Rt. Hon Namayanja Rose Nsereko, the NRM Deputy Secretary General, has raised concerns about the lack of information sharing at the local government levels and stressed the importance of local leaders being well-informed about development models such as the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and the Microfinance Support Center.
She noted that the amount of money allocated to these initiatives in the communities of the Teso sub-region is over 40 billion Shillings, highlighting the significance of effective monitoring and implementation.
"It's crucial that the district leaders share information about the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, and the Microfinance Support Center funds with the sub-county leaders. They need to be equipped with the knowledge to monitor these initiatives effectively," Hon Namayanja emphasized.
Namayanja made these comments while concluding a two-day visit to Teso Sub-region in Soroti City, where she engaged with NRM sub-county chairpersons, LC III, and district administrators from six districts. The purpose of the visit was to discuss issues related to poverty alleviation among the communities.
"It's important to train and involve local leaders at the sub-county level to ensure their understanding of the programs, guidelines, and implementation procedures. The responsibilities of monitoring and supervision rest with the LC3 leaders, and they play a vital role in ensuring the successful execution of service delivery programs within their jurisdictions," Hon Namayanja further stressed.
During her visit, Hon Namayanja also noted the progress of the Emyooga program, saying, "I'm pleased to see that members have been saving and recovering funds independently. While some circles were yet to distribute funds, the necessary training and launch events were still pending. The government remains committed to implementing the programs to the best of their ability with the available resources."
Hon Namayanja acknowledged the community's embrace of NRM initiatives in the Teso sub-region and credited the region's progress to improved security and stability. She said, "This has enabled the successful implementation of various service delivery programs."
The issue of compensation also emerged during the discussions, and Hon Namayanja assured the community that their concerns would be communicated to the government for further action. "We understand the challenges faced by the community, and we will do our best to address them," she said.
The engagement with local leaders, civil society representatives, and opinion leaders provided an opportunity to identify key issues and report them back to the government for prompt implementation. "We remain committed to fulfilling promises and delivering on pledges," Hon Namayanja said. She expressed gratitude to all participants for their active involvement and welcomed their continued support in the development endeavours of the Teso sub-region.
"This two-day engagement served as a platform for fruitful discussions and reaffirmed the commitment to the welfare of the community," Hon Namayanja concluded