Local Council I and II Leadership: The Bedrock of Participatory Democracy, Accountability, and Community Development

What the report says

Watchdog Uganda published an op-ed by Ben Kumumanya, the Permanent Secretary in Uganda’s Ministry of Local Government, arguing that Local Council I and Local Council II structures remain the foundation of the country’s decentralized governance system. The piece says decentralization was meant to move leadership and decision-making closer to communities so residents can identify priorities, monitor services, and hold leaders to account.

The article highlights what LC I and LC II leaders are expected to do under the Local Governments Act, including administrative coordination, community mobilization, dispute resolution, public safety, and linking villages and parishes to higher levels of government. It also points to their role in supporting national programs such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, immunization drives, environmental protection, and sanitation efforts. In the author’s view, these councils are the closest elected offices to ordinary people and are therefore central to service delivery and social cohesion.

Kumumanya also connects local councils to anti-corruption efforts, saying community vigilance helps identify misuse of public resources, poor service delivery, and irregularities in government projects. The op-ed was published as Uganda prepares for Village LC I and Parish or Ward LC II elections, which the author frames as an opportunity for voters to choose leaders of integrity and commitment. More broadly, the piece presents grassroots elections as important for accountability, community development, and stronger local governance.