DOCSLIB.ORG

Local Government Councils' Performance

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Local Government Councils' Performance LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS’ PERFORMANCE AND PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY IN UGANDA Buliisa District Council Score-Card Report 2012/2013 Micah Asiku . Lillian M. Tamale . Richard Kajura . Robert Tinkasimire ACODE Public Service Delivery and Accountability Report Series No.29, 2014 LOCAL GOVERNMENT COUNCILS’ PERFORMANCE AND PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY IN UGANDA Buliisa District Council Score-Card Report 2012/2013 Micah Asiku . Lillian M. Tamale . Richard Kajura . Robert Tinkasimire ACODE Public Service Delivery and Accountability Report Series No.29, 2014 Published by ACODE P. O. Box 29836, Kampala Email: [email protected]; [email protected] Website: http://www.acode-u.org Citation: Asiku, M., et.al. (2014). Local Government Councils’ Performance and Public Service Delivery in Uganda: Buliisa District Council Score-Card Report 2012/13. ACODE Public Service Delivery and Accountability Report Series No.29, 2014. Kampala. © ACODE 2014 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. ACODE policy work is supported by generous donations and grants from bilateral donors and charitable foundations. The reproduction or use of this publication for academic or charitable purposes or for purposes of informing public policy is excluded from this restriction. ISBN: 978 9970 34 026 2 Cover Illustrations: Fishermen row their boats next to an oil exploration site in Buliisa District. The district leadership needs to strategically position the district to tap into the opportunities that oil production will bring to the district. CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES AND FIGURES ............................................................. I ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................. II EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ......................................................................... V 1. BACKGROUND ................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction .............................................................................. 1 1.2 District Profile ............................................................................ 1 1.3 Buliisa District Leadership ......................................................... 2 1.4. Methodology ............................................................................. 4 1.4.1 The Scorecard ......................................................................... 4 1.4.2 The Scorecard Administration .................................................. 4 1.4.3 Data Management and Analysis ............................................... 6 2. BUDGET ARCHITECTURE AND STATUS OF SERVICE DELIVERY IN BULIISA DISTRICT.......................................................................... 7 2.1 District Budget Performance .............................................. 7 2.1.1 District Resource Envelope ............................................... 7 2.1.2 Sectoral Budget Allocation ............................................... 8 2.2 Status of Service Delivery ................................................ 10 2.2.1 Primary Education ......................................................... 10 2.2.2 Functional Adult Literacy ................................................ 12 2.2.3 Health ............................................................................ 13 2.2.4 Agriculture ..................................................................... 14 2.2.5 Roads ............................................................................ 16 2.2.6 Water and Sanitation ...................................................... 17 2.2.7 Natural Resources .......................................................... 18 3. BULIISA DISTRICT SCORECARD: FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATION .......................................................................... 21 3.1 Performance of the District Council ................................... 21 3.2 Performance of the District Chairperson ........................... 23 3.3 Performance of the District Speaker ................................. 24 3.4 Performance of District Councilors .................................... 25 3.5 Interpretation of Results ................................................... 28 3.5.1 Internal Factors .............................................................. 28 3.5.2 External Factors ........................................................... 28 4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................... 30 4.1 Conclusion .............................................................................. 30 4.2 Recommendations ................................................................... 30 REFERENCES ..................................................................................... 32 ANNEXES ........................................................................................... 33 PUBLICATIONS IN THIS SERIES ......................................................... 36 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Buliisa District Leadership ....................................................... 3 Table 2: Revenue budget outturn for the FY 2011/12-2012/13 ............. 7 Table 3 Estimated budget breakdown against actual received for the F/Y 2012/13 .......................................................................... 9 Table 4: Buliisa District PLE Performance 2007-2012 ......................... 11 Table 5: Basic information on UPE 2012/13 ...................................... 12 Table 6 Basic demographic and health data for Buliisa District ........... 13 Table 7: Water sources by type and number ....................................... 17 Table 8: Key indicators in the Environment and Natural Resource Sector for Buliisa District ............................................................ 19 Table 9: Performance of Buliisa District Council in FY 2012/13 ......... 21 Table 10: Chairperson’s scorecard ...................................................... 23 Table 11: Speaker’s scorecard ............................................................ 24 Table 12: Buliisa District Councilors Performance 2012/13 ................ 27 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Population Growth Trends of Buliisa District .......................... 2 Figure 2: FGD participation by gender .................................................. 5 Figure 3: Sectoral Budget Allocations for Buliisa District Local Government FY 2012/13 .............................................................. 9 Figure 4: Left: Classroom block of Waiga Primary School. Centre: Broken Furniture at Kijanji Primary School Right: Staff house at Kijangi Primary School. ............................................................... 11 Figure 5: Trends Analysis for PLE Performance for Buliisa District ...... 12 Figure 6: Left: Avogera HC III connected to power,Centre and Right: Staff quarters at Biiso Health Centre III where shoddy work was identified and improvements made. ............................................. 14 Figure 7: A farmer supported under DLSP in Kihungya Sub-county ..... 16 Figure 8: Left: Drawing unsafe water at Katodyo. Right: Non-functional borehole at Katodyo Church, Kigwera Sub-county ........................ 18 Figure 9: Firewood being ferried to Bugoigo landing site, Waisoke ....... 19 i LIST OF ACRONYMS ACODE Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment BMU Beach Management Unit CAO Chief Administrative Officer CBG Capacity Building Grant CBO Community Based Organization CBP Capacity Building Plan CDD Community Driven Development CFO Chief Finance Officer CSOs Civil Society Organizations DDP Deepening Democracy Programme DDP District Development Plan DPU District Planning Unit FAL Functional Adult Literacy FIEFOC Farm Income Enhancement and Forestry Conservation HC Health Centre HMIS Health Management Information System LGBFP Local Government Budget Framework Paper LGDP Local Government Development Programme LLG Lower Local Government MTEFW Medium Term Expenditure Framework NAADS National Agricultural Advisory Services NGO Non Governmental Organization NPPA National Programme Priority Areas NUSAF II Northern Uganda Social Action Fund Second Phase PAC Public Accounts Committee PAF Poverty Action Fund PHC Primary Health Care PMA Plan for Modernization of Agriculture PS Protected Springs PRDP Peace Recovery Development Programme PWDs Persons with Disability RGC Rural Growth Centre ii SWs Shallow Wells SFG School Facilities Grant UNRA Uganda National Roads Authority UPE Universal Primary Education USE Universal Secondary Education iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This scorecard was prepared as part of the Local Government Councils’ Scorecard Initiative (LGCSCI). This Initiative is a partnership between the Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA) and the Advocates Coalition for Development and Environment (ACODE). The report is an output of consultations with the district political and technical leadership. At the lower local governments, we would like to acknowledge the contribution of the sub- county leadership and community members who participated in the various Focus Group Discussions. We acknowledge the contributions of the LGCSCI project team at ACODE and the district-based researchers across the country. At the district level, we are particularly indebted to the offices of the District Chairperson, the District Speaker, the Chief Administrative Officer and the District Clerk to Council
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Peoples Voice COP21 Uganda
    the People’s voice uganda COMMUNITY PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PEPFAR UGANDA FOR 2021 Introduction: Developing “The People’s Voice” Since 2012, communities of People living with HIV (PLHIV), Key and Vulnerable Populations (KVPs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), under the leadership of the International Community of Women Living with HIV Eastern Africa (ICWEA), the Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS-Uganda) and Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) in collaboration with global partners including Health GAP and AVAC have been monitoring and informing PEPFAR Country Operational Planning (COP) processes. At that time, there were no minimum standards for the meaningful engagement of PLHIV, KVPs and CSOs and discussions with the U.S. government regarding Uganda’s COP would take place only in meetings at the U.S. Embassy. PLHIV, KVP and CSOs worked to ensure that the engagement processes became truly community- owned and community-led. They established a structured calendar, clear expectations of civil society and of PEPFAR Uganda, and a shared focus with PEPFAR Uganda on improving the accountability of the HIV response for communities and CSOs. This is the third edition of The People’s Voice; the first was facilities which are located in 28 districts (see Table A, page 3) published in 20191 and the second in 2020.2 Successes resulting during the CLM pilot phase (August-September 2020) and Focus from these efforts over the years include: introduction and scale Group Discussions (FGDs) with community representatives.
    [Show full text]
  • Mapping a Healthier Future
    Health Planning Department, Ministry of Health, Uganda Directorate of Water Development, Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda Uganda Bureau of Statistics International Livestock Research Institute World Resources Institute The Republic of Uganda Health Planning Department MINISTRY OF HEALTH, UGANDA Directorate of Water Development MINISTRY OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENT, UGANDA Uganda Bureau of Statistics Mapping a Healthier Future ISBN: 978-1-56973-728-6 How Spatial Analysis Can Guide Pro-Poor Water and Sanitation Planning in Uganda HEALTH PLANNING DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF HEALTH, UGANDA Plot 6 Lourdel Road P.O. Box 7272 AUTHORS AND CONTRIBUTORS Kampala, Uganda http://www.health.go.ug/ This publication was prepared by a core team from fi ve institutions: The Health Planning Department at the Ministry of Health (MoH) leads eff orts to provide strategic support Health Planning Department, Ministry of Health, Uganda to the Health Sector in achieving sector goals and objectives. Specifi cally, the Planning Department guides Paul Luyima sector planning; appraises and monitors programmes and projects; formulates, appraises and monitors Edward Mukooyo national policies and plans; and appraises regional and international policies and plans to advise the sector Didacus Namanya Bambaiha accordingly. Francis Runumi Mwesigye Directorate of Water Development, Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda DIRECTORATE OF WATER DEVELOPMENT Richard Cong MINISTRY OF WATER AND ENVIRONMENT, UGANDA Plot 21/28 Port Bell Road, Luzira Clara Rudholm P.O. Box 20026 Disan Ssozi Kampala, Uganda Wycliff e Tumwebaze http://www.mwe.go.ug/MoWE/13/Overview Uganda Bureau of Statistics The Directorate of Water Development (DWD) is the lead government agency for the water and sanitation Thomas Emwanu sector under the Ministry of Water and Environment (MWE) with the mandate to promote and ensure the rational and sustainable utilization, development and safeguard of water resources for social and economic Bernard Justus Muhwezi development, as well as for regional and international peace.
    [Show full text]
  • Local Content in the Oil and Gas Sector in Uganda Presented to The
    Local Content in the oil and gas Sector in Uganda Presented to the Community Dialogues Bintu Peter Kenneth Enterprise Development Officer Petroleum Authority of Uganda October 2020 PRESENTATION OUTLINE 1. Introduction: 2. Initiatives to enhance national participation 3. Progress registered 4. Sectoral linkages 5. What next after FID 6. Linkages 7. Conclusion 1. Introduction: National Content Development in the oil and gas sector Definition Employment of Ugandan • Value added or created in the Ugandan citizens. economy through the employment of Ugandan workers and the use of goods Transfer of produced or available in Uganda and knowledge Capacity and services provided by Ugandan citizens technology; building; and enterprises Key pillars National Content goal : Use of locally produced Enterprise To achieve in-country value creation goods and development; and retention whilst ensuring services competitiveness, efficiency and effectiveness. Introduction: Existing policy & regulatory framework National Oil and Gas Policy The Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Act, 2013 Petroleum (Refining, Conversion, Transmission and Midstream Storage) Act, 2013 The Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) Regulations 2016 The Petroleum (Refining, Conversion, Transmission and Midstream Storage) Regulations 2016 The Petroleum (Exploration, Development and Production) (National Content) Regulations 2016 The Petroleum (Refining, Conversion, Transmission and Midstream Storage) (National Content) Regulations, 2016. 5 2. Initiatives to achieve National Content National Content Study, 2011 . 1. Opportunities and challenges for Communication of and oil and gas projects Ugandans’ participation in oil gas demand 2. 8. Creation of an projects. Envisage creation Enterprise of technical Enhancement training institute Industry Baseline Survey, 2013 Centre . Undertaken by Oil companies to assess local capacity to supply the 7.
    [Show full text]
  • Buikwe District Economic Profile
    BUIKWE DISTRICT LOCAL GOVERNMENT P.O.BOX 3, LUGAZI District LED Profile A. Map of Buikwe District Showing LLGs N 1 B. Background 1.1 Location and Size Buikwe District lies in the Central region of Uganda, sharing borders with the District of Jinja in the East, Kayunga along river Sezibwa in the North, Mukono in the West, and Buvuma in Lake Victoria. The District Headquarters is in BUIKWE Town, situated along Kampala - Jinja road (11kms off Lugazi). Buikwe Town serves as an Administrative and commercial centre. Other urban centers include Lugazi, Njeru and Nkokonjeru Town Councils. Buikwe District has a total area of about 1209 Square Kilometres of which land area is 1209 square km. 1.2 Historical Background Buikwe District is one of the 28 districts of Uganda that were created under the local Government Act 1 of 1997. By the act of parliament, the district was inniatially one of the Counties of Mukono district but later declared an independent district in July 2009. The current Buikwe district consists of One County which is divided into three constituencies namely Buikwe North, Buikwe South and Buikwe West. It conatins 8 sub counties and 4 Town councils. 1.3 Geographical Features Topography The northern part of the district is flat but the southern region consists of sloping land with great many undulations; 75% of the land is less than 60o in slope. Most of Buikwe District lies on a high plateau (1000-1300) above sea level with some areas along Sezibwa River below 760m above sea level, Southern Buikwe is a raised plateau (1220-2440m) drained by River Sezibwa and River Musamya.
    [Show full text]
  • Uganda 2015 Human Rights Report
    UGANDA 2015 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Uganda is a constitutional republic led since 1986 by President Yoweri Museveni of the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party. Voters re-elected Museveni to a fourth five-year term and returned an NRM majority to the unicameral Parliament in 2011. While the election marked an improvement over previous elections, it was marred by irregularities. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control over the security forces. The three most serious human rights problems in the country included: lack of respect for the integrity of the person (unlawful killings, torture, and other abuse of suspects and detainees); restrictions on civil liberties (freedoms of assembly, expression, the media, and association); and violence and discrimination against marginalized groups, such as women (sexual and gender-based violence), children (sexual abuse and ritual killing), persons with disabilities, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community. Other human rights problems included harsh prison conditions, arbitrary and politically motivated arrest and detention, lengthy pretrial detention, restrictions on the right to a fair trial, official corruption, societal or mob violence, trafficking in persons, and child labor. Although the government occasionally took steps to punish officials who committed abuses, whether in the security services or elsewhere, impunity was a problem. Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from: a. Arbitrary or Unlawful Deprivation of Life There were several reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings. On September 8, media reported security forces in Apaa Parish in the north shot and killed five persons during a land dispute over the government’s border demarcation.
    [Show full text]
  • Priority Service Provision Under Decentralization: a Case Study of Maternal and Child Health Care in Uganda
    Small Applied Research No. 10 Priority Service Provision under Decentralization: A Case Study of Maternal and Child Health Care in Uganda December 1999 Prepared by: Frederick Mwesigye, M.A Makerere University Abt Associates Inc. n 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 600 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 n Tel: 301/913-0500 n Fax: 301/652-3916 In collaboration with: Development Associates, Inc. n Harvard School of Public Health n Howard University International Affairs Center n University Research Co., LLC Funded by: U.S. Agency for International Development Mission The Partnerships for Health Reform (PHR) Project seeks to improve people’s health in low- and middle-income countries by supporting health sector reforms that ensure equitable access to efficient, sustainable, quality health care services. In partnership with local stakeholders, PHR promotes an integrated approach to health reform and builds capacity in the following key areas: > Better informed and more participatory policy processes in health sector reform; > More equitable and sustainable health financing systems; > Improved incentives within health systems to encourage agents to use and deliver efficient and quality health services; and > Enhanced organization and management of health care systems and institutions to support specific health sector reforms. PHR advances knowledge and methodologies to develop, implement, and monitor health reforms and their impact, and promotes the exchange of information on critical health reform issues. December 1999 Recommended Citation Mwesigye, Frederick. 1999. Priority Service Provision Under Decentralization: A Case Study of Maternal and Child Health Care in Uganda. Small Applied Research Paper No. 10. Bethesda, MD: Partnerships for Health Reform Project, Abt Associates Inc. For additional copies of this report, contact the PHR Resource Center at [email protected] or visit our website at www.phrproject.com.
    [Show full text]
  • World Bank Document
    Public Disclosure Authorized ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development Rural Electrification Agency ENERGY FOR RURAL TRANSFORMATION PHASE III GRID INTENSIFICATION SCHEMES PACKAGED UNDER WEST NILE, NORTH NORTH WEST, AND NORTHERN SERVICE TERRITORIES Public Disclosure Authorized JUNE, 2019 i LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS CDO Community Development Officer CFP Chance Finds Procedure DEO District Environment Officer ESMP Environmental and Social Management and Monitoring Plan ESMF Environmental Social Management Framework ERT III Energy for Rural Transformation (Phase 3) EHS Environmental Health and Safety EIA Environmental Impact Assessment ESMMP Environmental and Social Mitigation and Management Plan GPS Global Positioning System GRM Grievance Redress Mechanism MEMD Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development NEMA National Environment Management Authority OPD Out Patient Department OSH Occupational Safety and Health PCR Physical Cultural Resources PCU Project Coordination Unit PPE Personal Protective Equipment REA Rural Electrification Agency RoW Right of Way UEDCL Uganda Electricity Distribution Company Limited WENRECO West Nile Rural Electrification Company ii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ......................................................... ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................ iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 23 East African Railways and Harbours Administration
    NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Washing%on, D.C. ast Africa High Commission November 29, 195 (2) East African Railways and Harbours Administration Mr. Walter S. Rogers Institute of Current World Affairs 22 Fifth Avenue New York 6, New York Dear Mr. Rogers The public Railways and Inland Marine Service of ast Africa, a] oerated by the Railways and Harbours Administration, are by far the rlncipal means of transport of the area. In 1992 they performed some I,98,60,O ton miles of freight haulage and some 6,,898 passenger orneys over ,O99 route miles of metre gauge railway and other routes. The present role of the railway is varie. At the outlying pointB it is rovidlng access to new agrlc,tural areas and to mineral operations. Along established lines it continues to bring in the capital equipment for development and the import goods in demand by the uropean, Asian and African population; but it also is serving increasingly as an economic integrator, allowing regional agricultural specialization so that each smal bloc of territory ned not remain fully self sufficient in food grains. The comparatively cheap*haulage to the coast of larger quantities of export produce, sisal, cotton, coffee, sod-ash, is a necessary facility for the expanding economy of .East Africa. The railway also gives mobility to labor in ast Africa, facilitating the migrations necessary for agricultural purposes and for industries denendent upon large numbers of African personnel. By providing longer heavier haulge services, the railways complement their own and other motor transport service; the natural difficulties of road building and maintanance being formidable in East Africa, it is usually accepted that truck haulage routes should be ancilary to the railway.
    [Show full text]
  • Judith Franca Akello Woman MP, Agago District Raised Concern Over the Loss of Lives and Destruction of Property of Some Communit
    STATEMENT BY MINXSIER OF INTERT{AI AFFAIRS TO PARTIAME}IT ON REPORTED LOSS OF LIVES A}ID DESIRI,'CEON OF PROPERTY OF SOI4E COMMUNITIES IN AGACO A]IID KOTIDO DISTRICT RL Hon. Speaker, at the 29th Sitting of the 2nd Meeting of the 2nd Session of the 10th Parliament of Uganda, neta on Tuesday 6th-February, 2018 Hon. Judith Franca Akello Woman MP, Agago District raised concern over the loss of lives and destruction of property of some communities in Agago District by Karamojong Warriors. The Ministries for Karamoja Affairs and Interna! Affairs undertook to provide a response to Parliament on the said matter, and this is the statement. RL Hon. Speaker, 1. LN of lives in Agagp and Kotido Districts on the 30th of January2Ol8, two young boys who were looking after animals were apprehended by three male hunters speaking Acholi Language and from the Agago side, near Longo Dam in Kotido District. The hunters also had hunting nets, three dogs, spears, and knives. This is an area used by communities from Kotido, Kaabong, Agago, and Kitgum Districts for fishing, grazing animals and hunting. The people who apprehended the two boys (Apei 2L of Lopanga and 17 year old Irar son of Lokritak who was killed by the hunters) did not explain to them why they were being held. The hunters instead knlfed IRAR next to his heaft. The elder Apei managed to disentangle himself, but not before he was hit wlth a knife on his head, and another hit on his left side. He managed to run to his parents and narrated what had happened to them.
    [Show full text]
  • Agago District HRV Profile.Pdf
    THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA Agago District Hazard, Risk and Vulnerability Profi le 2016 Contents Maps ............................................................................................................................ ii Tables .......................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................... iii Executive Summary.................................................................................................... iv Acronyms.....................................................................................................................v Defi nition of Terms ..................................................................................................... vii Introduction ..................................................................................................................1 Objectives ................................................................................................................1 Methodology .............................................................................................................1 Overview of the Agago .............................................................................................4 Hazards .......................................................................................................................9 Hazard Risks .............................................................................................................13
    [Show full text]
  • Scaling up Agricultural Carbon Activities in Mbale Region, Uganda
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by CGSpace No. 13 March 2015 Scaling up Agricultural Carbon Activities in Agroforestry for climate change adaptation, Mbale Region, Uganda mitigation and livelihoods Agroforestry is one solution to these complex challenges as it serves to mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon in trees, while helping to prevent soil erosion and improving soil fertility. Since Background October 2012, Environmental Conservation Trust (ECOTRUST) has Agriculture is central to the economy of Uganda; it employs about been implementing an agroforestry-focused carbon project under 82% of the national workforce and is responsible for generating the Trees for Global Benefits (TGB) program in the Mbale, Manafwa over 20% of Uganda’s GDP (Oling, Rwabizambuga, and Warren- and Bududa Districts. This project was introduced to provide small- rodriguez 2014). Over 800,000 smallholder farmers in the Mbale, holder farmers incentives to participate in climate change mitiga- Manafwa and Bududa Districts (Mbale region, total area 137,128 tion activities, while accentuating soil and water conservation and ha) depend on agriculture as their main source of livelihood exploiting the benefits of enhanced productivity for banana and (Mbogga 2013). Farmers in these districts mainly produce bananas coffee crops under an agroforestry system (van Asten et al. 2011). and maize, which are consumed locally and exported to neighbor- While the TGB program is driven by the voluntary carbon market ing countries like Kenya, as well as annual horticultural crops, such and provides a minimal payment to farmers in proportion to their as carrots, Irish potatoes, onions, passion fruit and tomatoes.
    [Show full text]
  • My Illustrious (But Brief) Military Career Or How My Name Never Made It Ontothe Regimental Roll
    My Illustrious (but brief) Military Career Or How My Name Never Made it OntoThe Regimental Roll [Jitze Couperus] You may be interested in some background as to why I never made it officially on to the Kenya Regiment Long Roll; I was basically, a Uganda boy and while Uganda boys did participate in the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) while at the Prince of Wales School, they were never actually called- up into The Regiment on leaving school. This was because, as Uganda residents, they did not live in a British Colony – rather they lived in what was merely a British Protectorate where conscription rules did not apply. However, Murphy’s Law struck. During my last term at the Prince of Wales, two things happened. My parents moved to Nairobi (thus I was in transition to becoming a Kenya resident) and peace in the Congo blew apart within hours of independence. So my last term at school was cut short; the other boys were sent home early because the dormitories were needed to house Belgian refugees, but I had to stay on as one of a few senior prefects to help receive and settle the refugees. During this exercise it was discovered by “the authorities” that I spoke Dutch (my parents had come originally from Holland) - which was very useful in communicating with some of the Belgians – as Dutch is very similar Flemish. Also I was conversant in the local variety of Swahili spoken in Western Uganda and across the border in The Congo - which was useful in communicating with Greek refugees whom the Belgians had originally imported to work as fundis (craftsmen) in the mines at Union Minière.
    [Show full text]