Mukono-The Ministry of Kampala Capital City and Metropolitan Affairs in collaboration with relevant MDAs and development partners have commenced a Quality Assurance Review (QAR) in Mukono District Local Government under the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Program (GKMA-UDP) as part of the Annual Performance Assessment (APA III) process.
The review aims to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and adherence to approved verification protocols in the assessment results previously conducted by the World Bank Independent Verification Agents (IVA) under the Independent Budget Assessment (IBA).
The exercise brought together officials from the GKMA-UDP team and various departments of Mukono District Local Government to review the assessment findings and verify whether the results and scores awarded were fair and properly supported by evidence.
In his welcoming remarks, the Chief Administrative Officer of Mukono District, Mr. Ddamba Henry, thanked the GKMA-UDP team for their continued efforts in supporting the program and assured them of full cooperation from the district during the review process.
He emphasized the importance of the exercise in strengthening accountability, improving performance, and ensuring that the district benefits fully from the program.
Speaking during the engagement, the GKMA-UDP Team Leader, Mr. Deogracious Kiryowa, explained that the main objective of the Quality Assurance Review was to confirm that the earlier assessment process was fair, identify any gaps that may have occurred, and ensure that the interpretation of results was accurate.
He noted that the review would also verify whether the district had provided all necessary documentation and evidence during the earlier assessment and whether the verification process followed the required guidelines.
Mukono District had been assessed under eight performance indicators ranging from DR1 to DR8, and the review also sought to confirm whether the assessment had followed the required high-grid approach.
Mr. Kiryowa further informed district officials that the World Bank technical team was currently working offline and encouraged all departments to take the exercise seriously by submitting all necessary documentation to support the review process.
“The evidence provided by departments will determine the level of support the district receives under the GKMA-UDP program,” he explained.
During the departmental discussions, several observations were made regarding the assessment results.
The Human Resource Department largely endorsed the assessment findings, especially in areas of staff appraisals, payroll management, pensions, and audit work plans. However, confirmation was still required regarding the district recruitment plan with the Ministry of Public Service.
In the Engineering Department, officials agreed with most of the findings under DLI5 and DLI8, though improvements were recommended in detailing the integrated work plan.
The Environment Department also agreed with most of the IVA findings but noted that additional documentation could help the district recover some of the lost marks.
Meanwhile, the Physical Planning Department endorsed most findings but raised concerns about delays in the approval of plans and discrepancies in figures related to land area and forest cover.
The Officials noted that if adequate evidence is provided across departments, Mukono District could recover several marks, potentially enabling the district to access more than UGX 3.5 billion in additional support under the GKMA-UDP program.
Departments were therefore encouraged to scan and submit all necessary documentation to strengthen the review process.
While closing the engagement, the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Mukono District, Mr. Muhumuza Stephen, appreciated the GKMA-UDP team for their dedication and the support they continue to provide to the district.
He also thanked the district technical teams for their commitment and encouraged them to work together in addressing the pending issues by submitting the required evidence for endorsement during the Quality Assurance Review process.
Mr. Muhumuza further requested continued support from the GKMA-UDP team and wished them a safe journey as they proceed with their mission.
The Quality Assurance Review marks an important step in ensuring transparency, fairness, and accuracy in the implementation of the Greater Kampala Metropolitan Area Urban Development Program. The exercise provides Mukono District with an opportunity to clarify assessment findings, submit additional evidence, and improve its overall performance under the program.
With continued collaboration between the Ministry, GKMA-UDP team, and district departments, Mukono District stands to strengthen its compliance with program requirements and potentially secure additional funding to support urban development and service delivery initiatives across the district.
