Govt communication officers cry out over underfunding

Some of the government communication officers pose for a photo during a digital assessment exercise in Kampala on Thursday. Photo | Sylivia Katushabe
What you need to know:
- Dr Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, lamented that the lack of funding has significant implications for disseminating information and engaging citizens
Government communication officers in Uganda are sounding the alarm over severe underfunding, which has crippled their ability to effectively communicate with the public.
Dr Aminah Zawedde, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, lamented that the lack of funding has significant implications for disseminating information and engaging citizens.
"We have underperformed because, as you don't have the budget where you sit, I also don't have the budget at the Ministry for communication," Dr. Zawedde said. "I think for the last two years, we have had a zero release on communication functions, so it becomes so hard and difficult to operate."
The situation is dire, with some communication units operating without any budget for communication. This has led to a breakdown in communication between the government and the public, with even the President complaining about the lack of communication.
"In cabinet, the president is complaining that we are not communicating, the Minister and Permanent Secretaries are complaining, we are not communicating, and that we have let them down," Dr. Zawedde revealed.
Dr. Zawedde emphasized the need for government communication officers to adapt to the changing times and embrace digitalization. "Most people now rely on their phones to access information, and it's crucial for government Ministries and agencies to have a strong online presence," she said.
However, many communication officers lack the necessary tools to effectively communicate in the digital age. "Some communication officers don't have gadgets like phones, laptops, and cameras to use," Dr. Zawedde noted.
To support the communication officers, the government has organized training sessions on digitalization aimed at equipping them with the necessary skills to navigate this new landscape. Commissioner Moses Watasa reiterated the importance of embracing digitalization, saying, "24 hours people are online, we have to keep active and effective in real-time, and that's why we want to assess our digital skills."
Mr. Frank Mugabe, communication officer at the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), emphasized the need for continuous capacity building and refresher courses to address the challenges facing government communication officers. "By prioritizing digitalization and providing adequate funding, the government can help bridge the communication gap and ensure that its communication efforts are effective and responsive to the needs of the public," he said.
However, despite these efforts, government communication officers still face significant challenges, including inadequate funding and incoordination. Mr. Mugabe revealed that as government communication officers, they are still affected by the challenge of incoordination, which has led them to working in silos rather than as a team to push the government agenda.
Dr Zawedde promised to engage the permanent secretaries to at least fund the basic requirements in the communication units. "They have many units, but you find that some units are funded less than others or others are prioritized less than others. I don't know if communication officers have got a voice of what they want in their budgets, but I feel we need to stop the lamentations, we have lamented for so long," she said.