Speaker Among tasks Minister to explain appointment of Assistant RDCs

By Francis Lubega

23^rd April 2024

The Speaker of Parliament Anita Among has directed the Minister for Presidency Milly Babalanda to table a report explaining the criteria through which the Assistant Resident District Commissioners were appointed.

This was during a heated debate that erupted in the Parliament following the appointment of over 300 Assistant Resident RDCs with the opposition raising concerns about the selection criteria and the rationale behind these new appointments, questioning their necessity and the potential duplication of roles.

The issue was brought to the forefront when Joel Ssenyonyi, the Leader of the Opposition, highlighted the contradiction in the government’s strategy.

Ssenyonyi noted that the quality and morals of the appointed assistant RCCs and RDCs were wanting and questionable citing one Yiga Kisakyamukama who at one time undressed  himself  as he abused the Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II.

He further challenged the government for appointing more public officers yet the same government is advocating for rationalizing government agencies and entities to cut public expenditures.

In response, the Speaker Among also requested the Minister for Presidency Milly Babalanda to stop appointing and deploying RCCs and RDCs in the areas of their residence saying that they use it as an opportunity to compete with the sitting area Members of  Parliament (MPs).

The speaker also advised Minister Babalanda to be mindful of Article 203 of the constitution which states that, for anyone to be appointed an RDC/RCC shall be a citizen of Uganda and qualifies to be a member of parliament.

Despite these concerns, some government officials defended the appointments and among these was David Bahati, the Minister of State for Industry who reminded Ssenyonyi that Parliament had approved the budget for Assistant RDCs in the current 2023/24 fiscal year.

Government Chief Whip Hamson Obua requested additional time for the government to bring a comprehensive statement to Parliament to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the Assistant RDCs.

END