By Sadique Bamwita
ENTEBBE
The Public protector (Ombudsman) of the Republic of South Africa, Mrs. Kholeka Gcaleka, has arrived in Uganda to celebrate the International Ombudsman Day that will be held in Kampala on November 6, 2024.
She was warmly welcomed at Entebbe International Airport by the Deputy Inspector General of Government Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe. Mrs. Kholeka Gcaleka upon arrival said she is in Uganda to share her experience on how the different sectoral ombudsman in South Africa operate unlike in Uganda where there is a single Inspectorate of Government handling all the sectors in the country.
While addressing the media at Entebbe International Airport on November 4, 2024, the South Africa’s Ombudsman Mrs. Kholeka Gcaleka noted that during the celebrations for International Ombudsman Day, she will share her experience with her counterparts on how South Africa has been able to use a number of sectoral ombudsmen in handling complaints most especially serious or complex matters.
“It’s a great pleasure to be warmly welcomed here in Uganda. Ombudsmanship is a very important concept that originates from Sweden and our respective countries including Uganda and South Africa are members of the United Nations that adopted this concept of ensuring transparency, rule of law, good governance, and accountability within government systems. In South Africa, early in the days, we used to be called people’s ombudsman and post democracy. We are a public protector which is provided in Chapter 9 of our constitution and reports directly to parliament and our decisions are only proved by courts of Laws.
“The Republic of South Africa is regarded as an institution which prevents corruption and plays a critical role in the fight against corruption in the country. And what is important with the ombudsmanship and we are the alternative to the courts of Law. In Africa this is most important because most people can’t afford the litigation processes because they require speed in court and the interventions between the challenges they have and their governments. We don’t investigate the government, we investigate parliament, the judiciary but we don’t investigate judicial decisions.
‘I will be sharing with my counterparts that in South Africa we have various ombudsmen and they report to departments. For example in Johannesburg, there is an ombudsman whose establishment is facilitated by cabinet, military ombudsman, the Ombudsman of the city of Cape, University ombudsman for institutions of higher learning, Police ombudsman in Western Cape Town, and ombudsman in the financial sector regulated by government. So it’s important for governments including that of Uganda to have these ombudsmen to assist them in resolving complaints. By doing so, we shall be able to bring to light any challenges and maladministration issues, and conflict resolution issues because as ombudsmen we arbitrate, negotiate and we don’t only investigate matters.
‘In instances where there are recommendations made by the sectoral ombudsman, there is a public protector that can adapt these reports and we are able to enforce those reports. Basically those are the experiences I will be sharing and possibly I will look at how best we can assist in the process as Uganda explores these set of ombudsman which need to include the works from the national ombudsman to be able to deal with much serious matters not because other matters are not serious but they are more complex, ‘Mrs. Kholeka explained.
Mrs. Kholeka further revealed that through different sectoral Ombudsmen the Republic of South Africa has been able to resolve 10,000 matters every year and she wants her counterparts in the African region inclusive Uganda to replicate the same.
“The ombudsman should be in position to resolve matters expeditiously. In South Africa, we receive 10,000 matters per annum which is quite a lot but most of the loads are handled by the sectoral ombudsmen that handle them very fast and convincingly, ‘Mrs. Kholeka revealed.
On the other hand, the Uganda’s Deputy Inspector General of Government Mrs. Anne Twinomugisha Muhairwe said it’s a great opportunity to host the Ombudsman of South Africa and that as a keynote speaker she will help her counterparts appreciate the concept of sectoral ombudsman which plays a crucial role in promoting accountability and transparency in addressing specific sectoral concerns and challenges.
“We are honored to host the ombudsman or the public protector of the Republic of South Africa and she is our keynote speaker during the International Ombudsman Day to be held on Wednesday 6 November 2024 organized under the theme: “Here we are.” She is going to help us expound on the sectoral ombudsmen which we want to introduce in our public service sector,’Mrs. Anne Muhairwe disclosed.
Mrs. Anne Muhairwe implored all permanent secretaries in Uganda’s Ministries to attend in person saying the decisions that are going to be made are policy decisions which may not be delegated.
“I implore all invited stakeholders to attend. Come and learn, and also share experiences with African ombudsmen. So, there is much to learn, pick from their experiences and put it to practice in our context. I call upon all permanent secretaries in our government ministries to attend in person because the experiences to be discussed pertain to policy matters.’
Source link
