According to Annet Twine the Director of Project Risk Monitoring and Control the CSOs will implement the ‘community responsibility to enhance transparency and accountability (CRETA) activity.
The
Inspectorate of Government has partnered with nine Civil Society Organizations
to support the implementation of the Transparency, Accountability, and
Anti-Corruption component in the implementation of the ‘Development Response to
Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP).
The government received a grant from the World Bank to implement the DRDIP. It aims
to improve access to social services, expand economic opportunities and enhance
environmental management for host and forcibly displaced households in the
targeted areas of Uganda.
According to Annet Twine the Director of Project Risk Monitoring and Control
the CSOs will implement the ‘community responsibility to enhance transparency
and accountability (CRETA) activity.
This involves training communities to
monitor government projects, document findings from the monitoring activities,
and also report corruption cases to the relevant authorities.
The CSOs
include Koboko Civil Society Organization, Kitgum NGO Forum, Moyo District NGO
Forum, Community Development Network in Yumbe District and Arua NGO Forum.
The others are
Adjumani NGO Forum, Karambi Action for Life Improvement Kamwenge District, and Western
Ankole Civil Society Forum in Isingiro District.
During the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding in Mbarara City, the
Deputy Inspector General of Government, Dr Patrician Achan Okiria expressed
confidence that the partnership with the CSOs will yield success.
She explained
that the inspectorate has registered key successes in increased
ownership of government projects, accountability of project
funds, and improvements in the quality of outputs of the projects and service
delivery.
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Apollo Kakonge
Lee, the Executive Director of Western Ankole Civil society forum expressed
disappointment with the office of the Inspectorate of Government for delaying
taking action on complaints.
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Angela Byangwa, the Executive Director of the Rwenzori Anti-Corruption Coalition,
decried intimidation from public officials implicated in corruption scandals,
which demoralizes the community monitors.
Byangwa added
that there is still low participation from the community members in the budgeting process
which is crucial in monitoring.
