'Opposition not to blame for poor delivery'

By Geoffrey Mutegeki Araali

GOVERNMENT spokesperson Ofwono Opondo, has challenged local governments not to blame their failures in service delivery on the opposition.

Opondo who is also the executive director of the Uganda Media Center revealed that majority of the local governments are under the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) and hence should take full responsibility.

“We cannot say that opposition is frustrating service delivery in local governments where majority of our councils are dominated by NRM. It either incompetence or negligence which is causing all this,” Ofwono said.

He notes that over 90% of the local leaders are NRM and therefore should deliver quality services to the people without any excuses.

Opondo revealed this during a two day media dialogue which was organized by Governance Media Initiative (GMI), at Kabarole District Headquarters in Kitumba, East Division in Fort Portal town.

He noted that the NRM has taken the country a notch higher in all aspects but is performing poorly in tackling corruption.

“We have progressed well in terms of democracy, economic development, and press freedom among others. The only area we are doing badly but improving is corruption,” Opondo said

He said currently government has not been able to fully tackle investigations and that the system of detection and conclusion of corruption cases is not there.

“Our laws are also letting us down. We don’t have any legal backing regarding the recovery of properties from those implicated. But we are going to work on that,” Opondo said

He advised civil servants to stop being used as scapegoats by politicians and asked them to uphold their principals.

“Stop being used to do those ills. You cannot be dismissed. They can harass, talk ill about you, but if you do the right thing you will serve the people well and nothing will happen,” Opondo said

Alex Ruhunda, the MP for Fort Portal Municipality commended Mugisha Muntu, for turning the opposition more responsible in their work.

“Muntu has brought a more responsible opposition which we were yearning for. It is not inciting but organized which kept the country peaceful,” Ruhunda said

He cautioned schools against cheating exams which escalates corruption.

“You subject our children to cheating and in future they will never know how to get anything on merit. All they will do is to take corruption to another level. Let us stop corruption from the grassroots,” Ruhunda said.

Abas Ruhweza, the GMI executive director, commended the efforts of government on promoting patriotism which is the cure to vices like corruption.

“By embarking on promotion of patriotism we shall tackle corruption. It is not too late but we need to work together,” Ruhweza said

He challenged government to offer trainings to media personnel on patriotism and other government programs.