Communication experts from different organisations have called upon all government agencies to utilise the available platforms to disseminate information on projects in an effort to enhance transparency in infrastructural projects.
Some of the platforms include The Public Procurement and Disposal Authority (PPDA) website, media websites and ministry of works and transport portal, among others. They say that though there has have been some agencies that have disseminated information using various platforms, it’s still on a low scale.
During an online meeting organised by Cost International today under the theme “Public Infrastructure transparency, the role of media and information”, Senior Regional Manager, Africa and ED Africa Freedom of Information Centre, Gilbert Sendugwa said that though some government agencies like Ministry of Health, ministry of Works and Transport, ministry of Water and Environment among others, performed better in disseminating infrastructural projects information, the level of dissemination remains very low.
“At the time of COVID-19, the level of transparency in infrastructure information dissemination by government agencies has been very low though some agencies disseminated information in public domains,” he said.
He said that in order to prevent corruption, all government agencies need to disseminate information on platforms like PPDA, media websites and others.
The Chairman, Cost International, Nathan Byanyima, advised all infrastructure projects contractors to engage the community about the projects to ensure that they own the projects as stakeholders.
The Head of Information and Public Relations Unit at Ministry of Works and Transport, Susan Kataike, said that in order to enhance information dissemination to the grass roots in the country, there is need to engage the district works committee members, who have enough information on projects to inform the community about projects.
By Drake Nyamugabwa
