GULU BEST DISTRICT COUNCIL

Gulu District chairperson Mr Mapinduzi Ojara (L) receive an award from ministry of Local Government assistant commissioner, Mr Swizen Singa Mugyema (R), Uganda Local Government Association (ULGA), president Fredrick Gume Ngobi (2nd R) and ULGA secretary Gartrude Mr Rose Gamwera during the launch of the score card in Kampala yesterday. PHOTO BY STEPHEN WANDERA.  

By Stephen Kafeero 

KAMPALA. Gulu has been declared the best performing district council for the second time running. 
The district best performance is highlighted in the Local Government Councils Scorecard report released, which was released in Kampala yesterday. 

The district was also the best performing local council in the 2011 score card. 
The fifth report, compiled by Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (Acode) presented findings of the annual assessment of 30 districts and their leaders.
Wakiso and Jinja came in as second and third runner-up respectively while Buliisa was the worst performing district. 
Mr Martin Mapenduzi, the Gulu District chairperson emerged the best performer with 89 per cent while Salaam Musumba (Kamuli District) and Richard Rwabuhinga (Kabarole District) tied in the second position with a score of 87 per cent.
Mr Norman Ssemwanga Kaboggo from Wakiso District was the best performing male councillor while Stella Kyorampa from Kabarole District was the best performing female councillor.
Ms Lillian Muyomba Tamale, a research fellow at Acode, who led the team that came up with the report said there is a remarkable improvement not only in the performance of the elected political leaders since the scorecard was first introduced in 2009 but also in planning and budgeting and monitoring of priority programs.
She observed that opposition candidates performed better than their counterparts in the NRM when it came to debating in district councils.
“Despite the small numbers in council, opposition party councillors with the exception of UPC performed the legislative function better on average than their counterparts in NRM.”
Launching the report, Mr Adolf Mwesige, the minister of Local Government, called for a continuous assessment of leaders, if they are to deliver services efficiently to the people.
“Leaders must present themselves to be assessed in order to improve service delivery to the people we represent,” Mr Mwesige said.

Speakers

Excelled district speakers. Mr James Kezaala of Mukono District emerged the best performer with 89 per cent. He was followed by Douglas Peter Okello of Gulu District who scored 88 per cent. Martin Odyek also scored 88 per cent tying in second position with Mr Okello.

CREDIT SOURCE: THE MONITOR