield rapid results. It is a call for both political leaders and technical staff to assist communities in the noble cause.
Accountability is the only way to appreciate the social fund and a community demand-driven approach to development being implemented in Uganda for the first time.
Accountability and community satisfaction will ensure continuity of social fund and bottom-up grassroots development. It will strengthen the decentralisation and institutional capacity development to local governments in the north.
The writer is the Information, Education & Communication specialist in NUSAF
By Martin Okumu
ACCOUNTABILITY of funds advanced by the Government and development partners is the key to development initiatives of communities in Northern Uganda.
Communities in the Greater North, covering West Nile, Acholi, Lango, Teso and Karamoja got manna from heaven in the form of the Northern Uganda Social Action Fund (NUSAF).
To date, 7,165 community sub-projects have received funds worth sh111,275,860,405, as at March 31, 2007. However, the latest data reveals that only 64% of the disbursements have been accounted for.
Of the 18 original districts that accepted to implement NUSAF, Lira has accounted for only 23% of the sh8,194,921,667 so far disbursed. The best district is Kaberamaido that has accounted for up to 99% of sh2,813,182,400 received.
Districts that signed a memorandum of understanding to implement NUSAF, also accepted responsibility to mobilise accountability from beneficiary community sub-projects.
NUSAF receives funds from the International Development Agency of the World Bank as a loan to the Government of Uganda but, as grants to communities who are required to promptly account for what they receive in two months.
Due to the slow pace of accountability in some districts, the NUSAF Management Unit is organising technical backstopping missions to Arua, Nebbi, Yumbe, Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Apac, Lira, Kumi, Katakwi, Pallisa, Nakapiripirit, Moroto and Kotido from April 16-26, 2007.
The missions will be divided into five teams to assist districts to mobilise communities to expeditiously account for funds given for implementation of their sub-projects.
The clarion call is to communities to be responsible and make the accountability exercise yield rapid results. It is a call for both political leaders and technical staff to assist communities in the noble cause.
Accountability is the only way to appreciate the social fund and a community demand-driven approach to development being implemented in Uganda for the first time.
Accountability and community satisfaction will ensure continuity of social fund and bottom-up grassroots development. It will strengthen the decentralisation and institutional capacity development to local governments in the north.
The writer is the Information, Education & Communication specialist in NUSAF