SEYUBA CALLS FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN HODS AND DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS

North Western Province Permanent Secretary, Augustine Seyuba, has ordered for a stop to trends that retard development following poor collaboration between district heads of government departments and District Commissioners in the province.

Augustine Seyuba

According to reports, district heads of government departments have been overlooking District Commissioner’s offices to address issues affecting their activities in preference of their provincial offices.

In a circular dated June 13, 2012 issued to put a stop to the problem, Mr Seyuba said it has become apparent that there is little collaboration between district government departmental heads and District Commissioners.

He added in the same circular that bureaucracy seems to have taken an upper hand which has negatively affected the delivery of government services in the districts, thereby retarding development.

The PS said he wants this state of affairs to come to a stop and instead see district heads of government departments use their District Commissioners to resolve challenges affecting the programmes they implement.

The circular comes following field reports received by the Permanent Secretary concerning the lack of collaboration and misunderstanding of the role of the District Commissioner’s office in districts.

Mr Seyuba has reminded the district departmental heads that the office of the District Commissioner was established by government to facilitate the coordination of central government functions and all departmental activities as well as harmonising these functions with those of the local authorities.

He noted that it is this kind of arrangement that will ensure effective implementation of developmental programmes in the districts.

He said heads of line government departments in the district will on administrative matters report to the District Commissioners while only do so to their provincial heads on technical and professional matters.

He has also advised that the office of the District Commissioner must liaise with the Town Clerk and Council Secretaries on the implementation of developmental programmes in respective districts.