ACF Uganda – We see corruption as a major spoiler of development
By Milena
Rampoldi, ProMosaik. In the following my interview with Ivan Atuyambe of the Africa Challenge Foundation
working for community development in Uganda.
What are the most urgent
development issues in Uganda?
Youth employment creation and
economic alternatives for graduate and non graduate youth should be seen and
treated as a very urgent development for Uganda. A growing number of unemployed
youth is a governance and social risk for Uganda as most resort to crime and
social evils.
economic alternatives for graduate and non graduate youth should be seen and
treated as a very urgent development for Uganda. A growing number of unemployed
youth is a governance and social risk for Uganda as most resort to crime and
social evils.
What are the events that brought to
the foundation of ACF and what are its activities?
the foundation of ACF and what are its activities?
We started ACF with the aim of
promoting sustainable good governance as the only basis for sustainable human
development and social-political stability. We see corruption as a major
spoiler of development as funds meant for development get diverted into
individual pockets, resulting into either substandard development outcomes or
zero development results in certain instances as we have seen in many
developing countries.
promoting sustainable good governance as the only basis for sustainable human
development and social-political stability. We see corruption as a major
spoiler of development as funds meant for development get diverted into
individual pockets, resulting into either substandard development outcomes or
zero development results in certain instances as we have seen in many
developing countries.
How would you define your approach?
We combine leadership development with building of
integrity and fighting corruption as the cornerstone for a well functioning
society with equality and justice, in which everyone is assured of deserved
opportunity and contributes to their best of ability to collective
progress.
In what ways do you foster gender
equality?
equality?
Gender is of a major interest to
our work. First, we promote equal representation of women and men throughout
our leadership structures. For example, it is in our internal governance policy
that for deputised positions, if the head is male, deputy must be female and
vice versa. Programmatically, we have been running gender equality seminars for
youth at universities to inculcate equality values among young professionals.
We have also mentored and promoted young women to join mainstream politics all
through our work since 2009. Today, one or two of our active members is a youth
MP representing the Central Uganda in the current parliament in Uganda.
our work. First, we promote equal representation of women and men throughout
our leadership structures. For example, it is in our internal governance policy
that for deputised positions, if the head is male, deputy must be female and
vice versa. Programmatically, we have been running gender equality seminars for
youth at universities to inculcate equality values among young professionals.
We have also mentored and promoted young women to join mainstream politics all
through our work since 2009. Today, one or two of our active members is a youth
MP representing the Central Uganda in the current parliament in Uganda.
What are according to your
experience the most effective ways to ensure community empowerment?
experience the most effective ways to ensure community empowerment?
People will only develop themselves
by what they do; they develop themselves by making their own decisions
(judgments), by increasing their own knowledge and ability and by their own
full participation as equals….A community of people strives to make it possible
for its members to satisfy their fundamental human needs and to enhance the
quality of their lives…….It is about people and the way they live, work
and relate. It is not about objects, things, or services given to them. The
purpose of objects, things, and services…is to serve the people. (Francis
W. Mulwa 2008:26)
by what they do; they develop themselves by making their own decisions
(judgments), by increasing their own knowledge and ability and by their own
full participation as equals….A community of people strives to make it possible
for its members to satisfy their fundamental human needs and to enhance the
quality of their lives…….It is about people and the way they live, work
and relate. It is not about objects, things, or services given to them. The
purpose of objects, things, and services…is to serve the people. (Francis
W. Mulwa 2008:26)
I
can hence say:
can hence say:
People know what the problem is, have what to offer, they just
need extra assistance.
need extra assistance.
Target
communities are not just beneficiaries, but are rather owners/stakeholders.
They may just be unaware of what they are capable of and are often fearful and
inert, just cant act. Involve them from day one, otherwise you may be rejected
for your skills.
communities are not just beneficiaries, but are rather owners/stakeholders.
They may just be unaware of what they are capable of and are often fearful and
inert, just cant act. Involve them from day one, otherwise you may be rejected
for your skills.
Do you cooperate with local
authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
authorities and institutions? If yes, how?
We have been working with
government institutions all through our activities. We invite them to all our
events, and incorporate them into our activity committees. This is because we
believe our efforts are simply complimentary to government efforts; we cannot
replace government and it’s primary responsibility of taking care of the
citizenry. For example, ministry of ethics and integrity and the public service
commission were fully involved in our public service award process in 2010 and
2011. See below the video of final outcomes of this initiative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64jbFKtOVvs
government institutions all through our activities. We invite them to all our
events, and incorporate them into our activity committees. This is because we
believe our efforts are simply complimentary to government efforts; we cannot
replace government and it’s primary responsibility of taking care of the
citizenry. For example, ministry of ethics and integrity and the public service
commission were fully involved in our public service award process in 2010 and
2011. See below the video of final outcomes of this initiative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64jbFKtOVvs
