Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA) Central Region Vice President Kitatta Ibrahim Almalik has challenged newly elected local government leaders to breathe fresh life into Uganda’s decentralization policy and dramatically improve service delivery.
Speaking at the Regional Engagements and Feedback Sessions held Monday, July 27, 2026, at Maria Flo Hotel in Masaka City, Kitatta rallied district chairpersons, city and municipal mayors, development partners, and government officials as they begin their 2026–2031 term.Kitatta congratulated the leaders on winning the trust of Ugandans and urged them to convert that mandate into visible development on the ground.
He described their election as a powerful citizen mandate that demands responsive, results-oriented leadership.He emphasized that the regional engagements offer a vital platform for leaders to reflect on Uganda’s decentralization journey — introduced in 1992 and constitutionally anchored in 1995 — and to craft practical solutions for strengthening grassroots governance.
While acknowledging the policy’s original goal of bringing political, administrative, and fiscal power closer to the people, Kitatta admitted that the system has faced serious setbacks over the past three decades.
He highlighted key challenges including competing national policies, creeping recentralization, chronic underfunding, and persistent capacity gaps that have undermined local governments’ ability to deliver services.
Despite these hurdles, he stressed that strong, empowered local governments remain essential for driving local economic development and realizing President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s ambitious Ten-Fold Growth Strategy.
Kitatta further called on the new leaders to throw their full weight behind President Museveni’s anti-corruption campaign in local governments.
He urged close cooperation with the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Balam Barugahara, and the Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Justine Namere, whose anti-corruption drive is currently sweeping through the Greater Masaka Sub-region before moving to Ankole.Unity Between Political and Technical WingsULGA Secretary General Richard Okuku reinforced the message, challenging leaders to build strong collaboration between political and technical arms of local governments.
He said such harmony is crucial for fast-tracking key national priorities — Agro-Industrialisation, Tourism Development, Mineral Development, and Science and Technology — and successfully delivering the Ten-Fold Growth Strategy.Lasting Commitments ExpectedKitatta described the current leadership transition as a rare opportunity to reset and reinforce local governance.
He said the engagements would go beyond talk, producing concrete discussions, actionable solutions, and formal commitments that will be documented and submitted to the Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Local Government, and the Office of the President for implementation.
He thanked VNG International Uganda and the Sustainable Development Through Local Governance (SDLG) Programme for their partnership in equipping the new leaders.
In his closing remarks, Kitatta reminded the leaders that the campaign is over and the serious work of governance has begun.
He called on them to approach their roles with openness, focus on economic growth in their jurisdictions, and actively support Uganda’s broader socio-economic transformation agenda.
He also appealed to members to participate fully in ULGA activities and pay subscriptions promptly, noting that a strong, united association will amplify the voice of local governments nationwide.The Masaka regional engagement is expected to equip the newly elected leaders with shared experiences, common strategies, and renewed commitment to accountable, people-centered governance throughout their five-year term.
The Secretary General of ULGA Mr Richard Okuku called on new leaders to embrace teamwork between the political and technical wings in order to drive Agro Industrialisation, Tourism and Mineral development, science and technology in order to attain the Ten Fold growth strategy as per the HE the President's strategic direction.
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