In uganda ” INTEGRITY FORUM ” are crucial local and national platform dedicated to fight corruption improving transparency and boosting accountability in public service and revenue collection. Several key bodies regularly host or participate in these meeting.
The District leaders and key stakeholders held a meeting of integrity forum aimed at strengthening transparency, tackling corruption and improving public service delivery, this meeting was held at adaptation centre sironko.
The meeting brought key government and civil society actors to address accountability concerns through coordinated local mechanisms, some of the members who attended include RDC sironko, lcv chairperson, headteachers of secondary schools, heads of departments, chairpersons of statutory bodies etc. During the meeting, the RDC sironko Mr Denis ephraim Balwaniregha said the initiative would enhance community participation in promoting transparency and ethical governance ” our goal is to review ethic issues, corruption, transparency and accountability across all sectors, deterring corruption at the local levels before escalate to other agencies.
Remember the government sends money to the grass roots for poverty eradication but there are many questions about how it is handled, under the parish development model, some beneficiaries who are supposed to receive shs 1 million ending up getting less , many fear reporting such cases or don’t know the reporting mechanism, we hope the forum will bridge the gap, and the RDC promised to hold these meetings quarterly and invite other agencies eg IGG in next meeting to teach integrity
Additionally the LCV vice chairperson Hon Nandudu Evelyn, said its true there have been challenges relating to integrity and accountability, but there was no harmonised forum to address them.
Corruption issues have been often politicised in the District, there have been integrity concerns in our district that painted a negative image. With this FORUM, many issues can be addressed internally before they escalate, some arise from misunderstanding and internal disagreements.
The chief administrative officer sironko Mr mulondo Robert said the initiative is intended to provide a practical local mechanisms for addressing accountability concerns while conducting field monitoring to ensure government resources translate into actual service delivery. ” accountability issues are every where, we receive government funds, but communities often don’t know how these resources are utilised. Where it is a road fund or other programmes such as the PDM where beneficiaries are expected to receive shs 1 million but claim they receive less, this platform will help to resolve such concerns.
He added that although criminal matters can still be handled by police and other agencies, service delivery disputes should first be addressed through local accountability structures and alternative dispute resolution, the objective of the forum is to review ethical issues, corruption, transparency and accountability across all sectors and stop corruption at the local level before cases reach national agencies. This forum gives citizens and civil society organisations a direct channel to raise concerns .Previously civil society efforts were scattered and also the CAO directed town clerk and SACAOS to display clients charter at all notice boards.
In an interview with the District planner Mr wozisi Fred, said this forum is focused on the role that today’s unprecedented innovations can play in transforming sironko against corruption and inventing new ways to promote integrity and transparency, by showcasing cutting edge strategies and fostering collaboration across all sectors, the forum aimed to break new ground in promoting transparency and integrity while inspiring participants to implement forward thinking actionable solutions that can reshape the anti- corruption landscape.
BY NAMISI SCANIA DISTRICT COMMUNICATION OFFICER SIRONKO
