Putting People First

 "Putting people First", William Henry Harrison (1840) US presidential campaign slogan in the . These were the opening remarks by Prof. Yasin Olum at a networking meeting of CSOs and Councilors held on 24th January, 2013 at Grand global hotel, Kampala. What has CSOs done to put people first? As a fast growing CSO in the Rwenzori region, RWECO embarked on an action monitoring exercise with Mr. Celestin Mugisha from CEWIT. The monitoring was intended to gather facts and figures on the ongoing projects implemented by RWECO in the Rwenzori Region. What is the driving force behind RWECO's interventions- all is based on enhancing civic competence- the people are the key targets and working with the people to deliver the action. 

RWECO staff sharing notes with Mr. Celestine Mugisha (middle) during the people based monitoring in the Rwenzori Region

The people are better placed to determine their destiny if well guided by their leaders and the CSOs as  actors who  trigger  people driven change and development. CSOs are accountable to  the people they serve as well as elected leaders. While CSOs position themselves to serve the people, its increasingly becoming clear that, without the people themselves then development might not achieve its intended objectives. Thus, as we move to implement activities in 2013  let us put people first as the driving force to development.


Jimmy B.O
RWECO