CHOGM preparations elaborate, inclusive
THE<i> New Vision</i> on January 3, 2007 ran an opinion article by Avutia Ronald Kizito in which he stated that “the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) preparations and arrangements in Kampala seem to be done selectively without involving Ugandansâ€. This is not correct.
Kagole Kivumbi
THE New Vision on January 3, 2007 ran an opinion article by Avutia Ronald Kizito in which he stated that “the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) preparations and arrangements in Kampala seem to be done selectively without involving Ugandansâ€. This is not correct. CHOGM is a national affair. It is not partisan.
The private sector has been well mobilised and the activities in hotel construction are some of the visible outputs of the partnership that Government has established. This partnership will also cover the insurance industry, banks, hospitals, universities, boutiques, the artists/music/film industry as well as radio, television, taxi operators, some car washers, shoe shiners, rural farmers and volunteers.
As the host nation, Uganda has a national organising structure composed of Cabinet. The President chairs Cabinet which is the highest policy organ of Government. Cabinet formulates, determines and implements policy of government including all aspects related to CHOGM 2007.
The President, who will host his counterparts in November in Kampala, is required to be closely involved in preparations that demand quick and regular consultations with other heads of government and the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
A National Task Force (NTF) was set up to steer the preparations for CHOGM 2007 at the technical level. The NTF, chaired by John Mitala, Head of Public Service/Secretary to Cabinet, reports to a 12-member Cabinet sub-committee chaired by Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya for political guidance.
The Cabinet sub-committee has established mini-Cabinet sub-committees chaired by the line Ministers to provide political direction to the technical committees and to monitor the implementation in the respective areas of planned activities.
The NTF is composed of the Permanent Secretaries who are chairperson of the technical sub-committees in the sectors under their fields of operation. The Permanent Secretaries are also the accounting officers for the public funds approved for the activities under their respective Sub-Committees.
The other members of the NTF are Warren Nyamugasira, Executive Director of the NGO Forum, representing Civil Society Organisations; Dr. James Mulwana, Chairman of the Private Sector Foundation representing the Private Sector; Alhaji Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala, Mayor of Kampala City,; Steven Kabuye, Mayor of Entebbe Municipality; and Eng. Ian Kyeyune, Chairperson of Wakiso District, The Town Clerks of Kampala and Entebbe Municipality are technical officers on the NTF representing the two urban authorities.
A CHOGM 2007 Secretariat has been established in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hilda Musubira, the Deputy Head of Public Service and Secretary for Administrative Reform, heads the Secretariat as the Executive Director.
The functions of the Secretariat include strategic planning, management and monitoring, co-ordination and harmonisation of all CHOGM 2007 activities and mobilisation of members of the private sector and civil society as strategic partners for CHOGM 2007. It is also charged with promotion and dissemination of information to the stakeholders and the general public.
The National Task Force has established 16 sub-committees to implement the activities concerning the above mentioned logistical requirements for CHOGM 2007 under their respective fields of operation.
Parliament is also on board. There is an adhoc committee to enable Parliament to fulfill its oversight function.
As a country we are set and ready to host not only a very successful CHOGM in Kampala in November 2007 but also a memorable one for years to come.
The writer is the spokesman of the National Task Force, CHOGM 2007
THE New Vision on January 3, 2007 ran an opinion article by Avutia Ronald Kizito in which he stated that “the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) preparations and arrangements in Kampala seem to be done selectively without involving Ugandansâ€. This is not correct. CHOGM is a national affair. It is not partisan.
The private sector has been well mobilised and the activities in hotel construction are some of the visible outputs of the partnership that Government has established. This partnership will also cover the insurance industry, banks, hospitals, universities, boutiques, the artists/music/film industry as well as radio, television, taxi operators, some car washers, shoe shiners, rural farmers and volunteers.
As the host nation, Uganda has a national organising structure composed of Cabinet. The President chairs Cabinet which is the highest policy organ of Government. Cabinet formulates, determines and implements policy of government including all aspects related to CHOGM 2007.
The President, who will host his counterparts in November in Kampala, is required to be closely involved in preparations that demand quick and regular consultations with other heads of government and the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
A National Task Force (NTF) was set up to steer the preparations for CHOGM 2007 at the technical level. The NTF, chaired by John Mitala, Head of Public Service/Secretary to Cabinet, reports to a 12-member Cabinet sub-committee chaired by Vice-President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya for political guidance.
The Cabinet sub-committee has established mini-Cabinet sub-committees chaired by the line Ministers to provide political direction to the technical committees and to monitor the implementation in the respective areas of planned activities.
The NTF is composed of the Permanent Secretaries who are chairperson of the technical sub-committees in the sectors under their fields of operation. The Permanent Secretaries are also the accounting officers for the public funds approved for the activities under their respective Sub-Committees.
The other members of the NTF are Warren Nyamugasira, Executive Director of the NGO Forum, representing Civil Society Organisations; Dr. James Mulwana, Chairman of the Private Sector Foundation representing the Private Sector; Alhaji Nasser Ntege Ssebaggala, Mayor of Kampala City,; Steven Kabuye, Mayor of Entebbe Municipality; and Eng. Ian Kyeyune, Chairperson of Wakiso District, The Town Clerks of Kampala and Entebbe Municipality are technical officers on the NTF representing the two urban authorities.
A CHOGM 2007 Secretariat has been established in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hilda Musubira, the Deputy Head of Public Service and Secretary for Administrative Reform, heads the Secretariat as the Executive Director.
The functions of the Secretariat include strategic planning, management and monitoring, co-ordination and harmonisation of all CHOGM 2007 activities and mobilisation of members of the private sector and civil society as strategic partners for CHOGM 2007. It is also charged with promotion and dissemination of information to the stakeholders and the general public.
The National Task Force has established 16 sub-committees to implement the activities concerning the above mentioned logistical requirements for CHOGM 2007 under their respective fields of operation.
Parliament is also on board. There is an adhoc committee to enable Parliament to fulfill its oversight function.
As a country we are set and ready to host not only a very successful CHOGM in Kampala in November 2007 but also a memorable one for years to come.
The writer is the spokesman of the National Task Force, CHOGM 2007