Sleeping government horses should be thrown out with their beds

By Robert Mugumya

WORLD over horses are widely known for their peculiar racing abilities and competitiveness in galloping over hurdles.

They are also highly disciplined and effective in character.  That is why horses participated in wars during the medieval age.

However, in Uganda we have got different breeds of horses whose character and abilities are quite the opposite of real horses.  When it comes to quality leadership, decision making and policy implementation, we see very many sleeping horses occupying public offices!  

So, how can NRM government expect to deliver better services when those charged with policy implementation are in deep slumber affected by ideological bankruptcy?  No, we cannot let sleeping horses lie forever in public offices as the President and NRM government take the blame for non service delivery. 

NRM government needs to clean its house if we are to stop serious financial hemorrhage in Kiwanuka’s well planned National Budget.  

Unless this is done, implementation of Government policies and achievement of economic development goals will remain on paper without significant impact on the ground. 

Nevertheless, the national budget 2012/2013 reflects government’s commitment to better service delivery to the people.  A glimpse at the budget brings out this reality.  

For instance, energy sector which a strategic economic pillar has been allocated Shs.1.37 trillion to boost power generation and spur economic growth in our country.  In this way NRM government is living to its promises.  

Nonetheless, government should weed out sleeping horses in this sector in case there are any. What has been budgeted for must be done. 

Poor road network which has been a great public concern will son become a Gregorian chant of the past as various ambitious road projects will be embarked on this new financial year.  This explains why infrastructure has been allocated a sizeable amount of Shs.1.4 trillion.  

With UNRA’s Commitment and competence at least we are sure that our money will be put to good use and deliver good quality roads.

Education sector being a major axis of human resource development in the country, NRM government has consistently made it a priority.  Hence a budgetary allocation of Shs.1.669 trillion to this sector is not a political accident but rather a deliberate government policy to better service delivery to its people as clearly setout in NRM manifesto 2011-2016.

However, in this sector there are not only sleeping horses but also ghost schools, ghost teachers, ghost pupils and the father of all ghosts.  These should be eliminated otherwise half of the funds allocated to this sector will end up in ghost pockets.

In a unique manner the health sector is promising good fruits.  The sector has been allocated 8% of the total budget. Although a grim situation has hovered over Uganda’s health sector for sometime, the cause and cure have been found.

The problem has not been largely under funding but mismanagement of the available resources.  This issue is already handled and in the financial year 2012/2013 Ugandans will see a vibrant health sector with its expected glory.

With comprehensive structural reforms going on in the health sector, a good job is being done by the new team, at the helm of the ministry, headed by Dr. Asuman Lukwago – the current permanent secretary. The team is determined to give the health sector a human face.  

Financial discipline and credibility, loyalty and commitment, selflessness and willing to put public interest before personal interests are among the characteristics which define this new team. The team has undertaken administrative interventions to improve health workers remuneration and their general working conditions.  

Ugandans should expect a wave of positive changes in our health sector in the new financial year.  In this sector, however there is also need to rehabilitate health workers’ ethics, conduct and customer care. 

Finally, NRM government must ensure that the implementing arm of government polices and programms provides timely, high quality and cost effective services to the nation by pruning its sleeping horses.

The writer is a Researcher & Political Analyst