Makindye Ssabagabo: As newly elected Local Council I (LC I) leaders begin their terms across Uganda, one message is increasingly shaping the country’s governance agenda: effective service delivery starts with strong local leadership.
For Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government Ben Kumumanya, the success of Uganda’s decentralisation policy will ultimately be judged not by the number of administrative units created, but by whether citizens experience better healthcare, improved schools, safer roads, clean water, efficient markets and accountable local leadership.
That message formed the centrepiece of an induction workshop on Effective Leadership for Improved Service Delivery held in Makindye Ssabagabo Municipality, where political and technical leaders renewed their commitment to strengthening governance, accountability and socio-economic transformation.
The workshop brought together councillors, technical officers, officials from the Ministry of Local Government, representatives of financial institutions and development partners to equip leaders with practical knowledge in planning, budgeting, procurement and financial accountability.
Decentralisation Begins With the People
Delivering the keynote address, Kumumanya described decentralisation as one of Uganda’s most transformative governance reforms because it brings decision-making closer to citizens.
He said local governments are best placed to understand community priorities and translate them into practical development programmes.
“Decentralisation empowers local governments to plan and respond directly to the needs of their communities. It provides a clear framework for delivering education, healthcare, water, roads and other essential services while promoting accountability and citizen participation,” Kumumanya said.
He explained that under Uganda’s decentralised governance system, local governments are responsible for planning, implementing and supervising many of the services that directly affect people’s daily lives.
According to Kumumanya, decentralisation has strengthened stewardship of education, healthcare, water supply, road maintenance, sanitation, environmental management and local economic development.
He added that District Service Commissions continue recruiting qualified personnel to strengthen institutional capacity, noting that local governments now employ professionals ranging from certificate holders to postgraduate specialists.
Why the LC I Elections Matter
The election of LC I leaders marks the first point of contact between citizens and government.
Village leaders identify local priorities, mobilise communities, support planning processes and help ensure that government programmes reach intended beneficiaries.
Kumumanya observed that decentralisation succeeds when every level of leadership—from the village to the district and municipality—works together with transparency, professionalism and accountability.
He reminded leaders that Article 176 of the Constitution of Uganda provides the legal foundation for decentralised governance and empowers local governments to deliver services while remaining accountable to the people.
Accountability Is Non-Negotiable
Kumumanya cautioned that decentralisation can only succeed where public resources are managed responsibly.
“Public resources must be protected. Accountability, transparency and compliance with financial regulations are non-negotiable if local governments are to earn and maintain public trust,” he said.
He urged strict compliance with procurement laws, financial management regulations and established accountability systems, warning that officers found abusing public resources should face appropriate sanctions.
According to Kumumanya, protecting public funds is essential for sustaining confidence in local government institutions.
Leadership That Delivers Results
Makindye Ssabagabo Municipality Mayor John Bosco Sserunkuma Galabuzi linked the municipality’s improving local revenue performance to visible improvements in service delivery.
He said residents become more willing to pay taxes when they see roads rehabilitated, markets improved, sanitation strengthened and public services functioning effectively.
“Our rising local revenue is a reflection of improving service delivery. When people see results from the taxes they pay, public confidence grows and compliance improves,” Galabuzi said.
He thanked the Ministry of Local Government for supporting local leaders through continuous capacity building.
“We are already burning with the desire to serve our people. This induction has equipped us with practical skills that will help us deliver better services. We are determined to benchmark Makindye Ssabagabo against the best-performing local governments in Uganda,” he added.
Town Clerk Moses Otimong challenged leaders to strengthen local revenue mobilisation, emphasising that sustainable development depends on sound planning, disciplined budgeting and prudent financial management.
“Development begins with sound planning and responsible financial management. Every resource entrusted to the municipality must translate into visible services for our people,” Otimong said.
Planning for Uganda’s Future
Facilitators from the Ministry of Local Government guided participants through development planning, procurement procedures and programme-based budgeting, stressing that every Local Government Development Plan should align with Uganda Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan.
Participants also acknowledged persistent challenges, including expanding service delivery responsibilities without corresponding increases in financial resources.
They recommended stronger local revenue mobilisation, increased government funding, improved financial discipline and broader partnerships with financial institutions and development partners.
Representatives from Centenary Bank and KCB Bank Uganda encouraged leaders to embrace financial literacy and utilise banking solutions that strengthen institutional capacity and support local economic growth.
Speaking on behalf of councillors, Nakito Ester, Direct Councillor for Lubugumu Cell, described the induction as practical and timely.
“The training has strengthened our understanding of planning, budgeting and accountability. We now have a clearer appreciation of our oversight responsibilities and our duty to ensure public resources benefit the communities we represent,” she said.
The Bigger Picture
As Uganda enters a new chapter of grassroots leadership following the LC I elections, the workshop underscored a simple but powerful lesson: decentralisation is not merely about transferring functions from the centre to local governments.
It is about bringing leadership closer to the people, ensuring public resources create measurable improvements in communities, and building institutions that citizens can trust.
For Ben Kumumanya, the future of Uganda’s decentralisation agenda will be measured not by policies written in government offices but by better schools, accessible health facilities, reliable roads, clean water, accountable leadership and stronger local economies.
In the end, the measure of leadership is not the office one occupies, but the quality of life experienced by the people one serves.
