After NRM’s primary elections, there is need to reshuffle RDCs

On Tuesday, January 22, 2013, the Minister for the Presidency, issued a circular detailing the role of Resident District Commissioners (RDC). In the circular, referenced as MOP/16, the minister guided RDCs on their constitutional mandate.

“I have been prompted to give guidance on the various clashes that have resulted from either you, RDCs, overstepping your mandate or failing to take on your roles as stipulated by the Constitution, the Local Government Act 1997, and your Instruments of Appointment.

Article 203 of 1995 Constitution provides for the establishment of the office of the RDC and the roles provided for. They are:
To monitor the implementation of central and local government services in the district; to act as chairperson of the district security committee; and to carry out such other functions as may be assigned by the President or prescribed by Parliament by law.

In addition, Section 71 of the Local Government Act 1997, stipulates the functions of the RDC as follows: Represent the President and the government services in the district; coordinate the administration of government services in the district; advise the district chairperson on matters of a national nature that may affect the district or its plans or programmes and particularly the relations between the district and the government; monitor and inspect the activities of local governments and where necessary, advise the chairperson; carry out such other functions as may be assigned by the President or prescribed by Parliament.

But many Ugandans of sane mind are familiar with what a hard working RDCs does. Truth to tell, it is not uncommon for an RDC to act as very brazenly as an impassioned and partisan part of the NRM.

As would be expected, some RDCs were involved in (and have been accused of) influencing some outcomes from the recent NRM party primaries.

Our study group assessed 16 districts on this matter. Given our study group’s findings, it is in the best interest of the NRM (as a party) and Mr Museveni to shuffle the RDCs. It is our estimation that a new RDC would be a dispassionate actor and would bring in some fresh air (after pollution caused by the party primaries) in the RDC’s offices.

A particular woman politician told our team that all her problems were caused by the RDC (who she even accused of not being a good NRM cadre). And she was so emotional that she spewed profanities (in her mother tongue) to describe the RDC in her district.

The confliction bit is that the politician is now the NRM candidate in her constituency.

Another scenario is where the seemingly party-endorsed candidate lost the primary elections. And as is very typical in our Uganda, the loser (and remember he or she was the party favourite) stands in the General Election as an independent candidate.

The spectacle of the RDC (or and District Internal Security Organisation (ISO) expressing open support for non-NRM candidate borders on the dramatic.

How about the case of a minister who lost in the primaries and is now standing as an Independent candidate in the election? How would an RDC (who was involved in the elections) relate to the official party candidate?

In Kasese, there was a candidate who claimed she had proximity to the party hierarchy and the State. She won the elections, but her victory was successfully challenged by the candidate who came second.

Now, the candidate who had hitherto been promoted as being close to the State is standing as an Independent candidate. As the Baganda say, “awo nezidda okunywa…” (trouble). 

Mr Bisiika is the executive editor of the East African Flagpost. [email protected]