{UAH} Bukomansimbi District Leaders Petition Health Ministry to explain the role of the Army in distributing Mosquito Nets
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- Category: Politics News
- Published on 28 October 2013
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Bukomansimbi District Leaders Petition Health Ministry to explain the role of the Army in distributing Mosquito Nets
David K. Nsubuga
Bukomansimbi District leaders have petitioned the Ministry of Health, over the role of the UPDF army personnel in distributing mosquito nets.
In May this year, government through the Ministry of Health, under the Prevent Malaria Program, rolled out a free mosquito nets distribution exercise across the country.
The project intends to have all households in the county, issued with free insecticide treated mosquito nets, as a priority of preventing the epidemic.
While unveiling the project at the Media Centre, on June 20th, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, the Health Minister noted that the objective of the campaign, is to have at least a net for every two people in Uganda.
Rugunda revealed, the nets were procured using funds from the Global Fund (15.5 million nets), US President’s Malaria Initiative/DFID (5 million nets) and World Vision. Â
 Its implementation, was however, reserved for the Resident District Commissioners and UPDF army personnel, who are currently on door-to-door movements across districts in the central region, registering residents for the nets.
However, the structures of execution have not gone down well with political leaders in Bukomansimbi District and according to them, this is improper as per the Local Government principles. Â
Muhammad Kateregga, the Bukomansimbi District Chairperson, has petitioned the ministry, questioning the role of the army in this work. He criticizes the act of deploying them (army), without consulting them as political heads that are directly accountable to the lower governments.
Kateregga has expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the program is being handled, with the RDC being the chief implementer, yet his chief role is to monitor government projects.
 “The government is not only violating the constitution and the Local Government act that distributes roles of each leader, but is also abusing the true essence of decentralization,†he noted.
Kateregga has added that it appears that government intends to demoralize politically elected leaders in lower government.
“The law is very clear, any program rolled out to benefit the local people must go through the district leadership, but in this case, it is done in the contrary†he said, wondering why the government is alterating the proper structures of implementing such public projects.
He has warned that this clown tendency may cause clashes and power struggles between the RDC’s and politicians.
Muhammad Matovu, the Chairperson General Purpose Committee, presupposes that much as the project is appreciated by the community, the government ought to respect the framework of Local Governments.
“As political heads, we would be very much interested in leading and directing the program,†he noted, arguing that it was instead ill conceived.
He alleges that the project may even suffer a setback, and lose focus, saying that they have registered cases of residents fearing to disclose their details to army personnel.
He however urged the residents to register for the nets, but also insist that the Ministry of Health should come up and address the anomaly or make role of the army in project clear to the public.
However, Rukia Nakamatte, the Ministry of Health Spokesperson says they are free to work with different sectors that are assumed to have expertise in certain project implementations, saying they have no hidden interest in using the army.
“Much as there are UPDF personnel in the field, they are also being accompanied by village health workers, and sub county chiefs. I think the leaders have nothing to worry about the project,†she said.
The Ministry of Health indicates that malaria is most prevalent in the eastern and central regions, while the north has a lower prevalence due to the indoor residual spraying campaign. It assumes that using bed-nets is the safest method of preventing and controlling malaria.
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