ADVOCACY
As highlighted in strategic objectives 1, 2 and 3 above, the health, socio-economic and, environment and climate change management indices for Luuka district, East Central Uganda and the country at large are unsatisfactory despite dedicated investments by government and development partners to reverse the observed poor key performance indicators. Corruption, wrong prioritization and neglect of critical sector in resource allocation by government in part accounts for the status quo.
Inadequate budgetary allocations to sectors by government is eminent; for example, Government of Uganda (GoU) spending on health as a ratio of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is only 1.4% against the recommended 5%. Additionally, the Ugandan citizenry is less empowered and largely passive regarding the affairs of social accountability and have opted to settle for less instead of making their leaders accountable for the offices they hold. This is because citizens are less empowered on their rights and responsibilities.
Empowering citizens to demand for better health, socio-economic and, environment and climate change management reforms from their leaders constitutes an integral response to creation of a society where everyone has equal access to essential amenities. As such, SSD will implement deliberate processes to inform and influence decision makers to be in support of evidence-based policy change or implementation including financing for the four (4) program strategic objectives. SSD’s general advocacy message will be; “where everyone is accountable, everyone wins”.