OUR LOCAL GOVERNANCE SYSTEM DEFINE OUR HISTORICAL ROOTS.

By Ben Ssebuguzi 

 

In the colonial era, they had a boring local administration,but President Yoweri Kaguta Museven and NRA designed a more participatory approach in 1989 called the Resistance Councils (RC).

 

The RC replaced the colonial one with a strong and vibrant local governance system which went ahead to produce National Parliament called National Resistance Council that time hence making this exercise of Local council election an embedment of NRM nervous system because it is the base and foundation of nation governance.

 

The special tribute about this election is that it is the second to be held under multiparty dispensation in 2005. Erstwhile, the LC candidates were not allowed to display party symbols and posters. Unlike the 2018 cohort and this upcoming one where candidates are allowed to make posters with party symbols on top of discussing policy direction in order to convince electorates.

 

LC officials are a crucial componet of grassroot governance in Uganda because they are a pivot in the security of our country to the extent of admitting New residents. "Nze sikumanyi kuba sikurina mukitabo" a mantra used to mean that you have not introduced yourself yet to the LC to qualify to be a bonafide resident.

 

They wield power to reconcile waring factions,they also have land arbitration skills,law enforcement, to recomending you to get a job or a bank loan hence becoming a vertabra of personal Success.

 

In otherwards, decentralisation and the rebuilding of local political institutions have played an extremely important part of the NRM Strategy to construct the Ugandan state because LC systems are tributaries through which govenment improves Education,health services, infrastructure and production through Parish Development model.

 

Office of the National Chaiman of NRM headed by Hajjat Uzeiye Namyalo has been very active on grassroot through mobilising Ugandans to register for this noble exercise because LCs act as a primary link between citizens and govenment hence forming a strong base of the pyramid of governance.

 

That's why President Yoweri Museveni through his Office at ONC mobilises people to participate in the exercise because the people have power to determine who should stay in Office and who should replace those thrown out in order to scale up the development of their community.

 

It is therefore important for people not to vote basing only on personal qualities but also vote for candidates who understand the philosophy of NRM of peace, unity and social economic transformation that will transform their lives.

 

In summary ,LC election are like a base of a house. A house is as strong as its base.The foundation is the hidden backbone that acts like without it,the structure can sink,crack or collapse. It is therefore prudent for every one to go and vote someone who will influence their community for better.

 

Long live General Yoweri Kaguta Museven, Long live Hajjat Uzeiye Namyalo SPA PA and Manager Office of the National Chaiman of NRM 

 

The writer is a Researcher at ONC