BEN KUMUMANYA: LC 1&2 Executive Committees are a bedrock of Uganda’s Decentralisation

What the report says

Ben Kumumanya, the Permanent Secretary in Uganda’s Ministry of Local Government, has said that the Local Council I and Local Council II executive structures remain central to the country’s decentralised system. In remarks published by Watchdog Uganda, he argued that these grassroots bodies bring decision-making closer to residents and help communities take part in setting priorities, overseeing services and holding leaders to account.

The ministry official linked the role of local councils to wider efforts in governance and public service delivery. He said the councils help mobilise people for government programmes, including development initiatives and public health campaigns, while also supporting sanitation, environmental protection, and the identification of vulnerable households for assistance. He also said they can help resolve disputes, maintain peace and refer community concerns upward to higher local government levels.

Kumumanya’s comments came as Uganda was preparing for LC I and LC II elections, which he presented as an opportunity for voters to choose leaders who are honest, competent and committed to public service. According to the article, the ministry wants stronger local councils to improve accountability, curb corruption and deepen citizen participation in development.

More broadly, the piece reflects the long-standing role of Uganda’s decentralisation policy, which gives elected local bodies responsibility for community-level administration. The article frames grassroots leadership as important not only for service delivery, but also for building trust between citizens and government.