Kitatta Rallies New Local Leaders to Revive Decentralization
Fresh Leaders Urged to Champion Service Delivery
MASAKA CITY — Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA) Central Region Vice President Kitatta Ibrahim Almalik today rallied newly elected local government leaders to champion a renewed drive for decentralization and improve service delivery during the Regional Engagements and Feedback Sessions held at Maria Flo Hotel in Masaka City.
The engagement, held on Monday, July 27, 2026, brought together newly elected district chairpersons, city and municipal mayors, development partners, and government officials to deliberate on the future of local governance as leaders begin their 2026–2031 term of office.
Speaking during the meeting, Kitatta congratulated the leaders upon earning the trust of Ugandans and challenged them to transform that confidence into tangible development. He described their election as more than a personal milestone, saying it represented a strong mandate from citizens who expect responsive leadership and improved public services.
Kitatta noted that the regional engagements provide an important platform for leaders to reflect on the country’s decentralization journey while identifying practical solutions to strengthen governance at the grassroots.
Decentralization Faces New Challenges
Kitatta observed that Uganda’s decentralization policy, introduced in 1992 and later entrenched in the 1995 Constitution, was designed to transfer political, administrative, and fiscal authority closer to citizens. The policy sought to improve accountability and ensure communities actively participated in decision-making.
However, he acknowledged that the system has encountered significant obstacles over the past three decades.
Among the major concerns he highlighted were emerging national policies that compete with local priorities, growing tendencies toward recentralization, inadequate funding for local governments, and persistent institutional capacity gaps.
According to him, these challenges have weakened the effectiveness of local governments, limiting their ability to deliver essential services despite remaining the foundation of Uganda’s governance system.
He stressed that strong local governments remain indispensable for promoting local economic development and achieving Uganda’s ambitious Ten-Fold Growth Strategy over the coming decade.
Back Museveni’s Anti-Corruption Drive
Beyond strengthening decentralization, Almalik urged the newly elected leaders to fully support President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s campaign to eliminate corruption within local governments.
He specifically called upon leaders to cooperate with the anti-corruption drive spearheaded by the Minister of Local Government, Hon. Balam Barugahara, and the Minister of State for Local Government, Hon. Justine Namere, saying transparency and accountability remain essential pillars of effective service delivery.
His remarks come as the two ministers commence an anti-corruption campaign across the Greater Masaka Sub-region, beginning with Masaka District, Masaka City, Rakai District, and Sembabule District, before extending the exercise to the Ankole Sub-region. The initiative is intended to expose corrupt practices, strengthen accountability, and improve public confidence in local government institutions.
Teamwork Key to Ten-Fold Growth Strategy
Meanwhile, the Secretary General of the Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA), Mr. Richard Okuku, challenged the newly elected leaders to foster strong collaboration between the political and technical wings of local governments.
Okuku said harmonious working relationships would be critical in accelerating implementation of Uganda’s development priorities, particularly in Agro-Industrialisation, Tourism Development, Mineral Development, and Science and Technology.
He emphasized that coordinated leadership at the local level would play a vital role in delivering His Excellency President Museveni’s Ten-Fold Growth Strategy, which seeks to transform Uganda into a modern and prosperous economy.
Leaders Challenged to Make Lasting Commitments
Kitatta described the transition to newly elected leadership as a rare opportunity to reset and strengthen local governance across the country.
He emphasized that the engagement sessions were designed to go beyond ordinary workshops. Instead, participants would hold practical discussions, examine real governance challenges, and develop formal commitments aimed at improving service delivery.
He further revealed that the resolutions reached during the engagements would be documented and submitted to the Ministry of Public Service, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Office of the President for follow-up and implementation.
The ULGA leader also commended VNG International Uganda and the Sustainable Development Through Local Governance (SDLG) Programme for supporting the initiative. He said their partnership would equip newly elected leaders with the knowledge and confidence required to excel in their new responsibilities.
He equally appreciated technical experts, experienced mentors, and representatives from various government ministries for providing guidance throughout the engagements.
Focus Turns to Governance and Economic Transformation
In his closing remarks, Kitatta reminded leaders that the campaign period had ended and that the real responsibility of governance had begun.
He encouraged district chairpersons, city mayors, and municipal leaders to approach their duties with openness, constructive engagement, and an unwavering commitment to their communities.
He called upon local leaders to reignite economic growth within their districts, municipalities, and cities by embracing effective decentralization and supporting Uganda’s broader socio-economic transformation agenda.
Kitatta also appealed to members to actively participate in ULGA activities and ensure timely payment of association subscriptions, saying a united and vibrant association would strengthen the voice of local governments across the country.
The regional engagements held at Maria Flo Hotel in Masaka City are expected to help newly elected local government leaders exchange experiences, identify common challenges, and develop practical strategies for delivering accountable, people-centred governance throughout their five-year term.This version keeps the speech-derived material grounded in the uploaded document while clearly presenting the additional information you provided as separate reporting.
