UGANDA MARTYRS UNIVERSITY

NKOZI

FACULTY OF SCIENCE

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ECONOMICS AMD STATISTICS

A REPORT ON INTERNSHIP PLACEMENT AT SOROTI DISTRICT

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

BY

ACHOLA MAUREEN DOROTHY

2019-B441-13477

September 2022

AN INTERNSHIP REPORT SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF

SCIENCE IN PARTIAL FULLFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ECONOMICS AND
STATSISTICS AT UGANDA MARTYRS UNIVERSITY.

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DECLARATION
I, ACHOLA MAUREEN DOROTHY do hereby declare that this research is my own original
work and it has not been presented or submitted and will not be submitted to any other university
for a similar or any other degree.

Signature

Date

2
APPROVAL
This internship report has been submitted for examination with the approval of the following
supervisors:

Field Supervisor: Sign…………………………………………………………

Date…………………………… Institute Supervisor:
Sign…………………………………………………………. Date……………………………

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DEDICATION
This internship report is dedicated to my family and in particular my uncle Cosmas Elotu and my
father James Ocen for their perpetual encouragement and material support during my significant
period of studies.

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ACKNWOLEDGEMNT
I would like to express my appreciation to Mr. Richard and Mr. Bob who have given me ideas
and advice during my participation in the internship sessions, for their tireless inputs, criticism,
and advice given to me during the whole period of facilitation and supervision during the
internship period. I would particularly like to mention in this respect my internship supervisor
Mr Richard Oboi for his assistance and kind comments during the whole process of doing
internship and compilation of this report.

Many thanks should go to the management of soroti district local government whose permission
created a room for me to conduct internship at the organization in for their significant
contribution and support they gave to me making sure my internship becomes a success.

My appreciation also goes to all those who contributed directly and indirectly to making this
internship possible. I would also like to express my thanks to my intern mates with whom I have
exchanged ideas.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report is about internship training in the planning unit at SDLG.
The main objective of the program was to enable the intern get hands on experience on real life
situations as expected at work
To achieve the main objective of the program, the intern was assigned a number of duties to
accomplish which she executed diligently. The duties were assigned gradually to enable the
intern get accustomed to the office environment and also improve performance and have better
output. This all made her possible to learn new skills and acquire new knowledge.

Table of Contents
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DECLARATION.............................................................................................................................2
APPROVAL....................................................................................................................................3
DEDICATION.................................................................................................................................4
ACKNWOLEDGEMNT.................................................................................................................5
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................9
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................9
1.1Background to the internship exercise......................................................................................10
1.2 objectives of the internship programme..................................................................................10
1.3 Background of the organisation...............................................................................................11
Historical background....................................................................................................................11
1.4 Activities of the organisation and its clients............................................................................13
CHAPTER TWO...........................................................................................................................15
MANAGEMENT OF THE INTERNSHIP EXERCISE...............................................................15
2.4 Naming of officers that the student worked with and their responsibilities............................17
2.5 Role of the workplace supervisor............................................................................................18
2.6 Role of the university supervisor.............................................................................................18
CHAPTER THREE.......................................................................................................................19
PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS................................................................................................19
3.2 Personal contributions to the organisation...............................................................................23
CHAPTER FOUR.........................................................................................................................24
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS..........................................................................24
4.1 Summary of findings...............................................................................................................25
4.2 Conclusion...............................................................................................................................25
4.3 recommendations.....................................................................................................................25
APPENDIX 1: ACCEPTANCE LETTER....................................................................................27
APPENDIX 2: an invitation letter for DTPC meeting..................................................................28
APPENDIX 3: Student during the internship practice..................................................................29

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ACRONYMS/ ABBREVIATIONS

SDLG : Soroti District Local Government

ACAO : Assistant Chief Administrative Officer

AIMO : Assistant Information Management Officer

CAO : Chief Administrative Officer

CR : Central Registry

CFO : Chief Finance Officer

FO : Finance Officer

DHO : District Health Officer

DCDO : District Community Development Officer

DE : District Engineer

DEO : District Education Officer

DHI : District Health Inspector

DIA : District Internal Auditor

EHO : Environmental Health Officer

HRO : Human Resource Officer

MOH : Ministry of Health

NMS : National Medical Stores

OA : Office Attendant

PAS : Principle Assistant Secretary

SAA : Senior Accounts Assistant

AA : Assistant Accountant
RDC : Resident District Commissioner

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9
INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction
This chapter covers the introduction which illustrates the background of the internship
programme, its objectives, background of the organisation and activities of the organisation
and its clients.

1.1Background to the internship exercise

The internship placement is a requirement of Uganda martyrs university nkozi aimed at
enabling students gain an experience of how to link classroom concepts into the working
environment encompassed with challenges, dynamics, technological advancements,
professional ethics and sector integration.
The field attachment commenced on 9th august 2022 through to September 2022. During this
time, I learned both formally and informally by practically taking part in the daily assigned
activities such as studying the of the NDP 111, district development plans, planning process
and formulation go the budget, taking part in the district technical planning meetings among
others at soroti district local government. This all is an experience worth to tuning my
professionalism in pursuit of my career in planning.

1.2 objectives of the internship programme

 To use or apply the knowledge and skills acquired during classroom teaching on trial
basis.
 To gain early understanding and appreciation of the practical real life situation
challenges associated with the application of the theoretical knowledge acquired.
 To obtain enhanced development and acquisition critical skills needed to proactively
observe and analyse problems/challenges encountered while executing career duties
and responsibilities.
 To interact with and learn from experienced professionals in a work environment.

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  To develop expedited professional self-awareness, internalization of career job
requirements and experiences.
 To participate and acquire early exposure to range of professional activities
associated with my career focus and work place setting.
 To be able to write a detailed internship report after the internship period.

1.3 Background of the organisation

Historical background

The growth of Soroti dates as far back as 1904 when the then District Commissioner of
MWbale sent Kakungulu to open up some administrative post in The, Gweri and Soroti
areas. Part of Kakungulu’s team camped near the rock at Soroti chosen for its strategic
location on defence and availability of water from the nearby streams. Under the organised
and able rule of Kakungulu’s men, local inhabitants were forced to clear the forest and
within a few years a large area had been cleared and considerable amount of settlement had
taken place.
Thatched houses for administrative purposes of Soroti County were put up at the site, where
the present Lukiiko Hall stands and dispensary also in temporary materials stood at the site
of the present hospital. Later on with the coming of Asian traders, four small shops in semi-
permanent materials were put up in Soroti. These traders brought in clothes, salt, sugar,
hoes, beads etc. Trading was transacted through bartering (between manufactured goods and
cotton, bids, skins, beans, chicken and groundnuts).

Soroti attained the status of the permanent headquarters of Teso region in 1912, as a result of
a recommendation by Sir Fredrrick Jackson, after his appointment as the new Governor of
Uganda. Later a District Commissioner was posted to Soroti and then permanent buildings
started to be erected commencing with the District Office and this enhanced the growth of
the township which became a municipality later. However, during the period of the First
World War (1914-1918) development was somehow retarded, but in 1919 it again picked
up. There continued to be considerable challenges to administer a large district with only

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skeletal staff on the ground till 1962 when more efforts were made to improve
administration.

Administrative set up
Like all other districts, Soroti has been administered centrally till 1994. This administrative
arrangement is expected to facilitate more effective and efficient service delivery to the
population. Currently the district is administratively divided into three (2) rural counties of
Dakabela and Gweri and one City, Soroti City formerly Soroti Municipality. It has 56
parishes and 376 villages. The district has established political and administrative structures
up to village level based on the decentralized structure. The Local Councils make up the
political structures and district chairperson is the political head and the Resident District
Commissioner – RDC is head of monitoring secretariat for all government projects
implemented in the district and the RDC is a president representative.

Table 1 Structure of Local Councils in Soroti district

Administrative Unit Level Number of Units

Village LCI 359

Parish LCII 54

Sub-County LCIII 12

County LCIV 2

District LC V 1

Source: Soroti District Electoral Commission Office, 2021

The Administrative structure in the district is set up right from the district to the Parish level.
The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) heads the civil servants at the district, coordinates
the government departments and is therefore the Chief Executive of the Local
administration. At the district there are now nine Departments according to the new
structure of Local Governments namely; Administration, Production, Works and Technical
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 services, Education, Health, Finance & Planning, Community Based services, Natural
Resources, Council and Statutory Bodies. The District has also the Office of the Resident
District Commissioner (RDC) who represents H.E the President and the Central Government
in the District.

The Senior Assistant Chief Administrative Officers - SACAOS head the sub counties and
coordinate government business at sub county level and are supported by extension officers
of some of the technical departments’ for example Agriculture, Community Development
Assistants, Veterinary, Fisheries, Trade, Health and Water and Sanitation

Organisation structure of the local government

CHAIRMAN LC 1V

CAO

D/CAO DISTRICT
CHIEF EDUCATION DISTRICT DISTRICT
DISTRICT ENGINEER INTERNAL
FINANCE OFFICER COMMUNITY
PRODUCTION AUDITOR
OFFICER OFFICER SENIOR
DISTRICT OFICER PROCUREMENT
HEALTH DISTRICT
PLANNER OFFICER
OFFICER

1.4 Activities of the organisation and its clients

Soroti district Local Government executes the planning function in line with the National
Vision of Transforming the Society from a Peasant to a Modern and Prosperous
Country within the 30 Years of the NDP Planning Framework. This is in observance of

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the programme approach guidelines which requires that the district programmes and sub
programmes should be aligned to the NDP III programmes and sub programmes.

It also recognizes the Planning Triangle where the district objectives and vision feed in to
the National Vision. Before the NDP Framework the District’s Development plan was
enshrined in the Country’s Poverty Eradication Plan (PEAP) with the objective to fight
poverty and was a 3 –year rolling Framework. With the start of the implementation of the
National Development Plan (NDP), the focus changed to designing strategies for unlocking
binding constraints to enhance productive capacities, acceleration of economic growth and
income and employment generation.

It stipulates the districts’ medium term strategic direction, development priorities and
implementation strategies. In addition, it details Soroti districts’ development status,
challenges and opportunities. In line with the National Vision and Framework, the five (5)
year NDP will be the Third Phase of the 5-Year for implementation. The Theme of the plan
is “Sustainable Industrialization for inclusive growth, employment and wealth
creation”. The District Political leadership continues to work hand in hand with the
technical arm of the district and the development partners for the realization of both the
district and the national vision. This 5-year District Development Plan (DDP II) 2020/21 –
2024/25 is as a result of the revision of the First Phase of the 5 – Year DDP I. In line with
the Decentralised development planning Framework, this plan was evolved from extensive
consultations with various stakeholders within the existing structures of local governments’
for instance right from the grass roots communities led by Village Chairpersons to Parish
and eventually to the district level in mindful of the bottom to up planning principle. This
plan has prioritized safe water provision, Health Service Delivery, Education and Rural
Roads, Energy including forgetting the supporting social service sector continues to be very
instrumental in community mobilization, capacity building and mentoring of various
stakeholders, for efficient better social service delivery as per local government standards,
Environment and Wetland Management, Climate Change component, Sustainable
population growth for quality population, Food Security and Nutrition, Technical and

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 Social Accountability, Stakeholder participation, HIV/Aids, Gender perspective and
response and cooperatives as key to the development process.

CHAPTER TWO

MANAGEMENT OF THE INTERNSHIP EXERCISE

2.0 Introduction

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This chapter entails the objectives of the planning department at the district local
government, activities of the department and the designation of the person heading it,
description of the responsibilities assigned to the student, naming of officers that the student
worked with and their responsibilities, role of the workplace and university supervisor.`

2.1 objectives of the organisation or department

The planning unit at the district local government aims at developing comprehensive and
integrated District Plans monitor and evaluate their implementation.

Structure of the planning unit

District
planner

District principle
planner

Statistician Population officer Senior

planner

2.2 Activities of the department and the designation of the person

heading it
The activities carried at the planning unit at soroti district local government include the
following;
I. Formulating, developing and coordinating District development strategies, plans and
budgets;

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 II. Preparing and disseminating performance standards and indicators for the district to
users;
III. Providing Technical support to Departments in preparation and production of District
Development Plans;
IV. Determining District investment priorities;
V. Coordinating, monitoring and evaluating performance of District Development
Plans programmes and projects;
VI. Maintaining District Management Information System;
VII. Development and maintained an up-to-dated bank;
VIII. Appraising National and district policy; and
IX. Producing minutes of Technical Planning Committee.

2.2.1 Title of the head of department

District Planner (Principle Planner)

2.3 Descriptions of responsibilities assigned to the student

 provide technical support to Departments in preparation and production of

District Development Plans and district technical planning committee meetings
 To study and determine investment priorities in the district
 To study the performance of District Development Plans programmes and
projects coordinated, monitored and evaluated.
 To appraise district and national policy
 And produce minutes for the district technical planning committee

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2.4 Naming of officers that the student worked with and their
responsibilities
 The District planner. To develop comprehensive and integrated District
Plans, monitor and evaluate their implementation.
 The senior statistician. To foster local development through planning
management, Monitoring and evaluation of district programmes and
projects
 The population officer. To provide technical advice and support on
population policy laws and regulations and coordinate and manage
population matters in the District.
 Forest officer.

2.5 Role of the workplace supervisor

My workplace supervisor Mr Richard Oboi had the following responsibilities

 Assigning me tasks and responsibilities at work, instructing and guiding

me on what I didn’t know while executing the assigned tasks
 Assessing my level of progress at work
 Guiding me on report writing
 Orienting and introducing me to the rest of the departments and officers
that I worked with.
 Provide opportunities for increased responsibility
 Ensure that the internship is meaningful learning experience for the
student

2.6 Role of the university supervisor

Mr Bob Senyange my university supervisor had the following responsibilities;

 Guiding me on how to write the internship report and its approval.

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 Assessing my performance and progress at the work place together with
the site supervisor.
 Examining the challenges and problems I faced.
 Ascertaining whether I was conducting activities on a daily basis.
 Visiting me at the work place to ascertain my capabilities.

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CHAPTER THREE

PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS
3.0 Introduction

This chapter provides findings on new things learned at the work place in terms of skills and
knowledge gained, relevance of the theories learnt in class to the internship exercise, how I plan
to utilize the skills learnt for professional development, my personal contribution to the
organisation and the problems identified during the internship (work related and affecting the
organisation)

3.1 New things experienced at the work place

This includes the knowledge I acquired, skills I attained and how I intend to utilize the
knowledge and the skills I acquired.

3.1.1 Knowledge

I learnt about the national development plan 111(NDP 111) a visionary strategic document
guiding us where to go and how to get there based on strategic planning and budgeting for
stability and growth of the country. This means that we should engage in activities that achieve
progress in the target areas. We should not dilute our attentions by allocating money for
operations and smaller projects that do not feed into the larger plan. Our limited resources should
be used wisely to promote the results of the NDPIII.

I learnt about the alignment exercise where each year, the National Planning Authority (NPA) is
charged with assessing the budget for compliance to the National Development Plan. .
Organizational activities and services should match the goals and the programmes of the NDPIII.
The result of your work will be an organization and budget that allows you to achieve the
Programme Implementation Action Plans (PIAPs) and the NDPIII goals. This exercise is an
opportunity to eliminate underperforming programmes, inefficient service delivery, and reduce

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duplication by critically assessing the structure of the organization, organization, programmes,
departments, projects, and outputs for performance, streamlining, and effective service delivery.

I had training on the planning and budgeting processes based on policy, legal, mandate in
accordance with the set vision, mission, strategic objectives and theme as well as best and
discouraged practices during planning and budgeting, the planning structure. And how the work
plan is integrated into the budget.

I was able to learn and have an analysis of Potentials, Opportunities, Constraints and Challenges
based on broad development issues, performance of key development indicators, an analysis of
the development situation i.e. economic, social, cultural and environmental, an analysis of cross
cutting issues, urban development, local government management service delivery and a
summary of development issues that inform the Development plan formulation.

I learnt about the local government quarterly performance reports which indicate the summary of
work plan revenues and expenditures by source for every department; it also indicates reasons
for unspent balance on the back account and highlights of physical performance by end of the
quarter.

I learnt about the planning and budgeting tools: OBT (Output Budgeting Tool) and PBS
(Program Based System) which is used to prepare the work plan, budget, procurement plan, staff
list and their details, off budget activities that cannot be financed by the budget, pension database
and updating political leadership list.

I was able to learn about job descriptions and specifications in the local government.

3.1.2 Skills gained

I learnt how to fill out the budget data workbook which is a vote data spread sheet that realigns
the budget.

I gained skills on minute writing when I took the minutes for the District Technical Planning
committee meeting that was scheduled on 26/08/2022.
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I gained and enhanced my communication skills especially when meeting other district officials
that my supervisor introduced me to.

I learnt time management skills because I was expected to sign in and out by the designated
working time at the district local government.

3.1.3 Relevance of the theories learnt in class to the internship exercise

In my project planning, monitoring and evaluation class, I learnt about project profiles, how to
formulate project plans basing on the POCC and SWOC which were all vital in my internship
exercise.

In my economic development classes, an economic plan should be formulated basing on five

components of the vision, mission, goals, strategies and actions.

The English grammar, communication skills, business ethics classes were relevant because they
guided my communication, interpretation of situations and entire ethical conduction at the
organisation.

I was able to use knowledge from my computer literacy classes to fill out the budget data
workbook.

The knowledge of economics is useful for budgeting purposes. This is because the planner is
able to utilize the budgeted revenue to get maximum satisfaction from the planned projects by
proper budgeting and careful spending.

3.1.4 How the student intends to utilize the skills learnt for professional

development

I intend to utilize what I have learnt in the following ways

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Carry on with the team work spirit that I have acquired to the work place where I will be given a
job and outside the job environment.

Enhance my capabilities while in pursuit of my career after school/university for example, the
communication skills that I have attained.

I plan to ably use the planning and budgeting skills for personal development by utilizing income
to get maximum satisfaction through budgeting and careful spending.

3.2 Personal contributions to the organisation

I was able to provide technical support to Departments in preparation and production of District
Development Plans and district technical planning committee meetings

I was able to appraise the district and national policy.

I was able to produce minutes for the technical planning meetings.

3.3 Problems identified during the internship

This includes the challenges that I noticed and are facing the organization, workers and those that
I faced.

The organisation

Un reliable Wi-Fi internet which limits some of the activities like ERP system and other online
activities.

Inadequate security to safeguard the organisations assets and property. For instance computers at
the organisation were stolen.

Unreliable power connection where connection to powered devices was disconnected making
some work came to a standstill.

The workers

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The workers are not provided with lunch and this has become a challenge to them especially
during the course of the month before payments.

Inadequate transport means to transport the workers especially when they are going for external
seminars and sensitization programs for example some move on Boda-Boda’s to do company
work which affects workers’ efficiency.

The internee

On many occasions, Wi-Fi internet has not been accessible to me and this has been directly

Affecting my work efficiency.

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CHAPTER FOUR

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.0 Introduction

This chapter contains the comments on the f findings, conclusion and recommendations for
identified problems/ way forward.

4.1 Summary of findings

The field attachment enabled me to gain an opportunity to apply the theory of what I have learnt
in class to the real world at the workplace. I was able to understand the organisations culture and
interacting with the hospitable workers at the planning unit helped me come to appreciate the
field situations. The field attachment also enhanced and strengthened the relationship between
the university and soroti district local government in which the field attachment was done.

The activities assigned to me and trainings I under went on planning, budgeting, monitoring and
evaluation of performance reports, meetings among others enabled me to accomplish the
objectives that I had aimed on achieving and therefore my internship was a success.

4.2 Conclusion
The internship was generally a success because I was able to achieve all the objectives I had set
for example I was able to apply the knowledge I acquired during classroom teaching to the real
work place environment, appreciate how team work is applied, obtain critical skills needed for
me to proactively observe and analyse problems/challenges encountered while executing career
duties and responsibilities, Interact with and learn from experienced professionals in a work
environment and write a detailed internship report after the internship period.

4.3 recommendations
To the organisation

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To the organization (SDLG), since it is entitled to unlimited funding from the government, I
recommend that they should source more vehicles for all the departments to ease transportation
of its employees and the execution of their activities.

On the challenge of unreliable Wi-Fi network and internet, the organization should put in place
more secure internet network such that the organizational ERP systems can work more
efficiently and work made easier.

The organization should provide lunch for its employees such that it can reduce on the hunger
challenges and improve the creativity and efficiency of the employees.

The organisation should also improve their security by investing in alarms and surveillance
systems and granting the right access to guests and employees.

To me and other future internees.

I recommend that the students that intend to do internship should prepare in advance and have
enough money to assist them buy data in case they want to get access to internet and they are
denied Wi-Fi at the work place.

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APPENDIX 1: ACCEPTANCE LETTER

27
APPENDIX 2: an invitation letter for DTPC meeting

28
APPENDIX 3: Student during the internship practice

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