Sunday, July 29, 2012
By: Immaculate Wanyenze
At least 20 Somali civil servants have undergone training at the Uganda Management Institute on how to run public institutions.
The African Development Bank funded the training which took two weeks. Those trained included Somalia’s director generals who gained skills in public finance management and accountability. They received certificates of attendance and participation. According to Dr James Nkata, the director general at UMI, this training has offered an opportunity for UMI and Uganda to build stronger relationships with Somalia.
This, Nkata believes, has gone a long way in raising the profile of UMI as a centre of excellence. UMI has in the past instructed government officials of different ranks from Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. Somalia is considered one of the most volatile African countries. The opportunity comes at a time when UMI’s programmes and enrolment have increased; the institute now offers eight more programmes in addition to the one Masters programme they offered earlier.
Aweis Sheikh Haddad, the director general at the ministry of Labour, Youth and Sports in Somalia, credited UMI and promised to cut down on tribalism in their ministries.
“With the skills we have attained in Uganda, we hope to start our own management institution to help our country deliver better services.” Haddad said.
Musa Bashir, the acting ambassador of Somalia to Uganda, encouraged his colleagues to be responsible managers back home.
“This is a critical time. Our country needs us and we should, therefore, not look at money alone as a way of rebuilding Somalia but use this leadership training to stabilize our government.”