Donors can do very well
Jun 01, 2008
EDITOR—I wish to comment on your story, “Donors rap health services†published on Friday. The story is about corruption in the healthcare sector in Uganda. I wish to make some suggestions.
EDITOR—I wish to comment on your story, “Donors rap health services†published on Friday. The story is about corruption in the healthcare sector in Uganda. I wish to make some suggestions.
Donors should consider building, refurbishing, and equipping institutions directly, rather than funding them through various ministry channels. The same principle can be extended to other projects like roads and schools. If donors were to head construction projects of, say, hospitals, they would be more certain that their taxpayers’ donations would be invested efficiently.
Thousands of jobs could be generated for Ugandans in the construction industry, while suppliers of construction materials and services could earn billions, all of which would increase revenue for the country. regarding the management of the projects the donors support, I also suggest they volunteer to head the operations of every project until such time as a culture of discipline and accountability is developed locally, inspired by example.
Afterwards, the management can be handed over to better-trained, better-paid and motivated professionals who have experienced the benefits of a well-run system.
During the tenure of donor-managed operations, I also foresee the increased likelihood of staff training and professional development, procedural adherence and thus improved services to our citizens and visitors. Compared to the costs of the continued method of simply trusting individual officials with hard cash, we would be much better off.
Zahid Wissanji
Kampala
Donors should consider building, refurbishing, and equipping institutions directly, rather than funding them through various ministry channels. The same principle can be extended to other projects like roads and schools. If donors were to head construction projects of, say, hospitals, they would be more certain that their taxpayers’ donations would be invested efficiently.
Thousands of jobs could be generated for Ugandans in the construction industry, while suppliers of construction materials and services could earn billions, all of which would increase revenue for the country. regarding the management of the projects the donors support, I also suggest they volunteer to head the operations of every project until such time as a culture of discipline and accountability is developed locally, inspired by example.
Afterwards, the management can be handed over to better-trained, better-paid and motivated professionals who have experienced the benefits of a well-run system.
During the tenure of donor-managed operations, I also foresee the increased likelihood of staff training and professional development, procedural adherence and thus improved services to our citizens and visitors. Compared to the costs of the continued method of simply trusting individual officials with hard cash, we would be much better off.
Zahid Wissanji
Kampala