Local news agency, Uganda Radio Network reports that the legislators contend that some RDCs have deviated from their cardinal role of monitoring government programmes to only attending workshops and fighting against local politicians.

MPs Susan Amero (Amuria Woman MP), Jessica Ababiku (Adjumani Woman MP) and Col Fred Mwesigye of Nyabushozi County say the roles of RDCs should either be clearly outlined with performance targets or scrapped to avoid redundancy.

Article 203 of 1995 Constitution provides for the establishment of the office of the Resident District Commissioner and the roles provided for.

They are:
a) To monitor implementation of Central and Local Government services in the District.
b) To act as Chairperson of the District Security Committee;
c) To carry out such other functions as may be assigned by the President or prescribed by Parliament by Law.

President Museveni has 116 presidential advisers spread across many fields although there are plans to increase them to 141. According to the 2016/17 ministerial policy statement for the Office of the President and State House presented to Parliament in April, the Office of the President has 259 vacant positions, mostly for civil servants such as principal policy analysts (3), principal economist, and principal legal officer. Every ministry and department of government is covered in the list of advisers.

They have severally hinted that they never get to meet the president to advise him, besides writing routine monthly briefs that in most cases don’t reach him.