Academic qualifications should be raised - leaders
LOCAL government leaders from the central region want a minimum academic qualification of Senior Four certificate for the posts of sub-county chairperson, councillors and speakers.
By John Semakula
LOCAL government leaders from the central region want a minimum academic qualification of Senior Four certificate for the posts of sub-county chairperson, councillors and speakers.
In October, the Ministry of Local Government carried out consultations on how to strengthen the decentralisation policy. The leaders called for minimum academic qualifications for some positions.
The issue was also presented before the regional meeting for local government leaders on Thursday at Mukono Community Centre, and was endorsed.
The meeting was attended by resident district commissioners, chief administrative officers and district speakers. Proponents of the issue said currently there are no academic restrictions for any of the offices.
Those in support argued that such offices needed people who would understand and interpret policies being implemented by the technical people in their areas.
They also noted that with the introduction of the Universal Primary Education programme, many people had gone back to school and, therefore, creating more potential people who would take up the positions.
But those who were opposed to it like Kalangala RDC Deo Kayiwa Nsereko, argued that academic qualifications were not necessary in delivering services.
They also argued that there were so many districts in Uganda which would stay without leaders in some positions because of lack of academic qualifications.
Other issues which were raised by the leaders during the consultations included the need to organise and speed up elections of LC1 and LC2 committees.
The leaders noted that the delay to hold elections had affected mobilisation of people in the villages.
Each year, the Ministry of Local Government carries out such consultations in all the districts ahead of the joint annual review of decentralisation national conference. Municipality, sub-county and district leaders are consulted.
The regional meeting was presided over by officials from different ministries who were led by Walter Pade, a commissioner from the Ministry of Lands.
LOCAL government leaders from the central region want a minimum academic qualification of Senior Four certificate for the posts of sub-county chairperson, councillors and speakers.
In October, the Ministry of Local Government carried out consultations on how to strengthen the decentralisation policy. The leaders called for minimum academic qualifications for some positions.
The issue was also presented before the regional meeting for local government leaders on Thursday at Mukono Community Centre, and was endorsed.
The meeting was attended by resident district commissioners, chief administrative officers and district speakers. Proponents of the issue said currently there are no academic restrictions for any of the offices.
Those in support argued that such offices needed people who would understand and interpret policies being implemented by the technical people in their areas.
They also noted that with the introduction of the Universal Primary Education programme, many people had gone back to school and, therefore, creating more potential people who would take up the positions.
But those who were opposed to it like Kalangala RDC Deo Kayiwa Nsereko, argued that academic qualifications were not necessary in delivering services.
They also argued that there were so many districts in Uganda which would stay without leaders in some positions because of lack of academic qualifications.
Other issues which were raised by the leaders during the consultations included the need to organise and speed up elections of LC1 and LC2 committees.
The leaders noted that the delay to hold elections had affected mobilisation of people in the villages.
Each year, the Ministry of Local Government carries out such consultations in all the districts ahead of the joint annual review of decentralisation national conference. Municipality, sub-county and district leaders are consulted.
The regional meeting was presided over by officials from different ministries who were led by Walter Pade, a commissioner from the Ministry of Lands.