Hon. Babalanda Rallies RDCs to Prioritise Service Delivery and Manifesto Implementation

The Minister in Charge of the Presidency, Milly Babalanda, has tasked Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and other presidential representatives to put politics aside and focus on performance as government embarks on a new presidential term.

Speaking on Wednesday while officiating at the opening of a three-day capacity building workshop in Arua City, Babalanda commended RDCs, Resident City Commissioners (RCCs), their deputies, Assistant RDCs (ARDCs), Resident Internal Security Officers (RISOs) and District Internal Security Officers (DISOs) for their mobilisation efforts during the election period.

The workshop, held at Hotel Le Confidentiel in Arua City, brought together presidential representatives from across the West Nile sub-region to sharpen their coordination, oversight and service delivery roles.

Commendation for Election Vigilance

Babalanda applauded the officials for what she described as vigilance, coordination and leadership that ensured peaceful and lawful elections, ultimately delivering victory for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM).

She noted that their role in maintaining order and safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process had contributed significantly to stability in the region.

However, she cautioned that the election period was now behind them and urged the officials to transition fully into service-oriented leadership.

“Politics must give way to performance,” she emphasised, calling on the commissioners to prioritise tangible results that improve the lives of citizens.

Translating the Manifesto into Results

Babalanda underscored that the new NRM manifesto represents a social contract between government and the people of Uganda. She highlighted key strategic priorities for the new term, including wealth creation, industrialisation, value addition, job creation and human capital development.

“As leaders and representatives of the Presidency, each of you holds a critical role in translating these commitments into tangible results,” she said.

She stressed that consolidating the gains made under the leadership of Yoweri Kaguta Museveni remains a central task, particularly in regions such as West Nile, which she said has undergone remarkable transformation in recent years.

According to the minister, West Nile is no longer a “forgotten frontier” but is firmly integrated into the national development agenda. She challenged the commissioners and security officers to safeguard and expand the progress registered in infrastructure, service delivery and socio-economic development.

Call for Discipline and Professionalism

The minister further called for discipline, professionalism and strict adherence to established procedures in the execution of duties. She urged the officials to be guided by integrity, impartiality and accountability in all their decisions.

“It is through hard work, teamwork and transparency that we strengthen public trust and reinforce confidence in the Presidency and in government as a whole,” she said.

Babalanda reminded the participants that as representatives of the President in their respective districts and jurisdictions, they serve as the “eyes and ears” of the Presidency.

Monitoring Service Delivery a Constitutional Obligation

She emphasised that monitoring service delivery is not optional but a constitutional obligation that underpins transparency, efficiency and measurable results for wananchi.

The minister directed the officials to ensure prudent utilisation of government funds and to carry out regular inspections of public institutions and projects, including schools, health facilities, roads, water projects and other public investments.

“Ensure that government funds are utilised prudently and for intended purposes,” she urged, adding that proactive oversight at the grassroots level will significantly determine the success of government interventions.

As the country begins a new year and a new presidential term, Babalanda conveyed a message from President Museveni calling for renewed commitment to discipline, patriotism and results-oriented service.

She encouraged the commissioners to reflect critically on past performance, identify gaps and recommit themselves to excellence and accountability in the discharge of their duties.

The three-day workshop is expected to equip the participants with enhanced capacity to coordinate government programmes, strengthen security oversight and improve service delivery across the West Nile sub-region.