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Yunus Kakande, Secretary to the Office of the President
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By Our Reporter
Kampala — Yunus Kakande, Secretary to the Office of the President, has defended the appointment of Assistant Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), dismissing claims that these are new positions. Instead, he clarified that these roles are a continuation of the work previously undertaken by district "Mobilizers," who have since been rebranded as Assistant RDCs.
Kakande made these remarks while appearing before Parliament’s Presidential Affairs Committee to present the Office of the President’s 2025/26 Budget Framework Paper. His comments came in response to concerns raised by Denis Oneka Lit (MP for Kitgum Municipality) about the relevance and impact of appointing RDCs, Deputy RDCs, and Assistant RDCs, given the associated costs.
Oneka Lit Dennis
“This post of Assistant RDCs isn’t new. We used to have what we called 'Mobilizers' in the districts. The name was changed to Assistant RDCs, but their responsibilities remain the same. Reports from districts show that Assistant RDCs are actively on the ground at sub-counties, and the feedback has been positive,” Kakande explained.
Parliamentary concerns
Oneka Lit, however, questioned the necessity of the position, citing the already extensive security and administrative infrastructure at the district level, including the Parish Internal Security Organisation (PISO) and the Gombolola Internal Security Organisation (GISO).
“We have RDCs and Deputy RDCs, so why create another office of Assistant RDCs? Is this a political reward system, job creation, or something else? What criteria are used in appointing these individuals?” Onekalit asked.
Defense from fellow MPs
In response, Fadhil Twalla (MP for Tingey County) defended the appointments, arguing that Assistant RDCs have positively impacted service delivery. He dismissed Onekalit’s concerns as personal grievances against individuals in his constituency.
“We faced many challenges with the Parish Development Model (PDM) implementation. Since Assistant RDCs were appointed, there has been a noticeable improvement in service delivery. If we want a better Uganda, we need to support these officers,” Twalla remarked.
Fadhil Twalla
Unresolved project funds
Onekalit also criticized the government for abandoning projects mid-implementation, citing the Tropical Institute for Development Innovation’s sericulture project as an example. He demanded an explanation for the suspension of its funds.
“This project was left hanging. Funds were allocated but not released, and they didn’t return to the Consolidated Fund. Where is the money? If the government invests in a project, it should see it through,” Onekalit emphasized.
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