KAMPALA – Justice and constitutional affairs minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire has lashed out at African leaders and governments that spend most of their time engaging in political survival at the expense of delivering services to its citizens.
Justice and constitutional affairs minister Maj. Gen. Kahinda Otafiire
Otafiire said on Monday that Africa is lagging behind in development largely because of leaders who have failed to plan for their citizens.
Speaking as chief guest at the opening of a five-day symposium on civil registration at Speke Resort Munyonyo, the minister warned that time is up for such leaders and governments.
“When leaders or a government cannot plan for its people and deliver services, that government is meant for the slaughter house.
“You cannot govern when you cannot fulfill the covenant between you and the people who put you there,” he said.
Otafiire said Africa is lagging behind because most leaders have not invested in science.
The symposium, that has drawn delegates from 14 countries, including Angola, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Belgium and India, is organised by the Uganda Registration Services Bureau.
It is aimed at enhancing innovations for the improvement of national civil registration and vital statistics.
The countries are here to understudy Uganda in the area of registration of births and deaths given that Uganda is the first country to pioneer the Mobile Vital Records System.
Under the system, births and deaths are recorded in real time in 135 hospitals countrywide using mobile phones and the Internet.
