VP warns Ugandan ministers on performance

By Henry Mukasa

The Vice President Edward Ssekandi has told ministers and civil servants to stop being pedantic with processes and concentrate on tangible service delivery that enhances the citizens' living standards.

"We should be focusing on results that impact on improving the welfare of our society. This is what the citizenry that overwhelmingly voted for the NRM Government require from us," the Vice President advised.

Sseandi was opening the Government Half Annual Performance Retreat at in Kampala on Thursday. He implored the public servants assembled, who included ministers, Permanent Secretaries, heads of commissions, CAOs and RDCs to "every single day focus on those activities and outputs that can make positive difference for our people."

"The positive results that we are desirous to achieve will only become a reality of you managers worked diligently and will commitment to achieve results every single day. Whereas it's important to follow processes and procedures, these should not be an end in themselves," Ssekandi remarked.

The retreat analyses the Government Half Annual Performance Report drawn by the office of the Prime Minister with input from all sectors of Government. The report appraises progress by government in the first half of the financial year 2011-2012 (July-December 2011).

The retreat is structured around the key performance targets set by each ministry and local governments at the start of the financial year as outlined in the budget framework papers.

Ssekandi said the information obtained from the retreat will be used to identify areas of low performance and those that require quick intervention. He said the extent to which some sectors go off-track of set targets was unacceptable.

The VP emphasized the need to ensure wealth creation and improvement of household incomes of the population. He explained that the need for the above is the reason why government's primary intervention has been in road infrastructure, construction, schools, markets, provision of agricultural implements, water supply, health and sanitation facilities.

 According to the VP, the retreat will benchmark performance against stated yardsticks which include an increase in 'genuine' classroom construction, well maintained feeder roads, safe water points, and well stocked health centres.

Other targets include; improves financial discipline, computerized books of accounts, mobilizing Ugandans to engage in income generating activities and environment sustainability. Also critical to government is improved efficiency in planning, delivery of social services and ensuring value for money.

The Prime Minister, Amama Mbabazi said during the retreat government will assess whether it's on track, borderline or off track towards achieving annual set targets. Corrective measures would then be undertaken to ensure achievement, Mbabazi said.

President Museveni is expected to close the retreat late evening.