Soroti– Community Development Officers from Mukono District Local Government have successfully completed a four-day benchmarking exercise in Soroti City focused on strengthening environmental and social safeguards management under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Programme (GKMA-UDP).
The benchmarking exercise, supported by the Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs through GKMA-UDP, aimed at enhancing institutional capacity, improving coordination, and promoting operational excellence in managing environmental and social safeguard requirements in development projects.
The Mukono delegation engaged in learning best practices, networking, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge sharing on grievance redress mechanisms, environmental screening, and social safeguards integration. As part of the exercise, the officers visited key infrastructure projects implemented under the Uganda Support to Municipal Infrastructure Development (USMID/UMAID) programme, including Soroti City Market and newly constructed urban roads.
While opening the engagement, Soroti City’s Assistant Deputy City Clerk, Mr. Ochieng Badru, welcomed the Mukono delegation and commended the district for prioritizing capacity building. He emphasized the importance of teamwork between political and technical leaders, noting that community involvement is essential in addressing service delivery challenges and strengthening governance.
He explained that Soroti City has succeeded in project implementation because of strong collaboration among leaders, transparency, and community ownership of development initiatives. He also noted that political leaders play a key role in mobilizing local revenue and building public trust.
Soroti City Community Development Officer, Ms. Damali Asekenye, described the benchmarking visit as timely and productive, emphasizing that integrating environmental and social safeguards ensures sustainable development and protects communities.
She explained that Soroti City prioritizes stakeholder engagement, environmental screening, and community participation in all development projects.
“The benchmarking exercise focused on integrating environmental and social safeguards into project implementation. We ensure stakeholder engagement, environmental screening, and continuous community involvement to protect both the environment and the people,” she said.
Ms. Damali also highlighted that strong partnerships, proposal writing, and collaboration with government institutions, NGOs, civil society organizations, and development partners such as the World Bank have enabled Soroti City to attract funding and successfully implement infrastructure and development programs.
However, she acknowledged that challenges such as limited financial resources and political interference continue to affect project implementation, emphasizing the need for continued coordination and adherence to technical guidelines.
The District Community Development Officer of Mukono, Ms. Minisa Kirya Namukose, said the benchmarking exercise was intended to equip Community Development Officers with practical skills in integrating environmental and social safeguards into development projects.
She explained that Soroti City was selected due to its successful implementation of World Bank-funded urban development programs and its strong compliance with environmental and social safeguard standards.
“Our officers have learned how to conduct environmental and social screening, prepare safeguard management plans, and integrate safeguards throughout the project cycle. These lessons will help ensure responsible and sustainable project implementation in Mukono District,” she said.
Ms. Minisa also emphasized the importance of grievance management systems, gender inclusion, child protection, and ensuring that vulnerable groups benefit from development programs.
She expressed confidence that Mukono District officers would apply the acquired knowledge to strengthen project implementation and safeguard community interests.
Assistant City Environment Officer, Mr. Francis Edeo, emphasized that environmental and social safeguards are critical in ensuring sustainable development and preventing conflicts.
He noted that the benchmarking exercise enabled Mukono officers to understand how safeguards are integrated into project planning, implementation, and monitoring.
“Environmental and social safeguards minimize risks, protect communities, and ensure sustainable project outcomes. When properly implemented, they promote community ownership and long-term success of development initiatives,” Mr. Edeo said.
He stressed that collaboration between communities, technical staff, and environmental officers is essential in ensuring successful and sustainable project implementation.
While closing the benchmarking exercise, Soroti City Clerk, Mr. Paul Batanda, commended Mukono District for investing in capacity building and strengthening its institutional systems.
He emphasized that managing development programs, particularly those funded by development partners, requires strict adherence to procedures, timely reporting, accountability, and professionalism.
Mr. Batanda cautioned officers that failure to follow established guidelines could result in districts losing vital funding opportunities.
“Community Development Officers play a critical role in ensuring project success. Your responsibility in engaging communities, ensuring transparency, and maintaining proper documentation determines whether development programs succeed or fail,” he said.
He encouraged officers to maintain professionalism, consistency in reporting, and accountability in project management to ensure continued support from development partners.
Mr. Batanda also praised Mukono District’s history of innovation and strong local revenue mobilization, which has enabled the district to implement key development initiatives.
The four-day benchmarking exercise provided Mukono District Community Development Officers with valuable knowledge, skills, and practical experience in environmental and social safeguards management. The engagement strengthened their capacity to effectively plan, implement, and monitor development projects in compliance with national and international standards.
Mukono District officials reaffirmed their commitment to applying the lessons learned to enhance accountability, strengthen community engagement, and improve service delivery. The exercise marked an important step in strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring that government and donor-funded programs are implemented sustainably, transparently, and in ways that protect both the environment and the wellbeing of communities.
