MPs query number of RDCs

By John Kakande
PARLIAMENT has queried the appointment of 93 deputy and assistant resident district commissioners (RDCs), saying they are not provided for in the Constitution.

The report of the presidential and foreign affairs committee adopted on Thursday said, “The Government retains 56 RDCs, one for every district, in compliance with the constitution.”

Chairperson Salaamu Musumba said Article 203(1) of the Constitution provided for one RDC for each district. It states, “There shall be for each district a Resident District Commissioner who shall be a senior civil servant appointed by the President.”

Musumba said some RDCs do not measure up to the “status of senior civil servant,” as required by article 203.

“The Government should retire or re-deploy the 95 DRDCs /ARDCs to comply with the Constitution,” the report said.

The report also said half of the 33 presidential advisors be dropped and that “advice to the Presidency be institutionalised through appointment of panel of experts.”
The Minister for the presidency, Kirunda Kivejinja, said the Government was already taking steps regarding RDCs and presidential advisors.