Let the Work Speak: Why Evidence-Based Journalism Matters to Uganda’s Development

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published an opinion piece by Brian Mugenyi arguing that journalism about decentralization and local government in Uganda should focus less on official announcements and more on verified results. The article says district councils, budgets and administrative structures only matter to ordinary people when they translate into visible services such as roads, health centers, schools and markets.

The piece places local government reporting within Uganda’s constitutional decentralization framework under Article 176, and says reporters have a public service role in testing claims made by officials. It specifically cites examples involving the Ministry of Local Government and Permanent Secretary Ben Kumumanya, urging journalists to check whether logistical support, digital tools and development programs are actually reaching districts and improving services on the ground.

Mugenyi also points to practical reporting areas where evidence matters most, including infrastructure at Entebbe’s Kitooro Market, healthcare outcomes at Kitabaazi Health Centre III in Masaka, and education investments linked to initiatives such as the World Bank-supported UgIFT program. The central message is that development reporting should measure impact on residents rather than stop at project launches or press releases.

The article frames this approach as important for accountability, civic participation and clearer public understanding of how local government affects daily life. More broadly, it reflects a common media principle that verification and field reporting help connect policy promises with community experience.