By Mulengera Reporters
Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and Internal security officers have been challenged to enhance their monitoring skills, embrace education, and actively support community development.
Prof. Sudi Nangoli, Managing Director of Uganda Printing and Publishing Corporation (UPPC), made the call on Tuesday, while addressing a retreat for RDCs, Deputy RDCs, Assistant RDCs, District Internal Security Officers (DISOs), and Regional Internal Security Officers (RISOs) from the Rwenzori sub-region at Kalya Courts Hotel in Fort Portal.
He described the RDCs as the “eyes and ears of government” responsible for ensuring that public programmes reach the people and have meaningful impact, because monitoring is like a compass, guiding programmes along the right path.
Prof.Nangoli explained that monitoring involves continuous tracking of activities and outputs to ensure projects are performing according to plan, while evaluation is the periodic assessment of outcomes and impact to determine whether the right actions are being taken.
He encouraged RDCs to actively track government programmes in sectors such as education, agriculture, health, and infrastructure, ensuring that communities benefit fully from ongoing initiatives.
The Rwenzori sub-region, home to Africa’s third-highest mountains, according to Prof. Nangoli, boasts 994 plant species and 217 bird and animal species, as indicated in the Uganda investment Authority’s latest report.
Education enrolment is growing, though remote schools continue to face staffing challenges. Industrial parks in Kasese and Kabarole are developing steadily, while agriculture is improving as more farmers access modern equipment. In health, 88.6% of households have access to improved water, contributing to better community well-being.
Highlighting the importance of education for effective leadership, Prof. Nangoli urged commissioners to go back to study.
“There is no room today for uneducated RDCs, Deputy RDCs, or Assistant RDCs,” Prof. Nangoli warned, adding that the NRM government has made education accessible, and even online, one can study and equip themselves with knowledge.
The UPPC head also emphasized the role of RDCs in supporting poverty alleviation by ensuring that households transition from subsistence farming into productive, income-generating activities. Leadership, he explained, is about engaging communities, supporting programmes, and ensuring that people see tangible improvements of the NRM government in their lives.
To strengthen monitoring and evaluation in the sub-region, Prof. Nangoli called for timely follow-up on programmes, robust data collection, citizen engagement, capacity building for Commissioners, and effective coordination with ministries, departments, and agencies. Proper monitoring, he said, ensures that programmes deliver results and inspire confidence among citizens.
The participants have been tasked with sharpening their skills, deepening community engagement, and using monitoring and evaluation as tools to guide programmes toward meaningful and visible impact.
