By Brian Mugenyi
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Ben Kumumanya, has urged newly elected local council leaders to prioritise service delivery, accountability and the concerns of citizens to strengthen Uganda’s decentralisation system.
Kumumanya made the call while officiating at an induction training for LC1 and LC2 leaders at Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality headquarters on October 13, 2026.
He said local leaders must understand their responsibilities as the first point of contact between citizens and government, adding that their effectiveness should be measured by their ability to address community needs and improve service delivery.
“You have to be a leader of the people, and your most important responsibility should be serving them. Extend love to the people of Wakiso and Makindye-Ssabagabo,” Kumumanya said.
He urged the leaders to listen to residents, identify challenges affecting their communities and communicate concerns to the relevant authorities for action.
Kumumanya also warned against corruption, particularly the misuse of public funds meant for roads and other essential services.
“Leaders should have ears willing to listen. Recently, I have been fighting corruption. Money and funds meant for roads should be used for their intended purposes,” he said.
He encouraged leaders to challenge wrongdoing by promoting constructive ideas and ensuring that public resources are used to benefit communities.
“Be angry about the right things, especially corruption and poor service delivery, and ensure the right people are in council,” he said.
The induction brought together local council leaders representing 55 villages, eight parishes and three divisions. It focused on administrative responsibilities, implementation of government programmes, community mobilisation and monitoring service delivery.
Kumumanya said decentralisation was introduced to bring government services closer to citizens and enable communities to participate in decisions affecting their livelihoods.
He recalled that before the National Resistance Movement (NRM) government came to power in 1986, many responsibilities were concentrated in the central government, limiting the effective delivery of essential services in some communities.
He said decentralisation was subsequently strengthened to improve the delivery of services such as roads, healthcare and other public infrastructure.
Kumumanya commended the scholars and other experts who contributed to discussions and recommendations that informed Uganda’s decentralisation system.
He urged the newly elected leaders to use their positions responsibly and understand that public offices are held in trust for the people.
“Before you think about yourself, think about the people. When you are in council, discuss what the people want,” he said.
He cited the role played by local council leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying they helped communicate information and mobilise communities to observe protective measures.
Kumumanya said local leaders should continue serving as a communication link between residents, parishes, municipalities and higher administrative authorities.
“Peace in the area, self-help projects and working with technical people are important. You must serve as a communication channel between the government and citizens,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary urged local council leaders to monitor government programmes and ensure that intended beneficiaries receive the services and resources allocated to them.
He singled out the Parish Development Model (PDM), saying communities must understand the programme and take responsibility for protecting its resources.
“Sometimes people give out their identity cards, put them into machines and get money. People must take responsibility because it is their money, and they must protect the Parish Development Model as their own programme. It is not just a government programme; it is a people’s programme,” Kumumanya said.
He urged local leaders to ensure that eligible beneficiaries access programme funds and that implementation challenges are reported to the relevant authorities.
Kumumanya also emphasised the importance of monitoring health facilities, schools and road projects to ensure that public investment translates into tangible benefits for residents.
He said local council executives should work with technical officers and other government institutions to identify gaps in service delivery and follow up on reported concerns.
The Permanent Secretary noted that Uganda has 135 districts, 10 cities and 31 municipalities, among other administrative units, making local leadership important in coordinating government activities and responding to citizens’ needs.
He also highlighted the responsibilities of local council executive members, including mobilisation, production and environmental protection, saying these roles were essential in an agricultural country such as Uganda.
“Mobilisation is intended to bring people together and encourage them to participate. The secretaries responsible for production and environmental protection are also important,” he said.
Kumumanya added that local leaders should prepare their concerns carefully, present them at the appropriate time and focus on solutions that benefit their communities.
He encouraged leaders to support development initiatives, maintain peace and work with relevant authorities to address challenges affecting residents.
During the training, some local leaders raised concerns about their monthly remuneration and called for improvements to reflect their responsibilities.
Abdullah Busulwa, a village chairperson in Namasuba, called for an increase in the monthly payment, which he said stood at sh150,000.
Kumumanya said an increase in remuneration for local leaders was under discussion, although the precise proposed amounts and implementation arrangements require confirmation from the ministry.
The Permanent Secretary also said local leaders played an important role in the administration of government programmes and in communicating citizens’ concerns to higher authorities.
He expressed confidence that the induction would strengthen the leaders’ capacity to serve their communities and support the ministry’s efforts to improve service delivery.
Moses Otimong, the town clerk of Makindye-Ssabagabo Municipality, said the induction was intended to equip local leaders with the knowledge needed to perform their duties effectively.
He said the municipality had organised the training to help leaders understand their administrative responsibilities and the relationship between village councils and higher local government structures.
Otimong said the participation of ministry officials provided an opportunity for leaders to learn about decentralisation and the procedures governing their work.
Henry Ssemakula, the deputy town clerk of Makindye-Ssabagabo Division, also emphasised the importance of induction in preparing leaders for public service.
“Induction is very crucial, and as elder leaders, whoever gives you leadership gives you a role to serve,” Ssemakula said.
He said the training was intended to clarify the responsibilities of local council structures and their relationship with division leadership to improve coordination and service delivery.
Stella Aguti, a Research and Development Officer at the Ministry of Local Government, urged local council leaders to exercise their powers within their jurisdictions and promote fairness when handling community disputes.
She emphasised that residents should be given an opportunity to present their grievances and that local leaders should focus on substantive justice rather than allowing technicalities to overshadow fair outcomes.
Aguti also commended Bamutakudde Village, led by chairman Solomon Sserwanjja, for its development efforts and its emphasis on encouraging residents to engage in productive activities.
“The chairman is emphasising that citizens can work and be busy with what could earn them a living,” she said.
She urged leaders to uphold integrity, observe proper administrative procedures and ensure that citizens’ concerns are addressed fairly.
The training also addressed the use of village stamps, documentation of community matters, sanitation, physical planning and the handling of cases involving residents from different administrative areas.
Participants raised concerns about leaking wastewater, stray animals, air pollution and road safety.
Ronald Kasamba of Namasuba Central Village called for more training at village level, saying local leaders needed clearer guidance on taxation and waste management laws.
Ali Lukyamuzi, the chairperson of Gango Village, also raised concerns about the use of village stamps to serve residents from different villages, saying the practice could complicate administrative processes and service delivery.
Lukyamuzi further raised concerns about Moses Muganga Road, with Kasamba claiming that 21 people had died in road-related incidents there between January and October 2026.
The induction concluded with a call for local leaders to strengthen accountability, work with technical officers and ensure that government programmes respond to the needs of the communities they represent.