Col. Edith Nakalema, the Head of the State House Investors Protection Unit (SHIPU), has faulted government agencies for poor communication and demanded greater accountability to citizens. She said many Ugandans remain unaware of government achievements because institutions have failed to effectively highlight progress made.
Speaking during a follow-up meeting with leaders of government agencies at SHIPU offices in Kampala, Col. Nakalema stressed that collaboration and transparency are critical in driving socio-economic transformation.
“A lot of achievements have been registered by the government for the people of Uganda, but communication has not been very effective to highlight these gains,” she said.
She urged agency heads to use their platforms to account for government actions and to engage citizens on future plans. “As SHIPU whose mandate rests on coordinating MDAs, my appeal to you is to exploit this exclusive platform to reinforce institutional collaboration that will breed transformational gains for the populace,” she added.
Col. Nakalema emphasized that accountability is not just about reporting activities but also about demonstrating how government initiatives improve livelihoods. She appealed to officials to use radio, television, social media, and community platforms to bridge the information gap and change public perceptions, especially among the youth.
Leaders present included Dr. Barirega Akankwasah of the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), Mr. Mugabe Robert of Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), Dr. Patrick Birungi of Uganda Development Corporation (UDC), Eng. Dr. Silver Mugisha of National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC), Eng. Kaijuka Kenneth of National Housing and Construction Company, Dr. Bruce Kirenga of Makerere University, Dr. Chris Mukiza of Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), and Mr. Osborn Turyasingura of the National Secretariat for Special Interest Groups.
Participants agreed to intensify public communication and ensure that Ugandans are fully informed about institutional achievements and development plans. They also resolved to prioritize mindset change initiatives targeting the youth to encourage active involvement in activities that accelerate socio-economic transformation.
