Social Accountability in Practice; Participatory Planning Should Not be Overlooked
On 25th September 2015 in Luwero district, the last of the four regional Social Accountability Learning events for Central region took place. Hosted in partnership with Luwero NGO Forum, this meeting took place at the Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) hall and attracted over 50 representatives including; CSO representatives, local government officials such as the Chief administrative Officer, District speaker and media from the region.
Participants expectations included; gaining knowledge on social accountability, social accountability tools, techniques of conducting unquestionable social accountability, the need to come up with viable and workable commitments, information on who should carry out social accountability and to whom, among others.
Mr. Alfred Nuamanya, Head of Programs UNNGOF highlighted the different forms of accountability; Bureaucratic also known as upward/formal social accountability which is commonly applicable among government technocrats; Political accountability which is practiced through elections; Financial accountability through platforms like the Annual National budget which reports on government planned expenditure; and Social accountability which ensures all the different accountability forms are adhered to, to ensure effective goods and service delivery
To achieve the three building blocks of social accountability which are information, voice and negotiation; there should be tools like participatory planning which ensure citizens’ voice; Public Expenditure Tracking by citizens; service delivery surveys and client charters for goods and services. This is done by government through Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) checks the quality of goods and services received; and public oversight through community level oversight, audits, and oversight committees doing monitoring.
The District speaker Ms. Proscovia Namansa was present and avowed that Civil Society Organisations should have relevant results on the ground so as to be effective and relevant to communities they serve. She pointed out the need for people to vote for leaders who will deliver and be accountable during their term of service.
