A Graphic Re-visioning of Nonprofit Overhead

Original version written by  By CURTIS KLOTZ | August 16, 2016

Most nonprofit leaders agree that we need a new way to communicate about the true costs of our programs and the vital importance of strong organizational infrastructure. But we have not yet developed a simple, consistent message when sharing our view with potential supporters and investors. We are stuck with old terms and old images.

The following series of images and descriptions is really a blog in pictures. How we visualize our understanding of nonprofit structure and programs shapes the overhead debate. It’s time to get graphic about our new ideas—to deploy fresh images to help educate the public, our funders, and ourselves.

It’s Time to Retire This Pie Chart

When nonprofits are viewed this way, no matter how hard we try to think differently, we imagine important infrastructure of our organization as taking a slice out of the pie—as diminishing the “real” work of our mission.

Strategic financial functions, good governance, and the development of key funding partnerships are vital to strong organizations. We need a new way to communicate this truth.

We Need a New Image

Rather than thinking of our investment in key infrastructure as diminishing our programs, it should be seen as valuable Core Mission Support.

Core Mission Support functions are necessary, vital, and integral.

• Strong, strategic finance and accounting
• Progressive human resources practices
• Capable, responsive board governance
• Talented and engaged development staff

Whole Organizations and True Program Costs

Each of our programs is built around, is supported by, and shares responsibility for Core Mission Support.

All of the resources we need to accomplish our programs are the True Program Costs, which include four types of expenses:

• Direct Expenses: Program-Specific
• Direct Expenses: Shared by Programs
• Core Mission Support: Finance, HR, and Board
• Core Mission Support: Fundraising & Partners

Underfunded Programs Create a Gap at the Core

Some programs are only partially funded by contributions or by earned revenue.

When a program is only partially funded, the expenses not covered include a proportionate share of the Core Mission Support. This creates a Gap in funding for the finance, human resources, governance, and fundraising infrastructure that support the entire organization.

Line-Item Funding Creates a Gap at the Core

Some funders limit their support to only the direct expenses of program.

When funders support only direct expenses, they deny funding for Core Mission Support. This leaves a Gap at the center of our organization. Not only is one program affected, but the health of the entire organization is at risk.

Invest in the Core to Grow the Mission

The growth and effectiveness of our mission work depend on having a solid core at the center of our organizations. Investing in our infrastructure is savvy, prudent, and absolutely necessary.

Go Visual With Our New Thinking

Once we have a new way of understanding and communicating about the Core Mission Support needed by our organizations, it is our job to share our thinking with others. Our funders, supporters and investors all want us to succeed. They are partners in accomplishing our mission work. But like us, they may need help reimagining the role strong infrastructure plays in amplifying program effectiveness. By providing a simple visual guide, we can help transform the way we talk about, picture, and ultimately fund the Core Mission Support that is at the center of all great nonprofits.

https://nonprofitquarterly.org/2016/08/16/graphic-re-visioning-nonprofit-overhead/

RIC-NET and other Local NGOs give hope to conflict-affected girls in Uganda

Rwenzori Information centre (RIC-NET),  Hope and Peace for Humanity (HPH), Children of the World Foundation (COW), Foundation for Inclusive Community Help (FICH), COBURAS International Youth Organisation (CIYOTA), and Life Concern (LICO) with support from Global Fund for Children are implementing the project "Empowerment Conflict Affected Girls’" in selected Districts in Uganda.

Evelyn from RIC-NET explaining the programme out puts to partners

The organisations have been giving small grants to the girls to empower conflict affected girls economically to start their own businesses. Those living in refugee camps have since transitioned from depending on handouts from relief agencies as they have been trained to make liquid soap which they sell out. Education and entrepreneurship programmes have been established to impart knowledge and critical thinking in conflict-affected girls. The NGOs offers startup capital to various girls who are out of school.

Some of the beneficiaries are using the money generated from businesses to educate their siblings.A primary school has been established at Kyangwali refugee camp in Hoima District. 

Besides the financial and material support, the affected girls have been mentored and counselled which has improved their performance in school. They have also been presented opportunities to travel to various countries to share their experiences and success stories with other girls affected by conflict.

Peninah Karungi  and Janet Mbambu from Kasese with Otoo Emmy from GFC

Peninah Karungi, 23, who in 2008 fled the Allied Democratic Forces insurgency in Kicwamba Parish, Bukuku Sub-county in Kabarole District with her father is optimistic that she will make it through.“I lost my mother and younger brother during the insurgency. Our father suffered raising the four of us having sought refuge in Kasese,” she says. She adds: “My father told me to first complete Senior Four before my other siblings could enrol. Having completed in 2011, I stayed home for two years and lost hope of ever seeing the blackboard again.”But with support from the organisations (RIC-NET), Ms Karungi did certificate in secretarial studies and unpon completion secured a job in a law firm. “I used to earn Shs250, 000 per month and I worked for two years. I used part of the salary to help my father to pay rent,” she says.

Ms Akech, a Primary Five science teacher, thought her future plans had been altered by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency when she was abducted in 2004 together with 25 other girls during an attack in Ngai Sub-county. However, she escaped from the bush a year later. “In 2014, I dropped out of school because of school fees but one organisation enrolled me onto their programme. I completed my education and I am a teacher,” she says. 

Some conflict affected girls  from all over Uganda sharing their experiences in Gulu

Ms. Rita Tabu, 23, escaped with her brother from violence in South Sudan in 2002. Tabu’s parents did not survive the war and sadly amidst the chaos, their first brother disappeared. To this day, Tabu does not know whether her brother is still alive or not. “After the death of our parents, our aunt was told to take care of the three of us [two boys and one girl]. Our first born brother was a brilliant student but keeping him in school was a challenge,” she says. “He opened up a small business dealing in petrol by the road side when he was in Primary Two to make ends meet.” Upon joining Primary Five, the young Sudanese boy eventually dropped out of school. “He became mentally unstable. Few months later, he disappeared until today,” Tabu says. 

Tabu, then aged 11 sought refuge in a settlement camp in Uganda.“I started selling ground nuts and roasted maize. I carried water, smeared people’s houses and used the money to pay my school fees,” she says.Unfortunately, Tabu’s hard earned money was always taken away by her aunt. But for the past five years, Tabu’s story has changed, as she is among thousands of conflict-affected girls in Uganda currently being supported by Global Fund for Children under the Conflict Affected Girls’ Empowerment project.

Participants at the learning conference in Gulu on 19th June 2018

“I know it has been a tough journey but the good thing is that all of us have learnt through this process and the Global Fund for Children is extremely proud of you for all that you’ve achieved,” Mr Emmanuel Otoo, Global Fund’s regional programme director for Africa and Middle East, said while meeting addresing  partners at the annual learning conference in Gulu Town on 19th june 2018. 

Adapted from: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/--NGOs-conflict-affected-girls-Oyam-District--Sudanese-boy/688334-4632870-y5u3bu/index.html

PEACE BUILDING WAS POSSIBLE-MUNKUNYU SUB COUNTY, KASESE DISTRICT LEADERS PLEDGE TO PROMOTE PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE

Munkunyu Sub county leadership in Kasese district have pledged to sensitize communities on peaceful co-existence after a highly powered sensitization  meeting took place  on Tuesday 19th, July, 2016  that was organised by Good hope Foundation for Rural Development with support from RWECO, Hivos and the European Union Delegation in Uganda. Good Hope is implementing a project on community action to prevent and manage conflict and human rights violations in the Rwenzori region. As a ground rule each participant was asked to talk in a language they felt comfortable with.

Participants at the sensitization meeting at Munkunyu Sub county, 19th July, 2016

The participants were  drawn from the subcounty leadership including local council  (LCI-LCIII) executives, religious leaders representatives from farmers and pastoralists. The facilitator Mr. Isaac Bwalhuma a lawyer working with Uganda Christian Lawyers Fraternity informed the participants about the legal requirements of land ownership while quoting the Land Act and the 1995 Constitution of Uganda. Land was identified as the root cause of conflict  in the sub county and since the LCI courts were disbanded by order of Court, many errors were made by LCI executives in matters of land. The facilitator advised the LCI that their role was only to mediate in land issues and not make judgements as had been the case and land cases were taking a different twist of being violent.

The participants also were informed of the emotional statements of " EKITAKA KYA MAGHENDA" by the youth Councilor;  loosely  translated as  the land was gone  as being sensational instead people should invest in education and cutting on their cost of consumption. The RWECO Coordinator reminded  the communities instead of discussion issues of welfare were busy discussing division in the community. The Gombolala Internal Security Officer, was asked how many Lorries of cows are registered going to  the Border market in Bwera, he informed the house that 30 lorries carrying 20-25 cows are cleared at the Market in Bwera. One pastoralists was asked how much that could be in terms of money, he said each cow on average costs Ugs. 1,000,000/ translating into Ugx. 600,000,000/ per week. That was the money spent on cow meat, asked further what the lorries that bring into Kasese take out of Kasese, the participants answered non. Now who was responsible for taking the Shs. 600,000,000/ the citizens of Kasese? Another question, was whether the shs. 600M spent on meat was also reflected in the  number of Professors in Kasese district? the participants realised that it was only through such sensitization meetings that they could live peacefully with their neighbors.
Another issue  brought up during the meeting was about the River Kanyampara water channel that feeds the cattle crazing  in Nyakatonzi sub county, the participants suggested to meet the communities along the channel devise means of co-existing and using the channel with out causing conflict they were informed that the best time for the crop farmers to feed water into their gardens was at night, thus leaving water to flow to the cattle crazing during the day.  The Chairperson LCIII, Mr. Josephat Muhindo, the District woman Councilor and the District councilor were presented and pledged to mainstream conflict prevention into their work. The Chairperson LCIII, pledged to place a ramp at his office since the people with disabilities could not access his office easily.


RWECO Team
Jimmy B. Odyek
Felestus Soki 

‘PWDS’ in Kaberamaido unearth anomalies in Supply of Desks during vertical tracking

The old adage that, “never judge a book by its cover” could make more sense now at this point in time than before as the vulnerable persons take on vertical tracking exercise in Kaberamiado. In fact, the others will also believe that, “not all that glitters is gold” after the findings of the exercise in vertical tracking. PAC –U in TESO conducted a simultaneous exercise of training the vulnerable groups (PWDS) in neighbourhood assembly business in the five districts in their TESO operation area. They also prepared them for vertical tracking exercise in the services’ delivery in their sub counties where a report would then be shared with the authorities in the district but first in their neighbourhood assembly.

The day was 15^th February, on a hot Friday when the vulnerable Persons with Disability were attending the training on Neighbourhood Assemblies in Alwa Sub County Kaberamaido District. The members were excited to learn among others that issues to be discussed in their NA could sometimes emanate from their vertical tracking exercise. The Sub county chief welcomed them to the office where they were able to gather information concercing various services the Sub County was involved in. They were informed of the funds that were received in the previous financial year - 2011/12 and as well as expected for this financial year – 2012/13. In their wisdom, they decided to take on the area of education where the sub county authorities informed them that they had procured 40 desks for three schools (Oyama Eolu P/S, Oriamo P/S, Katingi P/S) at a cost of 3,398,699/= under financial year 2011/2012. A team of four members was chosen to carry out this exercise and report to the rest on their subsequent meeting.

On an agreed day 16^th/ 02/ 13, the four members committee together with the CEW-IT officials headed for the three schools that had benefited under the programme. When the team visited the first school, they noticed the supplier had signed in the visitor’s book as having delivered 12 desks which the school authorities acknowledged having received. However, on the inscription on the desk, by the supplier was “supply of 37 desks 3 seater to Alwa Sub county FY 2011/12 By Doma Eng. Works”. At this point the team was face to face with the reality of vertical tracking as the numbers were already varying as of the Sub county and the Supplier. Meanwhile, the team went on with the head count of the desks and all the 12 desks were realised.

On the visit to the second school, the team noticed that the supplier had signed to have delivered the same 12 desks similar to the first school. The Head teacher in the school consented having received them. However, this time the head count only realised four exposing eight to missing in the school. At the same time, a new and serious issue was unearthed concerning value of money. This was the fact that among the four, one of them was unpalatable for use as the top was already off yet in the same class desks delivered under SFG FY 2003/4 were still intact as if they were new.

A visit to the third school, confirmed that the supplier had signed to have delivered 18 desks which the authorities conquer with. The team went a head to count the desks and only realised 11 yet none had got spoilt or any thigh of the sort as from the reports. The desks which were made for three seater were found to be seating on average 6 small kids and 5 medium sized pupils.

All in all, the team revealed that where as the sub county authorities claim to have procured forty desks, the supply claims to have supplied 37 as from his inscription on the desk while the beneficiaries attest to  receiving forty two desks but the head count realised only thirty five of all these. The social accountability questions at this point become many but just a quick one and probably the first would be, which of these figures is the correct figure and therefore telling the truth and what the value for money in this project to the common citizen. These were part of the question to be pondered on during the NA and the dialogue at the district and the sub county. 

Accessed from Email by: Celestin Mugisha

CEWIT-Soroti

Gulu and Kitgum extend appreciation for their designed online platforms

The long journey across the country that started on Tuesday, all the way from the west to the North of the country (Uganda) did not go unfruitful full. With RIC-NET ICT staff Yosia and Charles Asiimwe travelling to Gulu and Kitgum for the training of the District leaders and stake holders on the use and utilization of their websites and E-libraries.

The training that started on Thursday 6^th - 7^th Dec. 2012 was attended by District leaders from Gulu and kitgum and ACORD staff. A total number of 16 participants attended this interactive two days training at Kakanyero Hotel in Gulu Municipality.

Training session 

With a bright Thursday morning, the participants were introduced to the basics and fundamentals of ICT (web browsing). A number of terms were explained to the participants which was like an ice breaker to the rest of the training.

There was later a questions and answers session that was so interactive and interesting and members consulted on a number of issues and solutions were given by the facilitators accordingly.

The second session later characterized by an introduction of web applications used to develop their websites sites was presented to them among which was basics to Joomla since they (District leaders) are supposed to update their sites on their own later after the end of the project in order to sustain them and keep up to date information on the sites.

This was later followed by a number of practical skills where they were showed how it works and how easy it is to use the application to develop their online platforms.

Questions and clarifications were made by end of day and the training ended at 5:00 pm given the heavy load that the facilitators had to give to the participants.

Later in the evening the RIC-NET staff who were also the facilitators in this case were a given a platform by ACORD on 102 Mega FM in Gulu town to explain to the entire Acholi region about the relevance of the online platforms being developed in the “Enhancing Civic competence for Social Accountability project” that is being run in the 25 Districts in the five regions of Uganda.

RIC-NET staff on Mega FM-Gulu

Present for the talk show were Loum Benard from ACORD (Project officer), Juma the radio presenter and moderator for the talk show, Peter Ocen (Gulu District ICT Officer), Charles Asiimwe Sytems Admin.RIC-NET and Yosia Baluku (ICTO-RIC-NET).

A number of issues were explained to the entire community of Acholi which among others include, the history of the website project by UCC, the home pages and how the social accountability project came in to offer support after all had not gone on well previously.

A number of advantages for these online platforms to the District administration, business community and the entire citizens of Acholi were explained and among others included;

Ø  Global publication of the Districts’ opportunities, potentials e.t.c

Ø  Repository for the district information and thus stored safely for long

Ø  Districts adverts and current news updates on time

Ø  Timely and relevant information

Ø  Easy access to public documents

Ø  Help researchers get right information about the status of the districts in which ever department e.t.c

Listeners called in later at the end of the show and gave their views, others appreciated and others were also seeking for more clarification and guidance and also others supplementing.

 Day two started with a recap of day one that was also another interactive and participatory one. This indicated that the participants had grasped a number of issues from the day one training.

Participants were later given more details of the installation of joomla and later sites presented to them. They appreciated the design of the sites and e-libraries that are hosted at www.kitgum.go.ug , www.gulu.go.ug , http://elibrary.gulu.go.ug/ , http://elibrary.kitgum.go.ug/ .

Later the District leaders gave comments, input and suppliments on their sites what to change and what to improve. All changes were noted and promised to be effected.

Members also appreciated the design of the e-libraries and said it was much easier to interact and work with after being taken through the session of login and updating them.

Later a session of the social media that has eased communication and information sharing was presented to them. Skype, twitter among others was introduced to the participants and promised to take them on for easy information sharing.

Way forward

Since there was limited data for their sites they all promised to avail the necessary information to have everything done for their sites.

They also agreed on some login details for their e-libraries to go and do practice

And that also incase of any technical issues they would not hesitate getting back to us.

They also expressed a concern that the two days training was not enough and that more trainings should be extended to individual districts.

In her closing remarks the Deputy Chief Administrative officer Kitgum Ms Oroma Rhoda  expressed gratitude for the training and thanked ACORD that had brought the facilitators on board for the wonderful training and support to the districts.

C.A.O Gulu giving closing remarks

The function was later officially closed by the chief Administrative officer Gulu Ms.Odwar Santa who expressed her sincere thanks for the training and also said it was nice and good for the district leaders. She challenged them to take on the responsibility and share with the rest of the leaders when they go back. She also said the leaders should have gone with enough skills since she had grabbed a number of things for the little time she was there “for the little time I have sat here, I have been able to understand and learn more. So for you who have been here for two days, I believe you should grasped a lot”

She wished everybody a very safe journey back to their destinations and thereafter a lunch on at the very hotel Kakanyero.

Participants pose for a group photo after the training

CEWIT holds a TV programme on Social Accountability

CEWIT  held a TV programmes on Social Accountability on Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC TV) on Thursday 1st November, 2012. 

As the Christians  were celebrating All Saints Day on 1st November,  CEWIT members were giving accountability to the Nation about what has been the highs and lows of the Social accountability programmes being implemented in  the twenty  five Districts  of Uganda.  Members also discussed how to over overcome the challenges so far realized. 

Brenda UBC TV (right), Jean Asipkwe (CEFORD) and Jimmy (RWECO) at the UBC TV on Nov. 1st, 2012

Brenda (host at UBC TV) was in charge of the 1 O'clock UBC TV talk show where Jimmy B. Odyek (RWECO) and Jean Asipkew Christabel (ED CEFORD) were in the studios to talk about CEWIT. The topics covered were on the citizens participation in the local government processes, service delivery in the Education, Health, Production and the revival Cooperative in Uganda. 

This social Accountability project is supported by EU and HIVOS, implemented by CEWIT member organisations such as: CEFFORD (west Nile region), ACORD (Northern region), PAC -Uganda (Teso region), FRHR ( Central region) and RWECO ( Rwenzori region). http://cewit.or.ug

Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo Districts sign MOUs for E-society Resource Centres and Technology for Social Accountability

RIC-NET signed Memorandums of understandings this morning with  Kyegegwa and Kyenjojo  Local Government leaders.

This comes after several round table meetings and presentations to the Technical Planning Committees (TPC) of the benefits the Districts are planned to gain by embracing the e-society and online platforms. The  e-society resource centre and online platforms are  to supporting the“Enhancing Civic Competence for social accountability” project that is being piloted in 25 Districts in the five regions of Uganda under the Citizens Election Watch-IT (CEW-IT) consortium.This EU/HIVOS funded project implemented is implimented by RWECO members (RIC-NET, Ride Africa, KALI, GHRD) in Rwenzori region and the ICT key partner RIC-NET was mandated to implement the e-society components. RIC-NET agreed to the design and develop District websites and E-libraries; provide five computers, Photocopier and Fly box for internet connectivity to each District. This equipment will form the e-society resource centre that will enable easy information sharing and access to the entire community.

In Kyegegwa, the MOU was signed by  the District Chief Administration Officer, the District Chair Person Hon. B  Norman and witnessed by Mr.Kuteesa the District planner .  RIC-NET Executive Director  M John Silco and ICT Officer Mr. Yosia Baluku represented RWECO/RIC-NET.

C.A.O Kyegegwa and RIC-NET ED append signatures on the MOU

 In his remarks the ED RIC-NET informed the Districts leaders that ICT equipments will be delivered early next year 2013 and so they need to be citing a free room that could accommodate the e-society resource room. The main component for this year is to have the Districts websites and e-libraries up and running before December 2012

In his remarks the LC5 chairperson Kyegegwa District Hon.Birungi Norman thanked RIC-NET for all efforts to see that ICT is being spearheaded in local governments. He also requested that the lower local governments be included on the District website.
 The CAO of the same District was so grateful for the support from CSOs towards ICT development in the District.

In Kyenjojo,  the MOU was signed by Mr. Martin Jacan Gwokto the Deputy CAO and witnessed by Mr.Kamara the District Information Officer. Mr. Martin was so grateful about the initiative and promised the District committment to impilmentation of the e-society platform  for better information sharing and service delivery tracking.

Deputy CAO and DIO Kyenjojo & ED RIC-NET signing the MOU

RIC-NET promised the present the District website designs for approval next week in order  the Districts officals harmonize their requirements and acceptance thereafter be uploaded and run online.

Kyegegwa will be hosted at www.kyegegwa.go.ug while Kyenjojo will be hosted at www.kyenjojo.go.ug. The electronic library will be a component on the websites that will allow districts to upload public documents that can be accessed by anybody anywhere in the universe.

Uganda rejects criticisms of dissent intolerance

 

Date: Oct 17, 2012  as Published by The NewVision

http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/636496-uganda-rejects-criticisms-of-dissent-intolerance.html

 

Uganda’s deputy Justice and Constitutional affairs minister has sharply rejected opposition criticisms that the government is intolerant of dissenting views.

Uganda’s constitution protects the freedom of expression and association as well as the freedom to demonstrate peacefully.

“However, when you are doing that, do it in such a way that you do not also infringe on the rights of others,” said Freddie Ruhindi. “I think that is a fair qualification within the constitution.

“The government has been tolerant,” he added. “Every type of media is in Uganda. Tell me which paper has Uganda banned? They write whatever they want to write and if anybody is aggrieved by what anyone is writing, he or she goes to court, either for libel or for defamation. That’s legitimate.”

The political opposition and civil society groups have often accused the government of infringing on their constitutional rights. They contend that state security agencies frequently arrest, intimidate and crackdown on opposition protests. The government rejects their criticisms as without merit.

According to an interview by Voice of America, Ruhindi also dismissed a human rights report that President Yoweri Museveni’s administration has refused to investigate the deaths of at least 40 people during two days of rioting three years ago.

Uganda rejects criticisms of dissent intolerancePublish Date: Oct 17, 2012

In its report, U.S.-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said the government has yet to investigate the deaths during the “Kayunga riots” despite numerous promises to do so. Human Rights Watch said a parliamentary committee examining the incident has stalled, failing to call any witnesses. No police or military members, the rights group said, have been held accountable for the violence.

“The long government inaction on the killings of people in September 2009 is an insult to victims. Resorting to lethal force without clear justification in the face of protests is unacceptable, yet it is becoming the norm in Uganda,” said Maria Burnett, senior Africa researcher at Human Rights Watch.

On September 10 and 11, 2009, Ugandan security officials tried to prevent the cultural leader of the Buganda ethnic group from traveling to Kayunga, a town near the capital, Kampala. His enraged supporters took to the streets in protest. They threw stones and set garbage on fire.

Human Rights Watch said the military and police responded by shooting into the crowd, leaving at least 40 protesters dead.

Ruhindi said the government is working on measures to investigate the incident and prosecute those responsible.
“I wish those [accusers] could be frank enough to say that government should actually investigate all wrongdoers,” said Ruhindi.

“Where in the world would you find an ordinary person hitting a policeman or policewoman?  Where, other than Uganda and that person goes scot free?” he asked.

Accessed on Wednesday 17/10/2012  from:

Govt to recruit 6,172 health workers - Mbabazi

Govt to recruit 6,172 health workers - Mbabazi

Govt to recruit 6,172 health workers - MbabaziPublish Date: Sep 26, 2012

Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi

.

By Joyce Namutebi and Henry Sekanjako

Twenty three ministries and government bodies are to undergo budget cuts as the MPs and the Executive agreed to give the health ministry additional sh49.54b.

The agreement brought to an end a week-long protracted debate on the issue.

Of this, sh6.5b  will cater for recruitment of 6,172 health centre personnel, Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi said on Tuesday.

He told MPs that on instructions of Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga on Thursday, the Executive and the budget committee met and agreed on the additional financing for the health sector. They, he added, had since held several consultations before harmonising their positions.

There was heated exchange between the MPs and the Government as they tried to reach a mutually agreeable position.

Mbabazi assured them that the Government would provide additional sh49.54b for recruitment and remuneration of health workers for health centres.

“We all agreed on the urgent need to improve the health care in the country. Therefore, we shall now address the human resource challenges so as to have a properly functioning system at the local government level throughout the country,” he said.

“We have managed to struggle and get sufficient funds to embark on the recruitment of a total of 6,172 health personnel.

Accordingly, we have managed to identify additional sh6.5b as seed money to enable the Ministry of Health to start on this endeavour,” Mbabazi said, in his statement to the House.

He said this will be provided by the Ministry of Finance through a supplementary well -costed work plan.

Personnel to be recruited are senior medical officers, medical officers, senior clinical officers, clinical officers, anesthetic assistants, enrolled nurses, enrolled midwives, laboratory technicians, nursing officers and midwives.

The ministries to suffer the budget cuts to raise the sh6.5b as public service, justice, lands, trade, works, energy, gender, water, Local Government, information and tourism. Government bodies include the National Planning Authority, Uganda Tourism Board, Uganda Registration Services Bureau, KCCA, Local Government Finance Commission and NEMA.

Others are NAADS secretariat, Uganda National Bureau of Standards, Uganda Cotton Development Organisation, Uganda Land Commission, National Forestry Authority and Uganda Coffee Development Authority.

He said medical officers working at Health Centre III will earn sh2.5m per month, including an enhanced consolidated allowance.

At Health Centre IV, the Government will employ two medical doctors and 47 other professional workers and support staff while at Health Centre III, a total of 19 health workers and support staff.

He said sh3b will cover the recruitment process costs while sh3.5b is available to pay the wage bill of the people recruited.

Health minister Dr. Christine Ondoa told Parliament that besides the recruitment ban, one other challenge has been the poor remuneration of doctors.

“That is why we have not been attracting and retaining doctors at Health Centre IVs which was not covered by the recruitment ban,” she said.

Aruu county MP Odonga Otto said there were 507 unfulfilled government promises and that giving only health workers was being selective.

Cecilia Ogwal, the Woman MP for Dokolo said the supplementary budget is not allowed according to the Budget Act because it preempts Parliament actions

The chairman of the health committee, Sam Lyomoki, said the move was a positive direction for the people of Uganda.

Emmanuel Ddombo, the MP for Bunyole County, said more mothers would die if the budget had been postponed again.

Tim Lwanga MP Kyamuswa agreed that the proposal presented by the Prime Minister was acceptable.

Betty Amongi said the committee on health sat with the Ministry of Health and gave a detailed work plan that is why it had recommended sh260b and was shocked that the Prime Minister was asking for a new workplan.

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga said they need to save the country from the budget tension by passing it as soon as possible.

Accessed on Wed. 26^th September, 2012 from: http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/635635-govt-to-recruit-6-172-health-workers---mbabazi.html