The Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi has urged civil servants in the country to work diligently if the action plans for the Financial Year 2015/16 are to be implemented.
The Vice President was on Monday opening a Cabinet retreat at the Office of the Prime Minister which is aimed at reviewing performance of Ministries, Agencies and Local government.
The retreat borrows a similar theme as that of the 2015/16 Financial Year Budget; “Maintaining Infrastructure Development and Promoting Excellence in Public Service Delivery.”
Assessment will be made on the half year from June to December 2015 in terms of achievements and shortfalls.
“The purpose of this retreat is to improve service delivery in all sectors by reviewing progress. We hope it will avail opportunities to assess the challenges and achievements so far made while carrying out our mandate,” he said.
Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Sekandi addressing cabinet on Monday
Sekandi pointed out that such information will help in influencing decisions and identifying priority areas adding that; “We expect less or no impending targets to extend into the 2016/17 financial year.”
At the event, Prime Minister Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda stated that while progress has been registered in infrastructure development, public service delivery remains entangled in shortfalls.
He further pointed out challenges in investment and marketing which he says are at a low of 38 percent of the approved Ugshs.68Bn for all the 112 districts.
“There’s need to ensure that government resources are invested into programs that create wealth among the poor people and also to regularly report progress,” stressed the Prime Minister.
For many years, civil society organizations, the opposition and the public have decried the lack of services especially in the education and health sectors. While government makes efforts to improve the physical infrastructure, the quality of medical care and education remains in question.
According to Dr. Rugunda, the 2 day retreat will focus on aspects like progress in planned outputs and indicators, assessment of released funds and expenditure as well as explanation on performance levels achieved.
He highlighted some of the best performing government sectors so far among them; energy, justice and law, lands and housing, trade and industry, tourism, public administration and health.
Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, heads of government agencies, Local government heads, RDCs and Municipal town clerks are among those attending the retreat.
President Yoweri Museveni is expected to close the event on Tuesday.