Following the successful implementation of the pilot project in 2008 titled; Enhancing Decentralised Governance in Uganda, the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) extended the Local Government capacity building program to Kamuli, Wakiso, Mbarara and Sembabule districts.
From 17th -19th February 2010, FHRI convened a Capacity Building Workshop for local councillors and heads-of-departments in Wakiso district to equip the participants with knowledge and skills in the best practices in governance. The participants were introduced to among other areas, participatory budgeting; public accountability; legislative and policy formulation in local governance; human rights and state obligations for effective service delivery. The course was jointly organized with the office of the Town Clerk of Wakiso District Local Government.
The course which was attended by 52 participants (29 female and 23 male) including district political leaders, technical heads, staff of the district and district councilors was officially opened by the area Member of Parliament Kyadondo North, Wakiso District Hon. Robert Kasule Sebunya who acknowledged the work of and support from FHRI and WFD in reaching out to the local leaders in order to enhance their knowledge on democratic governance within the Local Government context.
He emphasized the need to develop an information and communication system in Wakiso that would encourage and motivate information flow and feedback from the grassroots to the leaders in order to ensure that problems at this level are effectively responded to. He emphasized team work amongst the officials and technical staff of the district as a major principle that would facilitate such a system.
On her part, while officially closing the course, the Woman Member of Parliament, Busiro East, Wakiso district, Hon. Nakawuki Susan extended gratitude to the Members of Parliament for taking time to share their experiences and good practices with the Councilors on issues of participatory governance.
Using the Practice Guide as a reference tool, the course facilitators interrogated and provoked discussions on Participatory Policy Formulation in Local Government; Local Government in a multiparty setting; governance and public accountability;, participatory budgeting in local government and respect for human rights and state compliance within the local government context.
The councilors raised a number of issues during the session preferring to discuss some of the challenges to their work including: Mobilization of community members to facilitate participatory planning and budgeting was a challenge as this process requires funds, which are not always available to the councilors; Participation of women in Local Government processes is still very low given their domestic obligations and responsibilities and; a big number of councilors in Wakiso district do not have the technical knowledge on Local Government budgeting processes as they too are never involved in the processes.
|
